This past weekend I had the great pleasure of presenting at the LifeWays conference in San Rafael, CA. I spoke as a keynote speaker in the morning, and did a workshop on “Allowing Children to Help as a Fundamental Tool of Discipline.” We talked about how so many of our discipline issues come from either trying to keep kids out of whatever we’re involved with, or because we’re asking them to wait while we gather things together (whether to get out the door, prepare for an activity or a meal, or something else). We then talked about ways to successfully incorporate children into our own tasks, so that children are engaged and we can still get done what we need to get done. During the workshop I shared a verse for folding laundry with children, and they asked if I would post the words on my website. I’m happy to! Here it is:
Two corners for you, two corners for me (each take two corners)Clouds are flying (both lift silk up, then down)Butterflies fly up (silk goes up)Butterflies fly down (silk goes down)Wings together (each put your corners together)Friends forever (you come together to finish folding)
Dear Miss Faith, My daughter (age 2.75) takes a really long time to warm up in social situations, and seems to feel easily overwhelmed by kids with big energy, even to the point of growling at other kids. It seems like she’s so shy and I’m worried that won’t be ready for preschool. What can I do to help her? 
Dear Miss Faith, I wonder if you could give some ideas for me to help my 4yo daughter get dressed in the morning. She is taking it very slow, and nothing I say or do can seem to speed it up. My 2yo and I have to wait for her before we all go downstairs for breakfast, and I find I feel angry and powerless. Another thing is that she has developed a sensitivity to her underclothes, where there’s only one that she’ll wear. But it’s only for me; for dad or grandma, she’ll wear any of them. At this point, we’re washing her underwear in the sink each night so she can wear it again the next day. 
If you’ve been planning on registering for the LifeWays conference but haven’t gotten around to it yet, today’s the day! Rates will be going up tomorrow!
Dear Miss Faith, I’ve been feeling extra tired lately because I’m pregnant with #2. I’ve been working on taking more time for myself and am taking two breaks a day where I drink a glass of water and knit while my daughter (age 2.75) plays. This used to work fine, but lately every time I sit down with my little cup of water she has a meltdown, often throwing her toys angrily on the floor and demanding that I come help pick them up. I’m giving her lots of attention at other times of the day, and I don’t ignore her while I’m sitting, either; I often tell her a story while I’m sitting. But somehow it’s not working. How can we get through this? 
Dear Miss Faith, I want to throw a birthday party for my daughter turning three, and am looking for age-appropriate ideas for party activities. What do you do for a 3yo birthday party? 
Hi All, I’ve been getting questions about when the next Tele-Class, 
Hello Miss Faith, I have a 2.75yo daughter and I’ve recently found out I’m pregnant again. Although we have been hoping for a new baby, I can’t shake my feelings of guilt at experiencing all this with someone other than my daughter. Lately I’ve felt not-so-good, and I’ve been taking more time for myself and I feel that this is causing more distance between my daughter and me as well. My poor girl seems like she needs to be reeled in, but I just can’t get her somehow. There must be a different lens to see all this through, but I am stuck and can’t find it. 
Dear Miss Faith, I really struggle with the balance between firm and kind. I’m often bad at holding boundaries, and then when I finally do, my kindness seems like it’s nowhere to be found. How can I be firm without losing my sense of connection? 
Dear Miss Faith, My husband, two boys (ages 3 and 4.5) and I recently moved into an intentional community where there are no other children. The other adults are welcoming but generally don’t know what to do, and my boys have started becoming more and more disruptive. I have turned to a very reactive way of parenting, always getting annoyed and whisking them away from adult activities as they get loud and silly: reverent morning circles, long drawn out meal times, meditative rituals are all ruined. I want to set my kids up for success and the others have asked me how they can help, but I don’t know how to go about it. Do you have any ideas on this? Anything would help.