Video: Raising Givers, Not Takers
Does it ever feel like you are the one doing the giving, and everyone else in the family is doing the taking? Here are three tips from my book 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Mom to teach your kids the joy of giving: (1) Teach them empathy for others (2) Participate in...
Video: 5 easy Thanksgiving projects
Here are 5 ideas to stoke gratitude in our families – both on Thanksgiving and all year long! 5 Easy Thanksgiving Projects to Stoke Gratitude Thanksgiving is coming…are your kids grateful people? Here are 5 ways you can help them practice gratitude, find...
Podcast: Christmas Makeover with Melissa Spoelstra
Download the podcast on iTunes or listen here: The holiday season is here! Some of you are cheering and others of you are cringing. You may be thinking of all you have to bake and buy and do. Sigh. Have no fear…my friend Melissa Spoelstra is here to help us...
Video: 3 Ways to Have Less Entitled Children
A child who doesn’t say “thank you” and who is demanding is not a pleasant child to be around. This does not have to be the case in your home. You can train your kids – whether they are toddlers or teens – to be less entitled and more...
Video: Going the Extra Mile at Home
How can you do just a little extra in your marriage and/or parenting to improve your home and make it a happier place? Here are some ideas just for you inspired by my Proverbs 31 devotion today about living an “and then some” life. Going the Extra Mile at...
Book Giveaway: The Better Mom Devotional by Ruth Schwenk
***This giveaway is now closed. Congrats April W*** I am so happy to have my friend Ruth Schwenk guest posting today AND offering a giveaway of her new devotional, The Better Mom Devotional. Isn’t it beautiful? Let’s get some truth into our...
Podcast: Hannah Anderson on Teaching Kids Discernment
Download the podcast on iTunes or listen here: Could you use a daily dose of discernment in your parenting? It can be hard to know when to say YES and when to say NO. When to hold the line, and when to give in. I’m so glad author Hannah Anderson is joining me...
Video: Is your child addicted to the internet?
Is your child constantly online? What is internet addiction and might your child have it? Addiction has a few definitions. Here is one: Addiction is a condition in which a person engages in use of a substance or in a behavior for which the rewarding effects provide...
Video: How to Become More Courageous Parent
Snapchat, pornography, and video games, oh my! Bullying, depression, and dating, oh my! There are certainly many things that strike fear into the heart of a parent. How can we parent more courageously? In this week’s Facebook Live chat, I talk about how you can...
Dealing with Loss and Failure with Your Kids
This week on FB Live, we’re talking about dealing with loss and failure with our kids.
New Digital Habits for a More Balanced Life
Today I’m honored to be a guest on Jeff Brown’s excellent Read to Lead Podcast.
Kids addicted to Fortnite?
Has your child played hours and hours of Fortnite this summer? If so, he or she isn’t alone. More than 125 million people are playing. How can you tell if your child is addicted? Find out in today’s Facebook Live chat. Each week, I’ll be doing a...
Arlene airing on Focus on the Family today
Could you use some practical parenting advice? Whether your child is currently thriving or struggling, you will find encouragement in today’s episode of Focus on the Family. I am beyond honored to be a broadcast guest today. Talking with Jim Daly and John...
Arlene on Focus on the Family August 13
Years ago, before my first book was every published, I told a dear friend my dream: Someday, I would like to be on Focus on the Family. It seemed like a very far fetched, crazy, pie-in-the-sky dream for sure. How amazing that God has brought this dream to pass and...
When Isolation is Actually Good
I’ve been going to a neighborhood spin class for more than 13 years now. In class today, my instructor yelled, “ISOLATE!” What did she mean by that? Did she want me to go back home and sit alone in my room? No, of course not (although that would have been nice!)....
Back to School
This morning, the breakfast table was strangely quiet. Just three years ago, my three kids sat around the breakfast table in a beehive of activity and chatter. Then when my oldest went to middle school (which started one hour before elementary school), that left my...
Teaching Your Kids About Christ’s Coming
A special shout out to my friends from Proverbs 31 Ministries! Thanks for stopping by. We know how to talk about Christmas with our kids, but maybe it’s harder to explain the coming of Christ again! Yet the Bible has much to say about the return of Christ and...
Celebrating the American Dream
Living in America is a wonderful privilege and one that we should be constantly grateful for. We have clean water to drink and proper sanitation. We are not assigned a job. We are not jailed or beaten for being a certain religion. We are free to hold onto our...
Connect with Other Moms Through Prayer
A special welcome to my Proverbs 31 friends! (you can read my devotion from today here) Do you want to discover how to connect with others moms through prayer? Praying for your kids is one of the best things you can do yourself…and with other women. Maybe...
Video Tip: Do this Free Summer Activity
One of our favorite free activities in the summer is going to the library! Your kids can stock up on books and DVDs to watch together as a family. You can also look for my books at the library. The titles that my local library stocks are Growing Up Social and 31...
Celebrate Your Hubby on Father’s Day
This Sunday marks America’s 108th Father’s Day – one of my hubby’s favorite holidays! It began as the idea of a church going woman in Spokane Washington. She heard a Mother’s Day sermon and decided fathers should have their day too. ...
Parents Rising Video Series is Here!
I have often wanted to create video messages to accompany my books. I’m happy to present my first set of complete video sessions for my newest book Parents Rising: 8 Strategies for Raising Kids Who Love God, Respect Authority, and Value What’s Right. ...
What Memorial Day Means to My Son
My son Ethan wrote this essay and I thought it would be neat to share something from the eyes of a middle schooler. What our young men learn about the values and history of our country will have a tremendous impact on the future of America. What Memorial Day Means...Now Available
