One of the most common mistakes I see when teaching early handwriting is handing a child a pencil or markers (and handwriting worksheets) too soon. Pencils require strong finger muscles and precise control that many preschoolers haven’t developed yet, while markers don’t help build those muscles at all. When the hands aren’t ready, a child often ...
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The Sanctification Process: Why Sin Keeps Coming Back {Transcript #75}
This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity. Why Sing Keeps Returning Melanie, Co-Host: 00:00Heidi, I don’t know about you, but there have been so many times since I've accepted Christ that I find myself thinking, I thought I talked to God about this sin. I thought I confessed and repented and I had victory over this sin. And then ...
Caring for the Body God Gave Me: A Drastic Change I Made
As a work-from-home mom who spends most of the day on the computer, getting enough movement has been a challenge. I could fit in a 20–30 minute workout or an evening walk, but that still left hours of sitting during the day. When I read the statement that sitting all day is the new smoking, I knew something needed to change. After talking ...
Do I Deserve Happiness? A Biblical Look for Moms {Transcript #74}
This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity. Heidi Franz, Host: 00:00 I've heard it said from many parents, “I just want my kids to be happy.” I've heard moms say, “I deserve happiness.” Is this truth from the scripture? Is this what God desires for us? Or is this another lie that the culture's telling us? Today, in our Parenting ...
When It Doesn’t Go as Planned {Transcript #73}
This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity. Heidi, Host: 00:00 Melanie, I never dreamed that about a year ago when we podcast that that would be our last one for about 12 months. And that's because neither one of us saw what was gonna happen. We didn't, we had no idea. The very different stories. We both have experienced confusion, ...
Training a Child to Release Anger
Sixteen years ago, I wrote a blog post during a season when my oldest child —affectionately called Bubs—was struggling with safely releasing anger and frustration. Reading it again now, I’m reminded of how much growth can happen when an adult slows down, listens, and chooses to train instead of simply telling a child to stop a behavior. Why ...
8 Teachable Moments Hidden in Halloween Candy
Opening the pantry, I was welcomed by the delicious aroma of candy my kiddos collected at our church’s Fall Festival. While I love the yummy smells, enough candy and sugar greet me to start a small candy store. The do-not-waste-anything mentality inside of me won’t let me throw it away. But I don’t want my kids eating all of it. Heaven knows ...
Teaching a Child to Sing Bible Songs with Joy
You’ve chosen the perfect Bible song for learning time — but instead of joyful singing, you see blank stares, half-hearted singing, or rolling around on the carpet. You wonder, What am I doing wrong? It can feel discouraging when music time doesn’t go as planned, especially when you know how powerful songs can be in shaping the child’s faith. ...
Progress You May Not See
I remember oh so well. At the age of four, Peanut wanted what he wanted— and he was ready to test every limit to see if he could get it. Lying on the floor in protest? Worth a try. Yelling and stomping? Also worth testing. He just wanted to make sure that our boundaries were firm and that he could trust me to be consistent. But Peanut isn’t the ...
Raising Kids Who Truly Apologize
As moms, we’ve all been there—two kids in tears, one clinging to a toy, the other muttering a quick “sorry” before running off. But deep down, we know that kind of apology doesn’t build character or heal relationships. What our kids need is to understand why their actions hurt others and how to respond in a way that shows genuine heart ...