Christian parenting – Stooping For Manna

The Manger

December 20, 2020December 24, 2021Karen Brown2 Comments

When our kids were little, they loved playing with a toy farm set. It had a tractor, baby animals, and a hay loft. I still laugh about the time when they were playing and my daughter held up the toy food trough and asked her brother, “Where should we put Jesus’ bed?” Bless those small, churchy, city slickers.

Our farm toy was loved to death and is long gone. High-chairs have been given away, bunkbeds have been dismantled, and we’re finally past braces and birthday sleepovers. The only tangible remainders are a few choice toys and favorite books that I’ve carefully stored away in hopes of grandchildren. Someday.

Continue reading →

Living Liturgy

June 28, 2016December 6, 2020Karen Brown4 Comments

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A few weeks ago, my oldest son was playing guitar in our basement. The music was loud and he didn’t see me coming, so I stood and listened for a while. It was a piece I’ve never heard him play, but I instantly recognized his soulful heart behind it. Continue reading →

When the Ancient Paths Seem So Lame

July 21, 2015July 21, 2015Karen Brown15 Comments

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The light turned yellow, then red, and I slowed to a stop. I hung my arm out the window and glanced at a park near the intersection. There, a disheveled mom was chasing a three-foot live wire with a bowl cut. I watched until the car behind me honked.

As I pulled off the line, it hit me: That’s me. My kids are teenagers, but they haven’t stopped running. And I’m still huffing and puffing behind them.

The teenage years seem to cause parents to either chase harder or quit running altogether.

I’m a chaser, through and through. Continue reading →

The Mom Behind the Machine

June 30, 2015December 12, 2020Karen Brown19 Comments

I used to go to my room to cry.

I would hold it together until I fixed a snack for one child, pulled down a toy for another, and assigned math pages to two more. Finally, with trembling lip, I’d hustle down the hallway to the privacy of my bedroom.

There, my God and my pillow absorbed the tears. Because someone called with bad news. Or I didn’t get my way in marriage. Because it was the wrong time of the month. Or mothering and homeschooling four kids was just plain lonely and hard. Continue reading →

Our Effin’ Summer Plan (It’s not what you think…)

June 1, 2015July 23, 2015Karen Brown7 Comments

A couple of people have asked me to post this. I hesitate for fear of people thinking I’m a parenting expert in any way. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. At. All.

However, I have tried various ways to keep my teens active, learning, helpful, and growing over the summer. About four years ago, I came up with this plan, and it stuck.

Enough set-up. Here’s what we do. Not perfectly. Not without grumbling. But it seems to keep us out of trouble… Continue reading →

When Your Dreams Don’t Fit You… Yet

May 20, 2015January 12, 2017Karen Brown2 Comments

I entered the room and found her studying her reflection in the mirror, a girlish habit that sends up a maternal red-flag. “Do you like it, Mom?”

She was trying on a hand-me down dress given to her by an older friend. She tugged at the ill-fitting neckline and bodice; her body not yet the shape for its womanly cut.

I gotta give her credit. The girl dreams big.

And she’s a lot like me.

She pulled at the fabric and shifted her body until her reflection matched how she felt: bigger, older, and like someone else.

I’m honored to be featured at God Sized Dreams today. Please follow me there to read the rest of the story…

Solo Performance

May 14, 2015September 19, 2016Karen Brown3 Comments

It was that heavy time of day. You know, that time when you realize that another day is slipping away and all you have to show for it is a bigger pile of dishes, more laundry, and the same stagnant set of worries from the days before.

You know, that time of day when everyone’s tired, but restless. Hungry, but fed-up. Fragile, but rock-hard. When school is over, but homework is looming. After friends have disappointed, but before siblings are appreciated.

You know, that time of motherhood when the problems are too big to wrap in a blanket and conflicts don’t end with a time-out. When a pacifier or teddy bear just won’t cut it. When being a mom just isn’t enough. Continue reading →

My Mom is a Teacher

May 5, 2015July 23, 2015Karen Brown18 Comments

In her kitchen, I didn’t learn much about cooking, but discovered the importance of fun over fussiness.

In her family room, I didn’t learn much about parlor etiquette, but fell in love with family.

In her dressing room, I didn’t learn how to purse my lips or or paint my face, but learned to keep smiling at the girl in the mirror. Continue reading →

In Between the Drop-Offs and Pick-Ups

February 26, 2015February 27, 2015Karen BrownLeave a comment

We sat in the parking lot with our mouths open wide, every parental fiber wanting to march in there and drag our son back to the car.

Van loads of middle-school girls wearing booty shorts and skin-tight t-shirts giggled into the mixer.

“Is there a volleyball game tonight?” I asked, hopefully. Continue reading →

The Reversal

February 23, 2015July 23, 2015Karen Brown3 Comments

I watched him from my seat on the bleachers. Neck rolls, deep breaths, pacing, stretching… I could tell he was nervous and it made my stomach turn. At some signal I didn’t catch, he pulled off his hoodie and jogged to the check-in table. His muscles bulged and I wondered when he got so strong. Then I looked around at the other wrestlers and I wondered if he was strong enough. Continue reading →

When Two Is More Than Three

January 13, 2015January 13, 2015Karen Brown22 Comments

It was another hard day of no leggings, yes pants. Homework first, FaceTime second. No eyeliner, yes blush. Talking, hugging, slamming doors…

Being a middle school girl -even a fun, beautiful, smart one- is rough.

And being her mom is exhausting.

It was the dark time of night when confidence turns into confusion and anger becomes fear. Even though I was in bed, I knew sleep probably wouldn’t come, but definitely not if I didn’t do one more thing… Continue reading →

Welcome

January 8, 2015January 15, 2015Karen Brown10 Comments

Each week, we write for five minutes, freely, on a one-word prompt. We write quickly, then post, a flash-mob linking together at Kate Motaung’s site. It’s fun!

This week’s prompt: WELCOME

His enemies tried to trap Him.

His hometown people turned their backs.

His family kept their distance, Continue reading →

When You’re Almost Googled Out of a Job

January 5, 2015January 26, 2019Karen Brown28 Comments

We were getting ready for church and I wanted to check in on my middle-school daughter. Lately, she’s had many tearful fashion crises and I was prepared to help her settle on a cute outfit. You know how girls need their moms for stuff like that… Continue reading →