This morning as I drove the kids to school, a blade of light cut through a hole in the clouds in that divine way, you know, the way that feels like God is descending through the clouds to rest his glory on your shoulders, and you feel blessed, and particular, the center of the universe.Continue reading “Hold On Loosely”
Category Archives: parenting
This Makes Me Uncomfortable
We have two teenagers in our house right now, and there are many, many, many conversations we’d rather not have with them. It would be so much easier to just… let it be. They’ll be fine. They’ll figure it out. Maybe if we ignore it, it’ll go away. There’s a model in the Bible forContinue reading “This Makes Me Uncomfortable”
Raising a Child Who Learns the Hard Way
Anyone else remember Dennis the Menace or Alvin the Chipmunk and their respective guardians, who yelled so the whole neighborhood could hear, DENNNNNNNNIS! ALLLLLVIIIIINNNN! Yeah, I’ve got one of them. The child you have to watch the most when he’s with friends. The child of “You’re grounded,” and “If I have to tell you oneContinue reading “Raising a Child Who Learns the Hard Way”
When Fear Paralyzes, Love’s Got Legs
My son is afraid I’m going to die. This fear leaks out right about the time he shuts his eyes at night. He’s worried because anything can happen. Tonight’s specific “anything” is accompanied by fear of violence and death in general. He can hardly utter the words. It makes him gasp for breath, wide-eyed and choking atContinue reading “When Fear Paralyzes, Love’s Got Legs”
Just One More
I am confident that everything I have to give to my kids is never enough. All night long, they ask for things, all the things, every single thing. Just one more kiss. Just one more hug. Just one more song. Just one more book. Just one more game of tag. Just one more slow gatheringContinue reading “Just One More”
Bad People Go to Hell and Other Parental Panic Moments
My lovely blue-eyed seven-year-old daughter giggled. “Bad people go to the devil when they die,” and my charming bow-tie and button-down-shirt wearing son giggled, too, “Yeah, but we’re going to heaven because of JESUS.” I stuttered and stammered, “Well, it’s true that Jesus saves us,” I said, “but I’m not sure about the devil. It’dContinue reading “Bad People Go to Hell and Other Parental Panic Moments”
Sick Day, Part Two
I felt it coming. Something not quite right in the belly, all day yesterday. Generally someone starts to get sick within twelve hours of my husband packing his suitcase for a couple of days away on business. Someone in the house starts to cough or sniffle, or someone runs a fever, or someone spends theContinue reading “Sick Day, Part Two”
Advent Day 13: A Special Treat
Public Service Announcement: Tonight’s post is written with chocolate and merlot, preceded by a chocolate chip cookie, potentially followed by more chocolate. And more merlot. I’m not sure why tonight beat the snot out of me. Maybe several weeks of whizzing about has finally provoked the over-tired toddler in me to throw a tantrum. After IContinue reading “Advent Day 13: A Special Treat”
Advent Day Six: Don’t Color Christmas Pictures
I intended for the kids to color Christmas pictures last night for Advent but, well, it didn’t work out. Last night was Lydia’s first basketball practice. She had fun, and I’ll refrain from going into all of the details about chasing Henry up and down the hallways, blockading him from trying to run onto theContinue reading “Advent Day Six: Don’t Color Christmas Pictures”
Corrective Lenses and Parenting
I have been cranky all night and the peanut butter and banana plus chocolate dessert is not helping. It is a shame, too, because it’s just about as perfect of a night as there could be in mid-June. It is still light at 8:30 and the neighborhood is milking every last second of daylight. TheContinue reading “Corrective Lenses and Parenting”
Sarah Marie Wells 