Category Archives: parenting

December 11, 2019 · 8:22 pm

Why Some Parents Have Made The Switch To Infant Goat Milk Formula

goat milk, baby milk , switching from formula

Goat milk formulas are emerging on the scene in a big way. While less common than the standard cow’s milk-based preparations, you can now find goat’s milk formulas in supermarkets and online storefronts around the world. More people are exploring this interesting new option for infant nutrition and the formula industry is taking notice.

Looking at the benefits of infant goat milk formula, it is not hard to see why many parents are making the switch to this nutrient-dense alternative. However, for those new to the world of alternative formulas, or infant formulas in general, this trend might seem a bit confusing. While you should always be looking for the best nutrition options for your child, knowing about the available options is just as important.

To provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision, let’s look at some of the specific reasons why some parents are making the switch to goat milk formula.

Distinct Nutritional Profile

While cow’s milk does contain a complete and balanced nutritional profile, goat’s milk is more suitable for some infants due to its own distinct blend and balance of ingredients. For example, goat’s milk contains many vitamins and minerals in greater concentrations than cow’s milk. For those infants who struggle with deficiencies of these substances, it might be worthwhile to switch up the conventional cow’s milk blend once in a while, or permanently, for a goat’s milk formula.

These substances include selenium, vitamin A, and niacin, all essential building blocks for growing infants and toddlers. These minerals and vitamins boost brain development and keep your child’s immune system in top shape. Goat’s milk preparations also contain thirty per cent more magnesium than cow’s milk preparations. Vitamin C is also much more prevalent in goat’s milk formula than in cow’s milk formula.

When it comes to balance, goat’s milk formulas may not be as ideal as cow’s milk preparations. However, thanks to the wonders of modern chemistry, goat’s milk formulas are usually fortified with extra amounts of the minerals and nutrients that it lacks. These include iron and vitamin B12.

goat milk for babies

Build Gut Health

Gut health is an increasingly popular topic for new parents. Medical science has established a robust connection between healthy gut flora and positive well-being. These benefits carry over into physical resilience as well as mental health and mood.

Incredibly, goat’s milk formulas are an abundant source of pre and probiotics. These are essential substances that bolster the gut flora in the human body. If you want your child to have a robust immune system that will enable them to fight off pathogens and beat major diseases before they develop, then you might try starting them on goat’s milk formula right away.

goat milk for babies

Ideal For Sensitive Stomachs

The digestive system of your young child is still developing. Many babies and toddlers find that cow’s milk formulas are too difficult to digest and cause them pain and stomach discomfort. In some cases, this can also be caused by lactose intolerance.

Goat’s milk is a great solution to this problem. Though it also contains lactose, it is much less prevalent than in cow’s milk. Goat’s milk formulas are primarily composed of casein, which is much easier to digest than lactose. It is worth trying out if your infant is struggling with a standard formula.

Ask Your Doctor Before Making A Decision

With any changes to your infant’s diet, make sure to consult a physician. They will be able to direct you as to what your child needs to thrive and whether the product you have chosen is right for your child.

baby, goat's milk
This is a collaborative post. The ideas and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.

1 Comment

Filed under Baby, parenting

Tagged as baby, Bottle, Formul, Goat's Milk

May 30, 2019 · 9:26 pm

Teaching Your Children About the Relationship Between Time and Money

Sadly, we’re rarely taught in schools about money. Sure, we learn about Pythagoras Theorem but when was the last time that was useful in real life? Never, right?! Your children face the same dilemma with confusing messages about what money is and how it relates to time. It’s up to you as a parent to fill in the blanks for them, so they get a more well-rounded education. Here are some ideas on how to teach your children the connection between time and money.

Preschoolers and Kindergartners

You might think the little ones don’t notice how you spend money and what you do with it, but they do. In fact, many habits around money are created when only a few years old. As we know, kids model their parents’ behavior, so parents must set a good example.

Use a Mason Jar for Savings

While a piggy bank is more traditional, a mason jar is better because a preschooler or kindergartner can see the money inside. A small amount of savings can go a long way by slowly filling up the jar and having them see how much is in there.

Work = Money

Even a young son or daughter can begin to understand the importance of money. That mommy or daddy go out to work to earn money is something they can begin to understand. Their teacher at school makes money when teaching them too.

Things Cost Money

Showing how different items in the store cost different amounts is helpful. Even connecting which candies are tastier but cost more is a useful concept to share.

Cash

Middle School

Middle school students begin to see and touch money more often. However, that doesn’t mean that they understand how time equals money. That’s especially true when parents just hand them an allowance without having to do anything to earn it.

Pay vs Free Allowance

Kids shouldn’t be given a free allowance. This sets the stage for money being something they can just expect for free.

There’s plenty of age-appropriate chores around the house that middle schoolers are perfectly capable of doing, no matter how much they might moan about it. This might include tidying up their room and putting their toys away when they’re younger. Mowing the lawn when older and being supervised for safety reasons is another one. Dealing with the trash also makes clear that not every chore is necessarily pleasant, but rewards come from putting in the time.

Get Them Involved with Finding Bargains

Turn family food shopping into a game. Start with a budget for the week and let them plan out what should be purchased. Depending on their maturity and knowledge about what ingredients are needed for different meals, it might be necessary to create several meal plans with a list of ingredients, so they have a place to start.

They can then be allowed to choose between different meal ideas depending on the deals in the store that day. Offer them a financial incentive when they save money, as long as the meals are nutritious and sufficient for everyone in the household. Then have them save half of the money for a medium-term goal like buying a smartphone or a tablet.

Sale

Teenagers

With teenagers, aim for the bigger things to make an impact and let them feel more in control.

Free Samples

Teenagers love to get things for free but often don’t appreciate the time it takes to secure them. It’s true that many free samples require a time investment. And that’s perfectly okay. Most bargain hunting or coupon cutting takes time out of the day too.

Advise Against Student Loans

Teach teenagers to work part-time to make money to save for college. They’ll have an early financial goal to work towards and value the education far more. If they can get a scholarship, great, but don’t let them rely on that. Tell them that taking out student loans isn’t the answer because of all the hours of future work to repay the loans.

As long as children make a clear connection between time spent and money earned, they’ll be in a better position when they become adults. This connection avoids them spending frivolously without realizing the consequences down the line.

Student Loans

This is a collaborative guest post. The thoughts and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.

“More For Mom: Living Your Whole and Holy Life “

Overwhelmed is a word that many mothers are well acquainted with. There was a time when I would utter that word daily to express how I was feeling. However, our society makes us feel that we should not be feeling that way. It tells us we should be able to have it all and tie it up in a bow. That just is not reality, and leaves many moms feeling that they are alone and failing. The most important thing to know, is that you are not alone and you are a great mom.

When life seems to be coming at you faster than you can handle, there is a way to reset your spiritual and emotional health. More for Mom will encourage women to stop believing the lie that more is needed from them, and start living with the truth that more is available for them.

With real-life talk, humor and convicting biblical truths, Kristin Funston helps hard-working mamas to look at each day and each facet of their life to discover what happens when they believe God has more for them than what they think the world needs from them.

And what He has available is a whole and holy life, just waiting to be claimed–a salvation and day-to-day reality complete just as it is. The pieces of each mom’s life–the work life, mom life, social life, etc.–are mended together through Christ to complete her one whole life, set apart because of Him.

This book is a stepping stone to help working mothers reset their spiritual and emotional health, habits, and relationship with God. There are performance pressures at work, home, and mind-sets that affect a mom’s ability to feel complete and live more closely aligned with God. This book includes the beginning steps for moms to walk in wholeness and holiness by asking God for more.

About the Author

Kristin_Funston

With a passion for writing, Kristin Funston encourages women in a way that is relatable and practical, with a healthy dose of humor. She is a member and employee of Hope Presbyterian Church and works as the Marriage and Family Coordinator and a leader in the women’s ministry. She is also a regular contributor to multiple blogs including The Better Mom, City Moms Blog, TODAY Parenting, and Scary Mommy. Funston resides outside of Memphis, TN with her husband and three daughters. She has a master’s degree in Communication Studies from New Mexico State University. You can find out more about her at KristinFunston.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

When You Need A Dentist Right Now

Dentist Teeth

There may be nothing to smile about if you have an accident with your teeth. Tooth pain or the accidental cracking or loss of a tooth can be an uncomfortable, embarrassing and potentially harmful situation. Your smile says a lot about you, so when you are having trouble with your teeth it can affect your entire outlook.

If you or your kids are involved in sports, you run the risk of tooth and mouth damage from the activities, and children are always banging themselves around during play.

It’s good to know the name and location of a 24-hour clinic just in case of any tooth emergency. How do you know that you need to see a dentist? We are going to take a look at some of the more common examples of needing to see a dentist right away. If you are having issues with your artificial teeth you may need to do an online search for “Denture Repair Near Me” to find a clinic that is open when you need it.

dentist office

Toothache

Most people experience a toothache at least once in their life. Tooth pain can be caused by many things including sensitivity, a thinning of the tooth enamel or cavities that need repair. If you are experiencing uncomfortable toothache pain for more than 48 hours it’s a good idea to see a dentist for a check-up.

Broken Tooth

If you are lucky enough to find the part of a tooth that has broken off, keep it clean and dry until you can see a dentist. Don’t wait. Rinse your mouth with a saline (salt) solution, clean the tooth fragment without soap and keep it in a damp towel or kleenex until you can get to a clinic. In come cases the tooth can be repaired if the fragment is saved in good condition once you reach a dentist.

dentist teeth

Lost Tooth

If a full tooth has come out of your mouth from trauma or an accident, do your best to find and preserve the tooth before visiting the dentist. Once you locate the tooth, only touch the enamel end of the tooth and never the root. Rinse the tooth with saline solution and allow it to dry naturally. If possible, it is recommended to try and reinsert the tooth until you get to the clinic. If it’s not possible to reinsert, soak the tooth in a bit of regular milk and take it with you
to have put back in.

dentist

Infection

If you notice any unusual swelling, bleeding or irritation in your teeth and gums, you should see your dentist right away. There could be an abscessed infection under your gums that is filled with pus. A ruptured abscess can cause severe illness and even death if not treated right away. Never leave an infection longer than 24 hours before you seek dental treatment. If over the counter medications are not working on your infection or if you have a fever, you
should not delay in getting help.

dental visit

This is a collaborative post, The views and ideas expressed are not necessarily those of Mommy Ramblings.

3 Comments

Filed under Health, Life, parenting

Tagged as Dentist, Emergency, Teeth

September 27, 2018 · 2:32 pm

Children Are Being Bullied About This Common Issue

One common issue that many children (particularly boys) are bullied about is, large or protruding ears. A quick search on the Internet, will lead you to the accounts of thousands of children who report being bullied because their ears stuck out. If your child is the target of bullying because of their ears, there is no denying it is causing them distress. Whether they are facing verbal, physical, cyberbullying or a combination of all three, there are some things you can do to help your child handle the situation.

What Causes Bullying?

Bullying can happen for a multitude of reasons. Generally, bullies will hone in on anything that is considered ‘different’ from the norm, and continually draw attention to that to make them feel better about themselves. It could be a physical feature like protruding ears that is the focus of the bullying or something else.

While the motivations behind the bully’s actions may be unclear, they could be targeting your child because they feel jealous, want others to like them, want to fit in with their friends, because they’re angry with themselves, or because they like to exert power over others.

Tools To Help Your Child Manage

The first step to help your child manage the situation is to ensure they have the tools to be able to respond to the bullying when it happens. This might involve giving them tips on how to stand up for themselves, how to tell the bully what they’re doing is not okay, keeping their distance from the bully, or developing an understanding of how their emotional response to the bullying will help them build resilience.

A good place to start is by seeking information and support from an organisation like BullyingUK, where you can find a range of resources and strategies to teach your child how best to manage the situation.

What are the other options?

While the ideal solution is for your child to develop the skills they need to effectively manage the bullying, if that does not work, you may look into surgical options to correct their protruding ears.

Otoplasty (or cosmetic ear surgery) is commonly requested by parents of children with prominent ears in the hope of sparing them relentless teasing or bullying. In many cases, the parents themselves have prominent ears, and don’t want their children to experience the same torment and pain they were subjected to at school.

Sometimes referred to as ‘ear pinning’, otoplasty is a surgical procedure that can set prominent ears back and closer to the head. This helps reduce the size of large ears or reshapes ears that are distorted or damaged with the goal of creating a more balanced and symmetrical appearance.

The procedure can generally be performed on children between the ages of 5-14, as the ears are almost fully grown by age 5. Some parents opt to have the surgery as soon as the child is of suitable age and prior to them becoming self-conscious to avoid the anticipated bullying in the school yard.

Resorting to surgery in young children is often a very tough decision, and not one that is taken lightly. It is important that parents are both aware and supportive of their child’s feelings to ensure they want the procedure. It’s likely your child will also need to wear a headband for several weeks following the procedure, so it may be a good idea to schedule it during the summer or in conjunction with school holidays.

If otoplasty is something you would consider for your child, be sure to seek out an experienced professional who has valid qualifications and be sure to carefully weigh the benefits with the potential risks to ensure the best possible outcome for your child.

This is a collaborative guest post and does not necessarily represent the views or ideals of Mommy Ramblings.

1 Comment

Filed under Health, kids, Life Stages, parenting

Tagged as Bullying, Cyberbullying, kids, Teasing, Tips

August 30, 2018 · 1:47 pm

4 Questions To Help You Determine Why Your Child Is Crying

When your child is crying and won’t or can’t tell you what is wrong, it is very frustrating. Meltdowns can be difficult for even the most experienced parents to handle. When it happens, your automatic reaction might be to tell your child to stop crying. Unfortunately, that rarely works so you might want to consider these factors.

Crying is a natural reaction for kids when they are over-stimulated, over tired, or physically hurt. Figuring out which it is and meeting their needs can help you get to the root of the problem. The next time you are faced with an outburst, take a deep breath and ask yourself these 4 simple questions before reacting.

Is it something physical?

Perhaps your child refuses to put on his shoes and bursts into tears when you stand firm. Is this a battle of wills or could it be that they are dealing with physical pain they may not be able to express? The frustration of not being able to articulate what is going on, can trigger an epic meltdown.

Take a look at their physical condition. Could it be a toothache? According to Lane Family Dental, “Your tooth may not bother you at all until that moment you bite into a decadent slice of chocolate cake. The shock from coming in contact with sugar is a pretty sure sign that your tooth has a cavity.”

Or could it be a headache? Mayo Clinic states that headaches in children can be difficult to diagnose, but they may cry and hold their head to indicate pain. Lastly, it may be the most common physical reason of them all: your child may just need a nap.

Is your child feeling stressed?

This one is more common among older children. You may wonder what could cause a child to be stressed. Actually, any situation that is new to a child can cause their body to release the stress hormone, cortisol.

Dealing with after school activities where a certain level of performance is expected, can add stress to an already-full school day. Tears could also result from a frustrating classroom situation. It could even be something they have heard that they don’t know how to handle. Consider that their tears may not really be about having to clean their room or do a chore. In reality that outburst may be an expression of accumulated stress.

Is your child hungry?

It happens to everyone. So much so that a new term has cropped up to describe it; Hungry + angry = “hangry.” Hangry describes how attitudes go south when our bodies are lacking fuel. Even if your child ate a good lunch, by the time they get home from school, they could be famished. If they don’t have a healthy snack, they could be heading for an emotional outburst. So, while you do not want to use food as a bribe to stop their tears, their hunger is likely what is causing them to be so cranky.

Give them a hug and go to the kitchen and fix both of you a healthy snack. Turn it into an activity so that the association becomes one of doing something together, versus using food for emotional relief.

Is Your Child Overstimulated?

Have you ever wondered why so many meltdowns happen when shopping, on vacation or in the aisles of grocery stores? Chances are high that it’s the environment that is over stimulating your child. Places that are noisy, have crowds of people and multiple things to see can be overwhelming for kids.

With so much for a little brain to process, kids turn to the one thing they know will bring relief. Their tears will bring mommy or daddy running to fix everything. Consider a quick exit from the store or environment to get your child to a calmer place instead of demanding or pleading with them to stop crying.

Lastly, if you are always telling your child to stop crying, it could convey a message to them that negative emotions should stay bottled up. This can lead to difficulties with opening up in later years and stunted emotional growth. Studies tell us that our tears serve a good purpose. Tears and crying can reduce the body’s stress hormone and bring calm back to our physical state.

So, instead of feeling harried when your child breaks down in tears, realize that the tears are one way your child is communicating with you. That crying is their body’s way of calming down.

This is a collaborative guest post. The views and ideals expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.

Helpful Tips for Talking To Your Kids About Smoking #SeenEnoughTobacco

This post was sponsored by Tobacco Free New York State as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Did you know that the average age of a new smoker in New York is 13? That is so sad. Beyond sad, it makes me angry because I think the way that tobacco products are marketed to kids is disgusting.

Tobacco companies are spending billions of dollars to put their products in front of our kids in stores. As a mother of 5, this horrifies me because, the more kids see tobacco products, the more likely they are to start smoking.

Next time you are out, check out the walls and rows of tobacco products that are enhanced with flashy or brightly colored signs and special sales. In-store advertising is big business in New York State.

If you have not noticed it, you can be almost sure your kids have. In fact, young people are twice as likely to recall tobacco advertising, and it makes them more likely to start smoking.

When you really take notice of how effective this in-store advertising is near schools and in low-income areas, you will see why they are doing it. This type of marketing puts these products right in the face of those most vulnerable to it.

When I think about how they are marketing these products, I am so glad that my husband and I have open conversations with our kids about the dangers of smoking. In fact, talking with our kids about smoking is one of the best ways we can reduce smoking in young people today.

Here are some tips that can help you talk to your kids about the dangers of smoking:

Start Talking and Start Early

I don’t think it is ever too early to start a conversation with you child about smoking. My children started noticing people smoking at a very young age. We have always been honest with them, and over the years our conversations have evolved.

Any time is a good time to talk, whether in the car or around the table. Draw their attention to all the no smoking signs in public places, then discuss the reasons why smoking is not permitted there.

Be Honest About The Health Effects

This is not a time to sugar coat things for your child. In fact, I think you must be brutally honest. If you know of someone in your family that has died or has serious health effects as a result of smoking, let them know about that.

Talk with them about how addictive tobacco products are and how hard it can be to stop smoking. Talk about cancer, heart and lung disease, emphysema and more. Beyond that, make sure you discuss the immediate effects of smoking like stinky clothes, hair and breath. Let them know that smoking can make them more prone to acne and how negatively it can affect their athletic performance and endurance.

Set a Good Example.

In our house, it is easy, because my husband and I do not smoke. We don’t allow smoking in our house or around our kids. If you smoke, try your best to not light up in front of your kids. Talk to them about what a mistake it was to start smoking and just how hard it is to quit.

Prepare Your Kids to Deal with Peer Pressure

The pressure from your child’s friends at school is something that will likely be an issue as your kids get older. Arm them with appropriate responses to use if they are offered tobacco. You can even make it fun by role-playing situations with your child. Some good responses are:

“No thanks, I don’t want my clothes to stink like smoke”

“No, I need to stay in shape for baseball or whatever sport they play.”

“No thanks, I know people who have died from smoking.”

“No, I am not really into starting something that can kill me.”

“No, smoking is really gross.”

Talk About Different Kinds of Tobacco and Smoking

Make sure you explain that even “smoke-free” alternatives are dangerous. Let them know, electronic cigarettes (vaping, electric hookahs) still have serious health effects because they use nicotine and other toxic chemicals.

Discuss the dangers of using chewing tobacco that contains almost 30 cancer-causing chemicals and is highly addicted.

Talk About the Way Tobacco Products Are Marketed

Have a frank discussion about the tactics behind the marketing. My kids get angry when we talk about how these companies are advertising to young people.

I have also signed the “Seen Enough Tobacco” petition to tell big tobacco our kids have seen enough. I hope you will too! You can sign the petition by clicking HERE. Let’s make sure these companies know that this type of marketing is not alright!

For more information and resources you can visit the Tobacco Free New York State Website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Let me know any tips you have for talking to your kids about smoking and the way tobacco companies are marketing to them.

1 Comment

Filed under Health, kids, parenting

Tagged as #SeenEnoughTobacco, New York State, Parenting, Peer Pressure, Smoking, Tobacco Free

October 29, 2017 · 1:36 pm

Overwhelmed? Discover, “Why Motherhood Matters” #Giveaway

Tomorrow, I have to go for two ultrasound scans. To say the least, the last few weeks have been a rollercoaster. Already dealing with having our lives torn apart for the last year, as we have had to undergo a near total renovation of our house. This required moving out, having all our belongings packed by a less than careful mold remediation company and now dealing with a less than ethical contractor who took a large deposit on work he never even started.

So, now on top of everything, we are starting the litigation process to bring this contractor and his partner (wife) to justice and get our money back. They have caused us weeks of delays and much angst. I ended up being rushed to the hospital one night thinking I was having a heart attack. They found out that, thankfully, I was not having a heart attack but tomorrow I need to have an echocardiogram to rule out mitral valve prolapse and my thyroid levels (I am hypothyroid) were very low. This could be the reason for the chest pain etc. I had my levels tested again and they are normal but the doctor felt an enlargement in my thyroid, and that is the other scan I am going for. I would love your prayers and good thoughts because I am feeling a big weary.

Speaking of being weary, motherhood itself can leave us feeling overwhelmed. Add to that health issues, and it can sap our energy as we worry about something happening to us, and what that would mean to our family. As much as we try to stay positive, those negative thoughts creep in. Since I was told there was an enlargement on one side of my thyroid, it feels that the fullness I felt from time to time in my throat, is now constant. It also feels like something is pulling from my collarbone when I turn my neck. As much as I try to push it from my thoughts, they find a way of creeping in. This morning, I woke up at the crack of dawn, and could not lie there because of the thoughts that kept coming into my mind. I had to get up and do something to try and take my mind off tomorrow.

As mothers, our lives are so full and no matter how much we get accomplished, we tend to focus on all the things we did not get done. We are so critical on ourselves. It can easily leave us feeling overwhelmed. Maybe you have even wondered if you were succeeding at motherhood. We tend to berate ourselves about everything we did not complete or do. Worse yet, social media has introduced us to hoards of “supermoms” who only make us feel worse about ourselves. We have to understand everything is not what it seems on social media, and the “supermom” you see, is probably hanging by a thread just like you are many days.

I understand that many mothers feel overwhelmed and have at least fleeting thoughts of inadequacy. That is why I want to introduce you to, Why Motherhood Matters by September McCarthy. The author has been a mom for 25 years (close to how long I have been a mother but, I have a few years more on the job, lol), like myself ,she continues to raise young children and loves her young adults.

September imparts words of wisdom and grace in key areas of Christian parenting, including faith (getting honest with your family about your need for Jesus), wellness (learning to take care of your kids and yourself), education (raising a new generation with creativity and character), and relationships (speaking to the heart of your children in unique ways). On the pages of the book, you’ll find sweet anecdotes and gentle guidance for those moments you need both a breather and a lifeline.

More About September:

September McCarthy is a writer, speaker, blogger (One September Day at www.septembermccarthy.com), wife, and a home-educating mother to ten beautiful children. Today, she juggles motherhood and being a grandmother as her older children are married with families of their own. She is also the founder and director of Raising Generations Today, a nonprofit ministry designed to equip and inspire moms to reach the hearts of their children for God’s glory.

Giveaway:

We are happy to run a giveaway for our readers. One lucky Mommy Ramblings’ reader will win their own copy of, Why Motherhood Matters. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Open to residents of the USA.

Why Motherhood Matters Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under Blog Tour, Books, Giveaway, Mommy Ramblings, parenting, Spiritual

Tagged as Blog Book Tour, giveaway, Inspiration, Motherhood, Parenting, Why Motherhood Matters

October 27, 2016 · 2:14 pm

Do You Feel Like You Are Failing As A Parent? You Are Not Alone!

Raising children is not for the faint of heart. Have you ever felt overwhelmed, frustrated to the point you lose your temper and yell or scream at your kids? Do you feel at your wit’s ends fighting the same battles, day after day with your children? Is it hard for you to wrap your mind around how they cannot stop doing the things that are getting them in trouble?

No matter what you do, the same behavior is repeated again and again. Does it leave you so frustrated that you count the hours until bedtime? Do you feel guilty for sometimes not wanting to be around your kids because of how they behave? Do you feel terrible for this and feel you are a failure as a parent? Do you think you must be doing something wrong?

You don’t have to tell me the answers to these questions. If you are a parent, it is safe to say that you nodded your head in agreement to most of these things, maybe even all of them. I want to tell you, that it is okay, you are not the only one. We will fail as parents, many times.

I picked up a really good parenting book the other day. The book is titled, Parenting: 14 Gospel Principals That Can Radically Change Your Family. The author, Paul David Tripp, is the executive director for the Center for Pastoral Life and Care in Fort Worth, Texas. More than that, he is a dad, a dad who has felt those same things.

I will admit when I picked up the book, I expected it to be preachy and written by a man who was a “perfect” parent, who would tell me everything I was doing wrong. I could not have been more wrong. Right from the Introduction, I saw this was a parent I could relate to, one that struggled in the same ways I did. Nothing was sugar-coated, he was real and the pages are full of wisdom. It is real, he writes about situations of parents who are struggling through parenting. If you are like me, you may find their stories very familiar. Sometimes it is nice to know we are not alone.

One of the things I think will resonate with most parents is the chapter on authority. The author says to never exercise your authority over your child in an angry, impatient, abusive or selfish way. This means, you do not let your anger at your child’s disobedience control you so you do things you should not. For example, it means that you do not pinch, poke, slap, yank or shove your child. It also means that you do not combine your discipline with berating, condemning or demeaning talk. That means you don’t say things like; “What are you, stupid?” “I can’t believe that you’re my daughter!” and other similar phrases.

He does not say this as a perfect parent who has never done this but as one who openly admits doing this to his son after a particularly grueling day. He admits his shortcomings but lets us know that through God’s grace we can always start new. Facts are, we will fail many times as parents and that is okay, we don’t have to feel guilty because we have that grace.

The chapters are the 14 Gospel Principals as they apply to parenting; Calling, Grace, Law, Inability, Identity, Process, Lost, Authority, Foolishness, Character, False Gods, Control, Rest and Mercy. The author’s favorite passage in the Bible about parenting is one you might not expect. It is one of the final commandments Jesus made to his disciples.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20)

There is so much in this book that is just profound and really hit home for me. You can read an excerpt HERE or listen to an audio click HERE. I hope you check it out and let me know what you think. You can also enter to win a copy below in our giveaway.

Giveaway:

Parenting: 14 Gospel Principals That Can Radically Change Your Family Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

Continue reading →

3 Comments

Filed under Books, Faith, Family, Giveaway, parenting

Tagged as #FlyBy, #GospelParenting, Attitude, Behavior, Books, Frustrated, giveaway, Parenting, Self-Help, Spiritual, Tips

August 13, 2016 · 4:50 pm

See What’s Cool For Back-To-School #Giveaway

Do you have little ones who will be starting school soon? It can be scary heading off to Pre-K or Kindergarten for the first time. Sometimes a reassuring note from mom or dad can make all the difference in a child’s day. That is why I love the Personalized Lunch Boxes from I See Me! No need to waste resources every day to leave your child a lunch box message because there is a chalkboard on the underside of the lid. Now all you need to do is grab a chalk marker or chalk and write your child a special message when packing their lunch. It will be something you both look forward to.

These lunch boxes come in so many great designs for boys and girls and the personalization make them so special. They are so wonderful for way more than just lunch. They make a great new baby gift. You can order the box with the new baby’s name and then tuck some nice things inside. It will definitely be a unique and treasured keepsake. Speaking of which these boxes are great to hold all kinds of collections and treasures. Perfect for traveling to hold some things to keep kids busy in the car or at restaurants. They have so many uses!

My kids love to keep their collections in them. I appreciate how great the look and what an accent they make to their rooms. I See Me! has such a large selection of personalized books and gifts, I enjoy shopping there for unique gifts for family and friends. I must also note that in these days when many parents are naming their children with very unique names it is nice to be able to get them a gift with their name.

Check out the NEW! Personalized Lunch Boxes! Each lunch box features your child’s name on multiple sides! I think you will be impressed. You can see my video below for an in-depth look at these great boxes.

Visit ISeeMe.com for the best personalized children's gifts.

Would you like the chance to win a Personalized Lunch Box? I know you would, enter below for your chance!

Giveaway:

I See Me! is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a Personalized Lunch Box of their choice (subj. to availability)! Thank you to I See Me! for the review product and for sponsoring this Back-To-School giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

I See Me! Personalized Lunch Box Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

Continue reading →

7 Comments

Filed under Baby, Back-To-School, Giveaway, Life Stages, parenting, Review

Tagged as Baby Gift Ideas, Back To School, First Day of School, giveaway, I See Me, Keepsakes, Lunch Box, personalized gifts, Personalized Lunch Boxes