Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about that tricky balance we have to strike as moms. Here's just one area. You want to teach your child how to navigate the world—things like ordering their own food, asking for help, or advocating for themselves—but you’re also constantly weighing that against keeping them safe. Then there’s the future to ...
Mommyhood
Letting Go of Fear in Parenting
Mama, can we sit together for a moment? Feel free to bring your coffee. When my kids were little, I would constantly count them—“one, two, three, four.” I knew where they were, what they were doing, and I felt like I could keep them safe. But then they grew up. Now they’re leaving early for activities, heading to work, going off to ...
Who I Truly Am
A few years ago, my daughter came to me with a statement that stopped me in my tracks. Sweet Pea, who was 13 at the time, looked at me and confidently said she was a follower, not a leader. When I asked how she knew that, she shrugged and said, “Because my friends told me I am.” I remember taking a long, slow breath. Those simple words revealed ...
Pumpkin Carving Fun… and a Tasty Treat!
For 20 years, our family has had a special pumpkin-carving tradition with Papa. When the kids were young, their favorite part was picking shapes for the faces—triangles for eyes, zigzags for mouths, and even some creative asymmetrical designs. Carving the pumpkin also opened the door to share the Gospel. As the kids got older, their designs became ...
Parenting Without Comparison
We all do it. Compare the things we own. Compare our marriages. Compare what we know. And yes… compare our children. As another school year begins, let’s pause and talk about how comparison affects us as parents — and what we can do about it. Here is Becky's story. When Comparison Creeps In “I need to teach Jack Bible stories!” I said to ...
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 ...
Helping Your Preschooler Learn at Home
If only teaching our kids looked like the picture-perfect moments we imagine—smiling child, tidy table, eager heart ready to soak in knowledge. In reality, teaching your own preschooler often feels messy, frustrating, and personal. One mom from our ABCJesusLovesMe Facebook group put it perfectly: “I find it is easier to teach other children, ...
How to Teach Volume Control: Free PDF
“Why are you using your yelling voice?” “Please turn down your volume.” “I need you to talk quieter, please.” Do those phrases sound familiar in your home? If so, friend, you’re not alone. Those were regular lines in our home when my son was younger. For the longest time, I felt like a broken record, constantly reminding him to lower his ...
Starting Strong with the ABCJesusLovesMe Curriculum
Fifteen years ago, I was just days away from sending my oldest to kindergarten and preparing to welcome baby #4. Life felt full—full of joy, full of activities, and full of change. But in the midst of it, I was committed to being intentional with the two little ones still at home. ABCJesusLovesMe provided the structure I needed. During that season, ...
A Meal Planning Trick Every Busy Mom Needs
Let’s be real: I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook. It’s full of distractions, but sometimes it delivers little gold nuggets. Several years ago, a friend of mine posted a meal-planning idea she created, and I immediately knew I had to try it. It’s simple, flexible, and—most importantly—it works. Let's go into the archives to 2016 and ...