by Renie Bowman | Apr 9, 2021 | Parenting, Wisdom
Some years, and quite a few Coffeetime Columns ago, we wrote an article called Hellion Alert. It was about Andy recounting a true incident of eating lunch in a restaurant where a small, undisciplined child was wreaking havoc while the mother ignored it all. When...
by Renie Bowman | Apr 1, 2021 | Faith, Parenting
Every Easter there I would go, racing across the yard at my parents’ home. Trying to beat my little brother to all the brightly colored eggs that were hidden everywhere. Fun – you bet. Competitive – I can still remember whining because he found more than me. Family...
by Renie Bowman | Mar 5, 2021 | Parenting, Personal Growth
Recently we had the opportunity to have lunch with a young newly married friend whom we haven’t seen in a few months. After the usual banter and light gossip about the lives of mutual friends, we asked about his life now that he had been a husband for a while. His...
by Renie Bowman | Jan 28, 2021 | Marriage, Parenting, Wisdom
A young couple was deeply involved in the timeless dance of married couples since the first union, and I am not referring to sex. This was the dance of war. Each had taken a rigid angry stance on opposite sides of their ballroom. In fact, the battle for this...
by Renie Bowman | Dec 31, 2020 | Parenting, Personal Growth, Wisdom
Six-year-old Johnny longed for, prayed and dreamed about getting a pony for his birthday. In his eyes, he truly NEEDED a pony. Uncle Jim knew all about Johnny’s dream. But he also was very aware of the prohibitive cost. Being a realist, he despised the weak, hopeful...
by Renie Bowman | Dec 17, 2020 | Family, Parenting, Personal Growth, Relationships
Accustomed to spending Christmas Day packed with beloved family, or close friends? Or a mixture of both, in a free-for-all party of fun and food? Now it is true, most of us do have a person who is a – um – least favorite relative, but we tolerate even them on that...