Orange Parents

So when you first became a family, you likely thought that you would never have a fight.
You would be a perfect couple.
Your son would discipline himself, and your daughter would, well, never sin because she’s your daughter.
How’s that going?
Hasn’t really turned out that way, has it?
The sad reality is that every family fights. As much… [read more]

I really think we could learn a lot about friendship from our kids, especially when they are young. I’m always amazed at how easily kids can make friends on the playground, at the ball park, or in line at the grocery store. Maybe it’s just easier to strike up play when you’re younger than… [read more]

By Sarah Anderson
This past Friday, April 12, 2013, Brennan Manning, someone many would consider a giant of the faith, passed away.
I first came across Brennan Manning’s writing in high school. I checked out a book of his from the church library, because it had the word “ragamuffin” in the title—a word I’d never heard of,… [read more]

Book Review by Cara Martens
Last night, I let the kids stay up later even though it was a school night. And Saturday, I let them play video games a little longer than usual. My two kids were enjoying playing together, judging by all the belly laughs.
I could even hear them encouraging each other, instead of… [read more]

By Sarah Anderson
My husband often tells me “the happiest and healthiest people are those whose expectations meet reality.” I frequently need reminding of this. I live in expectation—anticipation—playing things out in my head of how I would like them to unfold. The problem is, as you might imagine, the more expectations I have, the more… [read more]

So this might date me, but let me tell you what it was like when I was a kid. If I got in trouble at school, I got in twice as much trouble at home. I think there are more than a few parents who remember that.
So what happened?
Consider one of CNN’s most shared articles written… [read more]

My grandmother used to tell me about a parenting strategy she used to us to get my mom and uncles to tell the truth when they were kids.
If she suspected one of her children was lying, she would line them up and tell them that she was going to inspect their foreheads. Every time one… [read more]

by Karen Wilson
Your cute innocent little children have deceived you. They are not who they appear to be! If you haven’t already caught them in a lie, chances are you will. And more than once—as toddlers, as young children, and as teenagers.
At first you might want to try to suppress laughter as you watch them… [read more]

My husband and I are short people. We knew long before each of our boys was born they didn’t stand a chance. Height was not in the cards.
Several months ago the county fair was in town, so on opening night we headed out with our family and some friends to experience what only a county… [read more]