by Shannon Popkin | Mar 14, 2020 | Communication, Disagreement, Discipline, Friendship, Wisdom, Women, Young Control Girl
“We’re in college!” said one girl in an irritated tone. “Doesn’t she know we’re busy?” said the other. “I mean, that was my last chance to finish this stupid paper, and now it’s probably going to be late—due to...
by Shannon Popkin | Jun 25, 2013 | Anxiety, Beauty, Discipline, Food, Parenting, Teens, Wisdom
Dear Seventeen-Year-Old Me,Let’s talk about the mirror. Sometimes when you look in it, you’re disgusted. You think you’re fat or ugly or covered in pimples. You’ve already started to experiment with your eating habits and your hair and makeup. You spend hours in your...
by Shannon Popkin | Feb 13, 2013 | Discipline, Mistakes, Parenting
A repost from 2009. Cole thinks this story is very funny now. :)My family was all within earshot when Ken said, “Shannon, we’ve got to be consistent with disciplining Cade for talking back. Should he sit in the corner for five minutes?” After we...
by Shannon Popkin | Jan 12, 2013 | Discipline, Humility, Leadership, Mistakes
“You’re not going to be happy,” I heard my husband say into the cell phone.He was at home, checking whether our dryer had a three or four prong cord. I was at Best Buy, trying to buy the correct replacement. But it turns out we have no electric cord...
by Shannon Popkin | Oct 1, 2012 | Communication, Discipline, Faith, Kids' Perspective, Love, Mistakes, Pain, Parenting, Teens, Wisdom
My friend’s son was a 9th grader when a girl suddenly began inserting herself into his life in a big way. She came to his games, invited herself over, sent him texts (lots of texts). She was everywhere. My friend became concerned by how much her son was enjoying...
by Shannon Popkin | Sep 19, 2012 | Compassion, Discipline, God, Mistakes, Serving
As my friend, Wendy, and I were waiting with the rest of the choir to go on stage, I noticed something. Her choir dress was black and mine was burgundy. And our folders were just the opposite–hers was burgundy and mine was black. “Let’s...