If you're a mom of a preteen or teen girl, I feel for you. Not just because of the hormones and the iphones and the facebook, although listing all that out actually makes me feel more for you...but I feel for you in that things are getting really messy at a younger age. I was in a bookstore recently and had a moment of wandering into the Teenage Fiction area, where I was astounded to see every single book cover was a remake of a dark romance involving some sort of demonic half human, or a post-apocalyptic drama. What happened to sweet stories with happy endings and light-hearted humor?I was sweeping up cobwebs today in our guest room when I caught sight of that familiar friend sitting on the shelf. Favorite books become like friends for me, and I know it sounds trite and ridiculous but its absolutely the truth. I'm one of those people who get emotionally engaged in every story, and I try to read quickly so I don't have to live life half-inside of a book for days on end. During the … [Read more...]
Moms of Young Girls: Meet the Princess Parables
So my daughter, like most girls her age, is undoubtedly given to the fantasy of being a princess. Truth be told, I enjoy a good fairy tale along with her. Since she was about 18 months, she's loved stories, and especially any story about princesses. I can remember being so excited to introduce her to Disney movies, and sit with her while we watched them. It seemed like a dream to have her undivided attention with me for that long, and for me to revisit some of the movies that marked my childhood as well. But as I began to survey my options, I realized that a lot of the movies that I watched just aren't age appropriate for her. Wherever you stand on movies and magic, I just like to err on safety. With only two months until she turns four, my daughter's mind is mature in so many ways. She memorizes books in about two seconds, is deeply impacted by everything around her and is very sensitive to her environment, not to mention the fact that she becomes immediately absorbed in anything … [Read more...]
Christian Fiction: Summer Reading Ideas
I've been reading Christian fiction and nonfiction a long time... Honestly, I read my way through life. But most of my friends don't. Especially my friends with kids. It's hard to find that time to unwind. But I manage to make time to read. I won't go into my opinions on TV, but let's just say in our house the rule is that we try not to watch a TV show or movie that demonstrates or supports a lifestyle that goes against the calling we have received in Christ. Writing it out sounds so religious I want to vomit, but I get negatively influenced super easily, so I have to know my own limits. That rule really narrows our viewing options, but I have found it to give our minds new wings to soar past a bunch of crap the world throws our way. I've got one mind to fill. It only has so much space... And I've begun preaching. I digress. The point is, I love reading Christian fiction and I apply the same rule in reading to the rule we have about TV. I really try and stay away from books that … [Read more...]
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