30 Seconds for Hope:
Caregivers, do you have a Calm-the-Toddler toolbox? That is, do you have some ideas in mind for distracting and calming toddlers when you are watching others’ children? Lots of ideas exist out there, but here’s one you won’t want to miss. Believe it or not, sometimes noise can work to quiet a child. Then add some movement along with that noise, and today’s tip is born. Read on to see how this works…
Continue reading “Today’s Tip from My Calm-the-Toddler Toolbox”
30 Seconds for Hope:
Have you already noticed? Life brings changes. This past year my writing of blog articles entered a new season of slow-down due to changes in my life (though I did write an article for Focus on the Family, addressing shame that parents feel when children misbehave. Check it out here). Thankfully, long ago one of my mentor moms, Mardean, taught me the concept of “seasons of life”—lessons which still help me roll through life’s changes without guilt. You can navigate changes without guilt, too, and in return you’ll be able to weather those many seasons with courage and hope.
Continue reading “Priceless Gems from My Mentor Moms: #6 – Relish the Seasons”
30 Seconds for Hope:
After instructing children, do you tack on a common query of “Okay?” You wonder whether they’ve heard you, but unfortunately, the question “Okay?” also means, “Do you want to do this?” To avoid confusing our children, let’s replace “Okay?” with words that actually mean what we say. I replaced it with two words that worked wonders in my household. What are they? Read on!
Continue reading “A Magic Phrase To Help Children Respond”
30 Seconds for Hope: Who actually gives thanks on Thanksgiving Day? Do you? Will I? And what is “thanks giving?” Is it that 15-second prayer before eating turkey till you’re stuffed? No, there’s definitely more. Gratitude becomes simple when you can answer these two prepositions: to and for. Give thanks to someone for something—either something that they exemplify or something they have provided. Do this on Thanksgiving, and at the end of the day you will actually have given thanks! Then add one more thing, an exchanged life, and you can elicit automatic gratitude without even trying. What’s that? Read on…
Continue reading “Need Some Gratitude? Prepositions Rescue Thanksgiving! (Plus one more thing)”30 Seconds for Hope:
Has someone mistreated you? What now? Should you retaliate, hibernate, or maybe pursue? Whether intentional or clueless, disregard often feels horrible, so I searched for a path through that pain. Now I want to share a path I discovered that moved me toward respect, boundaries, empathy, and forgiveness—steps that benefited me as well as others. After learning more about forgiveness (often a process over time), I decided to develop a worksheet (attached at end of article) that for the past twelve years has helped me whenever I’m wrestling with the costs and benefits of forgiveness. Take steps forward. Some hope for you.
And now the full story:
Continue reading “Hurt Again? Helpful Steps During Emotional Pain”
30 Seconds for Hope:
Nature is marvelous! Scientific discoveries shout, “Kudos to the designer,” and, amazingly, the Christmas story claims that the designer of the universe came to earth. Look at the science for yourself (follow the links in the article below), and enjoy amazing things in nature. These discoveries have led me to conclude that life on earth was planned and that our lives have meaning and purpose. “God is with us and for us”—that’s the Christmas message of hope!
Continue reading “Incredible Creation, Credible Science, and Christmas Hope”
30 Seconds for Hope: Heads up everyone! A very common logical fallacy produces misunderstandings and disappointments, creating offenses all around us. Be aware. This faulty type of logic, called false dilemma, sneaks in when we believe we know why someone did what they did without knowing all the factors or possibilities. It shows up when we say, “Either he cares about me or he doesn’t” (which is an “either/or” supposition, assuming only two, mutually exclusive options). False-dilemma reasoning only considers two alternatives when, in reality, multiple possibilities might be reasons. Have you learned to spot this trust buster? Recognizing false dilemmas will help you build deeper friendships.
Continue reading “A Sneaky Trust Buster. Are You Able to Spot It?”
30 Seconds for Hope: Do your kids act deaf? I mean, do they hear just fine but maybe aren’t motivated to listen and act? Would you like some ideas on how to help them respond—tips that go beyond threats, coins, or candy? Do you hope for a more upbeat tone in your home? Over the years I have learned some outside-the-box ideas for motivating children that I want to pass along to you.
30 Seconds for Hope:
We’re free! Yet often when claiming our freedoms, both kids and adults remain unaware of a coupled factor. Every freedom we demand will be accompanied by… mask debates? Toilet paper shortages? (Stay tuned!) Whether impacting neighbors or ourselves, Continue reading “Unmask Freedom’s Sidekick–or Ouch! (Have You Felt the Kick?)”
30 Seconds for Hope: Your mind is a powerful gatekeeper. When you are faced with challenges, the core person who is you will choose what to believe and how to think. Believe it or not, becoming aware of that fact infuses help and hope!
Now the full story:
I didn’t act fast enough when my husband, Mike, first informed me, so you could say that I brought the explosion on myself. But I’m getting ahead.
“There’s a dead possum under our neighbor’s front porch,” Mike said on Wednesday. “And Continue reading “Dead Possum in Our Garbage. (Be Mindful of Explosions!)”
30 Seconds for Hope 