Working Class Parenting: Motivation, Education and Inspiration For Parents

As leaders in our homes, we should build memorable monuments with our children and we should also build those monuments for our children. Our children won’t reminisce about big events and big-ticket items. Rather, their hearts will be warmed by memories of the love, care, and companionship you showed them day to day.

1. This little boy who has had it with his grandma 2. This boy parallel parking like a boss 3. This kid who just doesn’t care. 4. This kid recovering from a fall. 5. This kid who had enough of her sister and her friend. 6. This kid who just trolled the other team 7. This boy trying to blow this dandelion 8. This little boy going down the stairs 9. This girl driving away 10. These girls who wanted to wake up their dad ...

Post Courtesy of StayTeen.org Sometimes it seems like everyone is doing it…especially if you’re not. But less than half of teens in high school (only 42% of girls and 43% of boys) have had sex. That means that more than half of all high school students are virgins . And the younger someone is, the more likely they’re a virgin. For example, less than one-third of teenagers age 17 and younger have had sex, while 60% of 18- and 19- year-olds have. It’s okay not to have sex. In fact, not having sex is a great idea, especially if you want to avoid pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) .  Of course there are all kinds of birth control methods that—when used carefully, correctly, and consistently—can protect you against pregnancy and decrease the risk of STIs. But not having sex is the only 100% proven method for avoiding pregnancy and STIs. And while birth control can help protect your body, it can’t protect your feelings—and feelings are a big part o...

Blog post courtesy of Legacy Dad . A great site empowering parents to raise spiritual champions. What impact do fathers have on the family and the local church? Consider these statistics below: 43% of US children live without their father [US Department of Census] 90% of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes. [US D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census] 80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes. [Criminal Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, pp. 403-26, 1978] 71% of pregnant teenagers lack a father. [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services press release, Friday, March 26, 1999] 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes. [US D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census] 85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes. [Center for Disease Control] 90% of adolescent repeat arsonists live with only their mother. [Wray Herbert, “Dousing the Kindlers,” Psychology Today, January, 1985, p. 28] 71% of high school dropo...

Guest Post by Mike Ziadeh, husband, father of three and Youth Pastor @ Spring Lake Methodist Church Brooksville, FL The most important part about writing is to create a clever title, something that wins in the battle of our ever restless attention span. Old school vs. New School, this could be describing any assortment of styles or competitions, but in this case I want to talk about parenting. Parenting styles have been the subject of scrutiny, study, insult, injury , and the source of blame for many generations, but none more so then our current age. This is a sign of the times. We are more introspective, more analytical, and in this highly therapeutic age, we are looking for a finger to point, and a explanation of our current behaviors. All of this leaves us, as parents, awkward, nervous, and unsure of our parenting ability. Many of us feel trapped. How do we do something that we have never seen modeled? (many men trying to be fathers) or How do we take on the task of parenting ...

Image Courtesy of www.scarymommy.com There is no handbook given at the hospital with each baby. There is no book that can be checked out or let alone bought that will answer every parenting question. There is no magic ball that tells you every possible scenario, there is just good ole’ “on the job training”. Every child brings his/hers own diversity. As mentioned before, what might have worked for one might not work for the next. Everyday is a new adventure and everyday Murphy’s Law is in affect.

In our busy schedules its sometimes hard to have a family dinner together. Dinner time is a great opportunity to engage your child in meaningful conversations. Having a hard time on topics to discuss? These topics can keep the communication lines open and allow you a glimpse into your child’s heart and mind.

Posted by Andrea Tomkins via Media Smarts It’s pretty amazing how tech-savvy kids are nowadays. I like to think I’m a pretty smart mamma but in certain areas my kids have me beat. The TV remote is one of the devices they understand better than I do and don’t even ask me to explain Minecraft. (Perhaps that is a different post altogether!) Our kids are coming of age at a time that things like online shopping, Facetime, and texting are all normal everyday occurrences. Technology is enabling people to do some pretty amazing things, and even communicate in a whole new way using a new language. You may know this as texting.

Interaction with our kids is key to healthy relationships. Here are some creative ideas for playing with your kids this summer. Photo by Victoria Bayer Grab some boats (or make some simple floating ones with bark or paper) and spread out a tarp, shower curtain or plastic tablecloth in the yard.  Drizzle water on it with the hose and sit right smack in the middle of it — getting cool, floating boats, making little island getaways, you name it. Have a photo shoot outside.  Be sure to let the kids take your picture too! Shoot some hoops — even if that means tossing balled up socks into a bowl on the coffee table because it’s 115 degrees outside. Go on a sprinkler walk.  Head to an area of town where people have their sprinklers going and sidewalks that go through them, and try to walk through as many sprinklers to cool down as possible. Make some real fruit slushies.  Toss frozen fruit like strawberries in the blender with some water and sugar to tas...

Goldieblox, an engineering toy for girls First off, will this toy make your daughter an engineering genius? Probably not! But come on, no one toy will make your daughter a genius, no matter what it is. But I do like where this toy is coming from; an educational toy geared towards girls in a way that speaks to them. Two of my daughter's favorite activities are reading and building things. She loves to draw layouts of amusement parks, restaurants, and the veterinarian office that she wants to create, and then build them out of wooden blocks and legos. She will also sit and read for hours at a time and enjoys every second of it. So when I read an article in our local newspaper about a new toy created with girls like my daughter in mind, I thought we would give it a try. So even though at the end of the video the creator says she is waiting to start her company with 5,000 orders, that goal has been surpassed and Goldieblox is on its way to our house. We placed our order and wi...

(photograph courtesy of Rebel Photos ) Memorial Day is when we honor soldiers who have fallen in defense of our nation, those brave men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice to ensure freedom and prosperity for the United States. Below is an excerpt from an article in the Tampa Bay Times written by David Adams who served two tours in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division "...Our military ensures the American way of  life that so many of us take for granted. Celebrating our nation's unique living conditions with a barbecue, boat ride or trip to the pool is great, but remember what these luxuries cost and pass that knowledge on to your children. Let them know the reality of war. For me, it meant that some men that I served with would never come home. Ever since my service in the military, Memorial Day has become something more somber, more real. I'm sure any family that has lost a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan understand how I Feel. I'm not sa...

By Linda Ranson Jacobs   Post Courtesy of “……they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13b (NIV) Single parents have many roles to fill.  As we parent alone most of us have to work an outside job in order to support our family alone. We also serve as cook, chauffer, nurse, disciplinarian, mechanic and fulfill a dozen other roles. One of the most important jobs we have as single parents is to teach and model a relationship with Jesus Christ. Modeling a relationship with Christ is a life style. Some of you will have to consciously change your life style to incorporate a daily walk with the Lord. I can hear many of you saying, “But you don’t understand, I don’t have time to read and study the Bible. I’m lucky if I get one scripture read and dash off a quick prayer.” A lifestyle with Christ is more than that. It’s trusting and depending on Him. It’s living with and in Christ. It’s Christ living through you. It’s not about reading scriptur...

Guest Post By: Amanda De Pablo I like to get to the point.  Usually when stories or blogs start out with a long intro or some kind of fluff, I usually skip it to find out the main point.  So, the main point of my thought is no matter how big or how scary the task God has placed upon your heart to do, no matter who comes against it, or the nay sayers, GO FOR IT! We may have our bucket lists, but I know that God has his own "plans" for us.  Jeremiah 29:11 says that God has plans for us, good ones, to give us a future and a hope. What does this have to do with a parenting?  Well, His plans not only include you, but all those around you including your kids. 

Just a thought. I often wonder what a child would be like that was saturated with love, support and encouragement. Every area of their lives met based on their developmental stage. Cuddling in the infant years to eye-to-eye communication through the tough and uncertain teen years. What would this child be like? Would he/she be considered a prodigy? A individual before their time? A leader?  A anthropologist? The future of our evolving society does not lay so much in the technological advancement we make, but by the bedtime stories told and the badging of a wounded knees, and shoulders to lean on. The qualities of life are not derived by what we can obtain, but rather by what we can give, a settle smile, a warm hug and the assurance that we am here.

Sometimes as parents we face uncertainties that shake us and leave us weak and numb. Rest assure that God has made a way and made provisions for your sound mind. Reach out to Him in those moments and rest in His peace. 2 Timothy 1:7 ~ for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Written and sung by Charlie Hall & Daniel Bashta, produced & recorded by Dustin Ragland. Charlie’s site is www.charliehall.com and Daniel’s site is www.danielbashta.co This short verse issues a strong reminder to each and every one of us of all that is available to us in Christ by His Spirit! Paul (the author of 2 Timothy) contrasts a life dominated by fear with another characterized by power, love, and self-control (or a sound mind). -What marks your life? -What are your greatest fears? -What do you find yourself anxious & worried about? -Is God truly stronger than these things? The ESV Study Bible says this about fear: “The Greek (deilia) in ex...

We are not movie critics, however, we wanted to offer our review of #IronMan3  as parents for the sake of our readers. This review is intended to offer the mature content of the movie and provide a guideline for parents and their children. The review will not necessarily go into the merits of plot, special effects or acting for the sake of spoiling. Working Class Parenting was invited yesterday to the special sneak preview screening of Marvel’s #IronMan3 IMAX 3D, here in the Tampa Bay area. The excitement in the room was high as 350 plus patrons sat waiting for the opening sequence. We must admit, as Marvel fans we waited with great anticipation. We have broken down the mature content of the movie into their respective categories:

Innovative List of Parenting Hacks 1. Bathe your child in a laundry basket so that their toys don't float away. 2. Avoid committing a gender faux pas with other parents. Lean down and ask the baby his or her name. The parent will answer for them (if they can't talk yet). 3. Teach your child to pick up a juice box by the side flaps. This will keep them from squeezing juice all over themselves and making a huge mess.

The old Proverb goes (Proverbs 17:22), a joyful heart is good medicine. Nothing brings change to the atmosphere like genuine laughter. Whether it be amongst friends, family, with your children or watching a comedy alone, laughter undoubtedly is good medicine. I must admit that a child’s laughter is more contagious than a yawn. Whether blowing raspberries on a baby's belly, putting on a silly hat and chasing your 3-year-old, or pretending to fall to amuse a first-grader, laughter brightens a family’s life. It important as parents that we create an environment in our home that is joyful and full of wholesome laughter. Laughing together is a way to connect, and a good sense of humor also can make kids smarter, healthier, and better able to cope with challenges.

Here is a collection of recent parenting Tweets collected from various parents. I must admit, I can relate to half. Check out my very own incident at the end. Its not for the faint of heart. Enjoy! 1. The 3yo: "I had a booger. Blocking my nose. I took it out. And ate it. Yum. Yummy booger." And she wasn't lying, either. 2. What's wrong with those people? Who's driving those trucks? I don't like this."-Terrified 3yo watching Bob the Builder. 3. My kids have totally ruined the possibility of Netflix suggesting anything I would want to watch. 4. 2yo and I are about to embark on our maiden snuggle/movie on the new sofa. Ten minutes max before I fall asleep and she draws on my face. 5. Just discovered that my kid likes watching golf which is problematic because it's not good for me to be asleep when I'm alone with him. 6. Just washed down six cookies with a glass of white wine, in case you were wondering how taking my 2 kids to Disneylan...

Image Courtsy of Pelham Friends Church Perhaps one of the most intimidating aspects of Christian parenting would be how to properly teach your children Biblical faith. The topic, though near and dear to our hearts, becomes a challenge when trying to explain it to our children. How can we properly explain biblical principles that is age specific without leaving out the powerful life changing facts? I think as a body of believers we have done ourselves an injustice by simply handing our children color by number Bible stories. What sometimes gets lost in the Bible journey is the  power of the message and the good news of what Christ has done to save the lost. If you are looking for creative, fun-filled, and family-focused approaches to children's discipleship curriculum, there are plenty of options available. But as stated by raisinggodlychildren.org , "there are a number of children's pastors who are dissatisfied with what they've seen. Though they appreciate man...