As a child, I remember feeling confused by the phrase fruit of the Spirit. Why fruit? Apples and bananas made sense. Patience and kindness? Not so much. If you have ever tried to explain this to a preschooler and found yourself stumbling a bit, you are not alone. What Is the Fruit of the Spirit? When the Bible talks about the Fruit of the ...
8 Effective Discipline Strategies for Children
First, let me say this: if you have ever carried a screaming child out of a grocery store while abandoning your shopping cart, you are not alone. Most parents have experienced that moment—the stares, the frustration, the wondering if anything you are doing is working. Discipline is hard work. And if your child struggles with big emotions, ...
What Kids Wish Parents Understood
Parenting is beautiful, exhausting, sanctifying, and sometimes overwhelming—all before 9:00 am. Years ago, I came across A Child’s 10 Commandments to Parents by Dr. Kevin Leman. The words have stayed with me because they gently reminded me to see the world through a child’s eyes. As parents and teachers, we can get so focused on correcting ...
How to Teach a Child Not to Interrupt
There was a season in our home when every conversation with my husband or a friend seemed to happen in fragments. We would start talking, and within seconds someone needed a drink, had an urgent story to tell, or absolutely had to ask a question that could not wait another minute. Can you relate? Over time, I learned something important: ...
What Motherhood Reveals About the Heart
There are mornings during my quiet time when a verse seems to jump off the page and settle deeply into my heart. Have you ever had that happen? A while back, I took a slow drive through the book of I Peter. Before reading, I always ask the Holy Spirit to point out something I need to see—encouragement, conviction, or direction for where I am ...
Ultimate Summer Reading List for Adults and Kids
There is something special about summer reading. Whether you are relaxing by the pool, traveling with family, or enjoying a quiet evening on the porch, a good book can make the season even better. I recently asked the ABCJesusLovesMe Family to share the books they loved and could not stop talking about. Combined with several books I have ...
Why Sensory Play Matters for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Sensory play is one of those things that kids really enjoy —water tables, bins of rice, finger paint, play dough. Adults, on the other hand, tend to dread. Why? Because they are often messy, leading to sticky kids, wet clothes, and messy floors. Maybe if we could see all of the learning, calming, and development happening below the surface, it ...
Calming Sensory Strategies for Children on the Go
There are moments when everything seems fine one second, and the next, the child is completely overwhelmed. I saw it often in my own home—usually when noise, emotions, and too much stimulation built up faster than one of my kiddos could process. In those moments, movement became one of the most effective tools in my parenting toolbox. I remember ...
Easy Visual Chore Schedule for Teaching Kids Responsibility
When my kids were young, I tried multiple chore charts and posters, but nothing seemed to stick. I found that my kids (especially those with ADHD) needed something more hands-on—something visible, movable, and easy to carry from room to room to help focus and remind them of their daily responsibilities and routines. Just in time for summer, I ...
The Hard Reality and Hidden Purpose of ADHD Parenting
When Bubs was just a baby, I read a parenting book written by a mom raising a boy with ADHD. At the time, I didn’t know much about ADHD. I remember thinking how incredibly hard that must be—parenting a child who never slows down, who struggles to focus, who acts before thinking. I had no idea I was reading a glimpse of my own future. Bubs—our ...