Comments for Parenting From The Source

Comment on Social Skills: Caring for Others by Teri Jones

Teri Jones — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:12:04 +0000

This is great! I have two boys, ages 12 and 14. I am amazed at the social politics in middle school among boys. (I had always heard about the girls.) I will talk to them tonight about this–reminding them of the importance of looking for the one who might feel left out and really listening.

Comment on Teach Your Child to Make Friends: First Step by Carole Bell

Carole Bell — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 22:15:47 +0000

The good opinions of people (parents, friends, etc.) are great, but God’s opinion is never-changing…no matter how flawed we are. Knowing that unconditional love is indeed transformational.
Thank you for your comments.

Comment on Teach Your Child to Make Friends: First Step by Teri Jones

Teri Jones — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 21:34:38 +0000

I needed this reminder. Encouragement from parents is great. But a teen who hears (and believes) how God feels about him is transformed.

Comment on Teach Children to See Each As a Child of God by Carole A. Bell, L.P.C.

Carole A. Bell, L.P.C. — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 19:53:57 +0000

You make an interesting point that many of us might not recognize. It is often easier to show Jesus’ love to strangers than to the people in our own families. Maybe we need to work on loving our family before we venture out to love strangers. Then, we’d have the hardest part behind us.
Thank you for your comments, and God Bless as you work through the challenges with your own children.

Comment on Teach Children to See Each As a Child of God by Teri Jones

Teri Jones — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 18:58:18 +0000

I’m certainly trying! I am finding it a challenge though. It seems easier to teach my children to love those who are extremely disadvantaged, than it is to love a classmate who is just a little annoying … or even to see one own’s sibling through God’s eyes.

This is a well-timed post–we are right in the thick of this ongoing challenge.

Comment on School Shootings: 4 Ways to Help Small Children by Carole Bell

Carole Bell — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:50:28 +0000

What a great question! That reminds me of how students often came to see me about a problem that “a friend” was having. As we talked, they were able to tell me everything about that friend’s thoughts and approaches to the problem. Amazingly, near the end of our talk they usually shifted into first person without even realizing it.

You are a wise mother to recognize and respect your sons’ need to talk about school happenings in a “safe mode.”

Thanks for your comments.

Comment on School Shootings: 4 Ways to Help Small Children by Teri Jones

Teri Jones — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:31:11 +0000

Now that my boys are older, I find that they have just as many, if not more, concerns and fears in the aftermath of such tragedies. One question that they respond to is, “What are your friends at school saying about this?” Of course, they usually share the same fears and worries as their friends, but this makes it safe for them to talk about it.

Comment on School Shootings: A Lesson about Good Vs. Evil by Carole Bell

Carole Bell — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:37:00 +0000

Thank you, Teri.
I guess the take-away of this and so many parenting articles is “get your children to talk.”
The demons in their minds often are much worse than reality.

Comment on School Shootings: A Lesson about Good Vs. Evil by Teri Jones

Teri Jones — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:31:07 +0000

Wow–heavy stuff, but you’ve given us good tools to use in leading our children through these discussions. It is so important to talk about what they hear and see regarding these tragedies … and to keep talking about it. Thank you for the insights.

Comment on Children Dating: 2 Reasons It’s Not a Good Idea by Teri Jones

Teri Jones — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 04:20:06 +0000

That’s a great point that they may look for other things to do as teens. Our culture tries to accelerate the whole growing up process. Fortunately, our family lives in a fairly conservative community where there is not a lot of pressure to start dating earlier. Or, maybe there is, and I’m just naive because our boys opted out for now.