While there were many things that I loved about being a mom, I hated it when my kids complained, often multiple times daily. With six children someone was always unhappy about something – what they had to eat, where they had to sit, who they had to sit next to, what they had to wear, […]
It’s interesting to see how your perspective on life changes as you grow older. For example, I feel a sense of urgency in my life that is different from 20 years ago. That’s because I’m nearing the finish line, so to speak. I hope I still have years to live, but Dennis and I are […]
I’ve long had mixed feelings about Halloween. Yes, it’s a fun family time—especially for kids—to dress up in costumes and celebrate the fall. But in our present culture it has also become a strange celebration of horror and death … to the point where sometimes you want to turn your kids’ eyes away from the […]
My favorite book I’ve ever written is Letters to My Daughters. I still love it because it’s a truly beautiful book with art and calligraphy throughout the interior. I also love it because it’s a summary of all the lessons I’ve learned in the married years of my life; therefore it’s the essence of who […]
Dear Mom: I thought we were really well matched when we got married—in our faith, that is—but I’m realizing we are really different here, too. It seems like we are doing well, and then out of the blue it feels like we are out of sync, or totally missing each other. It always catches me […]
By Hanna Seymour Note from Barbara: Hanna Seymour is the daughter of our long-time friends, Michael and Cindy Easley, and dear friend of our daughter Laura. She wrote today’s post about a battle we all face: dealing with negative thoughts. Here she specifically addresses “mom frustration” with the messes kids make. But her solution for […]
In my seminary class on the doctrines of our faith, our professor Dr. John Hannah told a story of how he prayed for his girls when they were growing up. “I used to pray for their safety and their protection,” he said. “Then one day I realized what God would have me pray is for […]
By Lisa Jacobson Note from Barbara: Recently I read the following blog post by Lisa Jacobson, and I enjoyed it so much that I received permission from Lisa to run it here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and if you want to read more from Lisa, go to lisajacobson.substack.com. It […]
Dear Barbara: I’m struggling right now. I really feel God asking me to do something that sounds too hard. Honestly, I don’t want to obey. Why would He do that? How can I negotiate? Dear friend, It’s scary, isn’t it? I’ve wondered the same. I remember when, after an exhausting week wrangling five relentless […]
Note from Barbara: Today’s post comes from my long-distance friend Sara Hagerty. As I read her words below, I felt myself nodding in understanding and identification because her struggle with fatigue and limitations is ageless. My daughters, like Sara, experience exhaustion most days from the relentless demands of their families. Then my generation knows lessening […]
