The Bible doesn’t explicitly teach us what to do in a grocery store with our kids, right? So is kids’ public behavior just a matter of personal opinion and preference? Let’s discuss the underlying principles underneath the way we approach teaching our kids to behave in public. Listen in as Jess talks with Bethany Weatherby about: What […]
Mommy Life & Getting Past Survival – Jess Connell
Can we just say it: After you become a parent, the first few months are brutal, yes? Well, they were for me, with Ethan (our first son, in 2002): NICU for a week I had mastitis for a solid, bloody-cracked-painful month Trying to figure out every single thing, and feeling like it mattered so very […]
perfectionism – Jess Connell
I recently asked over 1,000 women: “What things keep you from getting the soul and body rest you know you need?” Here’s a selection of the answers: Laundry, dirty bottles, teething babies and an injured hubby. 🙂 I constantly put high expectations on myself and convince myself that I can do all things. It’s a battleground…
motherhood – Jess Connell
“The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children.” ~Charlotte Mason Dear Mom of young children, Do you realize the incredible power you have… […]
round-up – Jess Connell
How We Set Family Goals for the New Year 9 Ways to Have a Rotten Sex Life Managing Postpartum with a Large Family When Mama Feels Overwhelmed How I’m Fighting 3 Fears, Right Now What I Think After Trying Amazon Prime Pantry Our Wonderland Trail Video (an hour-long video about our trip in August… I…
preteens – Jess Connell
Q: I am totally struggling with my oldest… One thing that I’m having trouble with is knowing how to discuss things with him. He still struggles with basic obedience, so that is an issue. Also, he tends to argue with me while we are talking. For example, this morning I told him that something he…
mom – Jess Connell – Page 3
Recently, I watched a video that appeared on my Facebook feed. Filling the comments section was a litany of moms who claimed they “couldn’t even watch the video because they were so distracted by the fact that none of the kids were buckled into their carseats correctly.” It got me to pondering… There are a whole lot… […]
the box – Jess Connell
Sometimes we can feel like all we have to pass to our kids is what our parents passed to us. “Mom yelled. So I have a problem with yelling.” “Dad never taught us the Bible, so I don’t have a model for parents doing that.” “My parents never really snuggled or showed affection; it feels…
children – Jess Connell – Page 3
Like parenting in general, it helps me when I think about homeschooling in terms of seasons. Each season has its own unique joys, its own unique challenges, and each is discernibly different from the one before. HOMESCHOOLING BEGAN LIKE SPRING Was it that way for you? (It’s not that way for everyone, so don’t feel bad… […]
raising sons – Jess Connell
Moms of sons, you want to take note of Titus 2:6. In the verses before this, Paul is instructing Timothy about HOW he should be pastoring the people in his church. In Titus 2: 1-5, Paul tells Timothy to give: older men a list of 6 things they are to DO and BE, older women a list of… […]
When Homeschooling IDEALS Collide with the REALITIES of a Large Family – Jess Connell
Hi Jess, I don’t know if you answer emails like this since you aren’t active on your blog, but wanted to tell you I took your advice to heart and am not blogging. It was the best decision. I had my fourth baby, and I would’ve had to lay down priorities in caring for my family to […]
how to talk to your kids about sex – Jess Connell
Analogies can be a way for us to understand ideas or experiences better. Here are 3 good analogies I’ve heard used to describe sex, and why I find them helpful: #1- SEX IS LIKE A BLAZING FIRE. The weekend-getaway we do with our 12-year-olds is called “Passport2Purity.” That is the first place I remember hearing… […]
foolishness – Jess Connell
One day last year, I walked into our bathroom and found my 3-year-old, Moses, with his arms awkwardly positioned, slightly up in the air. Upon hearing my footsteps, he dropped his hands. His big, winsome smile didn’t fool me. 🙂 It was clear there was something in one hand he had pulled down and was trying to…
understanding our children – Jess Connell
Q: I would love to know some things that have helped you how to simplify homeschooling in order to do things WELL. Everyday life with a large family (I have 5 kids under 10) in itself makes just the basics challenging some days!!! I would love to know some ways to maintain a certain level despite all… […]