Written by Curtis Marshall | August 25, 2016 | Kingstowne
The presidential candidates have been chosen; the debates will kickoff soon; and the tension between the proponents of the candidates will continue to rise above an already feverish pitch. What are we to do? How are we to vote? How should we communicate to our kids?
Written by Sara Beth Arcara | August 18, 2016 | Barracks Row
I loved the [fairly] straight-forward parenting of babies. I’m a bit of a rule-follower and soaked up everything my pediatrician said. Took notes, even. Sleep train? Check. Boot camp potty training? Check. Plenty of outside time at the park? Check.
Written by Sarah Crouch | July 13, 2016 | Potomac Yard
When my first son was born, I lamented to my husband that I had lost the cadence in my days to do the things that made me feel like a whole person, things that made me feel alive: art, reading, running, and prayer. He suggested creating some space for myself in the morning by trying to wake up before the baby.
Written by Victoria Gentry | May 26, 2016 | Barracks Row
I read once that discovering your child is on the spectrum is like planning a trip to Italy. You’ve done your reading, learned the language, packed your bags, and up, up and away, you’re off. Then, upon landing, you are actually not in Italy after all.
We value and honor the voices of parents who are head of us on the parenting journey. They have a unique Vantage Point. We asked them, “Now that your children are adults, looking back to the season most of our parents are in, what would you say to us? What do you wish someone would have said to you? What do we need to know that might save us a lot of worry or time?” In this series of posts we will hear from experienced parents. Here is what Lynn Weatherby had to say. Parenthood started with a simple prayer, which I believe now was inspired by God. It went something like this, “God give us children that we need, and help us to be the parents that our children need.”
It took years for me to recall that prayer. God answered that prayer with two amazing children created by Him and for Him. Peter and Amy are as different as night and day in personality and strengths. They are also very unique and different from both Dave and I as their parents. How can that be? Aren’t our children supposed to be somewhat like us? Dave and I are fairly easy going and compliant. Pete, our oldest spent his second month in Children's Hospital with a diagnosis of "failure to thrive." Later some learning disabilities were discovered and this presented new challenges. Our daughter, came out of the womb with a strong attitude of "I'll do it myself, thank you very much." We discovered that the gene pool is big, and God gave us the children we needed. Only continual prayer and transformation by God could help us be the parents our children needed.
Raising children is a journey of faith and commitment. Dave and I have been on this journey together as we've clung to each other and the Lord for His guidance. Each child doesn’t come with his/her own handbook, therefore, it takes time to know and understand each child who is growing, developing, and changing each month and year. What works for others, may not work for you.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says, “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”
Here is my greatest encouragement to you as parents: Don’t compare your own children to each other or with other children, and don’t compare your parenting skills with other families. Success is not defined by how we measure up to someone else. Our obedience to live out who God has called us to be, individually, is true success. I have to admit there were many years where I felt like a failure as a mother. Often, the challenges were way beyond my abilities, knowledge, and emotional energy. Dave and I sought help when we needed it, and hung onto God's promises. His transformation continues. His grace is abundant.
Lynn Weatherby grew up in Milwaukee, WI. She came to Washington, DC to work for a government agency. She met Dave soon after her arrival, and they were married a year later. They've been married 42 years and their children, Pete and Amy are in their 30's. Dave is semi-retired and Lynn is retired. They've been attending NCC Barracks Row for five years.
Written by Steffen Humbert | April 7, 2016 | NCC Youth Pastor
I can still remember the angst leading up to middle school yearbook picture day, when we’d each take one photo a year that would mark us...quite possibly even haunt us forever. I had spent hours the night before debating between outfits, wondering how I could both stand out and disappear all at the same time.
Written by Alan Pastian | April 1, 2016 | Pastor at Dessert Springs Church
Being a parent can be hard. Feeding, bathing, playing, helping with homework, sports teams, weekend family outings, church, dinner playdates with friends, and trying to catch up on House of Cards without falling asleep in the middle of an episode is quite an accomplishment.
Written by Sharon Simon | February 2, 2016 | Ballston
I am a mom of four kids, two of which are teenagers, and through the years I have learned that parenting is a balance of the well-planned, the well-intentioned, and the totally spontaneous. It’s impossible to know all the questions that your kids will ask or all the situations you will find yourself as parent.
