INSIDE: You’ll learn five big-picture ways for screen time management + three ultra-practical ways to handle your screen time with grace. I spent four days last week at our church’s our church’s annual Student Staff Retreat with 48 teenagers who didn’t have their phones. No distractions. No posting on Instagram or checking likes. No interrupted […]
Seasons
When back-to-school means back-to-stress
Back-to-school meant back-to-stress for me. In elementary school, I stressed about what teacher I’d get. In junior high, I worried about whether I’d have friends in my classes, who I’d eat lunch with, and how my Aqua-Netted hair could possibly stay in place despite the Houston humidity… and gravity itself. In high school, I stressed […]
A prayer for the new school year
The start of school bring me to tears because I’m letting go, walking into the unknown with our girls, nervous about what the year holds. The end – not just of summer – but a season of life that we’ve known make me cry too. Both are sacred. God starts the Bible with “In the […]
Why scrolling through social media in the summer is the worst
We’re not taking any big vacations this summer. We’ll go to swim team, the library, and camp, but nothing spectacular will show up on my Instagram feed. In my right-now life, this sounds wonderful and perfect, but when I scroll through social media and see your awesome vacation or how amazing you look in your bikini, […]
When shifting into summer is hard because your routine is gone
Last summer was my first summer to blog with the girls at home. I was super worried about how to blog and parent so to buy myself time to work and get some quiet, I gave the girls a checklist to complete. I know… I can hear you laughing from here. The checklists didn’t work, and […]
An end-of-the-school-year pep talk for moms who feel a bit crazy-town
At the end of the school year, I feel a little bit crazy town, like all the tiredness and frustration and routine have compounded until they explode in May. I start doing crazy things like playing games with time, negotiating as if I’m at a peace summit, and bargaining and bribing people just so we […]
How to cope when you’re disappointed you’re not invited to that New Year’s Eve party
Ryan and I know what the four of us will do every year for New Year’s Eve. The girls and I will make sugar cookies with clock faces. We’ll all drink orange soda (because Max and Ruby did on Nick Jr.). And Ryan and I’ll go to bed around 11 p.m. This is a good […]
How to stop expectations from ruining this Christmas
By the time we took the girls to Disneyworld in 2012, I had planned that trip for almost a year. I made dining reservations, checked crowd calendars, and had a disturbingly deep knowledge of the FastPass system. Planning this trip made the logistical ninja in me so very, very happy. Then the day of Disney […]
Three mistakes you’re making this holiday season
Take a minute to imagine this with me… You have two kids, and you want to make their Christmas magical. You hatch the best plan, 25 days of Christmas, that includes an activity, craft, or treat each day. You’re excited to create Christmas traditions and make memories. In walks reality. A few days in, your […]
Are you content or simply settling?
Am I settling? You’ve asked this of yourself, and if you’re honest, you’ve judged others about it too. Did I settle for this job because it’s not what I had in mind? Did she settle for that guy just so she could get married? Is he content with his life or did he just give […]