It’s never too early to begin talking with your children about things they’ll need to know as they enter the world of peer pressure. Things like integrity, responsibility, and trustworthiness…drugs, tobacco, and alcohol…and yes, even sex education. (Don’t panic! You can do this.)
While it’s normal to feel uncomfortable talking with your children about tough issues, it’s unwise to put it off. Children are facing peer pressure much earlier than we anticipate, and if you don’t establish yourself as the “go-to” source for information, someone else will.
Talking with your children everyday will strengthen your relationship and increase the level of trust, making it easier for your child to approach you when they’re ready to engage in a touchy subject.
Arm yourself with current facts and suggested talking techniques, then take that first step. The websites listed below provide useful information to help you teach your child about choices that will keep them safe, healthy and happy:
Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco
· “Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Prevention” (after clicking on this link, find report #FS1461, located second from the bottom of the list)
Values & Virtues
Sex Education
The cookbook Desperation Dinners! has been a lifesaver for hundreds of families, offering recipes that get dinner done in “20 minutes flat”. The authors also have a website with fresh menu ideas (including DD recipes), tips on saving time and money, and even entertaining. Check it out here: 
I used to associate that question with job performance, not marital partnership. During a stressful season in our marriage, however, I discovered that attitude lodged in my heart, provoking an explosion of anger toward my husband.
Today I watched a handful of first and second graders play a friendly game of basketball. I sat in the bleachers among a scattered group of supportive parents and grandparents while the little ones ran up and down the half-court, dribbling, double-dribbling, traveling, hogging the ball and committing all sorts of other minor infractions. It was all good.
My youngest son loves to borrow his older brother’s iPod, sneak off to a cozy place and get lost in the music. Any kind of music. Well, not quite. We’ve been rather particular about which artists make it onto the kids’ iPod, but we’ve also done our best to mix it up with plenty of different artists and genres. So any kind of music refers to the cute and eclectic collection my husband, the iPod master, has downloaded.