Sometimes, the stories in our heads need a new frame. Recently, I visited my home town to visit family. It was a week of hard conversations intertwined with impromptu moments of fun. However, truthfully, I was longing to return to my own home. I felt tired, emotionally and physically drained, and always get a bit […]
Sacred Connections
Why I am Grateful for Healing Relationships in My Kids
Things are changing in our home and I’m here for it. Upon waking up in the middle of the night, I heard noises above my head. I could hear interaction between two of my big kids. But they weren’t fighting. They were chatting. In the past two years, I’ve witnessed a transformation in the relationships […]
Why I Like watching “Our Shows” With My Big Kids
Long ago, my kids and I established life giving rhythms. Over TV. Our days often began early but with virtual companions. Together, we snuggled, attempted to slowly awaken to our new day, learn new things, and laugh. Once they entered school, the rhythms changed but we still sought out those moments where we sat close […]
How Traveling With Our Young Adult Children Can Take Unexpected Forms
Recently, I realized I’ve done a lot of traveling with my young adult children. However, I’m not referring to family vacations or even the multiple trips back and forth to their current homes. The traveling I am invited to occurs via phone calls initiated by my big kids as they go about errands and work […]
The Poignant Process of Helping Young Adults Embrace Mercy and Grace
Shame overwhelms and beckons to sit in its companionship. It counts on forgetting that we are liberated and are offered a seat somewhere else. Lack of life experience and deceitful voices threaten to let us find identity in a dark, unfulfilling place. Young adulthood involves a daily encounter with trial and error. Recognizing our humanity, […]
Being Intentional about Learning From Our Young Adult Children
Recently, I consulted my young adult children about a problem. I needed another set of eyes and generational perspective to help me debrief my situation. Reaching out to each of them felt paradoxical. For so long, I sought to ask questions and offer up guidance as we worked together through unexpected circumstances. Much of the […]
