On Sundays…Regular walks provide an important way to get to know our kids and develop healthy family communication. Some kids love to talk. Others prefer action challenges (like, “Let me see you run to the pine tree, tag it, and come back!”) Usually, with maturity, the action types slow down and start talking. By establishing this pattern when our children are young, we start a ritual that makes it more likely for walks and talks to continue when our kids are teens.
On Mondays…We encourage children’s curiosity about the natural world when we respond warmly to their questions, slow down to take time to look at the bugs and other things that catch their attention and find books about their special interests.
On Tuesdays…Storytelling is a natural way to children’s hearts. Simple, non-embarrassing memories about their baby days, our own childhood memories, and family tales about grandparents and extended family make great stories from a child’s point of view. Hearing these kinds of stories helps fill children’s deep need for a sense of belonging.
Wednesdays…From their toddler days to their teen years, children are most apt to handle social situations correctly when they know ahead of time what to expect and what is expected of them.
On Thursdays…When the thought of cleaning a messy bedroom with our child upsets us, it’s time to back off and figure out why. Maybe we feel overwhelmed because we never learned good organizing and cleaning systems ourselves. Or maybe our expectations are unrealistic. Have I accepted the reality that this coaching task is part of my parental job description? Or that it can take years instead of weeks to train a child to be neat?
On Fridays…Cookies and candy too close to mealtime spoil children’s appetites for supper. Instead, we can give them nutritious, sugarless snacks like nachos, popcorn, yogurt and fresh fruit. This helps settle nerves and arguments when children’s blood sugar is low.
On Saturdays…Personal insight is not enough to resolve our bad feelings and attitudes. Deep anger and resentment don’t disappear just because people realize these emotions damage our family and ourselves. Festering hurts can be resolved only through forgiveness – which is impossible until we face up to pain from the past and grieve our losses. True forgiveness requires divine help over time.
Anxiety List Prayer: reflections on spiritual warfare
Becky Cerling Powers
1/8/2023
Dad's Problem Solution Method
Becky Cerling Powers with Bob Cerling
1/1/2023
Insights & Reflections for Parents in December: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
12/1/2022
Best Toys This Season are Simple: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
11/25/2022
Gimme a Little Kiss: reflections on spiritual warfare
Becky Cerling Powers
11/5/2022
Insights & Reflections for Parents in November: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
11/1/2022
Are Parents Sculptors or Gardeners? Insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
10/15/2022
Insights & Reflections for Parents in October: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
10/2/2022
Insights & Reflections for Parents in September: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
9/1/2022
Figuring Out a Child's Learning Style: insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
8/20/2022
Insights & Reflections for Parents in August: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
8/1/2022
Insights and Reflections for Parents in July: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
7/2/2022
Insights and Reflections for Parents in June: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
6/1/2022
Insights and Reflections for Parents in May: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
5/1/2022
Toddlers Helping: insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
3/21/2022
Lament - Complaining as Worship: reflections on spiritual warfare in grief & anger
Becky Cerling Powers
3/16/2022
A Dream That Changed Me: reflections on spiritual warfare
Becky Cerling Powers
3/9/2022
Insights and Reflections for Parents in March: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
3/1/2022
Preventing Parent Burnout: insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
2/7/2022
Playing Games with Kids: insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
2/6/2022
Insights and Reflections for Parents in February: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
2/1/2022
Insights & Reflections for Parents in January: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
1/1/2022
Christmas Contentment: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
12/11/2021
Insights & Reflections for Parents in December: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
12/1/2021
Pied Piper Dad: memorial and parenting reflections from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
11/22/2021
Golden Rule Respect: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
11/12/2021
Insights & Reflections for Parents in November: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
11/4/2021
Enjoying Money Without Spending it: insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
10/14/2021
Insights & Reflections for Parents in October: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
10/1/2021
Yes Means Yes, No Means No: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
9/26/2021
The Tire 'Em Out Principle for Long Trips and Schoolwork: insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
9/18/2021
Insights & Reflections for Parents in September: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
9/1/2021
The Handy Dandy Adaptable Review Game, Cooperation Concentration: Parent Powerline insights
Becky Cerling Powers
8/2/2021
Insights & Reflections for Parents in August: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
7/30/2021
Camping with Kids: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
7/28/2021
Insights & Reflections for Parents in July: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
7/1/2021
Why Smart Kids Can't All Read by Age 6: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
6/10/2021
Insights & Reflections for Parents in June: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
5/31/2021
Home Style Secrets of Kids' Learning Success: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
5/24/2021
The Balances of Parenting: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
5/18/2021
Letting Daughters Grow: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
5/8/2021
Insights & Reflections for Parents in May: from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
5/1/2021
Reading Lots of Easy Books Produces Fluent Readers: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
4/22/2021
Reflections for Parents in April, Week Two: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
4/12/2021
Helping Kids with Math: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
4/5/2021
Reflections for Parents in April, Week One: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
4/1/2021
Watching for the Positives: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
3/21/2021
Give Your Children Sticky Minds: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
3/15/2021
Being a Better Parent...One Week at a Time...in March
Becky Cerling Powers
2/28/2021
Preparing to Raise Teens: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
2/18/2021
Reading to Babies: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
2/5/2021
Being a Better Parent....One Week at a Time...in February 2021
Becky Cerling Powers
2/1/2021
Hooray for Mother Goose! Parenting Insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
1/5/2021
Being a Better Parent....One Week at a Time...in January 2021
Becky Cerling Powers
1/2/2021
Working With -- Not Against -- Life Seasons: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
12/28/2020
Why Play With the Kids? parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
12/21/2020
In Praise of Naps: tips from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
9/28/2020
Music Enriches the Family: tips from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
9/10/2020
Pre-School at Home During Covid-19: tips from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
8/21/2020
Parenting in the Mess: Tips from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
8/16/2020
TALK: A Simple Way to Help Kids with School: tips from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
7/21/2020
Raising Fluent Readers: tips from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
5/29/2020
Family Funnies: Tips from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
5/22/2020
Let Kids Cure Their Own Boredom: Tips from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
4/15/2020
The Hundred Chart: math lesson tips from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
4/8/2020
Household Management During COVID-19 Time: tips from the Parent Powerline
Becky Cerling Powers
3/23/2020
The Love & Diaper (Nappy) Connection
Becky Cerling Powers
10/25/2019
