Living Intentionally, Parenting Thoughtfully

As parents, we are entrusted by God with the sacred responsibility to teach our children. This is a divine privilege—to care for and nurture His children. One of the most important concepts the Lord expects us to teach them is the proper understanding of intimate physical relationships between a man and a woman. It is essential that we prepare our children for this part of life, helping them understand this is part of God's plan of happiness for us.    Helping our children understand that trust and confidence between two people is vital in their success of intimacy in their marriage.  We can help our children practice trust and loyalty by teaching them the importance of keeping sensitive matters within the family. They should understand the value of loyalty to both family and friends, and strive to live with integrity. The stronger their integrity, the stronger their future relationships will be, particularly with their spouse, which will ultimately contribute to a succes...

 We’re living in a time where technology allows us to learn and share our experiences at an exponential rate. As a parent, I’m constantly reflecting on the ways I can grow and improve, especially when it comes to how I speak to and praise my children. We all want our kids to be confident, happy, and successful, right? But how do we help them get there? One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned on this parenting journey comes from Carol Dweck’s book Mindset , which I highly recommend. In it, she talks about the importance of fostering a growth mindset in children. A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence, as opposed to a fixed mindset, where kids believe their abilities are static and cannot change. The way we praise our children plays a huge role in helping them embrace this mindset. Another book that has shaped my approach to parenting is Grit by Angela Duckworth—another must-read for parents. D...

Emotion coaching is a concept developed by Dr. John Gottman, a renowned psychologist and relationship expert, particularly in the context of parenting. It refers to the process of helping children understand, regulate, and express their emotions in a healthy way. Dr. Gottman emphasizes that emotional intelligence is a key factor in a child’s development, and emotion coaching is a powerful tool for fostering this emotional awareness and self-regulation. What is Emotion Coaching? Emotion coaching involves recognizing, acknowledging, and validating a child's emotions, while also helping them to label their feelings, understand what they are experiencing, and learn appropriate ways to express those feelings. In emotion coaching, parents act as guides, helping children make sense of their emotional experiences and learn how to manage them effectively. Dr. Gottman identifies five key steps in emotion coaching: Be aware of the child's emotions – Parents need to tune into their child...