Real-life routines, consequences that teach, and faith-filled parenting for modern Christian moms
If I had a dollar for every time my sons whined about having to watch a Sunday school video… but ran to their tablets the second screen time was mentioned, I’d be rich enough to own a private island. The struggle is real!
If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly shouting “BE NICE!” over the noise of Netflix, pop culture, and the noise of wrestling brothers in the living room—welcome. You’re not alone. I’m walking this journey too. And along the way, I’ve picked up a few tools, routines, and biblical truths I want to pass on.
✝️ Why Raising With Values Still Matters
In our home, raising boys “with values” means we’re aiming for more than good behavior—we want godly character. We’re talking about integrity, empathy, discipline, gratitude, humility—traits that don’t just happen by accident.
You don’t have to be perfect to begin. I’m not. I mess up, I lose my patience, and if you ever catch me in a parking lot raising my voice at three boys at once… please offer grace.
This isn’t about performance parenting. It’s about intentional parenting. Because when the world is loud, our kids need voices that speak truth and love consistently.
🙏🏽 Start Here: Who Do You Want Your Son to Be?
Ask yourself:
“What do I want my son to be known for at 25?”
Brave? Honest? A prayer warrior? A peacemaker?
This one reflection can shape your parenting roadmap. If you want to raise a young man who knows how to pray, pray with him daily. Show him how God answers prayers. Read scripture out loud and invite him into your faith—not just your rules.
🕊️ Our Real-Life Routine (Yes, It’s Imperfect, but It’s Ours)
Morning Routine (6am):
- Me Time: I start my day with a short workout and quiet time with God.
- Wake Up: At 7:15am, I wake my boys with worship music blasting from Alexa (we love Forrest Frank—young, modern, positive, gospel vibes).
- Affirmations: I speak truth over their lives:
- “You are a child of a King.”
- “You are blessed and highly favored.”
- “You are the head and not the tail.”
- “You are a leader, not a follower”
I learned about the affirmations from Priscilla Shirer and it’s been a very positive addition to my kids routines. I tailer it for each boy based on character.
- Breakfast + School Prep: They eat, I prep for work, and we send them off feeling seen and spoken over.
Family Check-Ins (Dinner Time):
Around 5pm, after outdoor play and dinner prep, we sit at the dinner table. Even if I’m not eating, I’m present for the convo.
We ask questions like:
- “What are you grateful for today?”
- “What made you laugh?”
- “What was hard?”
- “What did you learn?”
- “How did you serve someone today?” ← (servanthood is a kingdom principle!)
📝 → “25 Dinner Table Questions to Build Character” PDF
Evening Routine:
- Clean-up (yes, they clear their own plates!)
- Daddy spends 1 hour with one of the boys while mom stays with the other two to continue their routine – he rotates them and picks 3 days in the week where he will be home on time to do this (we will talk about this in the importance of the father in the household – even if there is no father, you will want to read this)
- Homework or storytime
- Showers and PJs
- Bedtime routine:
- 1 worship song
- We either read from: God’s Big Promises Bible Story Prayers – from the Christianbook / God’s Big Promises Bible Story Prayers – from amazon. We love this book because it gives you a bible story and follows right away with a prayer relating to the bible story. This teaches our kids to relate relate scripture to our life and to pray over scripture.
- Or we read a few verses from NLT Hands-On Bible – From the Christianbook / NLT Hands-On Bible – From Amazon. This is the bible with simple translation for our kids to better understand. It also explains the meaning behind scriptures, provides activities for our kids to demonstrate the scripture and refers to other scriptures to drive certain points across.
- Family prayer – we all say a short prayer one by one or one person prays and everyone goes to bed.
💛 Faith-Based Consequences That Actually Teach
I truly believe that discipline isn’t just about stopping bad behaviours, it’s also about shaping our children’s hearts.
Don’t get me wrong – I don’t always get this right. Sometimes I’m mad, I may yell and I may get too upset on a bad day. But overall, I believe about disciplining with love, not out of frustration. And yes, that may include what some people call “old school correction”. We’re a bible-believing family, and the word doesn’t shy away from correction. It emphasizes it:
“Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.”
— Proverbs 13:24
Yes, I believe in loving correction—including an occasional, loving spanking when necessary. But it’s never done in anger. It’s not a reaction—it’s a rare, last resort tool. I really do think especially boys can benefit from this but I’m really not trying to convince anyone. Read your bible, it is mentioned many times the importance of this.
Most of the time, we stick to natural, heart-centered consequences appropriate with the age.
👶🏽 Masai (3, almost 4) – It seems like this age, everything is feelings-first and logic-second. The goal is repetition & redirection.
- Lose of privileges: No backyard time until toys are picked up or no joining brothers to play until he does what needs to be done.
- Time-in: Sit with me, breathe, repeat truth: “Hands are for hugging, not hitting.”
- Toy removal: If a toy becomes a weapon or something he throws once he’s mad, it’s gone. “You’re too upset to play kindly, you will get this back when you feel better”
- Reflection chat: Sit quietly until calm, then explain what happened and why it was wrong.
🧒🏽 Mikaël (5) – this is the age where they test their independence a lot. Especially by seeing his older brother. The goal is to connect actions with responsibility:
- Restitution: Broke it? Fix it. Hurt someone? Write to Apologize or simply say it + pay back with an act of kindness.
- Kindness chores: Fold towels, tidy a room = a form of restitution.
- Lose a treat: No storytime or special activity if the behavior doesn’t reflect family values.
👦🏾 Micah (9) – He is old enough to understand. A this age, we are heavily trying to character build and check heart postures.
- Written reflection: He journals what happened (what, where, why), how he can make it right/what he could have done differently, and finds a verse related to it.
- Natural consequence: Late = miss out. Rude = serve the person you wronged.
- Scripture copywork: He memorizes a Bible verse that addresses the heart issue by writing it over and over again (depending on how big the offence is).
We discipline because we love them. Not to control them. Not to shame them. But to shape them.
We want to raise boys who understand boundaries, consequences, and most of all—grace. Boys who will one day hear “Well done, good and faithful servant,” not because they were perfect, but because they were taught to choose wisdom when no one was watching.
🌱 Values We Teach On Purpose
When I picture my sons as men—husbands, fathers, leaders—I want to see:
- Loving
- Respectful
- Hardworking
- Disciplined
- Prayerful
- Thoughtful
- Courageous
- Grateful
- Humble
- Servant-hearted
- Creator
I encourage all parents to sit with their kids and discuss their family values. What does your family represent? What type of people are you meant to be? This will help with coming out with a list of family values.
👩🏽🏫 → Freebie : Printable “Family Values Wall Chart” with scripture references + blank space for your own (coming soon)
😩 When It Feels Like It’s Not Working
Some days, I feel like I’m planting seeds in concrete.
But we’re not raising robots—we’re raising humans.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about progression. And the fruit comes later.
“Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9
💌 Before You Go
Mama, your effort matters—especially when you feel unseen – and even then: be strong and courageous.
I hope this post gave you encouragement, ideas, and a place to start. I’ll be back with another blog post next week. Until then, grab your free Dinner Table Question Pack below and let’s keep raising boys with heart, with faith, and with vision.
💾 Freebie: Download the “Dinner Table Questions To Build Character” Printable (PDF) 👩🏽🏫 → Freebie : Printable “Family Values Wall Chart” with scripture references + blank space for your own (coming soon)
Products I recommend: God’s Big Promises Bible Story Prayers – Christianbook God’s Big Promises Bible Story Prayers – Amazon. NLT Hands-On Bible – Christianbook NLT Hands-On Bible – From Amazon. Kids Christian Affirmations Wall Art
With love & grace,
Michèle
raising off screen 
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