Not long ago, I get one of those mysterious illnesses where the doctor says, “We’re seeing a lot of this kind of virus—fever, aches, sore throat.” And then three dreaded words every mother hates to hear: “Antibiotics won’t help.” My mind reels. Unspoken rants bounce through my brain. What do you mean—antibiotics won’t help? That’s [...]

Announcer’s voice: “For too long Hollywoodhas treated the role of mother using only stereotype and/or prejudice. Think about it. Films such as Mommy Dearest, Throw Momma from the Train and Monster-in-Law typecast moms (or mothers-in-law) as unkind, unbending, unforgiving. Like fish in a barrel, moms have been easy targets. On the opposite end of the [...]

Yesterday, we borrowed Jeff Foxworthy’s technique of observing rednecks and applied it to motherhood. I hope you enjoy this second installment. You might be a mommy if . . . You’ve ever told your pediatrician, “No, you’re wrong.” You’ve ever washed a pair of jeans that were so dirty they could stand up in the [...]

Comedian Jeff Foxworthy has built a career on poking fun at his backwoods beginnings. His “You might be a redneck if . . . ” sends readers and audience members into laughing fits—as they recognize their brother-in-law (or themselves) in the stereotypical behavior. Just in time for Mothers Day, I’ve compiled a few more signs [...]

It’s spring. Time to take a look at this baseball season’s lineup. Not players, their mothers. Here’s a beginner’s guide to Little League Moms. The Team Mom, usually the head coach’s wife, is the glue that holds the other moms together. Part cheerleader, part hand holder, part organizer, she spends baseball season with a phone [...]

Seven Secrets to a Long-Lasting Marriage (aka The Dos): Leave (your family of origin) and cleave (cling to your mate). Pray together (Daily is best, but aim for twice a week). Spend time together (Daily visits, weekly dates). Forgive quickly and keep short accounts. Be unselfish. Consider your spouse’s needs above your own. Make marriage [...]

We had a great discussion about effective discipline last week. To sum up, we want to remember our ABCs. A—Be the Authority in your home. To accomplish this: Avoid the extreme of Dictator. Avoid the extreme of Pushover. Choose to be an Authority Parent—establishing purpose in everything you do.   B—Set effective Boundaries. To accomplish [...]

To help you on your journey toward more effective discipline, I wanted to include a few verses (mostly from Proverbs) that have helped, inspired or encouraged me–especially in moments when I’ve felt weak or faltered. I hope they bless you.  A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them. [...]

Yesterday, we talked about infusing creativity in every aspect of parenting (discipline, chores, etc.). Today, just for fun, I’m going to share with you a story to illustrate the effectiveness of creative parenting techniques—and how, when we implement fresh ideas and new strategies, we have greater success. Of course we do. We’ve stop doing things [...]

We burn out because we approach life the way we always have. You’ve probably heard Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity—Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. My husband calls it beating your head against a brick wall and makes the very valid point that it feels oh-so-good when you stop! [...]