I want everything to be just right.
Are you a perfectionist? Do you want everything to be just the way you like it? What happens when it’s not? Do you get frustrated? Angry? Do you make everyone else’s life miserable? The famous saying, “If mamma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” has real meaning, doesn’t it? Sometimes keeping the house spick-and-span can be nearly impossible with kids. If your spouse is a clean freak and you’re not, this can cause a contentious relationship. What do you do? First, don’t take it out on the kids. While they do make messes, THEY’RE KIDS. Don’t fight in front of them, either. And don’t discuss your spouse’s messy tendencies. Believe it or not, the Bible does talk about a messy house.
I didn’t get as much as he did!
Christmas. It brings out the best and the worst of our kids. I remember a Christmas when we told our kids we weren’t going to do Christmas presents anymore if they couldn’t be thankful for what they got. Then, to our surprise our middle daughter came to us one Christmas and said, “Whatever it is you spend on me for Christmas, can we buy gifts for kids who need it instead?” We were floored. So, we did. My wife and daughter went shopping and bought toys, clothes, and things any kid her age would want. Did our daughter go without that Christmas? No way. But, it taught us a lesson. We need to do more for others. Are you doing more this year? Out of the mouths of babes we can learn a bunch.
An empty nest? What am I gonna do?
It’s nearly Christmas, and you realize that next year your last child is going to be off at college and there won’t be anyone around. Decorating the Christmas tree is just going to be you and your husband—or maybe just you. Being without your last-born has you totally freaked out. You know, my wife and I have one left at home. She’s already talking about moving into her own apartment. While it’s a joy to know she’s independent, it’s sad knowing that this season of life is coming to an end and that I’m officially OLD. The good news is now we’re in a situation where our kids actually become friends, and we can have more time to do the things that we’ve been wanting to do. The hard part? We just miss them.
Just call me Grandpa Greg.
I was pretty blessed. I had three of my four grandparents well into my adult life. In fact, my Grandpa and Grandma Yoder became very close to our family. We spent many summer weekends up North at the cottage they built on Lake Huron. And it continues to be one of our family’s favorite vacation spots. While I was blessed, many families don’t have any grandparents. Let me encourage you to become the neighborhood grandparent. Do something special for those little kiddos next door or across the street. Give them candy, play games, or do some special projects with them just like grandparents do. And tell them, “You can call me Grandpa Greg” (or whatever your name happens to be). Maybe you’ll be blessed as Grandma Sonja in Wisconsin was when she got to lead her neighborhood granddaughter to Jesus.
We've lost five family members in three years
How do you comfort your non-Christian adult kids in times of grief?
Same-sex relationships in my Christmas channel?
Were you surprised while watching a Christmas movie with your kids?
There's one idol my family struggles with
Is screentime a struggle in your family too?
I want to teach my kids the TRUE gift of Christmas
I have to say SOMETHING
Are you watching and warning your kids, especially your adult kids?
This isn’t a good time of year for some.
You’ve heard the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” right? It’s true for some, but not for others—especially for those divorced or for some foster parents. It can be terribly lonely. As a stepparent, it was the most difficult time of year for my wife and me. We had to share the holiday. One year we’d have Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, and the next we’d have just the last part of Christmas Day. You can’t imagine the stress on the kids, through no fault of their own. If you’re a stepparent, remember, you’re stronger than your kids. Make it as positive as you can. Cherish the time you DO have and make the every-other-year traditions ones that they’ll remember. If you’re not a stepparent, pray for families who are. They need it.