Honor: Who We Are Not What We Do
Posted by Orange ParentWe’re approaching the time of the school year when we’ll honor our young people: from high school graduates in their cap-and-gowns and life-will-change-forever speeches to kindergarteners earning ribbons for tying their shoes to “participation trophies” for you name the sport. It’s pretty easy to get honored by somebody during this season of accomplishment.
Honor, though, is… [read more]
Forget About It
Posted by Reggie JoinerThis month’s issue of Scientific American Mind is about your memory and learning how to erase distractions. It challenges the idea that the brain is simply a “passive storage unit.” The editors suggest that your mind “behaves like a seamstress who sews concepts from threads of vital information while snipping away extraneous material.”
According to the special… [read more]
Preparing Your Kids for Life Online
Posted by Carey NieuwhofAlmost every parent I know worries about technology and their kids.
When should my child get a phone? Facebook? Be allowed to game? Get their own tablet or computer? How do I know what’s really going on?
I think our natural default as parents is to think about imposing external limits. And external limits absolutely have a… [read more]
Disconnect to Reconnect Your Family
Posted by Carey NieuwhofI remember getting my first smartphone about seven years ago. It wasn’t much compared to what’s in the marketplace today, but I was mesmerized. I thought it was so amazing that you could text and email right off your phone and almost (emphasis on almost) browse the Web. Even at dinner. Even on vacation.
My family,… [read more]
Is Technology Killing Your Family?
Posted by Carey NieuwhofI kind of like technology. You might say I’m a bit addicted.
Three people live in our house–me, my wife, and our teenage son. Ten years ago, we had one family computer that sat in the living room, and I had a laptop for work. Today, between the three of us, we have nine computer-ish devices–three… [read more]
Noah’s Story
Posted by Orange ParentAfter several responses to our post earlier this week about Rick Smith and his NoahsDad.com website, we thought it might be interesting to hear Rick’s first-hand account of the journey.
by Rick Smith
“I’m so sorry.”
Those were the first words we heard from my wife’s OBGYN shortly after our son Noah was born. Instead of flowers, streamers, bubble… [read more]
A Story Worth Telling
Posted by Mike JeffriesSometimes we don’t like the stories that we’re unwittingly or unwillingly written into. At other times, we realize that it may not be the story we imagined, but it’s our story and we’re going to find a way to live that story to its greatest potential.
Rick and Abbie Smith are examples of the “it’s our… [read more]
Focus on This One Thing
Posted by Carey NieuwhofSo, let’s do a quick survey:
If I asked you whether you would like your child or teen to display any of the following characteristics, what would you say?
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Goodness
Kindness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Let me rephrase that: Is there anyone who doesn’t want to see these in their kids? I mean, come on, many of us pray for these things to… [read more]
Want to Increase Your Child’s Self-Esteem?
Posted by Carey NieuwhofWhat parent doesn’t? I’ve not yet met a parent who’s said, “I hope to instill such a low sense of self-esteem in my kids that they struggle with self worth for the rest of their lives.”
Despite our best intentions, self-esteem issues arise in almost all of us. Why?
It’s not for lack of trying. Many of us… [read more]
Pitching A Fit
Posted by Kendra FlemingConfession: Sometimes I watch the show Hoarders. It totally freaks me out and yet I watch. I don’t know if it inspires me to clean my house or I just like freaking out over a house filled with cats. Anyway, the other day I was watching it and a 40–year-old woman threw a total, out… [read more]