Life Hacks are simple ideas that make life easier.  And if there’s anyone who needs a good life hack, it’s moms.  Moms are the ones who keep families going with their encouragement, support, love, and selflessness.  So here are some 7 ways to deal with stress for moms.  First, we have a Conversation Life Hack.  This gives moms simple conversation starters to stay involved in their kids’ lives.  Second, check out our Clutter Life Hack that helps moms keep their families organized.  Next, there’s the Consequence Life Hack to help moms figure out how to discipline with love and fairness. Read more about these and other Life Hacks for Moms.  And be sure to check out 7 Life Hacks for Dads too.

Webster’s Dictionary says a legacy is “something handed down from one who has gone before.”  Fathers, we will eventually be that “one who has gone before”—we will leave a legacy…good or bad and how we live will influence our children and descendants for generations. Sure what you say to your kids is important, but what they see in you is equally important. So be a man of character, conviction, and passion. As Father’s day approaches, start focusing on leaving your legacy and ways you can honor your Dad. Here’s one way I chose to honor my dad. 

Because you and your spouse are two imperfect people, your marriage will be imperfect as well.  In my marriage, Susan and I aren’t always on the same page with what we need from each other.  As a result, we’ve both sometimes have had that feeling like, “I can’t do anything right.”  Instead of getting frustrated, here are 3 steps to take when you feel that way.  First, be sure you and your spouse define what is “right” in your relationship.  Understand what makes each of you feel loved by the other—encouraging words, time together or something else. Here are the rest of the steps to take When You Feel Like You Can’t Do Anything Right.

In a sports game, you huddle up to reconnect and get back on the same page as your team mates.  In the same way, huddling up with your kids is a great way to escape the busyness of life and reconnect with them.  So huddle up with your kids tonight and use our list of 10 Huddle Up Questions.  Try asking, “What was one of your biggest mistakes and what did you learn from it?” or “What is the most important thing I can do for you and why?” Or “Do you know that I will never give up on you—no matter what?” Here are more Huddle Up Questions to help you connect with your kids.  

Not many days go by without someone telling me how busy they are.  They explain how they’re swamped with work or with kids or with traveling.  I’ve said the same kind of things. But the odd thing is how some people say how busy they are with a sense of pride. They equate busyness with value, with importance, and with honor.  Here are 3 reasons why busyness is not a badge of honor.  First, it harms our kids.  When we think busyness is good, we then impose it on our kids. We create an environment where our kids constantly run from one activity to the next. As a result, they feel pressure and get anxious. Check out the rest of the reasons Why Busyness is Not a Badge of Honor.  

To really love your child, you must know them.  And knowing your child comes through spending time talking with them.  My wife has done an awesome job of this with her “Pillow Talk” questions—open-ended questions she asks to get our kids talking.  This way, they were able to stay connected in the midst of their busy lives.  I encourage you to share meaningful conversations with your kids by using these 20 questions to ask your child.  Try asking things like, “What do you dream about?” or “What is your best memory about this school year?” or “Who is your hero and why?”  Here are more of iMOM’s Pillow Talk questions.  

Disciplining our children takes dedication and effort. It also helps to mix in a little creativity. So get out of the discipline rut with our twenty one creative consequences. If you have younger children who are messy, try this: set the toy somewhere out of reach but within sight for a few days. Seeing it, but not getting it, will remind them to pick it up and put it away next time. Here’s another one…want your child to hold their tongue? Make them do it—literally. Have them stick out their tongue and hold it between two fingers. This is an especially effective correction for public outbursts. The rest of the creative discipline ideas are available by listening to my podcast.