I sat in the car waiting for my daughter to finish her music lesson, come into the parking lot, and hop into the car. While I waited, one of her friends walked into the parking lot, briefly looked around, and began walking in my direction. She stared at her phone as she walked, thumbs quickly...

Family Shepherds Grace

October 6, 2012

Where are You on the Parenting See-Saw?

by John Salmon

Do you remember trying to remain balanced while standing in the middle of a see-saw? It took steady focus and constant readjustments to keep both ends of the see-saw balanced and level. In many ways, parenting can be like riding a see-saw…one minute you are up in the air, enjoying warm, loving interactions with your...

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Family Shepherds

discipline guidance love parent child relationship parenting permissive security teach

September 15, 2012

Teach My Children What? And When?

by John Salmon

Effective parents use verbal instructions as one method of teaching their children. To effectively teach our children, we have to answer two questions. First, what do we teach our children? Second, when do we teach our children? First things first–what do we teach our children? Here are 6 “what’s” that family shepherds teach their children....

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Family Shepherds

acceptance affirmation availability consequences discipline encouragement limits parenting teach time

August 5, 2012

A Parenting Lesson From Michael Phelps

by John Salmon

I watched a short interview with Michael Phelps’ coach (Bowman) during the Olympics last week. Apparently, Phelps’ coach used to create minor difficulties and problems for Michael during their training for the 2008 Olympics. “I’ve always tried to find ways to give him adversity in either meets or practices and have him overcome it,” Bowman...

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Family Shepherds

competence confidence consequences parenting struggle teach

August 5, 2012

How to Increase Your Child’s Anxiety

by John Salmon

Today I had the opportunity to speak with several teens and college age adults. Each one expressed nervous anxiety about life. Many factors contribute to anxiety in people this age. After all, they are navigating a major life transition. Everything in their life is changing. Teens and young adults search to discover their place in...

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Family Shepherds

anxiety curiosity encouragement expectations fun parenting teach

June 10, 2012

Discipline With Grace

by John Salmon

Family shepherds discipline with grace; and, graceful discipline promotes healthy relationships as well as mature behavior. Unfortunately, many families fall prey to one of two extremes when attempting to discipline with grace: grace crushing or grace manipulating. Grace crushers tend to hold legalistic expectations. Parents in grace crushing families make demands that exceed their child’s...

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Grace

discipline family relationships limits parenting permissive teach

June 2, 2012

The Good Sheperd Rule of Parenting

by John Salmon

David wrote an ancient poem describing his Heavenly Father in terms of a Shepherd. I recently read this psalm and I noticed the action words that David attributed to his Shepherd Father. The Shepherd in this psalm “makes” His sheep rest in nurturing places. He “leads” them in safe places, “restores” them, and “guides” them...

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Family Shepherds

discipline guidance parenting security teach

May 19, 2012

Teaching Your Child Perspective Taking

by John Salmon

Children are not born with the ability to see the world through another person’s eyes. They have to learn to take another person’s perspective. If they do not learn this, they grow intolerant, self-centered, and uncaring. How can a parent help their children develop the ability to see various situations from another person’s perspective? Here...

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Family Shepherds

character fun parenting role model teach

May 5, 2012

3 Ways Parents Shape Their Children’s Mind

by John Salmon

Children learn from everything their parents do and say. That is a bold and rather frightening statement; but, it is true. Parents cannot not teach, lead, and guide their children. Children are watching, listening, and learning from their parents every moment of every day. Children learn to show politeness, express gratitude, and practicing kindness by watching...

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Family Shepherds

gratitude parenting role model teach

April 28, 2012

The 5-Fold Mission of Parents

by John Salmon

Parents, your mission should you choose to accept it, is to prepare the way for your children as they mature. This mission will involve the following steps. · Explore the community in which you choose to raise your children. Identify your allies and locate the safe areas in your neighborhood. Your allies can support...

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Family Shepherds

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Family by God's Design

Family by God's Design

Family by God's Design

That Was Awkward…

Where are You on the Parenting See-Saw?

Teach My Children What? And When?

A Parenting Lesson From Michael Phelps

How to Increase Your Child’s Anxiety

Discipline With Grace

The Good Sheperd Rule of Parenting

Teaching Your Child Perspective Taking

3 Ways Parents Shape Their Children’s Mind

The 5-Fold Mission of Parents