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Family, Parenting and Religion

2018-06-08T17:08:09+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.

What Makes a Man a Good Father?

Last updated on: June 8, 2018 at 5:08 pm By Sarah Hamaker

Being a dad encompasses more than fathering a child—it’s loving and being there for your child, even when it’s hard. No matter the personal situations, I think there are some core characteristics that make a man a good father. You might be surprised to know that I’ve been thinking more about what makes a man a good father—and that my contemplation has nothing to do with Father’s Day coming up on June 17. Rather, I’ve been thinking about fathers for... Read more

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2018-05-31T23:11:15+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.

The Witching Hour

Last updated on: May 31, 2018 at 11:11 pm By Sarah Hamaker

What can moms and dads do to help their children be obedient and pleasing to be around during the hours of 6 to 8 p.m.? That’s a recent question submitted by a dad, who added that “we find that at the end of the day the children are wound up and tired, usually leading to lots of fussing, rough play, and disobedience. My wife and I are also tired at the end of the day and it would help if... Read more

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witching hour

2018-06-04T00:39:46+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.

Teaching Conflict Resolution

Last updated on: June 4, 2018 at 12:39 am By Sarah Hamaker

Have you ever looked at your kids fighting and seen an opportunity for personal growth? Most parents don’t view tussles between their offspring as anything but disruptive and damaging to the family. However, teaching our children the proper and biblical way to handle conflict can restore peace to our homes and set our kids on the path to relationship success. Children will experience conflict—in the home, at school, with friends, on the playground, on sports teams, etc. If we always... Read more

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2018-05-31T21:48:45+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 You Explain Decisions to Kids?

Last updated on: May 31, 2018 at 9:48 pm By Sarah Hamaker

How should parents react when their child isn’t happy with their decision? One parent recently asked me for talking points to explain why her 8-year-old son couldn’t play the “Call of Duty” video game. But talking points aren’t going to get you where you want to be. By the way her question was worded, I could tell that what she wanted is with the “right” explanation that, when she presented it to her 8-year-old son, he will look at her... Read more

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2018-04-25T21:40:45+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.

The Young Entrepreneurial Spirit

Last updated on: April 25, 2018 at 9:40 pm By Sarah Hamaker

Kids have great ideas about how to earn some extra cash. How can you encourage your kids to develop their own entrepreneurial spirit? When I was 12, I wanted to have my very own newspaper route delivering the Progress-Index, a daily afternoon newspaper in Petersburg, Va. But because of my tender age, my mom called the carrier supervisor on my behalf to vouch for my dependability. The carrier had informed my mom that I would be the youngest person... Read more

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teens

2018-05-17T23:38:01+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.

Give Your Kids the Freedom to Roam

Last updated on: May 17, 2018 at 11:38 pm By Sarah Hamaker

Free-range parenting is back in the news, after Utah’s new law allowing parents the freedom to let their kids walk home alone from school or play by themselves at the neighborhood park. While it does seem rather silly to have a law that says “you know your kids best and what they’re capable of doing by themselves,” it’s refreshing that a state is supporting parental rights. But this law also recognizes that our children are so fragile they require 24... Read more

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free-range parenting

Sarah Hamaker

2018-05-15T23:48:42+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.

A Royal Wedding: Is Happily Ever After Possible?

Last updated on: May 15, 2018 at 11:48 pm By Sarah Hamaker

It’s time we ditch the fairy-tale version, and show our kids what real happiness in marriage is all about. On May 19, Prince Henry of Wales will wed Meghan Markle, an American actress, in a televised spectacle sure to give millions of little girls and big girls a taste of a real-life fairy tale. The second son of the late Princess Diana and Prince Charles, Harry will marry Meghan at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor. When his older brother, Prince... Read more

2018-05-22T16:48:00+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.

When Fear Strikes

Last updated on: May 22, 2018 at 4:48 pm By Sarah Hamaker

Every child experiences fear, whether it’s being afraid of the dark or thunderstorms, of heights or the monster under the bed, of roller coasters or dogs. Some children develop fears that appear irrational to adults and some kids develop fears that become debilitating. Having a fearful child can be tough for parents because it can be difficult to know how to guide our children through the fearful episodes. “Tragedies, news stories, scary movies, scary stories or even just active imaginations... Read more

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2018-04-25T21:32:54+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.

When Discipline Doesn’t Work

Last updated on: April 25, 2018 at 9:32 pm By Sarah Hamaker

When a child or teen isn’t responding to punishment, parents often incorrectly assume that the discipline isn’t working. What’s usually happening is that the child hasn’t come to a place where the consequences can work. Remember, there are two reasons for consequences: to strengthen a child’s conscience and to provide an impetus to do better next time. When a punishment isn’t “working”—in other words, the child’s behavior hasn’t changed for the better or made any steps in that direction—the temptation... Read more

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tools for behavior

2018-05-03T00:20:08+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.

Best Mom Ever!

Last updated on: May 3, 2018 at 12:20 am By Sarah Hamaker

My mother raised more than 40 kids over a half century—six where her own children, and the rest were foster kids, from babies to teens. In this week’s video blog, I read two Chicken Soup for the Soul stories that I wrote about my mom. In “A Full House,” I talk about my parents and their roles as foster parents, along with my experiences as a foster sister. In “A Mom to Many,” I discuss how my mom had more... Read more

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Sarah Hamaker

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