The Summer of Letting Go
This fall my 18 year-old son, my first-born, my newly minted young adult, will be leaving home to start university. I have never been an overly protective mother. Over the years, he has often left home, even for extended times. At 8 years old, he spent a week with members of our extended family whom he barely knew.
After that... >Read More
Tags:
adult children,
better parenting,
children,
college,
Family,
leaving home,
letting go,
mothering,
parenting,
parenting essentials,
relationships,
son,
teenagers,
teens
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A Bunch of Hot Air
One clear September morning my son packed up his car and headed off to college. Oh, I knew in my head that he was ready for the next stage of his journey. Such a clear demonstration of maturity and wisdom is evident in almost any eighteen year old – what could possibly go wrong?! I repeated like a mantra,... >Read More
Tags:
adult children,
better parenting,
college,
depending on God,
faith,
fear and anxiety,
parenting essentials,
Self,
spiritual growth,
teenagers,
teens,
trust,
values
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Should a Child's Room be Awesome?
When my children were first born, I did something radical. I didn't really decorate their room. Part of it was a money issue; we had so little cash, and we were trying to save for a down payment for a house. I thought putting our money into an apartment sized washing machine would be a far better use of our... >Read More
Tags:
bedroom,
better parenting,
castle,
character development,
child,
child's room,
children,
Family,
kids,
parenting,
parenting essentials,
Shelia Wray Gregoire,
values
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My Girls: A Sacred Trust
I can still remember where I was standing and the way my daughter Aubri looked at me that fateful December day. She came to me and said, “Dad, Dan really wants to talk to you to ask if he can be allowed to date me.” I knew this day would come.
I answered honestly, “Do you know how difficult this... >Read More
Tags:
adult children,
better parenting,
dating,
daughters,
engaged couples,
Family,
family values,
father daughter,
parenting,
parenting essentials,
relationships,
values
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Sure Fire way To Teach Kids to Cook
Teach your kids to cook so you don't have to! Here's my philosophy in a nutshell: Each year after age 10, they learn to make one meal per year.
So at 11 they can make 1.
At 12 they can make 2.
At 13 they can make 3.
And so on, and so on, and so on. That way, when they move out... >Read More
Tags:
better parenting,
children,
cook,
cooking,
Family,
kids,
parenting,
parenting essentials,
Shelia Wray Gregoire,
teenagers,
teens,
values
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Speak Up
This past week I have been, quite literally, voiceless. A bad case of tonsillitis left me with little more than a whisper. It’s been a very quiet week. Today I still don’t have my voice back but I’m feeling just a bit better and I started to notice the changes in my behavior. I realized I’ve been stepping back.
I... >Read More
Tags:
better parenting,
character development,
communication,
declaration of values,
faith & spirituality,
friend,
help,
hope,
Life Issues,
listening,
relationships,
Self,
self-esteem,
speaking,
stress,
trust,
values
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Talking to Kids About Sex
Publishers’ note: This article was originally published Spring 2010, that will be evident in the details here, however due to the important nature of timeless truth this is being published here for our readers again.
I love the Ontario Catholic School Boards. We all owe them a debt of gratitude, whether we’re Catholic or not. They took one...... >Read More
Tags:
abstinance,
better parenting,
sex education,
teenagers,
teens,
values
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Got Change?
April 12th, 2009 forced a change in my life. I remember making... >more
What Do You Fear?
Do you crave destiny? (Part 2)