Dear Mattsons with Jeff and Terra

Grace and discipline are not exclusive of each other and parenting requires both. Rules without relationship breeds rebellion and on the flip side relationship without rules leads to entitlement. Join us as we talk through how to find a balance between discipline and grace in parenting.   Check out these similar resources:  Helping moms raise confident daughters: https:// www.cpguides.org/ Parenti...

What do you do if your child gets caught cheating at school? It is important to get to the root of why your child cheated and determine an appropriate consequence. Join us as we discuss the three things you need to address if your child cheats.   Check out these similar resources:  When your child has a character misstep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4bAqKQW9A0&list=PLdPzQ_cUwCbRPOxygemmbh...

Children begin to discover and learn the differences between boys and girls between the ages of 2 and 4. It is very normal for them to be curious about their bodies. We will guide you through how to help your children understand what their bodies are for, their design and healthy coping mechanisms.   Check out these similar resources:  Helping moms raise confident daughters: https:// www.cpguides....

Children lie for a variety of reasons, and it is important to get to the root of lying. Affirm your love for your child, so that they know their actions do not affect your love for them. Join us as we talk through ways to encourage your child to tell the truth, what to do when you catch them in a lie and the importance of setting a good example in truth telling.   Check out these similar resources...

Children need to see parents as a team with both participating in the discipline and fun. Join us as we talk through how to encourage your spouse, affirm each other in parenting and explain the “why” behind joint discipline.    Check out these similar resources:  Prioritize your marriage over your parenting: https://www.christianparenting.org/articles/why-you-should-prioritize-your-marriage-over-y...

Yelling works in the short term, but eventually children will ignore the yelling. It is ok to take a parent time-out and calm yourself before you respond to a situation. Join us as we talk through the ACT method and encourage you to acknowledge your child’s emotion, communicate a limit, and target an alternative.    Check out these similar resources:  How do I keep from losing my temper and yellin...

The teenage years are a developmental stage that require a lot of patience and grace. But, we do not want to normalize or tolerate that teens talk back to their parents. You are helping your children develop a life skill and how we talk to each other is important. Join us as we give you tips on how to react when your tween or teens talk back.   Check out these similar resources:  Helping moms rais...

Being consistent and following through on what you say are so important in parenting. They are the keys to building trust and help children feel safe. Join us as we give you practical tips to get your child’s attention and let them know you mean what you say.    Check out these similar resources:  Help! I am always saying “No” to my toddler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_zYBI0w5Bs&list=PLd...

There is really not a compelling reason for our kids to have social media. The data is clear and there is a direct correlation to all of the mental health issues kids are struggling with and social media. Join us as we talk through why it is important to regulate the overwhelming pressures our kids are facing today by delaying social media as long as possible.   Check out these similar resources: ...

How do we address gender pronouns and sexuality with our kids? As professionals in leadership and therapy we have been processing this with parents and kids for many years. We will encourage you to stay curious, research topics as questions arise and step into these conversations with your children. Your voice as the parent is the key factor in how your children will react to these issues, so reme...

God wired us all differently and some children just need a few friends and others prefer a large circle of friends. Join us as we talk through practical ideas to help your child build lasting friendships. We will also encourage you to affirm your child so that they feel known and seen and will in turn be better at engaging with others.   Check out these similar resources:  The friendship fix Three...

As a parent, we want to equip our children and be the first voice they hear on topics like sexuality and gender. Join us as we talk through options when it comes to opting in or out of public school health curriculum and how to know if it’s too much too soon. We will encourage you to consider your children’s differences, what they may be vulnerable to and to know the curriculum being taught.   Che...

We want to protect our children from school bullies, but the reality is the greatest defense against bullies is building up our child’s confidence and sense of identity. Join us as we talk through how to coach your child to have healthy boundaries, ways to build their confidence and how to identify red, yellow and green light relationships.   Check out these similar resources:  Teaching kids about...

The most important thing to remember if your child says “I hate you” is not to react or take it personally. We all say things we don’t mean when we are tired, hungry or afraid, and we put these emotions on those we feel safest with. We will remind you to ask questions, not let your children’s behaviors dictate how you love them, and to get professional help if this is an ongoing issue.

God created your child and knows the plans he has for them. When we get our perspective as parents in check it helps lead our children in peace. It is important to remind our children to work hard and do their best, but who they are as a person is separate from what they do. We will remind you to frame this conversation as an adventure, remember that there are a lot of options besides college, and...

Two year olds are learning that they can do it themselves and build confidence apart from you. There is a balance between giving them freedom to learn cause and effect and disciplining. Join us as we talk through ideas on how to give your toddler choices that will help them feel independent while also setting boundaries.   Check out these similar resources: Help! I am always saying “No” to my todd...

We live in an achievement oriented culture and the pressure to know your expertise at an early age is an outside pressure. As a parent we want to help our children discover their passions, but remember it takes time to figure out what you are good at and what you enjoy. It is important to remind your child that we are not what we do. Join us as we talk through ideas to help your child find out how...

You are the parent and need to discern what's best for you and your child, but we say no to sleepovers in our family. It’s about risk assessment, and we decided sleepovers are not worth the risk. A lot of experimentation and exposure occurs at sleepovers and just because a family says they love Jesus does not mean they are safe. Join us as we discuss “late overs” and ways your child can join i...

It’s normal that teens begin to pull away from their family and are focused on their peer group, so what do you do when that impacts the church they want to attend? Join us as we walk you through steps to sit down and have an open conversation with your teen. We will encourage you to validate, empathize and help your child think critically about the reasons behind their desire for change and be pr...

Anxiety at all age levels is at an all time high. Children have not had the opportunity to navigate normal social situations the past few years, so they may be extra anxious when new situations arise. Join us as we walk through tips to prepare your children for new situations and what to do when anxiety arises.   Links for Supplemental Resources: Making a toolbox for anxiety Three things your kids...

It’s natural to do some comparing when you have children the same age, but it can quickly turn into a competition. Close friendships go through seasons, and it’s important to view conflict as an opportunity to grow closer and deepen true friendships. Join us as we talk about healthy ways to move through conflict.   Check out these similar resources:  Helping our children love each other well Three...

Join us as we discuss sibling rivalry and how to encourage our family members to intentionally affirm each other. We will walk you through practical ways to encourage your children to celebrate their siblings' gifts and achievements. Competition isn’t a bad thing, but sometimes we need to reframe it so that our children acknowledge and see others' gifts as well as their own.   Check out th...

Whining is a form of manipulation and we need to teach our children a better way to communicate. Join us as we walk through 3 important communication skills your children need to learn to stop the whining. Teaching our kids healthy forms of communication is a life skill worth investing in.   Check out these similar resources:  https://www.christianparenting.org/articles/3-ways-to-love-your-challen...

As our children grow into adulthood, we have to lean into the investments we have made in them throughout their childhood. If you do not approve of the relationship choices your child is making, we will encourage you to express your concerns, give tangible reasons for your opinions, and open up the lines of communications. We will also remind you that sometimes it is appropriate to keep our opinio...

Time out is a great method to calm ourselves down, and it teaches children to self regulate their emotions. We will walk you through effective ways to use the time out and time in approach with your child and encourage you to use it as a parent when you need a break as well.   Check out these similar resources:  https://www.christianparenting.org/articles/visuals-over-verbals/ https://www.christia...