When I was younger, there were times when I made little vows about how I would parent differently — things like “I will allow my children to choose sugar cereals,” or “I will listen when my children are explaining something.” Write a letter from yourself as a child. What advice would you give yourself? Now, consider how you have followed that advice? How have you not? Which pieces of advice were realistic? Which weren’t?

—Mary E. DeMuth

This is part of Mary E. DeMuth’s guided journal, “Creating the Family You Always Wanted,” a 12-week journey in Christian parenting. Twice a week, you’ll receive a new journaling prompt encouraging you to think about your family–and God–in new ways. Use these prompts in your own journal or in group discussion. If you’re joining this journal mid-way through, you can start journaling at any time, and stay subscribed at the end, when the journal will restart and you can receive the prompts that you missed.