My feet bounced under my chair, my mind raced, and my jaw hurt from chewing my lip. I was nervous and anxious waiting for test results…but not my own. The results were from a test my son, Dylan, took that would reveal whether or not he had learning disabilities. After years of struggling in…
Last week, we celebrated my son’s 11th birthday.When my children were toddlers and preschoolers, I discovered the very real truth that it’s easier to celebrate one child’s birthday when all the children have something to do. And that was the catalyst for the Birthday Brother Tradition, whereupon the one with the unbirthday gets to…
Splink 1: Pretzel Prayers Share a simple object lesson about prayer using a pretzel. Make pretzels together or use purchased ones. (For this object lesson, make or choose the knots/twisted ones.) Although no one is exactly sure when and where pretzels were first made, there is a story that long ago there was…
This is one of those things that has to be passed on to others. It’s just too important to ignore. It comes from the Changing the Game Project, an organization created to essentially redeem youth sports, putting the “play” back into games and letting the games be about the kids. . . not the parents,…
*The following is excerpted from an online article posted on HealthDay. For teenagers with lingering symptoms after a concussion, treatment that focuses on the “whole person” may speed their recovery, a new, small study suggests. The researchers tested the effects of so-called “collaborative care” for teens with persistent problems following a concussion. That meant…
Your kids have likely screamed 862 different versions of “That’s not fair!!!!” from their small lungs before their fifth birthday. Whether it’s a hug you gave her sister but not her, why her friend could get a new Elsa doll but she couldn’t, or why the other kids always seem to get more Lego than…
Splink 1: Oh, No! A Wrong Reaction Do a simple experiment to show how our anger can grow and hurt others. Items Needed: Cor glass; liquid dishwashing detergent; 2 tablespoons of baking soda; vinegar; red food coloring (optional); baking pan (or do this in the sink) Fill the cup/glass almost full with warm water. Add…
Splink 1: Do You Have Faith? Make ice cream to illustrate that works show we have faith. Items needed for each person: 1 tablespoon sugar 1/2 cup milk or half & half 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 6 tablespoons rock salt 1 pint-size plastic food storage bag (e.g., Ziploc) 1 gallon-size plastic food storage bag ice cubes…
As a new school year is beginning here in Northeast Ohio, many kids and families will face a daunting challenge at church. Transitions are highly anticipated by most kids and families. At many churches, preschoolers entering kindergarten start to attend elementary school large group worship next Sunday. Kids entering sixth grade begin middle school programming…
For two and half months last fall, I felt like a prisoner wearing a ball and chain. Not on my foot, but on my left hand. Not a ball made of iron, but of therapy appointments two or three times a week as well as hand and thumb exercises every two hours. Day after day….