RESTAURANT TAKEOVER

Deadly Dining

by Judy Keech

How many times have you wished you could melt into the floorboards and disappear as the server approaches your table with that look of apprehension, horror really, because your child has just reenacted a familiar scene from THE EXORCIST in public, ranting, writhing, and spewing applesauce and french fries across the table and onto a nearby diner? Often playing the role of the “nearby diner” in more recent years I understand how frustrating the simple act of eating out with adolescent children, (and even teens!) can be. Well, to borrow a Biblical cliche, do not fear, and be of good courage. There is a solution! And it’s not that difficult…

WHY TODAY'S PARENTS ARE ALL STRESSED OUT, & WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

Post Written by Judy Keech

If you are the parent of an adolescent, and especially if you have more than one, chances are you are stressed out. Right now. Right now you are totally stressed out. STRESSED OUT!!! Or you are in denial--a whole other issue I promise to discuss later.

Face it. Balancing work, home, church, sports, theater, dance, speech therapy, tutoring, girl scouts, boy scouts, field day, testing days, parent/teacher conferences, grocery shopping, birthday parties, pool parties, play dates….You are STRESSED OUT!!!  

Future Fathers

By Staci Pace

My family, with the rest of America, celebrated Father’s Day this past Sunday. While I feel that we don’t really honor our fathers enough every day, we do make an attempt to make them feel special on Father’s Day. So, my children like yours, probably, made homemade cards expressing their appreciation of my husband. I bought and wrote in a card that I felt expressed a portion of my pride and appreciation of all that my husband does for our family. All the dads were asked to stand at church and we applauded and prayed for them. And in children’s church they spoke about fathers and cut out and decorated paper neckties.

After church, my crew and I ran home to gather our contributions to the Father’s Day feast we would partake at my parents nearby home. On the way out the door,

Thy TEEN-DOM Come

PART 2: A Mama is a Mama, no Matter How Long 

Understanding Your Role as the Parent of a Teen 

Teenagers in the house? I am so tempted right now to say, "Good luck with that!" and be done with this blog. Most parents of teens, given the option, would simply click the heels of their ruby slippers together while chanting "there's no place like Rome, there's no place like Rome." But lets be honest and square off, toe to toe, with this challenge. YOU can parent successfully throughout your child's teenage years. YES, it can be done. It may not feel like successful parenting while you are doing it, but mark God's words: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

There really isn't a formula, but there is an invisible force field.

Remember the rules you set in place through the 'TWEEN' stage? (Didn't know about the rules? You can read about it here.) Well, you still need some rules in place, but in the state of TEEN-dom the rules become somewhat fluid...organic, even. Although the rules still exist, they now morph and bend to wrap themselves around the complex nuances of the teen brain. Much like those stretchy elastic bands that used to be your apron strings. 

10 More Things, Episode 7

By Staci Pace

61.           Glass tables are evil. Period. 

62.           If you haven't liked them yet, pizza and Mac & Cheese are your new favorite meals. 

63.           It doesn’t make you a bad mom to be completely giddy when away from your children. 

64.           You really don't have to keep every drawing and homemade card. So don't. But don’t let them see you throw it out!

65.           Reading a book becomes a near impossibility even when all is quiet because your eyes will just involuntarily shut protesting that it is indeed time for a nap. 

66.           These days there are TONS of seriously educational TV shows made just for your child. Record them, buy them on DVD, download them from the internet, put them into the queue in Netflix and Hulu, and then allow your child to watch them for as long as they want. And tell the doctor they attend pre-school. (PLEASE NOTE: I'm totally joking here, but seriously lighten up about the TV. They will never have time for it once they start school.)

67.           Baby wipes will be a staple in your house for a lot longer than diapers. 

68.           Buy several plastic sheets for your children's mattresses. Late night bed-wetting will be much more manageable if you do. 

69.           You will never appreciate your parents more than the first time your child has the stomach flu. 

70.       Having a child costs money. We all know that. But has anyone ever told you how much your bill will be just for BIRTHING the baby?? $$$$ 

What have you learned as a parent? Wisdom is better shared! Leave a comment.

Episode 1: 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

Episode 2: 10 More Things I Wish I Knew

Episode 3: 10 More Things, Episode 3

Episode 4: 10 More Things, Episode 4

Episode 5: 10 More Things, Episode 5
Episode 6: 10 More Things, Episode 6

10 More Things, Episode 6

By Staci Pace

51.  Always use stain remover or oxy clean in every load. ALWAYS. 

52.  Dads really do buy their kids toys for their own enjoyment, which is why they grow terribly upset when the kids play with them in an inappropriate manner. (Such as Superman becomes a bad guy, or the GI Joe is using a Star Wars light saber, or your kid's favorite "Bumblebee" car is a Grand Am and not a Camaro.)

53.  Christmas is more fun than you ever dreamed. And more stressful. And more expensive. 

54.  Forget saving for college. Elementary will cost you. And so will any sport your kid might want to play. Not to mention field trips, play dates, and music lessons. 

55.  There actually are good teachers and bad teachers but you can NEVER tell your kid that. 

56.  You will one day find your child trying to clean their sibling with the Windex. 

57.  Never ever give your kids a choice of what to have for dinner. If you do they will never eat what you eat. 

58.  Learn how to edit photos. Because they will never all smile and look good at the same time. 

59.  Buy Band-Aids in bulk. But NOT the cheap kind. 

60.  If your child owns a piece of clothing that you don't like get rid of it quickly and quietly because it will be all they will ever wear. 

What have you learned as a parent? Wisdom is better shared!

Episode 1: 10 Things I Wish I Knew BeforeI Had Kids

Episode 2: 10 More Things I Wish I Knew

Episode 3: 10 More Things, Episode 3

Episode 4: 10 More Things, Episode 4

Episode 5: 10 More Things, Episode 5

10 More Things, Episode 5

by Staci Pace

and continues...

41.    Go ahead and get used to saying: "Stop that." "Don't do that." "Put that down." "Be quiet." You'll never stop. 

42.    You'll quickly learn why your mom made some meals over and over again. And then you'll ask her for the recipes. 

43.    Don't ever tell your children that they have to pick up their toys or you'll throw them away. Because the problem is that they don’t want to pick them up in the first place, and they’d rather you do it for them. Not to mention, what will you do tomorrow when they’re bored?

44.    You have to set ground rules with your spouse early on about discipline. Because when a kid is grounded from outside and friends it's not really punishment for them as much as you. 

45.    At least one of your children will eat their boogers, one will wipe them on everything and one will try to give them to you, but they all will pick them. 

46.    No matter how many times you tell them not to they will wipe their hands on their clothes. 

47.    Some areas of your house will always smell like pee no matter how many times you scrub them. 

48.    A parent with all girls just won't understand a parent with all boys and vice versa. 

49.    At some point you will wish that you could arrange a marriage for your child, and possibly as early as 12. 

50.         Baking with your child is NOT NEARLY as fun as it sounds. 

Episode 1: 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

Episode 2: 10 More Things I Wish I Knew

Episode 3: 10 More Things, Episode 3

Episode 4: 10 More Things, Episode 4