Family by God&#039;s Design

*To Calm A Quarrel

“A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.” (Proverbs 15:18, NIV) In our culture the demand to be heard is strong, even overpowering at times. Perhaps this demand to be heard has grown in response to a lack of listening that manifests itself in rejection, oppression, disregarding of...

Grace Honor

husband marriage parent child relationship patience wife

May 10, 2025

Lost in a Smorgasbord of Parenting

Parenting has become a smorgasbord of confusion. Reading through myriads parenting advice, you might find yourself confused about which parenting style proves most effective: gentle parenting, attachment parenting, or mindful parenting. You might fly into the role of a helicopter parent or wander into the realm of free-range parenting. In search of the perfect parenting...

boundaries connection parent child relationship parenting responsiveness

March 31, 2025

Mom’s Talking Oxytocin

Research suggests that oxytocin plays an important role in relationships. Specifically, it reduces stress and aids in developing interpersonal bonds. It also seems to contribute to building trust and social understanding across the lifespan. Isn’t that something we all want for our children? Well, I have some great news. A study published in Development and...

emotional development emotional management parent child relationship parenting

February 24, 2025

A Family Check

Take a moment and think back to the time when you were engaged and preparing for marriage. What were your dreams about marriage? How did you envision the daily life of marriage? What values and priorities did you want to live out in your marriage? Take another moment. Consider the time when you were anticipating...

Celebration

dreams emotional health family intimacy healthy development parent child relationship priorities values

February 3, 2025

Raising Supportive Young Adults

Children grow into adults. (Thank you, Captain Obvious.) We want our children to grow into adults who engage in prosocial behaviors, show empathy to others, and support others in healthy ways. A study from University of California found that adolescents who receive emotional support from family and friends became more supportive of others in young...

healthy development parent child relationship parenting support

January 20, 2025

They’re A Bad Influence on My Child

Have you ever found your children hanging out with peers you believe are “bad influences”? You might even fear those “bad influences” will get your children involved in negative behaviors. After all, most delinquent activities occur outside the home and away from adult supervision. It’s a legitimate concern. The question, however, is what can a...

friendship misbehavior parent child relationship parenting peer interactions

December 28, 2024

Don’t Be Fooled, Teens Want to Talk

The media often stereotypes teens as sullen and not wanting to talk to adults… avoiding meaningful conversations with adults 24/7/365 days a year. By twisting information to fit this stereotype, we (the adults in their lives) avoid responsibility for our part in a teen’s lack of interaction with us; and we begin to interpret a...

Family Shepherds Honor

communication curiosity parent child relationship responsiveness

December 14, 2024

An Invitation

Families benefit from phrases that begin with “Let us…” or “Let’s….” “Let us” offers an invitation to engage with one another, to do something together. It is an invitation to a deeper relationship. Sometimes the invitation accompanies fun. Sometimes the invitation comes with work. Even if the invitation suggests a work activity, it implies that...

Celebration Grace Honor

family relationship intimacy parent child relationship relationship

December 2, 2024

Relationships, Family, & Physical Health

A lot of people make a New Year’s resolution to live healthier. They make it a goal to eat better, lose weight, exercise more, or rest better. These are all positive goals that can increase physical health. However, I would like to suggest pursuing growth in an additional area that will influence physical health as...