Hephzibah House in Indiana: Abuse Still Going On, Over 30 Years Later

It’s hard to try to explain the daily schedule at Hephzibah House.  Daily life was about so much more than just school and chores.  Each day was like a journey; you never knew which way the wind was going to blow.  It might be your lucky day, and the staff ladies would all be in [...]

Voting Based on Abortion Stance

These are thoughts penned in response to those who vote based on abortion policies alone (as I once did), feeling that to cast a vote in any other direction would be participating in the death of unborn babies:

When the Nazi’s forced all the Jews to live and starve in the ghetto’s, it was BAD. [...]

Readers Write: Talking with Friends/Aquaintances About Destructive Parenting Practices

I hope the title didn’t make you think I was going to tell you how, since, well, I don’t know how.  
A reader asks,
Hey Molly,
I was wondering (since you and your blog are such a wealth of information to me at the moment) if you’ve come up with an effective way to talk to people who [...]

Letter from Reader: Question on Disciplining Kids, Comments

I found that you started writing your blog again I like to read your thoughts, though you tend to go more extreme in one way or another from me.  :PAbout spanking, before my daughter was born I was totally pro-Ezzo.  That lasted about an hour into her little life.   ;)   She’s 15 months now, still [...]

Letters from Readers: What Do You Do When…? (Two-Year-Old-Tantrums)

Moot Thoughts and Musings recently wrote about mothering and grace, and had a comment addressed to me that I will answer here.  Referring to the way I sometimes handle a two-year-old fit (here) and also complimenting those conversing here, View from the Prairie Box wondered,
Molly’s posts are really encouraging and I found myself reading through the comments as [...]

Back to the Gentle Parenting Series…Parent-as-Shepherd

A few folks have written to me defending spanking, which surprised me because I’m personally not entirely opposed to spanking (though I’m fairly certain it need happen only very rarely in our home).  Apparently, it appears I’ve made an anti-spanking impression, so let me be try to be clear: What I am opposed to is the adversarial [...]

The Godly Homeschool Family: Myth, Reality, or Idol?

 My guest author today is Cynthia Clack from A Life Profound.  A mom of NINE (yeah, baby, you read that right!), she’s “been there, done that” and lived to talk about it.  Her words resonate deeply with me.  Cynthia and aaaalll her family (plus her step-mom, seated) are pictured below (being their goofy selves -HA- click [...]

Vipers in Diapers: Sinful Children & How to Perfect Them

My guest post today comes from the famous and much-loved Chewy Mom, mother of five.  Her blog usually puts a smile on my face or a thought in my head.  I appreciate her warm spirit and honest questions.  Her story below is no exception.  Enjoy.

Chewy Mom: Vipers in Diapers
When Molly asked if I would write a [...]

Punishment as Reformation…Or Not.

The reformative effect of punishment is a belief that dies hard, chiefly I think, because it is so satisfying to our sadistic impulses. 
~ Bertrand Russell, “Ideas that Have Harmed Mankind,” Unpopular Essays, 1951
Now I assume my Saturday Night Live pose and say, with my best Jewish mama voice, “Discuss.” 

Proverbs 13:24, Punishing vs. Disciplining Children, and Two Year Old Fit Throwing Meditations

Once upon a time, I believed that spanking was wholly Biblical—a command, if you will.  In fact, I think my first cyber-debate waaaay back when I joined my first forum at 23 (so amazed and delighted that there were online places where people could actually discuss issues!) was on the topic of spanking. 
I doubt I handled it [...]