Top Ten Post of 2022

Winter Reading List 

My Top Five Parenting Books

Board Games Our Family Loves

My Favorite Homeschool Curriculum & Supplies

Top Ten Must Haves for Your Homeschool Craft Cupboard

Praying Scripture for Your Children

Our Homeschool Resolutions for 2022

Winter Morning Basket Ideas for Younger &

 Older Kids

Spring Themed Poetry Tea Time

Seven Ways to Support Foster and Adoptive Families

What We're Reading and Our Homeschool Read Alouds ll December 2022

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Sharing our reads from December including some faith reads, parenting, and more!

Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑21yrs led to 👱17 yrs, 👧14 yrs, and 👱 11 yrs. Christmas at the Amish Market Review: http://creative2xmom.blogspot.com/2022/12/christmas-at-amish-market-review.html Start with Hello Review: http://creative2xmom.blogspot.com/2022/12/start-with-hello-review.html Divine Disruption Review: http://creative2xmom.blogspot.com/2021/11/divine-disruption-review.html What We Read in November 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vXr54Fr_oc&t=6s Winter Reading List: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-UZaL838gg My Mom Notebooks ll Homeschool Tools for Mom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJXr... Five Books that Shaped Me as a Parent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P59Ud... 2021-22 Homeschool Read Alouds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5AXS... Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... Music Attribution: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod FTC Disclosure: This video is not sponsored. *This video is not intended for audiences under 13 years.

Winter Reading List ll 2023

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 Today I'm sharing my winter reading list... homeschooling, parenting, read alouds, and more!

What would you add to the list? Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑20yrs led to 👱17 yrs, 👧15 yrs, and 👱 11 yrs. Fall Reading List: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z6WehiITk0&t=2s Fall Morning Basket ll Middle School and High School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok0dmGTe9ug&t=2s Homeschool Haul ll Rainbow Resource, Christianbook, and more! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHPcEDTnp68 Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/52903?ref=nav_mybooks Music Attribution: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod FTC Disclosure: This video is not sponsored. *This video is not intended for audiences under 13 years.

The Essential Social Skills Handbook for Teens {Review}

Is your teen feeling anxious? Overwhelmed?  Lonely?  Do you see their confidence sliding and don't know how to help? Richard Meadows speaks to teens about these issues and more in his Essential Social Skills Handbook for Teens.  Written to teens, this book covers topics such as self-esteem and confidence, communication, social media, managing stress and more!  Meadows shares from personal experience, opening up about his own struggles and the principles that he learned along the way.  He uses simple applications to boost teenage confidence and management skills to be successful in later life.

I found the author's writing style to be simple, but effective.  Meadows writes as if he's speaking directly to teens.  This makes his writing personal, although at times it did feel a little incomplete.  On of my favorite parts is when he addresses personality types and how they aren't meant to be a handicap.  Rather how important it is to know your personality's strengths and weaknesses, and how to work with them.  It's a short and quick read, most applicable for younger teens ages 12-14 years.  I do think that older teens would find the tone condescending; however, the concepts are important and I'd rather address these issues with my teens in the younger years.  This would be a good books for a teen strugging with confidence and social anxieties as these are the major issues addressed.  If your teenager doesn't struggle with self-esteem, this may be a title to skip.

*Disclaimer: I recieved a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

 

Weekend Links ll December 23, 2022

Wow!  We're nearly to the end of 2022!  Who saw that coming?  And I really can't believe Christmas is in two days!!!!  Crazy!

As we're going into the craziest part of the craziest holiday in a very fast year, I've gathered just a few resources to share with you.  My goal this week was to share quick and easy ideas that might enhance your Christmas and not leave you feeling overwhelmed.  So of the five links I'm sharing today, two are easy last minute desserts, one is a self-care resource for Mom, one a craft to do with the kids, and the last resource is a fun way to bond as a family.  My prayer is that these links would refresh you in this joyful season.

 

Christmas Pictionary

Andes Mint Cookies

Ten Ways to Feel Like a Better Mom in Less Than 10 Min

Easy Chocolate Pot De Creme

DIY Snowglobe Ornaments

New Year's Bucket List

This Week: 

What I'm Cooking:

This week has been all about simple meals... can anyone else relate?  So nothing really spectacular going on at our house.  We did however make jam shortbread cookies earlier this week... then everyone got sick and all baking ceased. :-)

What I'm Reading:

I've been jumping all over the place right now.  But I did stick with Mr. Dickens and His Carol and finished that one on Sunday.  I wasn't sure if I'd like it.  It's hard to play with such a classic character.  But it ended up being a very endearing tale and a wonderful read for December.

What I'm Doing:

Well, besides nursing sick kids, we've been trying to squeeze in some homeschool time as well.  Some days I felt like we should call it and start break, but we were able to accomplish a few things.  Especially keeping my sixth grader on task.  I'm also unpacking boxes.  We moved the week before Thanksgiving and we are still really living out of boxes.  But we're getting there.

What I'm Enjoying:

Warm cups of lemon water...

Fresh lemons from our tree...

Homemade tomato soup...

Christmas concerts...

Afternoon piano practice...

Ornament crafting...

Wool socks...

What are you up to?

Busy Little Hands: Science Play {Review}

In this edition of the Busy Little Hands series, preschoolers explore with 20 hands on experiments created from everyday household items.  Play activities focus on concepts involved in biology, physics, chemistry, and geology.  Science Play also includes colorful photos on each page, engaging young learners in early educational concepts.

I love finding books like this one that make early learning so accessible for preschoolers.  Science Play is clearly laid out without being overly wordy.  Although the description says it's for preschoolers, this title would be great for 3 year olds all the way up through kindergarten.  It's a wondeful resource for encouraging parent and child interaction as well.  These are the types of books I'm more than happy to recommend to parents of small children.  Great projects to get started with close observation and tapping into your child's curiosity.

*Disclaimer: I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

What to do with those Christmas cards?

 *Post originally published on 12/11/13

I don't know about you, but I love all those Christmas card ideas all over pinterest and creative blogs.  There's some really great ideas out there.  Unfortunately, I just don't have the space to do something so creative.  But I still want to display our Christmas cards.  And how am I going to do that?

We live in an older home and without an open floor plan we have a doorway between the kitchen and dinning room.  So I picked up a package of sticky tack.  Remember that stuff from your college dorm room days?  It sticks good and peels off the walls cleanly.  I just put a little in each corner and hang the cards around our doorframe.  That way we can see, enjoy, and pray for all the families that are a part of our lives.

And what about when the holidays are over?  I hole punched our cards and photo cards in the corner and connected them with a key ring.  It hangs on the baker's rack in the kitchen and reminds us of all those we love.  

How do you display your Christmas cards?

Start With Hello {Review}

One of our greatest current cravings as a society is community.  How do we build it?  How do we invest in those around us?  And how do we find our place where we're surrounded by love and support?  These questions and more form the basis for Shannan Martin's newest title, Start with Hello.

When I first heard about this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.  Community is vital to moving forward in today's divided society.  But it didn't take long for me to realize this book is not at all what it's marketed as.  Martin's tone quickly turns condescending.  Her ways of fostering community are "better than" and the whole book just left me feeling condemned.  I didn't find much in this title to be excited about and giving it two stars feels generous.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

 

Favorite Christmas Picture Books

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 Sharing the Christmas picture books that we return to again year after year. These are our absolute favorites and I'm hoping you'll enjoy them too.

Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑21yrs led to 👱17 yrs, 👧14 yrs, and 👱 11 yrs. The Influence of Books on Our Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVQnmMngZEk How Homeschooling Has Changed My Heart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42138euohY0 What We Read in November 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vXr54Fr_oc&t=5s Teaching Social Skills to Your Homeschooled Preschooler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_0RWZGXIKk&t=2s 2021-22 Homeschool Read Alouds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5AXS... Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... Music Attribution: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod FTC Disclosure: This video is not sponsored. *This video is not intended for audiences under 13 years.

Clutter Busting Christmas Presents

*This post was originally published on 12/7/11. Enjoy!

 It's unbelievable that Christmas is only 17 days away.  For some of you, you may be feeling like "Big deal.  Seventeen days is an eternity."  For me, however, I know that 17 days is going to pass like the blink of an eye.  December always finds us so busy; I have a hard time keeping it all straight.  And presents?  I've hardly had time to think about that.  So while a friend and I were brainstorming usefully gifts, I thought I'd share me list with you in case you're in the same spot.

Looking at our list this year, I really wanted to purchase gifts that would be useful and not just add to the consumer pile.  I still like blessing our family and friends at Christmas, but rather than buying another CD, I like to search out those items that they'll really use.  Hope you find this list helpful!

In the kitchen:
*Glass dishes--I love cooking with glass.  And with high quality items available, you won't be throwing these out like some of the cheaper items on the market.  These can be personalized as well if your recpient is big on entertaining.

*Pastry blender--Just a small thing, but this on packs a huge punch.  If you're buying for a baker, they won't underestimate the value of this gift.

*Garlic press--One of my favorite tools in the kitchen.  Pampered Chef sells a great one, but you can find them other places as well.  Great for cutting down time and money.

*Local roasted coffee and honey--Support your local businesses by purchasing a local roast coffee.  Then stop by the farmer's market for some raw honey.  Giving two ways by supporting your local farmer's.

*Homemade vanilla--An inexpensive and easy item, the quality of homemade vanilla is unbelievable.  What a great addition to any kitchen!

Going green:

*Microfiber clothes and homeade cleaner--I found a package of these clothes at a local discount outlet and love them.  They don't leave streaks on my windows and can be laundered for use again and again.  Please with homemade cleaner, you can control the substances that come into your home.  Be sure to include the recipe for a refill.

*Homemade laundry soap and reusable dryer sheets--We love our homemade laundry soap.  My favorite feature is that it's fragrance free.  Being inexpensive doesn't hurt either.  Pair it with some homemade dryer balls and you've got a great eco-friendly gift.

*Reusable Lunch baggies--I'm dying to make some of these.  What a great gift for a niece or nephew, or stocking stuffer for just about anyone.

*Recipe a month club--Plan 12 meals to deliver to the recipient, one a month for an entire year.  Now that's a labor of love.

For the gym rat:
*Homemade Yoga Mat Bag--I want one of these.  Next year, I'm making one!

For the book lover:
*Books on CD--My kids love listening to books on CD in the car.  And Mama loves it too.  It makes those long trips to Grandma's so much easier.

*Chapter books for older kids--I don't consider books to be clutter so as my children grow I'm excited to add chapter books to our collection.

*An e-book for the Kindle or Nook--Inexpensive and definitely a clutter buster, there's such a variety of e-books available.  Purchase a gift certificate and allow the recipent to choose their own.

For kids:
*Homemade Playdough--There are so many recipes out there.  Start with a basic and a pumpkin pie recipe, and go from there.

*Family memberships to a local zoo, museum, theater, etc.

What are you shopping for this Christmas?

Christmas at the Amish Market {Review}

 

Shelley Shepard Gray's latest title, Christmas at the Amish Market, takes us into the busy world of storekeeper Wesley as he tries to balance his family's shop at Christmas time along with the needs of his longterm girlfriend, Liesl.  With his father sick, Wesley must take charge of the shop during the busiest time of the year, while also feeling the pressure from his parents.  Girlfriend Liesl comes up with a plan to have her aunt come help during the holidays.  Complications, however, arise when Wesley realizes the aunt, Jenny, is around his own age and he begins to develop feelings for her.  And that's not the only new romance that's budding.  Christmas at the Amish Market is all about love, relationships, and being honest with one's self.

Over the years, I've had my ups and downs with Gray's novels.  This one was an up.  She took great care in developing the characters and relationships in this book in a way that makes them all enduring.  Liesl was my least favorite character, but even in her selfishness, we're able to see a young woman who is still finding herself and striving to be better.  The storyline of the book was realistic and highlighted the tension that we all face in balancing commitments and relationships.  And while the romances became complicated at times, the characters still acted with integrity.  Shelley Shepard Gray did a good job of crafting an engaging story while keeping the characters honest.  This title makes for an enjoyable seasonal read.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Weekend Links ll December 9, 2022

 

Project Based Homeschool Math for Christmas

How to Use Music Lessons in Your Christmas School

Vegetable Au Gratin with Brussel Sprouts

Using Christmas Music in Your Homeschool

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

This Week: 

What I'm Cooking:

My favorite meal this week was Lasagna Soup.  We've found this one to be a family favorite... so much so that I now have to double the recipe to satisfy everyone.  Might have something to do with up and coming teens in my house as well.  And my little guy is learning about Christmas around the World so we made Filipino Bread Rolls to go with it.  A little sweet for dinner, but they were delicious.

What I'm Reading:

December I'm all about fiction.  So I finished Christmas at the Amish Market (review coming later today) and now I'm picking up Mr. Dickens and His Carol.  So good.  We read and studied A Christmas Carol last year in our homeschool and this fictionalized version of Dickens life is fun and insightful.  Perfect for reading this time of year.

What I'm Doing:

So many things going on this time of year... baking, ornament crafting, driving the mom taxi to nutcracker practice, and just trying to keep my sanity through all of it.  Plus, we moved just before Thanksgiving so I'm living in boxes and trying to remember where I saw things.  Luckily the essentials (school books and keyboard) have been unpacked so it's bring some normalcy to our lives.

What I'm Enjoying:

Christmas baking...

Ornament making...

Learning about holidays around the world...

Rainy afternoons at home...

Listening into choir practice...

What are you up to?

What We're Reading and Our Homeschool Read Alouds ll November 2022

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Sharing our reads from November including some faith reads, parenting, and more! Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑21yrs led to 👱17 yrs, 👧14 yrs, and 👱 11 yrs. Giving Your Words Review: http://creative2xmom.blogspot.com/2022/11/giving-your-words-review.html What We Read in October 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50VDlH9nPVo Fall Reading List: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z6We... My Mom Notebooks ll Homeschool Tools for Mom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJXr... Five Books that Shaped Me as a Parent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P59Ud... 2021-22 Homeschool Read Alouds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5AXS... Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... Music Attribution: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod FTC Disclosure: This video is not sponsored. *This video is not intended for audiences under 13 years.

What's In Our Christmas Morning Basket? ll Collab

*This post was originally published on 11/29/18.  Enjoy!

Sharing what's in our December morning basket with a special emphasis on Christmas. Boy Boss Mama: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvrQ... The Waldock Way: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqCX... Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... St. Nicholas Day Printable: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/P... Christmas Around the World Brochure: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/P... Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑17yrs led to 👱13 yrs, 👧10 yrs, and 👱 7 yrs. Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Weekend Links ll November 23, 2022

 I'm posting this week's weekend links a little early due to the holiday.  I know we'll all be super busy so I wanted to share with you all before you get your Thanksgiving plans underway.  Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!  And we'll see you next week!

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Ancient Rome Flip Book

25 Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers

Oreo Pie

Thanksgiving Word Search

Free Fall Gratitude Activities

Cranberry Brie Bites

This Week: 

What I'm Cooking:

Well, Thanksgiving is this week so of course, food is on all our minds.  For the boys in our home, the favorite dish is Pioneer Woman's Sweet Potato casserole.  And I must admit, it is really good.  Over the years, I've slowly cut back the sugar in the recipe and it's still amazing.  Hoping that a single batch is enough for my growing boys.

What I'm Reading:

My 6th grader recently started reading Summer of the Monkey for a language arts unit.  And I've been reading alone.  It's a little known title by the same author that wrote Where the Red Fern Grows and so good.  He's a few chapters ahead of me though so I have to make sure he doesn't reveal any spoilers.

What I'm Doing:

We're in the process of trying to sell one house and purchase another.  So there's a lot of boxing and cleaning and decluttering and tying up loose ends.  We've been very blessed with this home and hope that it will be a blessing for someone else some day.

What I'm Enjoying:

Cooler weather...

Slow holiday days...

Walks to the park...

Taco nights...

What are you up to?

Giving Your Words {Review}

 

Words are so incredibly powerful.  They have the power to make or break someone's day.  But do they have the power to shape a child's life?  Sally and Clay Clarkson explore the idea of communicating with our children and how verbal communication has the power to form lifelong faith within our families.  Based on Biblical principles and the Clarksons' own parenting journey through the years, Giving Your Words is an inspiration read for any parent wishing to pass on their faith and build up their family.  

The Clarksons lovingly guide the reader in viewing the Lord as the original Word Giver.  It was His own words that created the world, culminating with the creation of man.  Now He passes on the privilege to us as we give our words in shaping how our children see the world and themselves.  Sally and Clay Clarkson affirm that love is a verb.  But it is also verbal... communicated in our words to others.  The principles established in this book are meant to be guides and not formulas, providing flexibility for individual family cultures while still being life-giving.  

This was a good title for me to read during this stage of life.  Raising and homeschooling teenagers, we spend ALOT of time together.  And our words and tone often veer into some dangerous territory.  Giving Your Words is a great reminder that my kids learn how to communicate from me.  Their tone and words have been modeled by my own.  These kids are looking to me for approval, validation, encouragement, inspiration, uplifting, and so much more.  How will my words affirm their place in the world?  

Giving Your Words was convicting and inspiring.  I came out of this read with fresh vision and encouragement to keep moving forward in raising my kids and to keep calling out all the gifts that the Lord has placed in them.  I hope to one day look around and see that I enjoy a healthy relationship with my children through a vibrant exchange of ideas and words.  This is a great book for any parent, or anyone mentoring children, either in ministry or within a family context.  Simply wonderful.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

The Influence of Books on Our Kids

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 Today I'm sharing my thoughts on the influence of books on our kids and why I'm discerning with the influences we bring into our home.

Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑21yrs led to 👱17 yrs, 👧14 yrs, and 👱 11 yrs. Fall Reading List: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z6We... What We Read in September 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyZFZ-UbpKI My Mom Notebooks ll Homeschool Tools for Mom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJXr... Five Books that Shaped Me as a Parent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P59Ud... 2021-22 Homeschool Read Alouds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5AXS... Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... Music Attribution: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod FTC Disclosure: This video is not sponsored. *This video is not intended for audiences under 13 years.

Favorite Thanksgiving Books

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 Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑21yrs led to 👱17 yrs, 👧14 yrs, and 👱 11 yrs.

Fall Reading List: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z6We... What We Read in September 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyZFZ... My Mom Notebooks ll Homeschool Tools for Mom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJXr... Five Books that Shaped Me as a Parent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P59Ud... 2021-22 Homeschool Read Alouds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5AXS... Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... Music Attribution: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod FTC Disclosure: This video is not sponsored. *This video is not intended for audiences under 13 years.

Godly friends for Godly kids

 *This post was originally published on 9/28/11.  Enjoy!

Friendships are such a huge part of our lives.  Living in community molds us and shapes us in ways that can't be duplicated.  For better or for worse.

The same stands true for our children.  We can cook the right foods.  We can homeschool with the right curriculum.  We can choose the right movies.  But our children will seek our friends.  And if we're not parenting with our eyes wide open, those friendships can take our kids down a road we'd never wish for them.

We were made for community and the same holds true for our kids.  Whether we're ready or not, they will begin to seek out relationships outside of our family unit.  That's why it's so important that we take an active role in discussing friendships before hand.  How important are friendships for our kids?  Priceless!

At a very young age, we start talking with our kids about their friends.  What does it mean to be a friend?  How can you be a friend to someone else?  What do you do when a friend asks you to disobey your parents?  We start brainstorming the possible scenarios that could arise.  And we keep asking questions.

We've also found it very helpful to encourage the godly friends that come.  It's easier to make an effort for those relationships we want to foster.  Playdates and sleepovers come with a select few friends.  Friendships we're anxious to encourage.

So how can you know if this is a friendship you want to encourage?

*Do they get into trouble together?--Curiousity and age play a factor here, but you'll know when it's just youth and when it's harmful.

*Does the friend have a good relationship with their parents?

*Does he/she have a good relationship with other authority figures?

*Can he/she be encouraged toward being a servant?

*Does he/she have a concept of Christ as Savior and discipling in that path?

*Is he/she quick to repent?

And what if a friend doesn't quite reach this standard?  Those are the friendships I watch even closer.  Those friendship times are more closely supervised and prayed over.  Just this week, we invited a friend to come over.  While this little boy's family is not following the Lord, this is a friendship that I'm hanging on to.  He's one of my son's dearest friends and I can see already that he's not going anywhere soon.  So I'd rather be a strong influence in his life before he becomes an even stronger influence in Noah's.

And of course, this all comes down to the Lord's leading.  My goal is to always shepherd my children in those moments that they're not ready for on their own.  Still for me, I find myself leaning on the Lord's wisdom in all those situations.  Ultimately we are preparing our children for life outside our homes.  So this is training ground for all of us.

What do you think?  Have you given much thought to your children's friendships?