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...
by Shannon Popkin | Feb 22, 2012 | Love, Parenting
The other day, Cade (age 8) said to me, “Mom, I really love it when you tell me that you love me. You know, like when you give me a kiss at night and say you love me? It makes me feel all warm when you say that. It gives me hope.”Then yesterday, when he...
by Shannon Popkin | Feb 20, 2012 | Funny, Parenting
It’s Yellow Ball Monday, and Alice Daniels has the ball:A number of years ago, I was in that worn-down part of the day of getting the children ready for bed. I had given my 18-month-old, Elaine, her bath, tucked her up in her crib, and was now trying to...
by Shannon Popkin | Feb 18, 2012 | Communication, Compassion, Mistakes, Parenting, Sin, Speaking, Wisdom
When I was in high school, I loved piano. My choir director asked me to accompany the choir on a a couple of our songs. I said sure, I’d be happy to, though I had never accompanied before.I practiced the songs, which were easy enough, at home, but I guess I...
by Shannon Popkin | Feb 15, 2012 | Fear, Friendship, Mistakes, Parenting
Lindsay remembers the day in first grade that she couldn’t play with Abby at recess. She wanted to, but I had told her she couldn’t. I said that Abby wasn’t a good influence, and Lindsay needed to have more than just one friend. “So...
by Shannon Popkin | Jan 24, 2012 | Beliefs, Faith, Family, Goals, Parenting, Roles
I’m stooped over, washing green marker off the wall. I have a bucket of water at my side and the phone up to my ear. I’m discussing carpool arrangements, but I have to keep excusing myself so I can tell my kindergartner to stop tormenting the girls...