by Shannon Popkin | Aug 24, 2012 | Disagreement, Family, Fear, Goals, Mistakes, Parenting
Once when Cole was about three, we had him in a church service with us. He had to go to the bathroom, so Daddy (Ken) took him out. From my seat near the front, I watched as they re-entered the sanctuary a few minutes later. Ken started walking down the side aisle, and...
by Shannon Popkin | Jul 9, 2012 | Anxiety, Parenting, Published
Read my article in the latest MOMSnext E-zine (produced by MOPS):The more roller coasters my 8-year-old rode during our day at an amusement park, the more he wanted to ride. (Just the opposite was true of me.) On our last ride of the day, he even offered to be the one...
by Shannon Popkin | May 29, 2012 | Anxiety, Compassion, Differences, Hardship, Kids' Perspective, Mistakes, Rescue
Last week I asked my son who is favorite elementary school teacher was. He named several, but our conversation gravitated toward Mrs. DeKam–an exceptionally special teacher, when we especially needed one.The year before had been so difficult. My son had entered...
by Shannon Popkin | Apr 27, 2012 | Anger, Jesus
I was angry this morning. Very angry.For almost a week I’ve been without a vehicle, and whenever I find a nice one online, I show my husband and he says, “That’s too much.” But that’s not why I was angry. I was angry because there was...
by Shannon Popkin | Apr 3, 2012 | Faith, Fear, Holidays, Media, Teens, Wisdom
Last time, I talked about what I liked–and there’s a lot to like in the Hunger Games. But this time, I’d like to tell you what I found disturbing. I suppose it’s obvious: Rollicking festivities that include the crowd collectively leaning in to...
by Shannon Popkin | Mar 19, 2012 | Compassion, Fear, Funny, Kids' Perspective, Parenting
It’s Yellow Ball Monday, and the Farmer’s Wife has the ball!Work-from-home moms tend to use rather unconventional methods of keeping their children quiet while making business calls. I’m not proud of it, but I used a frog and a bathtub with my three...