Thoughts for the Journey

raising kids in the glow without losing the light

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting If there’s one parenting topic guaranteed to stir up strong feelings, it’s screens. Are they...

4 min read

Parent with purpose: 7 foundations to build upon

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting Parenting is sacred—and sometimes overwhelming. In a world flooded with social media sound bites...

2 min read

5 Lies Parents Hear, Truths God Speaks

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen1 Parenting Parenting is full of joy—but also full of lies we’re tempted to believe. Lies about our worth, our...

2 min read

"But Without Consequences, They Won't Learn!" (And Other Things We Tell Ourselves)

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting I hear it all the time. "That sounds nice, Melanie, but my kid needs consequences. Without them, they'd walk all over me." I get it. I really do. Most of us were raised with consequences. Time-outs. Grounding. Having privileges taken away. The message was clear: if you want kids to behave, you need to make them uncomfortable enough that they'll think twice next time. And honestly? Sometimes it worked. At least on the surface or in that mom

6 min read

Referee, Judge & jury?: What Your Kids Really Need When They Fight

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting Let's Be Real If you're reading this, you're probably exhausted from constantly jumping in to solve...

3 min read

what to say when your kid is upset without shutting them down

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting I can still picture it: one of my kids melting down in the grocery store aisle while I felt every...

3 min read

Beyond “I’m Sorry”: Teaching Kids (and Ourselves) the Power of Repair

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting The other day, one of my grandkids grabbed a toy from his little cousin and he burst into tears. My...

4 min read

What really happens when we "let them" feel it all

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting As parents, one of our strongest instincts is to protect our kids from pain. When we see them upset,...

7 min read

Meaningful Conversations with Your Kids: A Few Good Questions Go a Long way

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting You’re heading out on a summer trip. Maybe it’s a long drive, a hike, or just some downtime at the...

4 min read

Empathy Isn’t the Same as Surrender

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting “Stop crying.”“Shape up or ship out.”“Get over it. It’s not that bad. You’re fine.”“That’s enough!”...

3 min read

Why “Just Take a Deep Breath” Might Not Be Helping (and What to Try Instead)

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting Your child is overwhelmed—maybe they’re melting down over school, swim lessons, panicking about an...

4 min read

What I Wish I Had Known: The Parenting Strategies That Work for All Kids

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting When I was parenting my younger kids, we just didn’t know what we know now. We didn’t talk as openly...

4 min read

What I Wish I Had Known About Summer as a young Mom

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting When my kids were young, summer felt like both a gift and a test. A chance to slow down—but also...

4 min read

6 Practices That can Transform Our Parenting

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting Real shifts that bring connection, calm, and confidence into everyday family life. Parenting isn’t...

4 min read

When siblings (or friends) fight:why not taking sides matters

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting Let’s be honest: sibling fights can feel like emotional whiplash. One minute everyone’s building...

2 min read

whining driving you crazy? try this.

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting If your kid’s whining sends a jolt up your spine, and makes YOU want to whine, you’re not alone....

3 min read

when your child says "no" to the choices you offered: what now?

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting You offer two solid choices: Banana or apple for snack. Brush teeth before or after pajamas....

3 min read

Tiny Humans, Big Feelings: Why Meltdowns Are (Weirdly) Healthy

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting Ever watched your toddler collapse into a puddle of tears because you peeled their banana wrong ......

3 min read

Discipline isn't a dirty word

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting Discipline gets a bad rap. For a lot of us, the word brings up memories of punishment, yelling, or...

4 min read

Emotional Validation Isn’t a Magic Wand—Here’s What to Know When It Doesn’t “Work”

Melanie Zwyghuizen | Gen 1 Parenting You’re calm. You’re patient. You kneel down to your child’s level and say something like, “You’re...

3 min read