THE AWKWARD MOM

because uncomfortable conversations are the ones worth having

Category: faith (page 4 of 19)

5 Quarantine Gifts We Don’t Want to Lose

Reading Time: 4 minutes

quarantine gifts

Here in Colorado, our shelter-in-place ends in a matter of days, yielding to reduced prevention measures. As we celebrate a homebound birthday of my most extroverted child today, I’m reminded how tough these weeks have been for him–resulting in some signs of stress. He opened his quarantine gifts sent by Grandma and Grandpa, and we’ve got a cookout, and all-family games of hide-and-seek and kickball on the docket.

I think, too, of my friend waiting to finally grieve her husband’s passing in community.  I long for worship services in person. For fear to subside. read more

When Your Teen Yells at You: 8 Win-win Ideas

Reading Time: 4 minutes

yells angry

So yeah. That happened.

I won’t tell you which one. It doesn’t matter. And I have this phobia my kids will need to be in therapy because their mother is a writer. read more

Spiritual Life Skills for Kids: Courage (with Book List & Printables!)

Reading Time: 7 minutes

My daughter’s headed to winter camp soon, which she adores. This morning, over an increasingly plain-looking Greek yogurt parfait, she gushed about camp’s breakfast buffet. She loves the free time, the reconnecting with old friends.

But in light of her anxiety issues, and apparently a night last year when she laid awake till 2, she’s already nervous about getting to sleep.

(All those suggestions in the Help! My Kid Can’t Sleep post? Those are hard-won, peeps.) read more

2019 Best Posts of the Year!

Reading Time: 3 minutes

2019 best posts of year

Sitting with my daughter yesterday, she expressed she had a little fear for 2020. It’s a big year, she explained, with some personal stuff, plus elections and Olympics and what-not.

My first inclination–in light of how young she is, of course–was to brush away her fear. read more

Wait: The Story of a Certain Champagne Bottle

Reading Time: 4 minutes

So something very cool happened to me this week.

But to get there, allow me to tell you about the journey of a champagne bottle. (No scanning ahead, cheater.) This one, here.

wait champagne read more

When Your Child is Driving You Crazy

Reading Time: 3 minutes

crazy

I could tell you my son has energy. But that would be kind of like me telling you Bill Gates is kind of good at computers.

We’re on a sports rotation at my house. It is not because we love to be busy (we try not to be?), or love getting up on Saturdays for games (nope), or think he’ll be a star someday (odds are pretty slim). read more

When It’s Hard to Let God Take Care of You

Reading Time: 4 minutes

take care

It was the second time in a week I’d misread her texts. GAH.

We’d been trying to go on a walk together, but if I wanted it to rain? I should just schedule a walk. read more

“Mom, why isn’t Dad going to church?” When Your Spouse Isn’t the Spiritual Hero

Reading Time: < 1 minute

church spiritual

Maybe you know all too well that awkward, disappointing moment. When a spouse doesn’t step up.

When the person you’re married isn’t the spiritual hero. And then? Your kids ask about it. read more

When “Why” is your Biggest Hurdle with God

Reading Time: 5 minutes

why

I woke early on Easter morning. It was not the kind of, “Oh! I get, like, an hour more of sleep! I love this feeling!” But more, “Hey, there is absolutely no one else up! Listen. Hear that? It’s the sound of NOTHING. I think I will wake up and enjoy it.” This was before I knew the kids drank the last of the milk = no coffee for me.

Maybe because the light in our bedroom felt hopeful and springtime-ish–and because I wanted to make the most of this day–I thought of the light in the garden, that morning Jesus rose. Yes. I am totally #thatmom. read more

Blind Wrestlers, Cancer, and How Your Child’s Pain Could be a Gift

Reading Time: 4 minutes

I sat at lunch on Sunday with a handful of friends over turkey with homemade gravy and mashed potatoes (“So much for Keto,” mumbled the woman dishing up next to me). Of all things, the topic turned to high school wrestling. Two of the guys next to me had competed in high school.

One of them, Marshall, is 6’3″. In high school, he was upwards of 190 lbs. Maybe that’s why I was surprised at who he said were the most formidable in the sport: The kids from the school for the blind. In fact, one of them was the state champ during Marshall’s years in competition. At the time those students had no other sports other than swimming in which they could compete; baseball, basketball, and football were all out. So they competed year-round.

Even more than that, we all reflected aloud, was a blind wrestler’s exaggerated sense of touch. We’ve all heard that with the loss of one of our senses, our other senses rally to compensate (think of Stevie Wonder or Ray Charles). read more

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