BHWP

As I reflect on these last weeks of COVID-19 and all the catch phrases that we have come to know like "sheltering in place",  there is one that has really stuck with me.  I read that someone called this time of staying home an "unchosen pause".  No, we did not choose this virus to attack us, but we have had the time to pause and think.  I pray that your thoughts have been productive ones and that things you have gained that ar...

Fear- it is a very real emotion that can worm its way in and begin taking over and eating away at us.  The circumstances we find ourselves in right now in the world around us can lead us down a very dark pit of doubt and despair.  It reminds me of that child that is afraid of the dark or the shadows they see in their room at night that won't go away until mom or dad come in and dispel the darkness. Whether it is a light or the...

Oftentimes with children, if we can have a visual for them it might help them follow the rules a bit better.  Green light, red light, yellow light can be visual reminders that create pictures in their mind that help us and them.  It helps us to have a rule of thumb without having to shout commands at them.  If we can say, "Yellow Light" which gives them a warning, maybe we can deter the negative behavior. Or if we can offer po...

As you reflect on life, when are the times you grow the most?  Is it in the  good times when everything is going your way or is it in the challenging times when you have to pull up your bootstraps and push through.  If we are truly honest it is in the difficult times that we mature, learn and hopefully grow from experience.

The same is true for children.  If we protect our children from failure, how will they know how...

In her book, Start With the Heart, Kathy Cook shares 4 roles that parents have and must play in a child's life to boost them to success.

The first role is to be their teacher.  This is a role you have whether you want it or not.  They learn from you from the way you talk, act and react.  So we have to be on our toes as teachers everyday for our own children.

The second role we have is to be their coach.  We coach them...

According to statistics 89% of young people have devices and most children have a smart phone by age 10.5.  Between the ages of 12-17, nine hours a day are spent on social media.   That is a lot to wrap our heads around and yet whose example are they following- yours and mine?

Depression is growing in our youth and experts say the reason is their self-esteem is based on the number of followers they have.  Also,  happy time...

We are constantly learning about our children and how best to guide them and work with them.  In the book, The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias, we read children learn one of three ways typically.  They are visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners.  In other words, they take in information through one  of these ways.  The visual learner is likely one of the easiest ways to learn but we do have to see it or visualize it to gra...

Have you ever thought about being a "wall" for your child? A wall is a thing perceived as a protective or restrictive barrier.  It is firm, steady, and strong.  It does not move, but is solid, always there.

We must be that constant for our children- that immovable, consistent structure that says, " I am here no matter what.  You can depend on me, you can trust me, and I will not be shaken."  We are fiercely protective of o...

We are so happy to be back to school and into a schedule and routine.  We are eager to work with your children and watch them blossom. At our teacher in- service this year, we talked about how important it is to find the key that unlocks each child's mind and learning process.  Every child can learn, we just have to find the way each child learns and then teach in that way.  Our desire is for every child to be successful, so w...

I absolutely love this time of year - the promise of warmer weather, flowers blooming, trees budding, and new life. Children can be outside more, enjoy fresh air, and play, play, play. Let's embrace these longer days and enjoy God's amazing creation.

And, as we continue the parenting journey, remember that our children really want and need us to parent them. That is our role and responsibility. We are not called to be their f...