Valentine’s week often highlights kindness and connection, yet it can be one of the hardest weeks for children who are overwhelmed or dysregulated. This post looks at self regulation as love in action, offering insight for parents and teachers on how safety, connection, and faith shape behavior long before kindness shows up.
Category: motherhood
Honest encouragement for parenting, family life, and changing seasons.
The Beautiful Complications of Siblinghood
Our home is complicated, filled with appointments, medications, and more acronyms than I ever expected to know. But beneath it all is a love that runs deep. Through headaches, allergies, and ADHD, my children have learned patience, compassion, and the kind of empathy that only grows through shared struggle. This post is about finding grace in the middle of that complexity and seeing God’s goodness in the love that holds us together.
504 vs. IEP: What Parents Need to Know (From a Mom Who Has Sat on Every Side of the Table)
If your child is struggling in school and you are not sure whether they need a 504 Plan or an IEP, you are not alone. I have sat in these meetings as a teacher, a sister, and now a mother, and I know how confusing the process can feel. The good news is that you can initiate support, and you do not have to wait for the school to take the lead.
Ten Years to Dyslexia: The Diagnosis We Shouldn’t Have Had to Wait For
For ten years, our daughter struggled with reading, headaches, and exhaustion while everyone insisted she was “fine.” It was not until junior year that we finally uncovered the truth: visual dyslexia. If you have ever questioned your child’s struggles, trust your gut.
The Children’s Advent Chain: A Countdown to Kindness
One of my favorite family traditions began when my kids were little, our Family Advent Chain. Each paper link held a simple act of kindness or gratitude that reminded us Christmas is about giving, not getting. Over the years, those acts have grown with my children, from hugs and thank-you notes to volunteering and serving others. This post shares how to create your own Advent Chain and make your Christmas countdown one of kindness, compassion, and connection.
More Than Words: Living Out Faith in Parenting
A few weeks ago, I wrote about parenting in the middle, that unique space where our kids are no longer little, but not quite grown. They do not need us to tie their shoes or brush their teeth anymore. Well, except for my youngest who still needs all the reminders. But they still need us… Continue reading More Than Words: Living Out Faith in Parenting
Food Allergies in the Classroom: What Parents and Teachers Need to Consider
It’s easy to glance at an “allergy” sign in a classroom or at an event and not think much of it. But for families like ours, those signs mean everything. One bite can be life-threatening. Our daughter’s journey with severe food allergies has been filled with fear, vigilance, and countless prayers, but also resilience, courage, and God’s faithfulness. To parents and educators: please don’t dismiss the signs. Please think about the children who need safe food options so they aren’t left out. Small choices can make a huge difference. I share our story in hopes of raising awareness, encouraging compassion, and reminding other allergy families: you are not alone. God’s care is bigger than our fear.
Parenting in the Middle: When They’re Not Little, but Not Yet Grown
Parenting in the “middle” doesn’t always get talked about. It’s not the baby years of diaper bags and sleepless nights, and it’s not yet the season of college send-offs or empty nests. It’s the in-between, when your little kids have grown into big kids, but everyone is still under your roof, still needing you in ways you never expected. This season can feel invisible, but it is just as holy. Every ride, every late-night conversation, every load of laundry, every whispered prayer ... it all matters.
What Every Parent Should Know About Ages 3 through 4
The preschool years are full of big growth and little victories. Between ages 3 and 4, children learn to play with others, find words for their big feelings, discover colors and numbers, and even start writing the letters in their name. As parents, it’s natural to wonder what’s “normal,” but here’s the truth: every child develops at their own pace, and that’s exactly how God designed it. Our role is to nurture curiosity, build character, and celebrate steady growth ... not perfection.
The Beauty in ADHD: Not Just What It Takes, But What It Gives
We often talk about the hard parts of ADHD, and they’re real. But today, I want to show you the beauty in this wiring too. From vivid creativity to deep empathy, my son’s ADHD brings color, passion, and tenderness into our lives in ways that constantly surprise me. If you’re raising or teaching a neurodivergent child, or if you are that child, this post is for you.
