About
Start Here
Courses

Nav Social Menu

Home
Resources By Age
- Children
- Teens
- Adults
Media Type
- Audio
- Books
- Movies
- TV/Video Clips
Topics
Favorite Things
Shop
- Cart
Free Printables

Character Traits

Gratitude and Grit: from Sudan to the Olympics Games.

Summer of the Monkeys: Sacrificing for Siblings

Lift: Different Ways of Serving

“What is the ultimate purpose of life? To give.”

« Previous Page
Page 1
Page 2

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Hi! I'm Jen. Wife, mom of 5, and someone who is deliberately trying to shape the family culture in our home by focusing on uplifting and inspiring media and other resources. If you are looking for an alternative to negative pop culture- you're in the right place!

SIGN UP FOR MY FREE QUICK START EMAIL COURSE: MEDIA THAT MATTERS!

5 ways in 5 days to deliberately use media to inspire and teach character.

Shop My Favorites for Kids:

Find All MY Recommendations At Amazon Here!

Raise The Good Store

Let’s Connect

I put these in the mail this weekend. 20 invitatio

I put these in the mail this weekend. 20 invitations to 20 mentors for my son’s coming of age celebration. Not everyone will come to the party of course, due to distance, but I am SO excited to hear the wisdom they have to share with my son.
.
I usually put together an inexpensive gift bag with treats and a book or movie based on our theme. For this son, the theme will be encouraging him to be a strong peacemaker. Any suggestions for these gift bags? #comingofage #peacemaker

This is what morning scripture study looked like f

This is what morning scripture study looked like for us this morning. Anyone else? 🙋‍♀️
.
Even though it seems like no one is listening, and kids complain sometimes, keep going. It makes a difference. It sets a standard. Deliberate family time, where values are taught, help keep negative trends like the latest Ticktock challenge at bay. Our kids need us to teach them. Don’t let the internet be their only teacher. #deliberateparenting #familyscripturestudy #teachvalues #momofteens

My kid who yells at me the most, is also the one w

My kid who yells at me the most, is also the one who opens up to me when things are hardest. Not to his friends, not to my husband (who he hardly ever yell at)— he comes to ME.
.
Being yelled at is so hurtful. The words they say can be awful. I’m a firm believer in boundaries and teaching good behavior, but having my son (who we had a big blow up with last night) come to me today with things that were close to his heart, was a gift.
.
If you are having a hard time with one of your kids, hang in there. They are hurting, they don’t believe in or love themselves…but they know that you do. ❤️
.
#parenting #momofteens #raisingkids

The picture is a bit crooked, but today I am final

The picture is a bit crooked, but today I am finalizing the invitations for my #4 child’s Coming of Age.
.
The power of being mentored by people who love you BEFORE you hit hard times, is inestimable. Gosh I love this tradition. I’m so excited for him to experience it!
.
I’ll share more as we get closer and our plans become finalized!
#comingofage #mentor #momofteen

Add this to your list of “challenges to try when

Add this to your list of “challenges to try when you are bored…” 😂 What other challenges are on your kids’ list?

The last several weeks have shown us the importanc

The last several weeks have shown us the importance of accountability. We all want to teach it to our kids, and frankly, I need to take responsibility for myself more as well. Here are 5 great resources that I am geeking out about right now! Link in bio. #accountability #responsibility #extremeownership #momofteens #teachcharacter

We have all been shaken by everything we saw happe

We have all been shaken by everything we saw happen in Afghanistan over the past few weeks. It has been both heartbreaking and infuriating at the same time.
.
There is a saying in politics that goes, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Though I dislike this saying in a political sense, I believe that times like this can often teach us the most. Here are some takeaways that I have been sharing with my children:
.
1. An interview from @smarthernews with a journalist on the ground really made me think. The journalist said something to the effect that “corruption is the parent of terrorism.” As I have been reading and learning, there was an extreme amount of corruption at many different levels- some of which the US had a hand in. Corruption always yields bad fruit. We can re-emphasize the importance of honesty. That extra change our kids got from the cashier? We can take the time to go back in and return it. We can also tell the whole truth, and not just the part that benefits us. It can be so easy to leave out parts of the truth! (As a blogger, I always promise that if I share a product with you, that I will ALWAYS reveal if I am an affiliate, or was paid in some way by the company.)
.
2. Look for the heroes and learn from them. Our soldiers in uniform- some of whom gave their lives- to help people they did not know, are utterly remarkable. The veterans from the Pineapple Express, the private citizens who raised money and made arrangements to give transportation and aid- how can we be more like them and when we see a problem, do our best to fix it and not just complain about it?
.
3. Accountability is an important quality. When we own what we do, and don’t pass on blame, it actually helps GAIN trust. We don’t see very much of this in politics- but it is an important part of being honest, it shows that you are listening and empathetic to others, and helps people know that you have their back, no matter what. Blaming others never solves problems.
(I have a great resource that teaches accountability that I am excited yo share with you later this week!)
.
(Continued in the comment section.)

“We who teach should make it clear to ourselves

“We who teach should make it clear to ourselves that our aim is…less good conduct, than good character.” -Charlotte Mason
.
When I read this for the first time, it hit me like a thunderbolt. I tended to think that good conduct would lead to good character- but actually, it’s the other way around!
.
We all know people who look and act well on the outside, but who are really vile people on the inside. By focusing on teaching good character, we will raise children with good character and the conduct that comes along by living from principles such as patience, discipline, kindness, honesty, etc.
.
What has been a good tool for you are you teach your children good character? Mine is how my husband lives and teaches by example. He inspires me, as well! #teach #parenting #walkthewalk #example #goodcharacter #charactertraits

Our kids are probably reading more during these su

Our kids are probably reading more during these summer days. They might also be watching more tv. (No shame- I totally get it!)
.
But. What they do with this time matters. It has the chance to change their lives, because it dictates what they will grow to love.
.
Let’s make sure that the content of what they are consuming matches what we hope for them. Ben Carson’s mom had her kids read a non-fiction book (and write a report on it!) before they could watch tv. It literally changed the trajectory of their lives.
.
My kids love fantasy books and superhero movies as much as anyone elses’. And that is totally ok! But I want to make sure that I help them develop a love of philosophy, history, meaningful literature, science and math.
.
My job is to help them deliberately cultivate their tastes and educate their desires. That they learn to love what is good, avoid what is trivial and hate what is destructive. #parenting #media #books #movies

Copyright © 2021 · captivating theme by Restored 316