Our “Good Mom” List
Before I had children, I had a Good Mom list. It read something like this:
- When I become a mother, I will not ignore my children.
- When I become a mother, I will not physically harm my children.
- When I become a mother, I will not scream or yell.
- When I become a mother, I will never humiliate my child.
It was all the things I promised I’d never do to my children. I ask this same question at every parenting conference, and moms add their wishes to the list:
- I won’t force my children to be something they are not
- I won’t tell my children that they are lazy or stupid.
- I won’t lose it!
While all of these are good things, a Good Mom list isn’t very functional. When your five-year-old has a meltdown in WalMart or your preteen screams, “I hate you”, you can whip out your Good Mom list all that you want. You can even stand in the aisle of the grocery store chanting, “I will not; I will not; I will not” while Jr. kicks your shins, turns red in the face, and threatens to hold his breath.
At that moment, you need to know what to do, rather than what not to do. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
12:31 pm |
Wonderful article in Muskogee Phoenix
I love it when I meet someone from my own hometown that has read one of my books, or an article, and they stop to talk about it. This is an article in the Muskogee Phoenix published on Sunday. Thanks, Phoenix!
Local author to be interviewed live on “The Harvest Show”
Author Suzie Eller of Muskogee believes that youth culture shifts at an amazing rate.
She will share her opinion during an interview on “The Harvest Show” on LeSEA global broadcast network, which reaches 46 million homes in North America, and will air three times on Friday.
“I’m just excited to have my seven to 10 minutes to talk about my passion for faith and for today’s teen,” Eller said. “And then it’s back to work on my next deadline.”
Eller is the author of five books and hundreds of articles, and a parenting and youth culture columnist.
“Today’s 13-year-old experiences unique pressures, technological advances, and issues than the college freshman who was 13 just five years earlier,” Eller says.
(more…)
Posted by Suzie @
3:18 pm |
Article for moms (and dads) wanting to heal the past
I hope you’ll check out a great article on cbn.com today. I was interviewed by Belinda Elliot of Christian Broadcasting Network and it ran as a feature on their site.
Here is an excerpt of Be The Mom You Want to Be: (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
9:34 am |
Twentysomething quote
Basically, we’re coming out of a period of fortressing Christianity. When so much was sweeping into our culture, our parents felt compelled to shelter and protect us maybe, rather than equip us to handle the world as followers of Christ. I also am not convinced that one of the spiritual laws, namely, that God loves you and has a plan for your life was interpreted by its hearers very well.
That statement, by its very nature, conveys an idea of cushiness or maybe an unstated promise that everything will turn out well. when in fact, Jesus says ‘follow me’ and then heads straight for a pile of wood and nails, namely, the cross. So if you think you’re signing up for a cushy faith and get the nailed-to-a-tree kind of faith, then you can’t help but feel like there was a little bait and switch going on, resulting in anger. Anonymous twentysomething believer
From article, Inside the Anger of a Generation by Margaret Feinberg
Posted by Suzie @
4:37 pm |
Answering your questions from the TCW article
I want to apologize for taking so long to get back to each of you. I was swamped with e-mails after the Rise of Raunch article in Today’s Christian Woman.
I am excited about how passionate you each are, and the questions that you asked. Rather than send out 100 e-mails, I’ll try to answer your questions here. If you need more info, please feel free to contact me. Okay? I’m encouraged that so many are interested in reaching our girls in this society.
QUESTIONS
- Do you work with girls on a long-term basis?
(more…)
Posted by Suzie @
12:58 pm |
The TCW Article
I just finished a wonderful radio interview with Bennett and Joyce Luke of America’s Wake Up Call, a nationally syndicated program that reaches many. I want to thank them for the opportunity to share my heart on the issues of teens and also mentoring.
To listen to this interview, go to their download site and click on T. Suzanne Eller, The Woman I Am Becoming.
They contacted me after Joyce read the TCW article. You can read it here.
Posted by Suzie @
4:42 pm |
TCW Article
I’m getting lots of e-mails from women from all over the nation in response to this month’s article, “The Rise of Raunch”, in Today’s Christian Woman.
If you are one of those, and especially if you are asking for additional information about mentoring, I’m listening! I promise I’ll share more information right here on DTB very soon. It’s obvious that there are a lot of amazing women who want to step in and make a difference in the lives of girls. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
4:05 pm |
No paycheck?
Quote: Zane and Marsha work at their local church but not for it. They’re not on the payroll. They hold jobs in real estate and civil government, yet hours of each week — and sometimes large chunks at a time — are devoted to serving God without any expectation of monetary remuneration.
I met with our pastor and his wife the other night, along with a few other friends just to hang out and eat Mexican food and dream about the possibilities for our church and community. I noticed how tired they both looked. Yet they shared their goals and dreams with enthusiasm.
That next morning my pastor’s wife called to check in with me about an upcoming women’s event (I’ll be the speaker). It occurred to me that she was up late the night before, and now in the early morning hours was working again.
“It’s their job.” (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
9:24 am |
A really great article
August 15, 2007 | articles
I found a really great article today called Baptism of Repentance on one of my favorite sites, True-U. This article is thought-provoking. Here’s a quote from the article written by Lindy Keffer:
As Gentile believers, we’re made clean by Jesus’ blood and not bound by laws about uncleanness. Unfortunately, the fact that we don’t have to obey those laws makes us lazy, and we don’t take the time to understand them, either.
Me again. This isn’t a condemning article, but an insightful look at the beauty of a confessing lifestyle. Laying it on the table, with God, to ourselves, and to each other. Being honest, and understanding how powerful this thing called “cleansing” is in light of the cross. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
11:46 am |
Community from the Inside Out
Relevant Magazine (see entire article) by Rob Foley
From Suzie: I found this great article today in Relevant Magazine. Sometimes I hear people who want to close out the world around them. That confuses me. Aren’t we called to talk to others about faith, about Christ? How can we do that if our whole world revolves around church, rather than active faith?
And yet I also hear believers who fail to grasp how amazing it is to have the freedom to worship with others, to function as a family of believers–not perfect, not isolated, but a community of people who teach, encourage, worship, and befriend each other.
We have an example of both of these in Jesus himself.
Excerpt of article: The phrase “inside-out” brings back many painful childhood memories of clothing improperly applied. However, as I grew older, I learned which ways my shirts, socks and pants were supposed to be worn—the tags and stitching should not show. Why it takes every child so long to understand that concept, I’ll never know.
Quote from article: The Kingdom of God is made of doors hinged upon the inside-out-ness of love: to bring in what is without and to let out what is within. My hope is that, as we continue to discover our identity in Christ, we will consider swinging upon similar hinges.
Posted by Suzie @
4:23 pm |
