Wondering how to positive parenting works from a faith perspective? Feeling confused about how to mix your church’s teaching about discipline with child development information and the latest brain research? Or maybe you just want your family to experience peace.
This monthly email is my way of opening up a dialogue about parenting and faith that is respectful and productive. If you’re interested in reading more add your email in the box below!
Please note: I am taking a break from these emails for the time being. I hope to return to writing soon!
About my perspective…
I must admit, before going any further, that I’m not a Bible scholar. I was raised in a Christian home and continue exploring, growing and challenging my faith today. I have a graduate degree from Bethel Seminary, but I am not a pastor, I am a Marriage and Family Therapist. My classes encouraged me to see the helping profession of therapy through a biblical lens. (Of course, I took the required Old and New Testament classes, systematic theology, memorized the names of the kings and judges and all that fun stuff too.)
My real passion is parenting. Learning how to help people in a family interact and relate. Learning how to help families break toxic patterns and come into a respectful, right relationship with one another. Learning to parent without harsh consequences, punishments, spanking and threats.
I now work as a Parent Coach. This means I meet with parents around the world to explore their parenting challenges and find respectful, positive solutions that build strong healthy relationships with their children. You can read more about coaching here.
And this, my friends, is where I had a head-on collision between my faith and many of the parenting resources available for “Christian” parents. Positive parenting was (and still is, in many circles) seen as unbiblical. Weak. Irresponsible. Even dangerous.
Still, I can’t shake the notion that a God of love, compassion and grace could contradict this type of parenting. And so, I’m taking a leap and writing about it. As of right now, I’m only sharing my thoughts once a month via email to members of the Imperfect Families community who are interested in learning more.
If this sounds interesting to you, add your email to the form above! Then watch your email toward the end of each month.