Purposeful Parenting

This episode is designed to bring you and your children together to explore holiday traditions from all over the world.  By exploring Christmas traditions from other countries, we can help our children grow up with more understanding, curiosity, and respect for others.

Storytelling is extremely beneficial for children and their development. It nurtures their imagination, language skills and emotional intelligence.  This episode then, is for your little ones. Harriett tells a story about a well-known reindeer named Rudolph who learns the true meaning of Christmas.

Are you looking for fun activities to do with your children this Christmas season?  In this episode, Harriett shares some ideas that will keep your little ones entertained and excited for Christmas even more than what they already are.  

In this episode, Harriett shares a heartwarming story that your little ones will love as the forest animals teach them about Thanksgiving, hope, and gratitude.

Do you know that Sarah Josepha Hale is known as the "Mother of Thanksgiving"? In this episode, Harriett tells you about Sarah Josepha Hale.  She also shares other fun-facts about Thanksgiving that you can share with your kids around your Thanksgiving table.  

Gratitude is more than just saying, "Thank You."  In this episode, Harriett talks about what gratitude is, why it is important and how you can foster gratitude in your children.

The holiday season is a perfect time to teach your child gratitude by using crafts and other activities.  In this episode, Harriett shares 25 crafts and activities that your child can do and have fun while learning about gratitude.

Do you celebrate Halloween?  Have you told your child what Halloween is all about?  In this episode, Harriett shares a story that may help you decide if you want to celebrate or continue to celebrate Halloween the way the world does.

Children are observant beings.  They watch what you do and will repeat it...action by action.  In this episode Harriett talks about observational learning and shares a short story that shows just how closely children watch and learn from you.

Love is an emotion; but have you ever thought about it as a character trait?  In this episode, Harriett talks about love as a character trait and a character strength.  She tells you how to teach your children love.

There are four character traits that parents should know in order to raise children with a strong moral foundation.  In this episode, Harriett tells you what these traits are and how parents should deal with them.

Usually when we think of character, we think of individuals.  But did you ever think about families having character?  In this episode, Harriett talks about families of good character and why they are important.  

Are you dealing with a strong-willed child?  Are you wondering if your child is strong-willed or just out right rebellious?  If you answered yes to either of these questions, you might want to read the book that Harriett reviews in this episode,  You Can't Make Me (But I Can Be Persuaded) by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias.  

Do you have a child with an intense desire to assert control over his/her environment and make his/her own decisions?  If so, you are probably dealing with a strong-willed child.  In this episode Harriett talks about the characteristics of a strong-willed child, challenges they pose, the positive potential and strategies for nurturing strong-willed children.

Parenting is very challenging and rewarding.  Unfortunately, there are times when we may find ourselves navigating the turbulent waters of raising a difficult child.  In this episode, Harriett shares a biblical story of a child's return to grace.  It is a message about faith in God's ability to work in the hearts of our children and faith in the power of prayer.

In this episode, Harriett covers the principles that we can learn from the parable of The Prodigal Son.

Harriett ends the summer of rebroadcasting with the episode entitled, The Last Time.   In parenting there are so many "last times", and with them come many emotions.  For some of you, this may be the last time you have a child at home.  Whatever "last time" you are experiencing, Harriett encourages you to cherish each "last time" and hold them close to your heart.  I&...

How often do we have to be reminded to watch what we say and how we say it?  Words hurt and this rebroadcast reminds us that the nursery rhyme, "Sticks and Stones", is not true.  Words can hurt or encourage, and they can be lasting.   This is a podcast worth revisiting.

This is a rebroadcast to remind you to remember to "Lighten Up".  In this episode Harriett tells you to look for the laughable moments as you parent.  Parenting is serious business, but it also provides laughter that must be remembered when times get tough.

Mothers cannot be reminded enough to remember to make time to take care of themselves. In this episode Harriett talks about why self-care is important and encourages you to do it.  This rebroadcast is another reminder.

Summer can be viewed as a time to loosen up so to speak.  Unfortunately, the tendency to loosen up on parenting can also happen.  This can lead to passive parenting if one is not careful.  What better time to rebroadcast this episode, Hazards of Passive Parenting .  Harriett tells you how to recognize the signs of passive parenting and gives you the proactive steps you need to take in order to avo...

Who rules the world?  This episode is worth rebroadcasting in order to either remind you of the answer or for you to learn it for the first time.  Harriett learned the answer from William Ross Wallace and she shares it with you in this episode  

Summer is a great time to remind moms of everything they do.   In this episode, Harriett tells you, "You change the world with every child you raise."  This is definitely a podcast worth rebroadcasting.

Harriett chose this episode as a rebroadcast because there is nothing more important than praying for your child.  Furthermore, there is no better pattern to use than the one Jesus prayed for His disciples.  This episode is certainly worth hearing again and again and again!

Harriett continues rebroadcasting for the summer as she talks about trust.  In this episode Harriett tells parents that they must earn their child's trust.  She also emphasizes the qualities that contribute to building and sustaining your child's trust.