Parenting

My heart beat fast, I could feel the hot, red crawl of indignation course its way up my neck as I listened to another Christian mom say:

“I know kids. Sooner or later all kids will cave to the pressure around them. How can they not? They are exposed to sin and the world all day long and they are only human. And then she looked at me and said, “Your kids are like everyone else’s. When you’re not around, they act like every other child.”

My kids walked up to the conversation as I turned to leave, but before I did, I said, “I  disagree with you, I’m not raising perfect kids, but I am raising them counter-cultural.”

[Go against the flow]

[Be different, be yourself]

[Know who you are in Him]

[Don’t be ashamed]

[It’s okay to be alone]

I know my kids are going to mess up. I’m not so naive to think that we’ve figured out perfection or even aim for it. But I believe in setting God’s standard before them, so that when they do face pressure and even fail, they know where they stand and they know how to get back on track.

So, I’m turning the table this week….

Can we really raise kids who are counter-cultural? or am I kidding myself?

Kids who not only say no, but stand and say yes.

I’m in.

Well. My kids have been back in school for two weeks. It's been tiring, but good. I got this interesting comment on a post I wrote the other day about sending our kids back to school with purpose, where I mentioned that my kids go to public school. "I just can’t get on board with the idea of “sending our children to be lights in the dark world” at such a young age. At almost 30, I feel totally unprepared to witness most days. I know Christian schools aren’t perfect but the thought of ... Read More

On a regular basis, I'm asked if I homeschool my children. The answer is yes. I've even received a Homeschool Award and been asked to speak at a Homeschool Conference. The answer is also no. Yes, I teach my children at home. Yes, I send them off to be educated at school. I'm a homeschool Mom who sends her kids to public school. Recently, a new friend in my town (who I met thru my blog) asked me what homeschool curriculum I use. She was seriously shocked to learn that I have ... Read More

I tossed my three year old girl in the tub with her ten year old big sister the other night. (I asked permission from my oldest first...she still has a lot of little girl left in her and welcomed the toys. Oh, and I didn't actually toss my toddler). They played and splashed and I went to the kitchen for just a minute, until I heard my youngest crying. I hurried back in to my oldest BEAMING and my youngest sniffling. "What happened?" I asked. "Mom, guess what?" my oldest said in a ... Read More