Just because our tweens and teens have raging hormones does not mean they are not capable of controlling themselves.  We are not animals.  “We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”  We all have a higher nature.  As parents, we can help our children understand their bodies, their impulses, their attraction to others, all within a context.
Are we helping our children when we encourage them at 3, 4, and 5 to have a “girlfriend” or “boyfriend”? Does it make sense to let your tween or teen spend extended time …

I wasn’t raised as a conservative Christian.  I wasn’t raised to be political.  In my home, my parents taught me to vote for the best person for the job, listen to my own intuition - or guidance, and to adhere to a set of spiritual laws that are universal to all faiths - the virtues - to be generous, kind, moderate, purposeful, peaceful, gentle, forgiving, chaste, courteous, and the list goes on.
Unfortunately, as an adult and a parent myself, I’m fully aware that to stick up for what is “moral” …

Sad, but true.  In a recent study, researchers found that teens, ages 12-17 were twice as likely to experience pregnancy when they were exposed to television shows with sexual content compared to teens with lower levels of TV show sexual content.
Some of the shows that were listed were Sex in the City, That 70’s Show, and Friends.
What does this have to do with you as a mom of little ones??  Everything.  We are fighting a huge battle with the media as parents.  Unfortunately, I’m afraid we’re losing more than we …

It might sound crazy to start thinking about risky teen behaviors when your oldest is only 4 or you’re a mom of a cherubic 15 month old.  We have a lot of work to do if we want to keep our kids safe and connected to us through the next decade or more years.
Part of that hard work can be spread out if we understand that we play a big role in our young children’s lives.  But that only works if you are present and willing to stand up to …

We’ve all used television and computer games as a babysitter at some point as parents.  Perhaps your kids are exposed to screens daily or just once in awhile.  The way we use screen technology in our homes is personal.   You get to decide how much of it you want your kid to have.
I find that I make better choices about the amount of screen time my kids get when I’m reminded about the negative impact it has on their development and behavior.
This month I’ve focused on helping moms create …

Yesterday, I took my 5 year old and 2 year old to a toy store to pick out a birthday present for my daughter’s friend.  I’m always a bit challenged by this task.
The toys are so unappealing to me - the cheap plastic, ugly colors, and obnoxious noises.  I was surprised that even my kids weren’t that impressed with the glam and glitz of the latest fads.

The short answer? Yes.
O Thou kind Lord! These lovely children are the handiwork of the fingers of Thy might and wondrous signs of Thy greatness. O God! Protect these children, graciously assist them to be educated and enable them to render service to the world of humanity. O God! These children are pearls, cause them to be nurtured within the shell of Thy loving-kindness.
Thou art the Bountiful, the All-Loving. ~Baha’i Prayers

We all have to pick our issues as parents. We are bombarded by the media and the next big fad on the market that will make Disney or Mattel billions of dollars. I know it will be a challenge for me, especially now that my firstborn is going off to the big world of kindergarten, but I’m sticking to my convictions of no bikinis, no boyfriends, no Bratz dolls. So far, none of this has been an issue.
I. is surprisingly compliant when it comes to wearing …

“Your soul is the real part of who you are. It’s the part that God put in there and hopes you will take care of it.”
“How do I take care of my soul?”
“Well, just like a mommy takes care of a baby in her tummy by eating good foods and exercising and keeping herself happy and taking vitamins - the baby grows strong and healthy - you can take care of your soul by saying your prayers every morning and every night and using beautiful virtues like helpfulness, courtesy, …