our 80s and 90s childhood had some great things about it. You can share some of the best parts with your kids in one simple way…
How to Talk to the Mature Side of Your Teen
Are you struggling to talk to your teen? As we help our teens grow into maturity, we need to know this about how to communicate effectively.
One Simple Way for Moms to Get Their Teens to Talk and Share
Every mom wants to get their teens to talk and share. Our hearts long to know our growing big kids. Here’s one strategy that works…
How to Respond When Your Teens Say OUT THERE Things
How do you respond to your teens when they say “out there” things? Respond in a way that promotes wisdom, growth, and connection.
Hold Your Babies, Hold Your Teens Even Closer
Everyone says, “Hold your babies,” but I say, “Hold your teens.” Hold them in your prayers. Go before God and…read on…
Connecting with Your Tween and Teen Takes Less Time Than You Think and Is Powerful
Connecting with your tween and teen can be simple and quick, and the impact will fill you both all the way up. Ideas on connecting your tweens and teens…
Talk to Your Big Kids about Everything, You Mean the World to Them
Talk to your big kids. Parents, your kids want to connect with you. You mean the absolute world to them. Talk to your big kids.
Butting Heads with Your Teen? Try This Powerful Phrase
Do you feel like you are butting heads with your teen? This one powerful phrase could be a game changer. Read on…
Momma, Keep the Date With Your Big Kids. You’ll Never Regret One-on-One Time…
Big kids crave one-on-one time with their parents. It’s so important to keep our dates with them. We’ll never regret it.
The Lasting Power of a Simple Meal: It’s Not Just Your Family at the Dinner Table, It’s More
(Inside: Moms, we think it’s just our family at the dinner table, another meal, nothing special, but it’s so much more than that…)
It’s not just dinner.
Moms, we think it’s just dinner, but we forget.
It’s not just noodles, a jar of spaghetti sauce, and a side of broccoli.
Or pizza showing up at our door.
Or chicken sandwiches ordered from a booth.
It’s a place for our family to fill their empty bellies – a mood booster and an energy-giver.
It’s a place to unpack your thoughts and process your day. To be heard and to listen. And for your family to speak truth and encouragement into each other’s lives.
It’s a place to just focus on eating because everyone’s too tired to talk, but it’s your safe place to simply sit and be. The dinner table is a place to belong.
It’s a place for good conversations. And belly laughs. And heated debates. And dumb topics. And intellectual thoughts.
At the end of a busy day, we can quickly throw together/order/pick up something to eat and not think anything more about it. But it’s not just dinner.
It’s a pause in life to soak in the people you love. To refuel your body. To show and receive emotional support. To create and deepen family connections. To nurture a sense of belonging.
Life gets busy and this certainly isn’t going to happen every single night.
But, that rhythm of continually coming back to family meals.
It’s not just dinner.
It’s life.
Want to connect more than over your family at the dinner table? Read more in the “Create Family Connections” series.
We all want to feel connected to our family. I know, I do.
One of my favorite things to do with my family is to create family time. Yes, life gets busy, and no I don’t do this all perfectly (who actually does!?!), but it sure is fun to try.
I hope you enjoy these family connection articles and ideas too…
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
400+ Great Conversation Starters for Families of Teens
7 Powerful Reasons to Pray as a Family (+ Prayer Journal)
INSPIRATIONAL STORIES
My Big Kids, No Matter How Fast Your Grow, I’ll Always Be Your Mom
Moms of Big Kids, Get Lost in Motherhood if You Want
CELEBRATING HOLIDAYS
30+ Ways to Connect With Your Family Over the Holiday Season
Join this community of moms raising tweens and teens…
You just dropped one kid off at practice, picked up another, and are trying to decide what to make for dinner. Your days are filled with work, parenting, and waiting for password reset emails.
You are parenting tweens and teens.
It’s an amazing life phase, but also challenging in unique ways. In it all, you’d love a little encouragement to help you laugh, grow in faith, see parenting hacks, get ideas to connect with your kids, and celebrate the awesome momma you are.
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Cheryl is a mom of 3 boys, wife, speaker, high school teacher, and author of Empowered Moms & Kids. She has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and is passionate about learning and teaching. On www.empoweredmomsandkids.com you’ll find inspiration and encouragement for moms raising tweens and/or teens. Read more in the “about” section of this page.