I thought we were done with diagnoses. Isn't Autism, ADHD, and Executive Function Disorder enough? I guess God has other plans. Let me back up a little. Things began falling apart for Sweet Pea in the 2nd grade. Her reading level decreased, her test scores dropped, and her spelling was atrocious. But she continued to be at the ...
Parenting to Impress Blog...
...A sister site to ABCJesusLovesMe
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:7
New Year, New You – Really?
It is just a few days into the new year and I wonder how many of you have dropped the resolution(s) you made for 2023? Or maybe you never made one to begin with. How often do we make goals only to feel like a failure when we can't keep them? Maybe resolutions are dumb and we are actually setting ourselves up for failure. This was my sentiment ...
Best Soup Recipes
I turned to our Facebook community because I needed help getting out of a rut. A soup rut. The answers flowed in - 363 comments to be exact - suggesting soups to add to my repertoire. Knowing this list was too good to lose, I created a combined directory to reference. I know you will want to keep this collection as well (Pin ...
How to Overcome Loneliness in Motherhood, Part 2
When Heidi and I hit record on this podcast we thought we'd address a listener's question about experiencing loneliness in motherhood. Because as we started processing our own experiences, we discovered that loneliness isn't something that only happens during one season of motherhood. In fact, feeling alone occurs throughout our lives. Part 1 of ...
Will You Walk with Me?
Her slumped shoulders and tired eyes said it all. A look that I have seen so many times at church… in restaurants… at the park… at Walmart. The same image sometimes reflected in the mirror. This is the image of mommas who are absolutely, positively overwhelmed and exhausted. My heart hurts each time I cross ...
How to Teach Your Child to Receive a Gift
My kiddos loved to open presents when they were young. I cringed as each bow came off. Sounds crazy that I wouldn’t enjoy watching my young children open gifts. But in reality, I feared birthdays and Christmases wondering what shocking statements my children would make upon unwrapping a gift. This was especially true of Bubs and Little Man ...
Secrets, Giveaways…Oh My!
Have you heard the news? This week I am making a BIG announcement. And what God has put together has ignited a fire in my purpose! The gist of this announcement is pretty simple: I want to help women who are struggling with the same things I struggled with – burnout, grouchiness, loneliness, feeling inadequate…the list goes on. I tried ...
How to Stay Happy and Holy in the Christmas Crazy
As parents and teachers of little kids, the Christmas season can feel particularly overwhelming. We want to foster a holiday season that keeps Jesus the focus, but we also want to have fun and create lasting traditions. Can we find a balance somewhere in there? Heidi and I recorded a Parenting to Impress Podcast episode dedicated to helping you ...
How to Get a Child to Stay in Bed, Part 2
After 3 1/2 weeks of returning Little Man to his bed, we conquered the war! If you read Part 1 of this series, you know that this didn't happen without consistency. Some kiddos don't put up much of a fight at bedtime. But then there are those who are relentless. The above three key points made all of the difference with our spirited Little ...
How to Overcome Loneliness in Motherhood, Part 1
Can you relate to this momma's honest question? Melanie and Heidi, have y'all ever struggled with loneliness, especially when you had young kids. I have a 6-year-old, 2.5-year-old twins and a 7-month-old and I feel stuck at home. I want to connect with other adults but am not finding ways to do it where it is lifegiving and not an added drain. ...