by Shannon Popkin | Aug 10, 2011 | Differences, Parenting, Teens
Last time, I posted about feeling rather ‘Ugly Duckling-ish’, as a parent. When my kids were little, I honestly didn’t worry all that much about being different from other parents. I figured I was doing what was best for my child, and trying to...
by Shannon Popkin | Aug 9, 2011 | Friendship, Media, Parenting
My kids were three and one, the year we joined a neighborhood play group. The moms in the group would alternate hosting, and I looked forward to the weekly social interaction for both my kids and me.One week, however, my kids weren’t interacting. They were...
by Shannon Popkin | Aug 1, 2011 | Faith, Love, Marriage
My friend, Melanie, stopped by last night to show me her new engagement ring that Jonathan gave her. Great guy. Beautiful ring. Happy girl.I remember talking to her a year or so ago about the guy that she had been dating. He had a promising career, sent flowers on a...
by Shannon Popkin | Jul 27, 2011 | Compassion, Differences, Jesus, Kids' Perspective
On vacation a couple of years ago, while I was checking into our hotel, five-year-old Cade wandered over to the lounge area. I could see him talking to an older man sitting there. If you had surveyed all of the men in Chicago, searching for the one who least wanted...
by Shannon Popkin | Jul 20, 2011 | Communication, Kids' Perspective, Mistakes
I brought my friend’s little boy, Matthew, to the bathroom while his mom was occupied. After I got him settled on the potty, he said, “I need piy-cee.”I said, “You need a potty seat?”He said, “No. I need piy-cee.”I said,...
by Shannon Popkin | Jul 15, 2011 | Kids' Perspective, Media, Parenting, Wisdom
When Lindsay was little, we lived in Mount Pleasant, MI. All around town, there were green signs directing you toward one of our largest employers: the casino. One Sunday, Lindsay was drawing in a notebook during church. She was four, and just learning her letters...