America celebrated its birthday this week. In my family, fireworks were always part of the celebratory deal, so this week’s video is–fireworks. I mean, why not? But first, some books! Some thoughts!

Around the Web

When I Can’t Control It All

It’s hard to not be able to control or fix things for the kids in our lives. Whether you’re dealing with a medical diagnosis or special needs or the drama of the playground cliques, here’s a little encouragement for you when you can’t control it all.

When your child is first diagnosed, the doctors are always focused on the proposed treatment plan.
Rightly so. It’s what they do, post assessment.
And so, you do all the things.
Some of them work.
Some don’t.
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Singing with Your Children

Kristyn Getty shares the value of (and some tips for) singing with your children.

This past summer I wrote the first verses of Psalm 1 on a chalkboard beside my sink. As a tired and happy mom of four little girls, I needed a bigger vision I could hang my thoughts on than just reacting to the daily rush of life.
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Series Books that Will Turn Your Struggling Reader into a Voracious Reader

Sarah Mackenzie has a book list for your struggling reading.

Not all of our kids become voracious readers on their own. In fact, if your child is a struggling reader who hasn’t yet gained fluency, reading is likely far down the list of things he’d like to do with his free time.
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Mr. Rogers Had a Simple Set of Rules for Talking to Children

What was it about Mr. Rogers that made him so effective in his work with children?

For the millions of adults who grew up watching him on public television, Fred Rogers represents the most important human values: respect, compassion, kindness, integrity, humility. On Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the show that he created 50 years ago and starred in, he was the epitome of simple, natural ease.
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Around the Warren

We Are Not As Strong As We Think We Are

Glenn McCarty considers the tension between the realization we are not enough and the question of why.

Three days after Ash Wednesday, a streak of sorts in our house was broken, as our family made our first trip to the emergency department of the local hospital in response to an injury to my younger son. It was a Saturday night, and the triage team was blessedly compassionate and speedy, so before we knew it, there my little 8-year old sat propped up in the big hospital bed, his face masking the obvious fear and anxiety churning inside at the stitches he would need to heal his chin.
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The Story of a Bear

Chris Wheeler tells of a story that combats the pre-bedtime crazy.

One of my favorite times of the day is that moment before bed, when my kids and I snuggle together on the couch and I read to them about courageous trains and suppers that are still hot and anthropomorphic animals of all varieties. Their eyes droop and they yawn until they are so tired I have to carry them to bed, leaving them contentedly snoring with the glow of a goodnight kiss on their foreheads.
At least, that’s what I wish would happen.
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