Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Some Assembly Required

Home
Family, Parenting and Religion

2018-10-03T16:30:36+00:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

All By Themselves

Last updated on: October 3, 2018 at 4:30 pm By Sarah Hamaker

The following is an excerpt from my interview with Susan Morley on my podcast, “You’ve Got This.” When my two oldest children were around 10 and 11, I let them walk to our city library, located about a mile away. It was a route we often took on foot as a family, and the girls were more than ready to complete the journey by themselves. Armed with bags to carry books and their library cards, the pair set off as... Read more

Interview

fostering independence

2018-10-11T14:49:27+00:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Should Christians Trick or Treat on Halloween?

Last updated on: October 11, 2018 at 2:49 pm By Sarah Hamaker

The Christian’s response to Halloween can be, well, tricky. Should parents allow their children to dress up and go door to door asking for candy? Should they attend a local church’s harvest festival or trunk-or-treat event instead? And what about all those ghosts, goblins and ghouls you’ll encounter everywhere you go this month? In this week’s video blog, I talk about my own family’s approach to Halloween and why we go trick-or-treating. For more on Halloween and the Christian’s response... Read more

Some Assembly Required

trick or treating

2018-10-04T17:42:13+00:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

How to Let Your Teen Drive Without Losing Your Mind

Last updated on: October 4, 2018 at 5:42 pm By Sarah Hamaker

The following is an excerpt from my interview with David Martin on my podcast, “You’ve Got This.” My oldest turned 16 a few weeks ago, and she’s about to get her learner’s permit. I freely admit that I’m a little bit nervous about her driving. I don’t think she’ll be reckless, and I’m not overly concerned about the other drivers on the road. I am, however, a tad anxious about the actual teaching-her-to-drive part. “I was especially concerned when they... Read more

Interview

Sarah Hamaker

self-reliant teens

Some Assembly Required

teen drivers

teenagers

teens

2018-10-16T19:07:43+00:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

How To Keep Children Grounded In A Changing World

Last updated on: October 16, 2018 at 7:07 pm By Sarah Hamaker

By guest blogger, Deborah Hackett My almost 12-year-old is preparing for her fourth move, and it’ll be number three for my 10-year-old. My girls are lucky. We are a military family and have friends who’ve relocated twice that many times in the same number of years. When we moved to the East Coast, we added further uncertainty because the length of our stay was adjusted twice. On top of that, my children are used to knowing there’s a move coming... Read more

2018-10-03T16:53:08+00:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Staying Connected While Mothering

Last updated on: October 3, 2018 at 4:53 pm By Sarah Hamaker

The following is an excerpt from my interview with Sherry Kyle on my podcast, You’ve Got This. Moms can feel really disconnected from other women, whether they stay home with the kids, work from home or work outside the home. Being a mom today can be rather lonely. “I think it’s partly because social media is great for a quick contact but it’s not great for that deeper connection,” said Sherry Kyle, who writes books for tween girls, including the... Read more

Some Assembly Required

You've Got This podcast

2018-10-11T14:49:49+00:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Encouraging Moms

Last updated on: October 11, 2018 at 2:49 pm By Sarah Hamaker

Let’s stop the criticism and focus on offering moms we come into contact with encouragement and help instead. In this week’s video blog, I discuss how all too often we as mothers criticize rather than build up our fellow moms. I also challenge you to look for ways to offer a word of encouragement to the moms you come in contact with—or to provide assistance to them in the moment. Something as simple as a smile and “May I return... Read more

Some Assembly Required

2018-10-02T20:52:09+00:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Five Tips to Help Our Kids Find and Keep Friends

Last updated on: October 2, 2018 at 8:52 pm By Sarah Hamaker

The following is an excerpt from my interview with Courtney Messick on my podcast, “You’ve Got This.” When my younger daughter was in second or third grade, she went through a rough patch with a close friend—it ended up being so rough, that I separated the girls for a month. While that has since sorted itself out (my daughter and this friend are thick as thieves now), it was a rather rocky time for my daughter. “I think as parents,... Read more

2018-10-03T16:51:36+00:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Don’t Be Afraid of Temper Tantrums

Last updated on: October 3, 2018 at 4:51 pm By Sarah Hamaker

For today’s new parents, the first time their precious little angel screws up her face and lets out a wail to rival an opera singer can be extremely discombobulating. Most of the time, the mother frantically tries to figure out why her darling is screaming and flailing about like a fish out of water. The father attempts to reason with the shrieker, only to find himself thoroughly rebuffed. Finally, one parent figures out that the child wants something and usually... Read more

Some Assembly Required

temper tantrums

2018-09-26T18:37:02+00:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why Teenage Daughters Are Great

Last updated on: September 26, 2018 at 6:37 pm By Sarah Hamaker

The following is an excerpt from my interview with Elizabeth Spencer on my podcast, You’ve Got This. When you have teenagers and girls, you get sympathetic glances. I get it. People think teenage girls are drama machines. And while there is a certain amount of drama involved with ninth and tenth grade girls, there’s also a lot of joy. More joy than I thought possible. This summer, I took my daughters and one of their friends to New York City... Read more

Interview

raising kids

Sarah Hamaker

Some Assembly Required

teenage daughters

teens

2018-09-19T20:19:05+00:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Whose Grades?

Last updated on: September 19, 2018 at 8:19 pm By Sarah Hamaker

With the school year back in full swing, parents are starting to see their children’s grades, especially for their middle and high school students. With teachers sending home grades weekly, it’s tempting to become over-involved in your children’s academic success or failure. In this week’s video blog, I encourage parents to remember whose grades those are—the child’s, not the parent’s. Grades are just a letter, and yes, high school grades carry a little more weight, but to overly focus on... Read more

Some Assembly Required

teens

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was cast out with her son Ishmael?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Hagar Lot's wife Dinah Rebekah

Books by This Author Books by Sarah Hamaker

See All Titles »

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Article blog Gallery Guest blog Interview Question and answer video

Select a Month November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Family, Parenting and Religion