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This blog is part of a series on helping our kids when they feel anxious. If you haven’t already read “Answering our children’s worries” Even if our children haven’t noticed the train strike, postal strike or nurses’ strike, they will notice the teachers’ strikes. While some children love a day o…

Children aren’t the best conversation starters about their emotions and worries, because they don’t yet understand them themselves. Sometimes, they don’t even know that they are worried. They just know that their tummy hurts and they feel sad. They won’t necessarily connect that feeling with the fac…

Surveys consistently find that about three-quarters of UK Christians came to faith before they left secondary school. This is consistent with the Bible story (Proverbs 22:6, Psalm 78:1-6).  Parents matter  While faith transmission is a spiritual work done by the Lord, we would expect t…

We’re a week into a new year. The pressure’s on to be a new, better version of ourselves. We may spot room for improvement, especially when it comes to our parenting, but are our New Year’s resolutions having much impact, or have they already fallen by the wayside? It can be enough of a struggle to …

The Christmas adverts are out: tables heaving with food, well-dressed people, beautiful homes, extravagant gifts, everything bright and shiny.  Anyone noticed the cost-of-living crisis? The eat or heat question? Strike action? Or wondered how much of a feast you can manage from a food bank?&nbs…

If you could relive a single day what would it be? A month after my son’s wedding, I’d chosea magnificently ordinary day:He would be 5 or 6, young enough to still call me Mama. Old enough to ride bikes to thelibrary. We’d rifle through the new books and admire the fish. Afterwards, we’d stop for ice…

It’s that time of year again …. the season for ghosts, ghouls and zombies arriving on your doorstep in search of chocolate! I’m not sure which is worse – the prospect of a ‘trick’ or the social awkwardness of trying to make polite conversation with a 6 year-old monster.   It doesn’t need…

There is a corporate mantra, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” It warns against trumpeting the five-year plan without changing the culture of the team. No amount of resolutions, colourful charts and snappy sentences will bring about change unless accompanied by shared convictions and habits. …

Jake is Sarah’s eldest child. I saw Sarah on the first Sunday after she dropped Jake off at University for his first term. She said to me, “It’s pathetic. I want to get into the car and drive four hours to take him to church! There’s a good local church so close to him. He needs to walk out of his d…