by Arlene | Nov 14, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
I love talking with parents of young kids because if you set healthy boundaries early on with technology, you can get some pretty amazing results. But what if your child is already a college student? There’s not much chance you’ll be collecting his or her...
by Arlene | Nov 6, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
What would happen at your house if you couldn’t talk for one day? I actually know the answer to this hypothetical question because I have been on total voice rest since October 23 because of laryngitis! James texted our friend: Arlene has taken a vow of...
by Arlene | Oct 31, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
“Mom, there is one holiday I wish we could just skip all together.” “What holiday is that?” “Halloween.” With spiders and webs all around, floating ghosts, ghoulish looking faces popping up all over the neighborhood, I can see...
by Arlene | Oct 10, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
I wonder how my kids would have rated me in a recent large study. Would I have cringed at their answers? The survey was about what kids really wanted their parents to know. After surveying 6,000 children, researchers found that: 54 percent said their parents checked...
by Arlene | Oct 4, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
Need some peace away from the bad news of the day, constant emails, or trail of tweets? It could be as easy as taking a hike. Yes, it might mean planning a vacation in the great outdoors, or it might be just taking a walk around the block, or outside your office...
by Arlene | Sep 19, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
Do you remember when your children were preschoolers? For some of you, that’s the future. For others, that stage is way in the past! My youngest Lucy is almost 8. I remember bringing her to MOPS groups when she was little. She would assist me at my book table....
by Arlene | Sep 14, 2017 | Marriage, Parenting, The Latest ...
Need to feel more calm, cool, and connected? Would your kids say, “My mom (or my dad) is on the phone too much”? Here are 4 tips to taming your phone use from a news segment I did this week on San Diego 8 on the CW. You’ll find that a few simple...
by Arlene | Sep 7, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
There is a time to text, and there is a time to talk. Texting is great for “Meet you in 5.” It’s not so great for “I have a problem with what you said to be me yesterday…” Solomon wrote the famous words in the Book of Ecclesiastes,...
by Arlene | Sep 5, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
Yippee! YAY! Confetti! Yahoo! It’s book launch day! Today is the day you can pick up my new book, Calm, Cool, and Connected: 5 Digital Habits for a More Balanced Life. Most of us struggle with checking our phones too often, and connecting with our loved ones...
by Arlene | Aug 30, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
Have you ever tried to get your spouse’s or child’s attention, only to find yourself competing with a phone? It’s hard to feel loved when others are staring at their phones. Sure, you can send a text to loved one and connect that way. But it’s...
by Arlene | Aug 10, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
I was hoping the crack would magically fix itself. I noticed the side of my three-year-old iPhone coming apart, but the phone still worked just fine. I went on like this for weeks, but then I took my phone out of my purse and the cracks were multiplying. Now the...
by Arlene | Jul 10, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
As you may know, I post something new on my site every week. But this week…I almost didn’t do it because of three little letters: V. B. S. Those of you who have ever planned or volunteered for VBS know what these precious words stand for: Vacation Bible...
by Arlene | Jul 6, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
A special welcome to my Proverbs 31 friends who read about the importance of gathering together at church. Throughout my life, I’ve attended churches of all sizes…small, medium and large! Perhaps you are looking for a new church because you’ve moved...
by Arlene | Jun 19, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
It’s my pleasure to offer this guest post by my friend author Annette Hubbell. I will be giving away a copy of her book “A Spoonful of Grace: Mealtime Blessings in Bite-sized Pieces” tomorrow. Come back to enter! “Mom, I think saying grace makes the...
by Arlene | Jun 5, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
Friday was the last day of school for my three kids. As two of them teased each other, loudly and relentlessly, I muttered under my breath, “It’s going to be a long summer.” Even the “happy mom” loses perspective sometimes. I need to...
by Arlene | May 9, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
What gift could you give yourself this Mother’s Day? I’m sure a Nordstrom gift card or endlessly refillable Starbuck’s coffee cup sound pretty nice! But perhaps even sweeter is the gift of perspective. My friend Jessie Seneca has raised girls from...
by Arlene | May 3, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
Are you available to your kids? If your child wanted to ask you about something, would he or she be able to easily find time in the day to talk to you? We can get so busy going from one activity to the next – getting the breakfast on the table, out the door,...
by Arlene | Apr 24, 2017 | Giveaways, Parenting, The Latest ...
***This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations Anita G!*** Motherhood doesn’t go according to plan…however, spending time in God’s Word everyday certainly helps a lot! That’s why I’m so happy to giveaway my friend Kendra Smiley’s...
by Arlene | Apr 18, 2017 | Giveaways, Parenting, The Latest ...
***This giveaway is closed. Congratulations Jenny K!*** Welcome Proverbs 31 friends! So glad you could stop by today. You may feel more like “Barely Getting By Mom” or “Wimpy Mom” or “Defeated Mom” on same days, but God sees you...
by Arlene | Apr 11, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
Would a screen-free Easter weekend be a big sacrifice for you and your family? Recently in my Moms in Prayer group, one of the moms shared that her kids had given up screen time for Lent. Wow, I was impressed by that! The kids came up with it themselves; it was not...
by Arlene | Apr 4, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
These photos were just taken four years ago…and what a difference just a few years make! My son Ethan is in junior high now, and would be more likely to be inside the bunny costume than to be caught in a photo with the bunny. You know that time flies with your...
by Arlene | Mar 28, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
When does spring break start for your family? For us…it’s now! Chances are, you’ll want a few spring break screen-free activities in mind for your kids. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing: Walk somewhere. Is there a park...
by Arlene | Mar 6, 2017 | Parenting, The Latest ...
I know you’ve had a bad morning like this. The makings of our hectic morning were sown the night before. I had to wake Noelle up early to finish a big homework project about the Revolutionary War. She didn’t have time to do it the night before because we...
by Arlene | Feb 1, 2017 | Marriage, Parenting, The Latest ...
How frugal are you? As 2017 gets underway, it’s a good time to think about where you can save a dollar here and there. James and I are both frugal which makes our lives easier (and sometimes funnier). In California where we live, there’s a new law that...
