THE AWKWARD MOM

because uncomfortable conversations are the ones worth having

Category: humility (page 1 of 5)

On questions God doesn’t answer

September 15, 2021 / / 0 Comments
Reading Time: 5 minutes

As an author and voracious devourer of fiction, I consistently get a kick out of the comedy Stranger than Fiction (2006), with Will Farrell and Emma Thompson.

Will Farrell’s character, IRS agent Harold Crick, begins to hear a narrator’s voice over his life–a narrator who has power to determine his circumstances. And who indicates he’s going to die.

Harold seeks a literature professor’s advice (Dustin Hoffman), who suggests he start to find his author by determining whether he’s in a comedy or a tragedy. read more

Humility: The Emotionally-Healthy Kids Series

February 2, 2021 / / 0 Comments
Reading Time: 6 minutes

humility

Note from Janel: I’m trying this new series on for size–on raising emotionally-healthy kids. We’ll start with something that would make our nation look markedly different if it defined us, our leaders: Humility.

No, this is not because I actually think I have arrived or have everything you need to know. This site is about having the conversations we need to have. read more

Me, Overfunctioning: 3 Bad Things It’s Teaching My Kids

August 28, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Reading Time: 5 minutes

overfunctioning

So over here, school has started again. I may have subconsciously avoided my boys’ room this morning, which at last sight looked like someone flipped it upside down and shook it. My daughter’s room was pretty similar as she rushed out the door. Hers just smells better.

What I want to do? Overfunction just a little. read more

Another Reason to Look Your Regrets in the Face

November 16, 2018 / / 0 Comments
Reading Time: 4 minutes

It’s been almost twenty years, but I thought about it again this morning. I was unloading the dishwasher.

You need to know that if I tell you this, you may not like or respect me as much. So I guess I’m okay with that. (I’m trying to take this dead bishop’s advice about embracing my weaknesses, faults, and imperfections.)

What I should also tell you: In college, I was a bit of a manipulator. And I had absolutely no idea.

What Makes You Happy? 15 Ideas for a More Blissful & Thankful Day (Right Now)

September 6, 2018 / / 0 Comments
Reading Time: 4 minutes

A friend told me recently of a trip he and his wife to Hawaii took several years back. After dropping his wife at the terminal for the flight home, he was the only person on the rental car shuttle. He recalled the shuttle driver’s words: “I think I need to go on vacation.” My friend laughed when he told me this. Where do you go on vacation when you live in Hawaii?

Having friends who used to live in Kauai, I know that wherever you live, life is never all bliss. In fact, one side of my house looks over a little cabin serving as a VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner) year-round. And God seems to use it to tap me on the shoulder: Just a reminder. You live in a place where a lot of people go on vacation.  read more

My God-of-the-Cloud: On the Unpackagable Mystery

August 14, 2018 / / 0 Comments
Reading Time: 3 minutes

I was a freshman in college leaving for a road trip. The call must have been from my mom. I don’t remember. All I know is that my youth group’s intern from the summer before–coincidentally engaged to another intern–had been in a fatal car accident.

She’d been driving to try on her wedding dress. read more

Blessed are the “Middle Class in Spirit”? An Infographic on Coming to God as a Child

August 10, 2018 / / 0 Comments
Reading Time: 3 minutes

The other night after small group, I experienced the cutest thing all week: The daughter of one of our members—who, when she wears pigtails, reminds me of a blonde, blue-eyed version of Boo from Monsters Inc. Our host home had The Most Patient Cat in the World, who allowed Boo to exclaim in her sweet little voice over all of his main body parts, touching as she went: “TAIL!” “EYES!” “FACE!” about 546 times. We watched said cat for an entire half hour.

She was disarming, delightful, and chock-full of sheer happiness. She was adorably undignified, openly affectionate.

I’ve been thinking about how God wants us to come to him like Boo—no. Actually, requires we come somehow like her. read more

The Day I Found a Friend’s Flaw

July 21, 2018 / / 0 Comments
Reading Time: 2 minutes

It was in a passing conversation, see. Finally all the dots were connected, and I knew. I realized what her pet sin was. It was probably one she didn’t even see as I saw, considering just how conniving and blinding these tend to be.

But what’s telling is this: For at least 24 hours, I did not feel compassion for her. I didn’t pray for her. I didn’t use it to understand her more. I didn’t use it to examine my life for my own corrosive habits.

Freebie Fridays: 11 Ideas for More Emotionally-whole and -healthy Parenting [INFOGRAPHIC]

March 23, 2018 / / 0 Comments
Reading Time: < 1 minute

In keeping with my recent infatuation with infographics, today’s post is an attempt to visually portray the thoughts in this popular post, 11 Ideas for More Emotionally-whole and Healthy Parenting (which in turn can give you more complete ideas).

Print it FREE here! And if you like it, I’d love it if you shared it so more people can have access to these ideas.

Here’s to a more “wholehearted ” week at your house. read more

Look What I Did! On an Illusion of Spiritual Achievement

March 22, 2018 / / 0 Comments
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Okay, it’s weird to admit this. But there’s an element of living in Africa, being a missionary and all that (or “working in development,” depending on your angle), which if dropped casually in the right circles, instantly hands one to a crumb of celebrity status. And it was really a cool job, y’know? And it made me really…happy. But I did a lot of exceedingly normal things over there. I shopped for a lot of groceries. Disciplined/schooled a lot of kids (well. Mine, anyway). I slept for about one-third of the time.

But can I be honest for a minute?

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