All Articles for Parenting

Is Going to Church Important For My Children...

Mom rushed around the house, busy getting both herself and a 2-year-old ready. Going to church has always been a weekly occurrence for my family, but this morning, unusual events spoiled the normalcy—I shoved Fruit Loops up my nose. Mom worked to remove them all before leaving, but there wasn’t enough time. The reality: I […]

Welcome to the Club (of Dysfunctional Parent...

I’m my kids’ father, not their God. I don’t need to model perfection. My failures give me the chance to model repentance, faith, and growth.

Anyone Can Be a Father: Thoughts on Being a...

It dawned on me how much my boys need a father. But anyone can be a father—my boys need a dad. All those years, I needed a dad.

Why Homemaking Is More Than Scrubbed Toilets

Are clean countertops and a warm meal that big a deal? Homemaking—no matter your gender—might mean more than you think.

4 Ways Scripture Music Can Deliver Our Child...

With my son’s nightmares punctuating our nights, I knew we needed to hide the living and active Word of God in his heart.

A Christian home: Where do I start?

If you’ve grown up outside of a Christian home, it can be straight-up intimidating to try to raise your children to follow Jesus.

In This Home…

In this home, we’ve found that sometimes you need to say no to the good, to make room for the best.

How To Help Your Grieving Child Through Loss

You don’t have to take away your grieving child’s pain. When they come to you with a heavy heart, help carry it as our Father does for us.

6 Things To Do With Teenagers To Love Them W...

Knowing what to do with teenagers to tighten your bond isn’t always easy. But teens don’t need us less as they get older … just differently.

Talking To Your Kids About Cohabitation

Children are remarkably intuitive when it comes to what makes sense and what doesn’t … even on more mature topics like cohabitation before marriage.

Sibling Relationships: Raising Kids Who Beco...

Glancing back at what contributed to my friendship with my sister, here are five key influences that shaped sibling relationships in my home.

helping children with anger issues

Anger Issues: How I’m Helping My Kids…an...

Anger issues make our homes feel like an emotional battlefield. But with planting and perseverance, we may discover the field we’re on is actually a garden.

How to raise a boy to be a man

How to Raise a Boy to be a Man

Boys will be boys, unless we train them to be men. Here are some principles to keep in mind as you raise a boy to be a man.

Father and son sitting together smiling

5 Ways My Dad Helped Me Transition into Adul...

As I made the transition into adulthood, I knew I could always count on my dad. Here are five ways he helped me grow as I became a young adult.

Need Stability This School Year? Look to Scr...

Every school year has its challenges, but this year is one of a kind. Are you and your kids feeling a bit tossed about and in need of an anchor?

Sharing the Load for Back to School

After a pandemic-filled year, back to school is offering its own challenges. But sharing the load with your spouse might be the key to surviving.

what will school look like

What Will School Look Like? 4 Ways to Pray

Many are anxiously wondering, “What will school look like this fall?” With all the uncertainty, here are four ways to pray for your decisions.

The Five E’s of Strength Identification

From Analyn and Brandon Miller's interview on FamilyLife Today® on June 1-2, 2020.

stressed kids

Stressed Kids: 4 Questions to Ask Them

School closings, changes to home and learning routines, and anxious parents. Right now, even the most resilient children can turn into stressed kids.

Working With Kids at Home During COVID-19

Working With Kids at Home During COVID-19

Crusted cereal bowls. Kitchen counter desks. Bed sheet forts just out of conference call camera view...How do we keep up working with kids at home?

How to Homeschool During Quarantine

How to Homeschool During Quarantine

Even if you’ve never done this sort of thing before, you can trust your instincts about what your child needs. No one knows your child like you do.

Talking to your kids about the coronavirus

Talking to Your Kids About the Coronavirus

As COVID-19 shutdowns continued, we realized ongoing conversations with our kids were a must. But first, we needed to talk to each other.

tell our kids about our past

Should We Tell Our Kids About Our Past?

Mistakes and pain can label us. But if we tell our kids about our past we show them ways we are overcoming. Our kids need to know that too.

Terrified to Be a Mom

I Was Terrified to Be a Mom

Would I prepare my heart for God to do something new, or would I let old labels and seasons paralyze me?

How I Overcame Fear as a Mom

Our unknowns are known by God, and the very moments we think are scary are opportunities for growing our faith.

peer pressure

When Peer Pressure Starts Too Soon

Peer pressure can be subtle. Other times your child's friend sports a Michael Kors bag. Or their second grade class splits into boyfriend-girlfriend duos.

Disciplining Kids at Grandma’s

3 Easy Rules for Disciplining Kids at Grandm...

“No jumping on Mimi’s couches. No snacks in the living room.” Welcome to disciplining kids at Grandma's. But whose rules do you follow? Yours or Mimi's?

kid wants a cell phone

Your Kid Wants a Cell Phone for Christmas

I wanted to be shocked that my 5-year-old kid wants a cell phone. But it’s the world we live in. Mandy at NextTalk says the digital world changes parenting.

strong woman

A Letter to my Daughter: Be This Kind of Str...

No one tells you all your dreams can’t fit in one life. You may wonder if a strong woman follows or leads. Is she in the boardroom or the kitchen?

children

For When You Wonder If You Push Your Kids To...

Do my high expectations create a stressful environment? Am I helping my kids succeed? Or am I hurting their chances of experiencing the joys of life?

outrage culture

Raising Kids in Outrage Culture

Americans choose sides as if the entire country is getting a divorce. Shouting in ALL CAPS. Colorful @#$% thrown in. Outrage culture is our world today.

motherhood

How Motherhood Has Changed Me

I spent most of my 20’s trying to be someone else. Finally marriage, motherhood, depression, and my 30’s forged my self-discovery and acceptance.

Guiding Your Children Through a Difficult Move

Guiding Your Children Through a Difficult Tr...

The move from New York to Arkansas was painful for our family, but the journey taught us a few things.

college student parents

What College Students Want Parents to Know

The college years can be a tricky transition not just for students, but for their parents as well.

foster care

I’ve Known My Preteen Daughter for One...

My daughter Sam is 12, but I’ve only known her for a year. No one’s story is as straightforward as it may seem. Families are made in many ways.

a teacher at her desk

4 Ways I’m Praying for My Kids’ Teachers...

Their teachers have encouraged their strengths (and helped them find them), instilled confidence, prayed for them, praised them, and lovingly disciplined them when necessary. “Thanks” just doesn’t seem enough.

husband parenting

I Couldn’t Believe My Husband Said That!

Later that night I told my husband thank you. “What you did this afternoon changed our whole day. Thanks for saying what you said and doing what you did.”

millennial parents

5 Things Millennial Parents Are Doing Better...

Research shows millennials may be the most family-oriented generation in the last 50 years. Millennial parents are changing the norm to raise healthy kids.

kids

How I Became Okay With My Child Being Just M...

I’ve been a high achiever all my life. I didn’t expect a kid with meltdowns, dismal spelling tests, embarrassing social skills. I had to get over myself.

Saying yes to our kids

Saying ‘Yes’ to Help Our Kids Fe...

As a mom, I am guilty of saying no too often simply out of laziness. Even though saying yes would delight my kids, I let my selfishness get in the way.

parenting fear

When Fear for Your Child Is Real

When you’re picking out little baby outfits, you don’t anticipate someone telling you, years later, your teenager may have lymphoma.

fatherhood

The Song That Haunts My Fatherhood

As a kid, I identified with the boy in the song who wanted more of his Dad’s attention. 30 years later, I was the dad leaving my son wanting more.

make Summer memories

3 Fail Proof Ways to Make the Most of Summer

You can be intentional with your kids over the summer. Here are 3 ways (+ a printable) to help you pull off a meaningful summer.

teaching respect

Teaching Respect: 8 Tips for a Snark-free Su...

Requiring respect is a gift we give our kids (and ourselves!). But in a parenting age aiming to be gentler and more aware of kids’ emotions, it's not easy.

teenage social responsibility

Teaching Our Teenage Girls the Truth of Soci...

Unlike the advice of Teen Vogue that robs teenage girls of their value, true advocacy and social responsibility should be in God-glorifying ways.

elementary crush

‘Audrey and John Sitting in a Tree ...

My son's first day of first grade introduction worksheet: What do you like to do with your friends? His answer, in wonderfully legible pencil: Chase girls.

graduation

When Your 18 Summers Are Up

Right now there’s a mom whose 18 summers are up with her child.18 sounded plenty when empty sippy cups scattered the backseat. Now 18 doesn't feel enough.

choosing Christianity in college

7 Ways to Know if Your Kids Will Choose Chur...

You've detected trends that are leading your kids away from church in college. But, let's be honest. Kids do what they like. Why can't that be church?

mom helping child to ride a bike

Don’t Let Fear Control Your Motherhood

When fear and anxiety threaten to take control of how I parent my children, I remind myself of four truths.

graduation

Is Straight-to-College the Best Path for Hig...

Changes in educational costs and in the job market should prompt teens and their parents to consider some great alternatives to college.

sleepovers

Sleepovers—Bad Idea or No Big Deal?

Spending the night with friends seems like a normal part of growing up. But my wife and I wonder: should we let our kids go to a sleepover?

Having 'the Talk' With My Daughter Had a Surprising Outcome

Having ‘the Talk’ With My Daughter Had a...

Our Passport2Purity® weekend didn’t go anything like I had planned, but what came out of it was even better.

graduates

7 Do’s and Don’ts for Parents of Gra...

For 18 years, you have parented through a maze of joys, laughter, confusion, and even bruises. Now your child is a graduate. You have big changes ahead.

raising boys

How to Train Your Boys to Be Men

I have three sons. My oldest still wets the bed. My youngest says two words. They're just boys. How do I start this whole "man-thing"?

stressed teens

Are We Pushing Our Kids too Hard?

My kids need to see that their value isn’t tied to their grades or what school accepts them. I need to encourage them to follow God’s design and purpose for their lives and not insist they conform to a specific formula for success.

concept of sin

Does Raising Children with a Concept of Sin...

One woman says her upbringing was based in fear and shame because of the concept of sin. God was a megaphone in my head: “You’re bad, you’re bad!”

body image

Teaching Our Daughters Positive Self-Talk

When my 6-year-old daughter with long, lanky legs called her thighs fat, I knew something had to change. I didn't know body image issues would come so early.

teaching kids about money

One Dollar = One Taco: Easy Money Lessons Ov...

In a first world country, our kids know that everything they could ever want to buy is accessible. How do we teach them the value of things and money?

Dear Mom, Thanks for the Real Moments of Motherhood

Dear Mom, Thanks for the Real Moments of Mot...

Here’s to our mothers. Thanks for letting us see you struggle, ask for help, and never give up on the ones you love.

Foster Care

Why I Decided to Foster a College Student

For one couple, becoming foster parents happened in a really unexpected way.

Single Mom Mother's Day

To The Single Mom on Mother’s Day

I see you, single mom. I know you’re out there and you may be struggling today on Mother's Day. You deserve this day the most.

working mom

Viral Rant “Society to Working Moms” Tot...

While we might relate to the laundry list of women pressures, we have to be honest about why working moms and our husbands believe them.

5 Reasons Your Preteen Needs You

5 Reasons Your Preteen Needs You

Children this age are unique because they still invite participation and closeness with parents—an attitude that will be changing soon.

Making Your Home a Sanctuary for Your Family

You can make your home a place of peace and safety for you and your spouse and kids. Here are some ways to create the setting.

stressful work day

How to Not Lose It on Your Kids After a Stre...

I shudder at the times I’ve acted irritably toward my kids because I was still stressed from work. How do we come home as the loving parents we want to be?

Negotiating Parental Leave

Negotiating Parental Leave for the Working M...

Who is responsible for making ends meet when a new baby joins a family – the new parents, their employers, or the government?

Snowplow parenting

You Might Be a ‘Snowplow Parent’...

Many parents fall into the well-meaning mishap of clearing an easy path for their kids, regardless of the cost. Have you?

Parenting Teens

When to Tell Your Kids About Your Past

How much should you tell your kids about the mistakes you've made in the past? Pastor Drew Hill believes parents should unveil some of the ugliness in our lives ... to show what God has done.

Should We Have Kids?

Many married couples are putting off the decision on whether to have children ... and an increasing number choose to not have any.

Teaching Our Kids Not to Be Bystanders to Bullying

Teaching Our Kids Not to Be Bystanders to Bu...

Most kids on today’s campuses probably fall into the category of “bystander.” They know they should probably do something, but they don’t.

mom talking with child

Have You Talked to Your Kids About Sex?

The sex talk and gender conversations in your home don’t have to be big, awkward productions. But they do need to happen. The sooner the better.

Good Parenting

When Parenting Isn’t Popular

Making responsible, though not always fun, parenting decisions pays dividends and yields goodness that lasts well beyond the moment.

working mom

A Day in the Life of a Working Mom

Making memories, passing on our faith to the next generation, is what our moments are made of. I try to focus on fully living in every single one.

College Admission Scandal

Lessons From the College Admissions Scandal

These parents wanted the best for their children. But is any college worth what those families are facing now?

Spring Break Memories

Spring Break Is for Making Memories

Staycation or vacation? Either way spring break is a time to take advantage of for having fun and creating family memories.

baby shower

Every Expectant Mom Deserves a Baby Shower L...

One of the greatest lessons motherhood is teaching me is that I cannot do it alone. Baby showers remind us of the help we need from family and friends.

Mom, Kind Is the New Skinny

What if our generation of moms decided to love the mom bods we’ve got? Motherhood puts a glow on any woman! It’s a look that’s well worth the wear.

Helping your child think missionally

Helping Your Children in the Discovery of Th...

From a FamilyLife Today^® broadcast, a list of ideas to help your kids think missionally about life.

Birthday parties

When Everyone Gets Invited to the Birthday P...

My kid's birthday party means I include and find commonalities with nearly total strangers. And it’s a really beautiful thing.

avoiding drama

5 Ways to Avoid Being a Drama Addict

Moms today have enough on their plates without adding unnecessary drama to the list.

Let’s Turn the Helpless Into Heroes

I’ve always believed that’s what birth mothers really are—heroes.

Helping Your Family Understand Racial Reconciliation

Helping Your Family Understand Racial Reconc...

We cannot live redemptive lives and hate our neighbor. Diversity in relationships not only shows unity to the world but also builds in our own hearts a love for others.

Helping your child choose a college

Questions Every Parent Should Ask Their Kids...

In order for your teenagers to be able to make adult-level decisions, they need guidance. You can help them by asking good questions.

Asking my kids for forgiveness

Asking Forgiveness From My Kids … Agai...

My kids need to grow up with the knowledge that I require a Savior just as much as they do.

Grieving after a tragedy

Riding the Two Rails of Grief: Faith and Suf...

After the unexpected death of our son, my wife and I learned that faith informs pain, but it doesn’t erase it.

single parenting

‘Mom, I Am Their Father’

I finally realized that my children had all the father they needed; all I had to do was point them to God for their needs.

Talking to Your kids about mass shootings

8 Suggestions for Talking to Your Kids About...

Talking to my kids about shootings doesn’t come easily—how do I answer questions about things I don’t understand myself?

Body image

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, How Should Mama...

How do we treat ourselves well while also remembering that God cares more about our hearts? Can we keep our hearts pure but also enjoy fashion?

Gender-Neutral Parenting Isn’t for Me

My husband and I are raising our daughters to identify with who God designed them to be, embrace the characteristics He gave them, and develop confidence in the goodness of their Maker.

Why Your Relationship With Your Child Matters

Why Your Relationship With Your Child Matter...

You have the privilege of growing a child who knows the love of God personally and knows how to love people well.

Would You Say Yes to Becoming an “Inst...

Is foster care messy? Of course. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

How Can I Let Go of the Mom Guilt?

How Can I Let Go of the Mom Guilt?

Guilt doesn’t freshen us and give life—it suffocates us and takes more than we have to give.

6 Tips to Reduce Stress for Working Moms

6 Tips to Reduce Stress for the Working Mom

When my youngest started preschool, I took my first job outside the home in nearly 10 years. I was frazzled, guilt-ridden, and late everywhere I went.

Investing Time With Your Children

Investing Time With Your Children: The Chall...

The time we have with our children before they enter into adulthood is limited. We have a responsibility to use it well, with a heart of wisdom.

Your most important job as a parent.

Your Most Important Job as a Parent

Teachable moments are opportunities for us to imprint God’s values on the next generation.

two elementary-school boys looking out a car window

Three Times a Day to Intentionally Connect W...

Consider mornings, mealtimes and bedtime as opportunities for making a heart connection with your child. And trust that God, in His sovereignty, will fill the gaps in between.

wine corks

Can Mommy Have a Drink?

Pretty much everyone has an opinion on "mommy wine culture." Here's a few factors to consider if you're thinking about sipping a glass.

What I Wish Drew Brees Had Whispered to His...

I want more for Drew Brees and his sons than just what they can earn. And Jesus offers more.

The Art of Parenting

God Used a Parakeet to Love Our Daughter

Of all the stories about raising six children we’ve told over the years, this is probably our favorite.

Smartphone addiction in kids

My Son Was Addicted to a Smartphone

The patterns I saw in my child’s behavior opened my eyes to the damage my phone had done.

A Pop Star’s Surprising Perspective on Pur...

While my generation will associate Michelle Williams with suggestive song titles, the next generation might associate her with something entirely different—being a champion for the biblical model of marriage.

Cancel Family Dinner

Should Your Family Cancel Dinner?

It’s not always practical to eat dinner as a family. The solution? Give yourself and your family some grace and cancel dinner tonight.

Smartphones for Smart Families

Smartphones for Smartfamilies

We advise against giving your children a phone if you are not ready to have a conversation with them about it multiple times a week for multiple years.

Saturdays are for Family

Saturdays Are for Winning

Instead of my husband abandoning us for the woods or holing up in a man cave glued to ESPN, we’ve made fall Saturdays family days.

Momcations

Yes, Momcations are a Thing

Kid-free trips either alone or with girlfriends is an idea I can get behind.

Your Child is Not the Enemy

Your Child Is Not Your Enemy

Here are eight ways we can fight for, not against, our children in their hard-to-handle moments.

Preparing Your Teen for LGBT Discussions

Questions to Ask Your Teen About LGBT Issues

A list of questions to help you engage your teens about their beliefs on LGBT issues.

Preparing Your Teen for LGBT Discussions

Preparing Your Teen for LGBT Discussions

Five steps to prepare them to withstand peer pressure, stand with the truth, and display the love of Christ.

7 ideas for engaging with your kids this Summer.

7 Ideas for Engaging With Your Kids This Sum...

The school year is filled with other obligations, but the summer belongs to us.

Child

I Want My Child to Be an ‘Alien’

Helping a child understand this world is not our home.

Respecting Your Son’s Desire to Provide an...

God put inside every boy something that stirs him to be brave and protective.

Applying the gospel to parenting

Parenting Is Not About Raising Well-Behaved...

If you view your kids as sinners who need salvation, you’ll see parenting as a rescue mission.

Don’t Do Motherhood Alone

Having another mom who’s already been through both the calm and rough waters of your current stage in life can be a beautiful gift from God. Here are some suggestions for finding that kind of mentor.

50 Things You Can Say to Make Your Child Fee...

A list for parents who want their children to know their love and God’s love.

Bibles verses to teach my children

Verses From The Book Of Proverbs To Teach Yo...

These verses can become the centerpiece of kitchen table discussions and a tour guide for difficult conversations.

25-things-a-dad-should-teach-a-boy

25 Things a Dad Should Teach a Boy

Use this helpful list as a springboard for spending quality time with your sons.

Becoming a Mom A Process of New Discovery

Facing the upcoming birth of our first baby has caused me to struggle with my change in identity … but perhaps it isn’t a “new” identity after all.

Can a Mom Be Too Close to her Daughter?

We all want connection with our daughters, but when we become overly close, it can hinder their transition to adulthood.

Parenting a strong willed child

Discipline for the Strong Willed Child

My son, Aaron, taught me valuable lessons on how to choose my battles … and win them.

Dating as a single parent

11 Best Practices for Dating as a Single Par...

Dating for two is difficult; dating in a crowd is downright complicated.

Parenting teenagers

Establishing Dating Guidelines for Your Teen

What role should parents play to steer a child away from the traps in the most popular sport for many teens—the dating game?

a surprising antidote for sibling rivalry

A Surprising Antidote for Sibling Rivalry

Teaching your children to help others is a lifetime gift to them and to everyone they encounter.

Q&A: How do I stop my child from cursing...

Don't ever think that training your child's language is in vain.

3 Truths We Need to Teach Our Kids About Bei...

Filling our hearts and minds with the things of God will quench the hunger that the world cannot.

They-Didnt-Know-How-to-Have-the-Talk-With-Their-Kids

They Didn’t Know How to Have ‘Th...

How Doug and Deb Gulbranson used Passport2Purity® to teach their children about the pressures they would face as teenagers.

Parenting

Talking to Your Kids About Transgender Issue...

Your kids will encounter this issue someday. How will you handle their questions?

5 Reasons to make family worship a priority

5 Reasons to Make Family Worship a Priority

The practice of family worship is a crucial discipline for spiritually healthy families.

5 ways my parents shaped my spiritual life

5 Ways My Parents Shaped My Spiritual Life

My parents showed me how to walk as a believer and honor Christ in all things.

Teaching children about God

Teaching Children About Having A Heart That...

Here’s a ‘game’ I developed to help my kids understand spiritual priorities as they begin to face the pressures and temptations of their world.

training our children to pray

Training Our Children to Pray

Rather than only teaching them simple prayers they can memorize and recite, we need to intentionally educate our children about what prayer should look like.

Disciple my children

4 Reasons You Should Intentionally Disciple...

If you don’t shape your children, with God’s help, the world will.

5 Things We Can Do to Build Up Marriage

“I sat down to type a scathing rant about gay marriage,” wrote blogger Matt Walsh. “I sat down to tell the world that gay marriage is the greatest threat to the sanctity of marriage. But then I remembered … a sign I saw on the side of the road a little while back. Divorce for sale! […]

Mom playing with kids

Not Every Mom Must Be a Natural Homemaker

Sincere love and an emotional haven are worth so much more than a perfect house and a gourmet meal.

Families in America

What Is Your Family’s ‘Brand’?

An important part of parenting is determining who you are, what things you stand for, and how you’ll pass those values on to your children.

Old typewriter and glasses on wooden desk – FamilyLife Articles

Stories of HomeBuilders

The Art of Marriage® Couples devotionals FamilyLife eMentoring™ Global Outreach HomeBuilders Couples Series® Military Passport2Purity® Preparing for Marriage Resurrection Eggs® Weekend to Remember® marriage getaway What God Wants for Christmas® At FamilyLife, we love to tell how God works through ordinary people to changes lives for eternity. And we’re so encouraged by the men […]

helping-your-children-put-their-trust-in-christ

Helping Your Children Put Their Trust in Chr...

Your calling as a parent is to model a faith that is authentic and strong.

Godly legacy

Keeping Your Family Stable in an Unstable Wo...

Four practical suggestions for facing uncertain times with faith and courage.

raising-kids-in-an-anything-goes-culture

Raising Kids in an ‘Anything Goes̵...

In the minds of most teenagers, there is no universal standard for sexual morality of absolutes beyond a person’s own view as to what makes sexual activity right or wrong.

5-prayers-for-prodigals

5 Prayers for Prodigals

Even when we see no visible evidence, we can trust that God is at work.

a-safe-house-begins-with-you

A Safe House Begins With You

Your love for your child should define your relationship—just as God’s love defines His relationship with us as His children.

2 Simple Ways to Teach Respect to Young Chil...

Training preschoolers can be overwhelming, but starting small will build a strong foundation for more lessons to come.

pointing-your-children-to-god-when-they-fall

Pointing Your Children to God When They Fall

As much as we hate it, our children lose control, make poor choices, and deal with shame, grief, and remorse. That’s when they need you the most.

raising-sons-during-the-crisis-of-manhood

Raising Sons During the ‘Crisis of Man...

It's a daunting era to raise a son into a man, but here's a game plan for shaping growing boys into godly men.

25-ways-to-spiritually-lead-your-family

25 Ways To Spiritually Lead Your Family

Ideas for men who want to leave a spiritual legacy.

Impatient mom

My Big Flaw: I’m an Impatient Mom

When I'm in a hurry, I tend to plow over my children.

Parenting

Disciplining Your Children Is Challenging, b...

Seeing the fruit of correcting your children requires delayed gratification.

8-ways-to-be-a-super-mom

8 Ways to Be a Super Mom (Not Supermom)

There is no such thing as a superhero mother. Here’s how to stop trying to do it all and start learning to be you.

my-suprising-secret-to-success-as-a-mom

My Surprising Secret to Success as a Mom

Truly excelling as a mom is not about showing our kids how amazing we are, but how much we need Jesus.

the-seasons-of-motherhood

The Seasons of Motherhood: Recognizing Chall...

Looking back on my life, I have found one of the most helpful ways to gain perspective on your current situation is to see life in terms of seasons.

Teenagers and faith

10 Ideas to Challenge Your Teenage Son to Ma...

Here are a few steps you can take to create the right environment for your son to grow in his faith while he’s still living in your home.

discipline-and-trust-go-hand-in-hand

Discipline and Trust Go Hand in Hand

Just as failing to discipline your children will lead them to running the house, failing to trust your children will lead them to leaving the house.

you-will-always-be-your-daughters-first-love

You Will Always Be Your Daughter’s Fir...

As a father, you need to love her not only when she is your sweet, affectionate girl, but also when she’s a real pain in the neck.

when-your-kids-ask-how-far-can-i-go

When Your Kids Ask, ‘How Far Can I Go...

Helping your children understand God’s design for sex … and how to save themselves for marriage.

I Thought I Married the Wrong Person

Editor’s note: This article was adapted from the story of a woman who attended one of FamilyLife’s I Still Do™ events between 1999-2002. As we prepare to hold three new I Still Do events this summer and fall, we thought you’d be encouraged by this testimony about the importance of the marriage covenant. Soon after […]

who's running things around here

Who’s Running Things Around Here?

The undeniable fact is that God expects parents to lead the family.

helping-your-teenage-daughter-become-a-woman

Helping Your Teenage Daughter Become a Woman

Here are five questions to consider as you seek to help your daughter grow in godliness.

Families and faith

Making Your Home a Hub of Faith

Ideas for creating a gravitational pull that brings family members closer to each other and to God.

Chores for children

Teaching Toddlers to Do Chores

As parents we can grow accustomed to doing everything for our young children and lose the opportunity to teach them responsibility.

3 ways to bring your children to Jesus

3 Ways to Bring Your Children to Jesus

While we should strive to be a godly example by the way we live, we must be proactive in teaching our children about God.

father and daughter laying on their stomachs on the floor looking at a book together.

5 Important Scriptures for My Family

My desire is to incorporate these truths into the fabric of my family’s values.

8-creative-ways-for-dads-to-spend-time-with-their-toddlers

8 Creative Ways for Dads to Spend Time With...

Quality time speaks love to a young child.

Family busy with activities

Lessons From a Basketball Coach: The Value o...

How the high school coach of NBA star LeBron James teaches his players about the value of serving others.

Are-you-a-mean-mom

Are You a “Mean Mom”?

The definition of the word mean is to be unkind or malicious. But a good mean mom defines the word quite a bit differently.

Can You Balance Work and Family

When we learned that the nature of parenting is sacrifice, we went from trying to have it all to having everything that matters.

Q&A: Disciplining a Child in Public

Letting your child know your expectations before you go out in public together can act as a deterrent to inappropriate behavior.

Talking to my teen about sex

Q&A: Waiting Until Marriage

Just because you failed in the area of sexual purity doesn't mean you can't be committed to upholding God's standard for your kids.

Doing Nothing Is Not an Option

Marriages and families were dishonored on Presidents’ Day when AshleyMadison.com, the online dating site that promotes adultery and extramarital affairs, launched its latest national campaign for infidelity. One of the billboards landed in my community, only miles from FamilyLife headquarters … and my home. The billboard boasts, “Who said cheaters never prosper? Happy Presidents Day!” […]

more-than-a-backpacking-weekend

More Than a Backpacking Weekend

My wife and I hoped that by the end of the Passport2Purity weekend our son would be seeing things about life more clearly.

A Final Gift to a Grieving Wife

Fifteen years ago last month, my brother was killed. A drunken driver cut short his life as he pulled a late-night shift for a fellow police officer in Hawaii. Jay took every opportunity he could to earn enough money to move his wife and two young children from their apartment into a real home. He died […]

25-summertime-ideas-to-keep-your-kids-occupied

25 Summertime Ideas to Keep Your Kids Occupi...

A compilation of creative tips for the lazy days of summer.

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All They Could Do Was Pray

Tom and Brenda Preston waited for years for a prodigal son to come to God.

Was God Surprised When My Child Was Born?

How do we, as parents, dream new dreams for our children when we have no idea what the future holds?

Teens

5 Strategies to Win the Battle for Your Teen...

The arsenal of weapons employed against this generation of teens is unmatched in human history.

teaching kids the difference between discernment and being judgemental

Teaching Kids the Difference Between Discern...

We need to help our kids carefully discern good from evil without developing hearts that condemn others.

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Giving Your Daughter Away

Part of raising daughters is knowing that, at some point, you probably will turn your responsibilities over to another man.

why-do-so-many-kids-leave-the-church

Why Do So Many Kids Leave the Church?

Too many kids grow up seeing their parents endorsing one thing and living out another.

15 Ways to Find a Babysitter

It’s often not easy for parents to find reliable babysitters they can afford and trust.

Deserted By His Dad

Brian Yak didn’t want to get married until he had the chance to meet his biological father … and get some answers.

Absentee Parenting

6 Dysfunctional Parenting Styles

Spiritually healthy parents walk each day, step by step, with God as their guide.

faking-faith-for-18-years

Faking Faith … for 18 Years

Jessica Thompson learned that being a good kid doesn’t equal being a Christian.

Help me be a better parent

31 Questions to Help You Be a Better Parent

Answer these questions with honesty, humility, and dependence on God's power.

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Books to Read to Your Family

Here are a few Bibles and works of Christian literature that my family enjoys reading together.

Even Toddlers Can Memorize Scripture

If toddlers can memorize favorite songs and stories, why not help them learn the Word of God?

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Helping Your Children Know Their Gifts

Your job is to help your children grow into the adults God intended them to be.

capturing-the-memories-and-lessons-of-your-familys-year

Capturing the Memories and Lessons of Your F...

I lost my dad recently. He was the first really close person that I had lost, and the emotions of it all continue to be excruciating. I’ve gone through cycles of grief and sadness, feeling alone as I lost one of my biggest cheerleaders. Standing beside a casket gives an incredible sense of finality—no more […]

10 Ways to Help Parents of Children With Spe...

“Some of the greatest needs we have are understanding and friendship.”

A-note-to-jimmy-kimmel

A Note to Jimmy Kimmel, From a Fellow Heart...

Our life with Annie hasn’t been easy. But it’s been worth it.

‘I’m Sorry … It’s He...

Our journey began when doctors told us our unborn daughter would be born with half a heart. In the last year we’ve learned to rely on God’s faithfulness.

25-tips-for-avoiding-mom-burnout

25 Tips for Avoiding Mom Burnout

A list for those who—like me—struggle with overcommitting and overworking.

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5 Generations of Fathering

My ancestors have kept His commandments and have passed them on to the next generation. Now it’s my turn.

Take the Boy-Crazy Quiz

Do you trust God with your love life?

Help for Those Grieving the Loss of a Child

A list of helpful resources.

Family Recipes

Editor’s Note: Here are three recipes mentioned on the July 12, 2014, broadcast of FamilyLife This Week®. The bon bon recipe is very old; if you try to make it, we hope that you are successful and have fun! Bon Bons (Dalcie Rainey) 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup white corn syrup 1/2 cup whipping cream […]

teaching your children to be a good conversationalist

Teaching Your Children to Be Good Conversati...

Training our kids to be good conversationalists is an example of living out the second great commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Say words of praise and encouragement

Are You Blessing Your Children?

A parent can influence children to become who God created them to be—not by manipulation or force but by watering the seeds God has planted.

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Leaving a Legacy to My Children

My ancestors left me a godly heritage, and my passion is to pass that on to my own kids.

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How to Leave a Legacy in Your Home

It all begins with a foundation of God's Word.

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Taking Dad to the Super Bowl

Three players from this week’s game, and the fathers who influenced them.

if you want to tame your child's tongue, start with your own

If You Want to Tame Your Child’s Tongu...

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is disciplined speech.

murray family code

Murray Family Code

Karis Kimmel Murray describes the “Murray Family Code.” She and her husband developed these rules to emphasize practical and biblical expectations for how family members will live and treat each other.

giving-our-children-a-clearer-picture-of-God

Giving Our Children a Clearer Picture of God

God’s grace serves as the self-healing mechanism for our inadequate lenses when we fail at love, forgiveness, and grace itself.

parenting-is-a-mission-of-mercy

Parenting Is a Mission of Mercy

You are God’s first responders, called to run in with help when your child is in danger because of burning desire or an attack of temptation.

teaching-children-to-value-all-people

Teaching Children to Value All People

Christians share a common identity in Christ, which takes precedence over ethnicity and every other difference that tends to divide us.

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What Makes a Child Truly Great?

When we scutilize our parenting priorities, we often find that, although we are followers of Christ, we are also products of a compelling Western mindset.

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Controlling Your Anger

A potentially dangerous accident with my son taught me a lesson in temper management.

Back to school blues

September Blues

The kids are back at school, and I'm alone.

Will Your Kids Be Ready for the Real World?

Youth entitlement seems to have reached epidemic proportions in both my family and society as a whole.

Parenting

7 Priorities for Great Parenting

If we had only 30 minutes to talk with you, here's the advice we would pass on.

Teaching my child

It’s Up to Parents to Teach God’...

Accepting the responsibility of teaching the Bible in your home will equip your kids to live by it when they are grown.

what-does-your-child-really-need

What Does Your Child Really Need?

The importance of praying parents.

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How to Really Know Your Daughter

It was a real revelation to me that I could pursue a relationship with my daughters by dating them.

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40 Sweet Memories Mothers Long to Relive

I’ve been swept up in a wave of longing—for the old familiar, for the sweet memories of days gone by.

Moms

5 Reasons Moms Lose Patience and 5 Ways to B...

A list of ideas for developing an ever-elusive character trait.

Don’t Lose Your Cool as a Mom

Ten ideas to help you diffuse your anger when a child misbehaves.

Ever Feel Like You’re Ruining Your Kid...

One of the hardest things about raising young children is that we feel we’re making no progress.

I Said Yes to the Mess

Sometimes there are more important things than a clean house.

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Helping Your Teen Avoid the Anger Trap

Some solid convictions that we believe every family should embrace.

disciplining-your-children-without-losing-your-cool

Disciplining Your Children Without Losing Yo...

Six guidelines for controlling your emotions while correcting your kids.

20-ideas-for-busy-parents

20 Ideas for Busy Parents

Here are some tips for bringing balance to the hectic pace of life.

guarding-our-daughters-sexual-purity

Guarding Our Daughters’ Sexual Purity

A nervous father interviews his daughter's date.

It Was Time for ‘The Talk’

A Passport2Purity weekend gave me the opportunity to talk with my daughter about the issues she would face as a teenager ... and we had fun, too!

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Remembering My Daddy’s Prayer

I wondered how I could communicate biblical truth to my daughter during her bedtime prayer. Then I remembered one great phrase from my childhood.

Old typewriter and glasses on wooden desk – FamilyLife Articles

Administering Discipline for Attitude Proble...

What worked yesterday with a child may not work today, and you have to be flexible

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Q&A: Discipline for an Older Child

What’s the best way to discipline my older child? Barbara: The toddler and preschool years are a time to lay the groundwork for behavior and for moral choices in your children. Once you’ve got a problem conquered in your 4-year-old, it’s easy to think, That’s been taken care of, and my child won’t ever do […]

Teaching my teen

Teaching Your Teen to Treat the Opposite Sex...

A few specifics that teenagers need to learn about the opposite sex.

Ministering to parents

The Myth of Successful Parenting

No matter how skillful you are, only God is sovereign over your children.

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Q&A: Deciding When to Spank

How do I know when it's needed and when it isn't?

Stop overindulging children

Stop Overindulging Your Children

Advice on how to meet all their needs, but not all their wants.

5-things-all-moms-of-young-children-need-to-hear

5 Things All Moms of Young Children Need to...

Here are some things I wish I could go back and tell myself when I was a brand new mom.

Its Not Your Job to Entertain Your Children

There’s more to mothering than keeping your kids amused.

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Teaching Your Daughters to Tame Their Emotio...

A well-controlled passionate personality is a powerful thing. But a passionate personality that is unbridled can cause a world of damage.

Spiritual development

Godly legacy

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Born on Valentine’s Day With a Broken...

Stephen and Jill Kendrick's story of adopting Mia

five essentials to leaving a legacy

Five Essentials to Leaving a Legacy that Wil...

Learn how to leave your children a heritage, not just an inheritance.

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An Orphan’s Plea

What happened when a 15-year-old boy appeared in a Florida church, asking for a family.

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3 Gifts Every Dad Should Give His Kids

A father's positive presence and parental participation are huge factors in raising children who love the Lord.

Legacy

Their Greatest Legacy Is 60 Years of Marriag...

My parents’ commitment is a source of strength for their children and grandchildren.

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She Had Nobody

When Laura and Steve Byers traveled 5,000 miles to Ukraine, they didn’t know the name of the little girl they would adopt. They had no idea what she would look like, or how old she would be. And they couldn’t comprehend how much she would change their lives. “How will we know it’s her?” Laura […]

Money and budget

Should You Provide a Financial Bailout for Y...

Before you rush to fix your child's problem, ask yourself whether you are truly helping him or her.

Father and son

6 Lessons From My First 8 Months as a Dad

I felt under-prepared for my new role as a father, but I’m learning quickly

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My First Daddy-Daughter Date

The idea of taking my 4-year-old daughter on a date had never crossed my mind. It didn't occur to me that I should treat her any different from her brothers.

8-ways-to-be-a-super-mom

Give Yourself a Time Out

I can't remember the last time I've been the only one at home and really experienced silence.

determining your home values

Determining Your Core Values

A worksheet to help you determine what you believe in.

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“Don’t Sin, Dad”

It's time to start considering how the sin we tolerate in our lives is impacting future generations.

Preparing for a Successful Blend

Two tips for beginning a new marriage and a new stepfamily.

Going Back to Church

One of the hardest things I've done as a single parent

Motherhood and Loverhood

A happy love life is good for your children.

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The Power of a Lasting Marriage

"I am grateful for proof that two people can love each other for an entire lifetime."

Parenting tweens

30 Tips for Raising Middle Schoolers

Quick advice regarding various areas of your child’s life.

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Hey Mom, Who Says Things Have to Be Done the...

Make it a priority to teach your children to do things for themselves and others, even if it means those things aren’t done perfectly.

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Lies Moms Should Stop Believing

When it comes to motherhood, plenty of land mines exist that we risk stepping on.

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Q&A: Do I Have to Give Up Golf?

For too many years, husbands have abused their God-given role by eliminating the concept of servanthood from leadership.

The Death of My Unborn Child

The pain was indescribable, but somehow I found peace.

Q&A: Should Children See Parents Argue?

Kids learn how to resolve conflict by watching us do it.

Q&A: Teaching Children How to Resolve Co...

Three suggestions for modeling conflict resolution to your kids.

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Questions Your Preteen Daughter Is Asking Ab...

Relationship secrets for girls entering adolescence.

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Q&A: What to Do About Children Expressin...

Our assignment as parents is to tenderize the child’s conscience to the Holy Spirit and to the law of God.

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Q&A: The Persistent Child

Dealing with a child who makes the same request over and over again.

Q&A: The Balancing Act

How do you relieve the pressures you feel as a family?

Q&A: The Overbooked Family

How can we slow down this crazy pace of life?

Q&A: The First Kiss

I've heard some Christians lately urging their children to save their first kiss for a wedding kiss.

Q&A: Financial Planning, Kid Style

What are some ways to teach my children about money?

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Teaching Your Teen How to Properly Express A...

When your child is angry you can help him understand what hurt him and work through that issue.

Teaching Your Child How to Manage Busyness

Getting a grip on schedules and activities is a gift that will never lose its value.

teaching-your-teen-about-gods-views-on-sex

Teaching Your Child About Gods Views on Sex

God created sex, and your children need to know His purpose for it.

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Teaching Teens About Managing Anger

When your child is angry you can help him understand what hurt him and work through that issue.

Preparing for marriage

The Man Who Waited

It’s not easy to wait until marriage to begin having sex. But Tee Uzoigwe was determined to wait for God’s best.

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Are You an Approachable Dad?

Two qualities you must develop if you want your children to turn to you.

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Friend or Mom

What are you going to do with the influence you have in your daughter’s life?

Shaping Your Child’s Convictions About...

Dating can be a trap for teens.

Setting Boundaries for Your Teens

Helping your children learn to live within limits.

Setting Standards for Your Family About Subs...

Form convictions that you can hold with integrity as you shape the life of your child.

Raising Responsible Kids

Help your children take responsibility for their actions.

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Navigating the College Maze

Editor’s Note: John Bryson and Robert Lewis are co-creators of College Ready™, an innovative video-guided experience for high school juniors and seniors. John and Robert were interviewed on FamilyLife Today by radio host Dennis Rainey, and his co-host, Bob Lepine. The following was adapted from this interview: Robert: College is one of life’s most defining moments. It […]

Replace Whining With Gratitude in Your Children

Replace Whining With Gratitude in Your Child...

Combing the day for things you’re thankful for can replace your old way of seeing the world.

how-i-learned-about-the-value-of-consequences

How I Learned About the Value of Consequence...

My father loved me enough to let me feel the full extent of my actions.

Potty Training a Strong-Willed Child

You must set the rules and the boundaries, not your toddler.

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Where Conflicts Come From

Recognizing the roots in sin can head off disputes before they start.

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Mamas Hands

Remembering special moments while walking through the mall with my mother.

messy-house-ministry

Messy-House Ministry

By inviting a friend into my messy home, I gave her a way to connect with me on a real level. I extended her an invitation into my heart.

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Mothers of Courage

The protection of our lives and the lives of our children is best left in God’s hands.

Listening To the Wrong Voices

God has good reasons for wanting us to wait until marriage for sex.

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Introduction to Fatherhood

I've been told that the most emotionally stressful event in a man's life is the birth of his first child.

Is Abstinence the Goal?

Helping your child maintain innocence in a world obsessed with sex.

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What I Learned About God From My Children

God uses our children to help us learn to walk in the Spirit and build our character.

When to Say NO as a Mom

You can’t do everything. Here are nine strategies to help you set some boundaries.

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Love and Leadership for the All Pro Dad

Great organizations and great families are fueled by loving leaders.

Losing a Child at 35 Weeks in the Womb

Our daughter is in heaven, but we here on earth have have an incredible opportunity.

What Everybody Craves

A sample devotional from FamilyLife’s newly revised Passport2Purity®.

Coping With Guilt as a Single Parent

If you let guilt over divorce cripple you, it can keep you from giving your children the love they need.

‘How Far Is Too Far?’ Is the Wro...

The choice between sexual purity and sexual experimentation is an key battle for Christian youth today. This deadly trap snares millions of teens.

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How I Got Serious About Laughter

My second daughter reminded me that laughter should be an important ingredient in our family.

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How Did I End Up Being a Working Mom

We did not have a definite plan to transform desires into reality.

Talking to my teen about sex

Hooked: The Bonding Power of Sex

Why parents need to help their children navigate the sexually-charged adolescent years.

how-can-the-single-mom-do-it

How Can the Single Mom Do It?

From watching my single mother as I was growing up, and from watching many women in that situation, here are four essentials to succeed as a single mom.

Q&A: Babysitter Blues

How can we break our 3-year-old of throwing tantrums when the sitter comes over?

How Do I Teach My Kids to Handle Peer Pressu...

Dennis and Barbara Rainey, parenting, ages and stages, teens

harmless-flirting-or-sexual-foreplay

Harmless Flirting or Sexual Foreplay?

What might seem like just a sweet little encounter could be giving the guy a mixed message. And it could lead you to more sexual intimacy than you imagined.

Giving Your Children Roots and Wings

Providing the foundation children need.

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Grocery Stores, Little Bandits, and Toy Cart...

A mother reflects on the days when her daughter was young.

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Honey, We’re Going to Move

I was at a crossroad. Would I stand in the Lord's way and deny my husband this opportunity because I was afraid?

From the Valley to the Mountaintop

The birth of our twin granddaughters reminds me of the lessons God teaches us in the joys and the hardships of life.

God Is Not Threatened by My Heartbreak

When I trusted God enough to call out to Him, I learned that He wanted to share in my grief.

Guiding Your Teen Through the Dating Game

We suggest four convictions that all parents should consider and uphold.

Parenting teens

Helping Your Children Win at Purity

The battle for a child’s purity is real, and as parents it’s our task to set them up for success.

4 Countercultural Tips on Dating

Few things occupy the hearts and minds of modern young people more than dating relationships. Having a boyfriend or girlfriend strokes a lot of core needs. First, it strokes the need for significance. You can almost hear the cry for validation when you hear a teenage person say, “You’ll never guess who I dated this summer …” You feel […]

Freedom: The Teen Addiction

Learn why freedom is so important to teens and how to help them channel that freedom without causing a revolution.

Helping Your Child Resist Peer Pressure

In order to teach our children, we parents must embrace three core convictions.

Helping Your Child Set Wise Standards on Sub...

There are three critical tasks that parents must personally embrace before helping their children.

Forgiveness Is a Gift of Love

A champion gymnast learns that healing for her troubled relationship with her father takes more than hard work and determination. An excerpt from a new book, Growing Together in Forgiveness.

The Choices Fathers Make

Good parenting is often the difference in choosing between self-sacrifice and self.

the intentional mom

The Intentional Mom

Being purposeful doesn’t mean taking everything super seriously, it just means thinking about things we may not otherwise think about in the busyness of life.

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The Gumnazo Principle Child Discipline Is a...

Helping your child practice the right thing to do is just as important as identifying the wrong thing to do.

Dangers of pornography

The Dangers of Pornography

Stop the spread of slime in your home.

The New Dating Culture

Though it encourages socializing in groups, it also leads to casual sex among friends

Teaching my child

The Power of a Parent

By building your child's character, you can help shape the future.

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The Stuff Dreams Are Broken Over

Many girlhood Cinderella dreams are being dashed by teen pregnancy

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The Noblest of Callings

Contrary to what the culture might say, being a full-time mother is not settling for second best

What Will Matter 25 Years From Now?

I’m a Type-A person, and helping my girls make a dollhouse was not on my agenda for the day.

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Where Did the Time Go

Don’t waste the time you have with your children.

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The Treasures of a Child

One parent's trash is another child's treasure

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Wading Through the Baby Advice

Three lessons I learned on how not to be prepared for mommyhood.

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What I’ve Learned From My Kids

A collection of lessons from parents who have been through the battle.

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25 Ways to Address Sibling Rivalry

It's been around as long as there have been children, but what do you do when they're your children?

three-cheers-for-the-meanest-mom

Three Cheers for the Meanest Mom

The courageous choice of one mom gives us confidence to also be strong with our teens.

Which Way Is Your Deck Chair Facing

Many Christians have not taken a strong look at what they believe in.

Who is Watching You

Even if you don't intend to leave a legacy, you will.

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Three Powerful Dynamics of a Mission Minded...

God will help you focus your family toward making a strong impact for His kingdom.

Parenting

Warning: Tween With an Attitude!

God used this volatile time in my daughter's life to teach me a lesson, too.

13 Reasons-Why

’13 Reasons Why’ and the Tragedy...

The popular Netflix series seeks to address a worthy issue, but it has some troubling flaws.

13 Reasons-Why

4 Reasonable Concerns About ‘13 Reasons Wh...

Observations about the Netflix series from a junior high teacher.

do-you-know-what-your-kids-are-up-to

Do You Know What Your Kids Are Up To?

Your kids need you to hold them accountable in the area of dating.

The Tidal Wave of Media and Todays Teens

Since we live in a media-driven world, how can we stay on top of the media?

Q&A: Teaching Children to Apologize

We need to realize that we are not just asking for an apology, but we are also training their consciences.

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Fear Not Mother Fear God

Being a mother requires faith, not fear.

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Ecclesiastical Encouragement for Exhausted M...

Six lessons from Solomon's writings.

Applying the gospel to parenting

Does Good Parenting Guarantee Good Kids?

There are no foolproof methods of parenting, because there are no perfect parents.

Holy Spirit

Don’t Let Suffering Break Your Spirit

Healthy ways to deal with grief from the parent of a prodigal.

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Q&A: Neutralizing Adolescent Anger

Distinguishing between appropriate and inappropriate expressions of anger.

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Q&A: Expression vs Insolence

Copyright © 2003 by FamilyLife. All rights reserved.

Driving Privileges and Your Teen

Four lessons from a mom and dad who have been there.

You Can Do It Mom

Stay-at-home mothering doesn't have to be so hard, and you don't have to do it alone. There are resources all around you to help you be the kind of mom you want to be.

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What a Life, What a Legacy

A tribute to J.T. Walker, a man who was passionate about his God, his family, and his church.

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What Does God Think About Children?

It's time for a heart-check about children in the Christian community. Do we truly have God's heart for children? Do we really believe children are a blessing?

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We Thought Adoption Would Mess Up Our Family...

September 2006 Like many Christians I know, my wife, Erin, and I had discussed whether adoption is something we would ever do. We liked to think that we would. The topic never really came up more than a handful of times. Then some friends of ours who had adopted invited us to an “If You […]

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Why Do Traditions Matter?

Traditions are a lot like heirlooms ... both probably have come to us through our families. Some you love; you can't imagine life without them. And some you're stuck with..

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Teaching by Grace

How was I going to instruct my daughters about the importance of purity when I was so immoral as a teenager?

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Dads Daughters and Dating

Part of our responsibility as parents is to help our daughter navigate appropriate relationships, especially dating relationships.

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Where Are the Fathers

We face an unprecedented crisis in America today—the physical and emotional absence of fathers.

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Counting My Blessings

The most important task had been missing from my to-do list.

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Diagnosis: Mom Burnout

Yes, I was overcommitted and working my tail off for good, even great things. But why in the world was I doing this?

Q&A: Defeating Discouragement in Motherh...

We need to realize that emotions are a part of God’s image imbedded and imprinted within us.

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The Incredible Privilege of Motherhood

To invest your time and best efforts into children and to watch them grow, develop, and excel is to be part of the creative majesty of life itself.

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When Prodigals Come Home

Whatever their story, prodigals need a safe haven.

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Q&A: Discipline for a Young Child

What’s the best approach to discipline with my young child? Barbara: When a child is a toddler, he or she is in what I call “the training 2s.” When children are 2-5 years old, I call this the “intense training” stage. During these early years, you will notice your children becoming more defiant and rebellious—more […]

Checking Your Child’s Convictions Abou...

Keep your ears and eyes open and in tune to what’s going on in your child’s life, and to all that he is exposed to. Keep the lines of communication open.

What Are Your Standards for Dating?

The do's and don'ts of going out with the opposite sex.

Protecting Your Teen From the Busyness Trap

Children must be taught that cutting others down in any way is repulsive because every person is made in the image of God.

Conquering Cut-Downs Between Your Children

Children must be taught that cutting others down in any way is repulsive because every person is made in the image of God.

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Doing What God Wants Me to Do

They thought their "baby days" were over, but they didn't know what the Lord would do next.

Families in America

10 Ideas for Non-Digital Family Fun on Road...

Whether your family is taking a short trip to Grandma's house or a cross-country vacation in the family car, these interactive activities will help the time pass more quickly.

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Family Vacations

What would happen if families went on trips together without all the electronic distractions?

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Give Your Children You

When we give ourselves without reservation to our children, we draw them to us.

In Search of the Elusive Family Meal

Is dinnertime also family time in your home?

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On the Road Again

Early on, we realized we needed to plan our time in the car as well as we planned the activities at our destinations.

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Q&A: Making Memories With Your Children

Your family should be found guilty of having too much fun, rather than too little.

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Going Beyond God Bless Charlie

It's never too early to begin praying for your children.

how-to-pray-big-for-your-child

How to Pray Big for Your Child

Three characteristics of prayers God answers, and three characteristics to avoid.

Aggressive girls

Aggressive Girls and Clueless Boys

Increasingly, girls are aggressively pursuing boys—in high school, middle school, and even earlier—in numbers we never saw in the past.

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He Was Tired of Acting Like a Wimp

Sometimes the most courageous thing a man can do is to simply open a door.

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Q&A: A Fathers Presence

Being the father that our children need does not require perfection—it requires courage.

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Q&A: Brotherly Love

How can you best create a loving relationship between brothers?

advice-to-my-graduating-senior

Advice to My Graduating Senior

The greatest commandments are to love God and love others, but what does this look like for a college student?

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Sweet 16

A creative way to celebrate this milestone.

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Fathers Fanning the Flames of Faith

Building a simple fire pit in the backyard was key in building up the spiritual condition of our children.

I’m Not Alone in Parenting

Listening to FamilyLife Today has given me the encouragement to persevere.

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Dressed for Service Not Success

A few ideas on how parents can start cultivating an attitude of service in simple ways, by weaving threads of humility, consideration, and an "others-first" attitude into the fabric of everyday life.

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Equipping Our Children With a Map for Life

In the battle for the hearts and minds of our children, we need to recognize that they need our intentional guidance in countering the deceptions of life.

helping-your-children-understand-natural-disasters

Helping Your Children Understand Natural Dis...

Explaining natural disasters and help children work through the issues.

Praying for my child

Parental Love and Acceptance

Parental love is the first love a child experiences and the first love he (she) understands.

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Parenting Advice in a Pleasure Seeking World

How can Christian parents encourage their children to become followers of Jesus Christ?

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Peace at Home

The second requirement of teaching children to be peacemakers is to help them understand the root cause of their conflicts.

who leads family devos

Q&A: Who Leads the Family Devotions?

Dividing responsibilities between Dad and Mom.

Teach my children about God

Shaping Your Child’s Destiny

Helping children understand that significance is found in fulfilling God’s purpose for their lives.

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Should Children Be Exposed to a Relatives Li...

What kind of exposure should my children have to a relative who is in an inappropriate or ungodly lifestyle?

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Teaching Your Children to Study the Bible

What's a parent's number one need?

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Considering Adoption in the Face of Infertil...

Encouragement for those who have doubts about adopting.

Adoption

How to Develop a Bond with an Adopted Child

It begins with the process of attachment—the deep sense of belonging to each other.

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Orphans … Who Cares?

If you spend much time studying God and His priorities and passions, you will learn why caring for orphans matters to Him.

Teach children gratitude

Why We Need to Teach Our Children About Grat...

Gratitude is not natural; it must be nurtured.

Cody’s Lesson

When we got out of the car, I could tell I had picked a bad day to bring a little kid to the mall.

Kids and lying

Don’t Let Your Kids Get Away With Lyin...

Lying, no matter how small, is a big deal. If our children are going to develop the discipline to always embrace the truth, it will be with our help.

Parenting teens

Exposing Deceit in Your Teen

These steps will help you keep track of the truth.

Guiding Your Teen Away From the Deceit Trap

As we shape our children’s convictions we need to be careful to give them God’s perspective of lies, false appearances, and misrepresentations of the truth.

How Well Is Your Child Avoiding the Deceit T...

Here are some ways to test how well your child is handling the deceit trap.

Modeling a Commitment to Excellence for Your...

We need to model and teach a commitment to excellence.

Modeling Integrity to Your Child

A life of integrity is a life you can trust.

Q&A: Getting Kids to Do Their Chores

Using chores to teach responsibility.

Q&A: Helping Your Homesick Campers

This can be a time in your child’s life when she can begin to wean herself from her parents and begin to form her own identity.

Q&A: Lying and Deceitfulness in Teenager...

The child who is developing more complex thinking abilities now has a better set of tools to use in being deceitful.

Sleepover Dilemmas

Do your children know what you expect of them when they spend the night with a friend?

Teaching Your Child Excellence Through House...

Our children have approached their simple household chores with all the enthusiasm normally expressed for a root canal.

teaching your children to handle money

Teaching Your Children to Handle Money

You can use all sorts of methods to teach your children how to earn, save, invest, and spend wisely.

Values Are Your Most Important Parenting Too...

Your children are watching where you spend your time, money, and resources.

What I hope to accomplish as a mom

What I Hope to Accomplish as a Mom

Parenting isn’t just a manual task—it’s the shaping of a life.

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How Do You Want to Be Remembered?

In a FamilyLife Today interview, Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine say that all of us are called by God to leave something behind—to have an impact on the next generation.

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Modeling Godly Expressions of Anger for Your...

We need to work at modeling appropriate expressions of anger.

How UCLA coach john wooden learned about building men

How UCLA Coach John Wooden Learned About Bui...

The beloved coach was raised by a father who believed in building character.

Our Children Need Us

Our love will be the stabilizing power that I hope God will use to pull this child through these turbulent times.

Protecting Your Children From Sexual Predato...

Guidance for teaching your children to be sensitive to potential danger.

The Toddler Years

Toddlers make mothers feel like they have lost control of the family.

Calling Your Child to a Commitment to Excell...

Our children need to catch a vision for being an ambassador for Christ.

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Can You Afford to Become a Stay-at-Home Mom

Some financial advice to help you re-orient your values and save money.

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Carpool Queens and Sleepover Divas

Becoming involved in your child’s friendships can mean taking on some interesting roles.

Caught in a Tug of War

Parents often feel tired from fighting the influences of the culture, but let me encourage you to hang on.

building friendships with your young children

Building Friendships With Your Young Childre...

Eight "foundation builders" to help parents as they seek to cultivate strong friendships with their young children.

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Called to Adopt

A day full of frustrating challenges gave me a good laugh years later.

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Bringing Home a New Sibling

Practical tips for relieving some of the natural rivalry between siblings and helping them to develop an appreciation for one another.

Broaching the Subject of Masturbation With Y...

Four observations to note and discuss.

An Unexpected Gift: Raising a Child With a L...

As we learned more about our son, it felt like we were unwrapping a precious gift. Each testing day brought new insights into how his amazing brain worked.

Before the Hormones Hit

Don't waste the incredible opportunity you have during the "golden years" to prepare your children for adolescence.

Chores for children

Age-Appropriate Chores for Children

What chores can children do at specific ages? The following chart gives some ideas of what is possible.

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Are Children Boring?

In most cases I find boredom to be a function of attitude—a result of my own selfishness and lack of vision or initiative or creativity.

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Becoming a Family of Purpose

These ideas won't cure every problem in your home, but they will help you refocus on kingdom purposes.

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Answering the Call of Family Worship

Three steps that will help you spiritually invest in your family.

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Adjustment Issues

A day full of frustrating challenges gave me a good laugh years later.

Adoption

Are You Ready to Adopt?

Here are some issues to consider as you consider adding to your family through adoption.

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Balancing Work and Family

Somewhere between the deadlines and the to-do list, I'd forgotten the most important ministry God had entrusted to me: my family.

Becoming-a-real-father

Becoming a Real Father

Are you making memories with your children? Those moments may be the best times of their lives.

Teens

Avoiding the Stampede

Steering clear of peer pressure can keep your standards from being trampled.

Becoming a Cyber Savvy Parent

Your kids know all about the latest phone and internet technologies. So do pornographers. Donna Rice Hughes talks about the importance of protecting your children.

Be the Man, Gods Man

A special blessing to my sons and son-in-law.

Teach my child manners

A Biblical Approach to Manners

Manners were God's idea first.

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A Great Patriarch

God allowed me to spend a few precious hours with a husband, father, and grandfather finishing the race strong and loving his family during his last hours on earth.

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10 Ideas: Living the Gospel in Your Home

If the gospel is central to your life, it also must be central in your family.

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A Treasure to Give Our Children

We can’t take the gospel for granted; instead we need to safeguard it and deliver it unaltered to the next generation.

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A Conversation at Walmart Naming a Birth Mot...

Copyright © 2009 by FamilyLife. All rights reserved.

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Failure Reject Not Worthy to be a Mother

The story of one couple's journey from infertility to adoption.

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10 Ideas for Building Strong Bodies and Home...

Exercise can help you feel better, and also provide a great way to connect with your kids and loved ones. I well remember some childhood games of touch football with Dad and my siblings—right in front of two big magnolia trees. And who could forget the family obstacle course that Jim and my sons once […]

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10 Ideas Remembering Everyday Moments

Practical suggestions to help you remember what shapes your family’s life and legacy.

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10 Ideas Summertime Picnics

Enjoy a break from the hectic pace of life.

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‘You Are Not My Coach’

Sometimes we learn great things about life from our kids. In this case, I learned the hard way about not exasperating my son.

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A Full Drawer of Imagination

Suggestions for fostering creativity in your children.

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A Tired Angry Mom

Just because God promises us that all things work together for our good doesn’t mean all things are easy.

Loving the prodigal

A Story of Two Prodigals

Loving wayward children even when you don't approve of their behavior.

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22 Ways to Really Listen to Your Children

Be patient. Don’t complete their sentences. Let them finish, even if it seems they are rambling. Don’t interrupt. Face your child and make eye contact. Lean forward, if you’re seated, to show you’re interested. Take advantage of passive moments such as watching a video, listening to music, or sitting on the edge of their bed […]

Sabbath for mommy

A Sabbath for Mommy

A mother’s work is never done: Feed the baby, change the baby, wash the dishes, sweep the floor, cook dinner … There’s nothing worse than filling the dishwasher twice in one day only to find that there are still dishes left in the sink! Since the birth of my son, I have found myself working […]

Parenting teenagers

10 Ways Parents Embarrass Their Teens

How to prove to your kids that you're not weird.

Parenting

40 Lessons We Sought to Teach Our Children

Here's a list of values and character traits that helped us focus on biblical priorities in our parenting.

How to ruin your kid for life

How to Ruin Your Kid for Life

Ten ways to ensure that your child will not succeed.

Surviving a Strong-Willed Child

Four tips for interacting with a stubborn child.

Parenting

Taming the Wild Tongues in Your Family

Here's help if you're concerned about how your children talk to you and to each other.

5 ways to help your child develop a growing relationship with christ

5 Ways to Help Your Child Develop a Growing...

We used these ideas to help our children on their spiritual journeys.

are-you-too-concerned-with-your-childs-behavior

Are You Too Concerned With Your Child’s Be...

Many well meaning parents mistakenly focus on a child’s conduct and miss the root cause … the heart.

Teachable moments

Don’t Miss Those Teachable Moments

You never know when God will give you an opportunity to imprint His values on your children.

Parenting

Getting to the Heart of Your Child’s B...

Too many parents focus on changing a child's behavior. More important is what's going on in the child's heart.

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Helping Your Child Cling to the One True God

Parents must identify false gods in their children's lives that distract them from the truth.

Parenting tweens

10 Ideas: Connecting With Your Kids

In today’s activity-packed society, it’s more important than ever to intentionally connect with your kids.

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10 Ideas: Creating Quality Time With Your Ki...

These ideas will help you develop deeper relationships with your children despite a hectic schedule.

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10 Ideas: Enjoy Spring With Your Kids

Connect with your children by getting outside for these fun activities.

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Capturing Your Family Stories

In today's transient society, when family ties are weakening, children need to know their heritage.