Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

Ben’s new life in Christ

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Ben accepted Christ into his life last Sunday night! We had done the whole usual bedtime productive and he called me into his room. I admit, I sighed, wondering what required me to get out of my own bed. The second he started talking, I could tell this was going to be a different conversation. I listened for a minute and then called Greg into the room. 

Earlier that night, Ben and Cate had been to their first monthly youth worship at church. A high school acquaintance of ours shared his testimony that night and something he said really struck my boy. Ben realized he too was far from God and didn’t want to run away anymore. 

I had been praying especially for my boy that weekend after Chase, who is both the middle school youth minister and teaches an Old Testament class to the sixth-grade boys at school, shared something with me. He texted me after class one day to tell me he read over some class notes Ben has left behind. After a class about the fall in the Garden of Eden, Chase said Ben seemed to understand sin, forgiveness, and our need for Jesus. I screenshot the text to Greg and a couple of friends. 

I was already in awe of how God was affirming our church move earlier this year and continued enrollment at the private school our kids attend. I wasn’t doubting. I wasn’t asking for confirmation. But God gave it to me anyway in multiple conversations and connections in just a matter of a few weeks. 

That same week Chase texted me about Ben, small groups started for the middle & high school kids. One of Ben’s two leaders is a college student Greg and I had gotten to know a little bit over the summer through our Sunday school class. We only know a few college students, so this seemed like kindness from God to a mom. 

Ben talked to us about not wanting to run from God anymore. I was thrilled he wanted to change directions and run to God. For almost 12 years, this boy of mine has always wanted to be on the move. He was a cranky baby … until he could crawl, then walk, then run. He liked stroller rides, car rides, and swings. He’s kept me on my toes with all his movement. But now I’m witnessing his willingness to move to be exactly how God reached his soul. 

Today he stepped out in faith and proclaimed in his new life and direction when he was baptized. And this momma is praying for all the movements, transitions, pivots, and changes to come as he continues to live. 

*****

Watch the video from Hardin Baptist or my video from beside the baptistry.

Rachel is 6!

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We’ve spent the weekend celebrating our girl who loves a party! 

Rachel is joy personified. I say that often, but it’s always been true. I default to serious mode way too often, but she keeps me smiling and laughing. She’s funny, smart, and loves people. 

She likes to sneak into my bed in the middle of the night so we can snuggle. I’ll take all the love — after sunrise! She swims like a fish, dreams of being a rockstar, and remembers all the words to songs. She likes adventures, having anyone we know over to our house, and prefers not to be alone. 

She doesn’t like to slow down to eat a meal and would prefer to graze all day. She always wants to go back to where we’ve gone before because road trips & adventures are among her love languages. I won’t be sad when she can tell time and remembers the order of the days of the week. She’s going to learn so much in kindergarten, which she loves but does find tiring. She often falls asleep on the way home or on our porch swing before she makes it into the house. She’s always been the kid to resist naps but then lay down on the concrete, put her head down on the table, or contort herself in the booster seat in the minivan … and sleep anyway.

As girly as she can be, Rachel loves all things pink, princessy, and sparkly. She plays soccer — and then sometimes does a cartwheel after she scores. She hugs her opponents, adults, our cats, and often people we barely know. She sometimes says she doesn’t know her letters, but then she aces spelling tests in kindergarten and knows the first letter of so many people’s names.

Now, if I could just get her to stop sticking out her tongue or raising a peace sign (like Mario apparently does when you beat a level on Super Mario Bros.) every time I’m trying to take a picture. Speaking of pictures, just follow my #thirdchild posts on Instagram; she’s a popular subject in my shared squares.

Rachel, 

I hope you always love big and bring others in. You, my girl, are a light, so keep shining brightly. I’m truly thankful you were born and I get to be your mom. You keep me laughing, wondering where you went, and feeling loved well.

Happy 6th birthday, sweet girl! 

Love, Momma

*****

My favorite story of how God made the five of us a family is told in my first book, “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family,” which is available on Amazon or directly from me. 

Look back on Rachel’s past birthdays:  One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

How to support your child’s education

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One of my favorite things about my kids’ school is the philosophy teachers and staff are coming alongside us parents as we raise our kids. The flip side of that is true: As parents, we want to support what the teachers are doing for our kids in the classroom. 

I’m not done raising kids, but I have some school experience now that I have a high school freshman, a sixth-grader, and a kindergartner. 

Preschool

All three of my kids attended preschool, although they were enrolled in different private preschools throughout the years. All three preschool programs were great starts to their educations, helping them ease into full-time school. 

Children certainly soak in the world around them. At preschool, your child might not be sitting in a classroom listening to their teacher give a lecture, but they are learning all day. They will learn all sorts of things, including how to make friends, develop fine motor skills, and how to identify different letters.

At home, parents can support preschoolers’ education by understanding age-appropriate learning and development goals. Recognize this is only the beginning. It’s a good time to establish routines at home, talk about what your child is learning as you go about your day with them, and encourage independent play. 

Kindergarten

Starting kindergarten is a big change for a child. We’re in our fourth week of school, and Rachel is still coming home tired. She’s going every weekday for seven hours, learning new routines and expectations, taking spelling tests, practicing writing, making new friends, and learning to read. Thankfully playtime is incorporated too. 

Parents may benefit from reading The Stages Of Spelling Development: A Guide For Parents to understand where a child is in terms of learning important academic skills. It can also be a smart time to understand more about your child’s learning style.

Elementary School

In elementary school, children’s education becomes more academically focused. While they are still developing things like social skills, they also start to explore a range of academic subjects. Thankfully, our school is good at allowing parents to connect directly with teachers. Although COVID has changed some things last year and this school year, parent-teacher conferences, holiday parties, special programs, and field trips are great ways to stay involved. 

This is also when homework comes into the picture. I appreciate that our kids’ school doesn’t require tons of homework, but, as a mom, I do like to see what they’re studying. 

Middle School

Middle school is a transitional period in more than one way for your child. More independence comes in these years. At my kids’ school, sixth-graders move to the Upper School building, have lockers for the first time, change classes and have multiple teachers, and get more freedom for lunch. It’s a lot to navigate, especially when most of my boy’s class had to be quarantined after our first day this year. 

As a middle schooler, other responsibilities Ben has now are communicating more directly with teachers through email and Google Classroom, keeping up with assignments in the different classes, and bringing the right books and supplies to the right classes. He also started wearing a watch so he knew how many minutes he had between classes. 

I like chatting with my kids about school on the drive home. Some days they tell me more than others, but I want them to know they can always discuss academics, extracurriculars, friendships, and concerns. I try not to pressure them to tell me details about their days, but I do try to keep up with what’s happening. 

High School

In high school, there can be a lot of pressure for teenagers to start thinking about what happens after school. While they might have four years to think about it, it can still be tough to have to consider their adult life. But there are many ways you can support your teen while still allowing them their independence.

Here we are with our oldest, Cate. I’m thankful for my kids’ small school, where families are connected to each other and all the students preschool through high school are on the same campus. Even so, some more freedoms and responsibilities come with these years. 

Cate definitely has more assignments to keep up with and manages them on her Chromebook. The teachers communicate less directly with parents, which is part of kids learning to handle their school life. Of course, I still try to help her when she needs it. 

We’re barely in this season, but I do know conversations about what’s next will be happening more often. My husband and I do try to do this by sharing our experiences. Sometimes it’s hard to believe we’re already here! 

Just before Cate’s freshman year began, she got her piece of college mail and then got a “legacy” care package from Murray State, where Greg and I met as college students and where our kids have grown up going to basketball and football games. Soon this season will become more about college preparation and exploring career options.

Beyond High School

Once a child has graduated from high school, their education is much more their own responsibility. Parents might be involved in some ways, such as helping to choose colleges or even helping to pay for college, but it’s ultimately up to the young adults what they want to do and whether they want to continue their education. Parents can still support them by listening to them talk about their classes or attending important events, even if they’re not helping with nightly homework or speaking to their teachers. 

Parenting is about supporting and loving them through all the seasons — even the ones where the children become adults. You can support your child’s education at any age, from before they start school and into adulthood.