Parenting | 100 Words

Honoring Our Children’s Work

August 22nd, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

When I viewed the items below at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery in Washington DC this week, I was more impressed with the preservation than the items.

Who saved this boat made by a 12-year-old boy in 1835? The boy? His parents? Who was next? How many hands touched the boat during the past 191 years?

Girls practiced the stiches needed to make and mend clothes

Who saved these sewing samples made by a nine-year-old girl in 1882? The girl? Her parents? Who was next? How many hands touched the sewing samples during the past 144 years?

One son used soap cartons to make drawers for his brother. I kept it over 25 years before it became too worn.

The soap box mini dresser—made with care, love and creativity—is dear to my heart. I like to think that the objects at the Renwick’s State Fair Exhibition were saved for the same reason. The people who loaned the 1835 boat and the 1882 sewing samples to the Smithsonian never met their creators, but they honored family history, the children, and the people who loved them.

I wonder if the items’ stories were also passed down?

Family, Parenting, Relationships

A False Narrative

July 25th, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

The movie I Tonya dramatized the 1994 assault on Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan and its aftereffects. The screenwriter said the film was about

Things we tell ourselves in order to … live with ourselves … how we change the narrative and then want that to be the narrative.
Steven Rogers

This is devastating to those having a false narrative imposed upon them. Some friends and I are in that group.

Yet, I have done the same. I told friends that my parents rarely read to me as a preschooler, and few picture books were in our home. I spoke the truth, I thought, until I poured over letters my grandmother had saved. (See here.)

Mollie calls her new Mother Goose book Mommy Goose.

Mollie knows the Three Billy Goats Gruff by heart.

letters to my grandmother

My false narrative is minor but still unfair to my parents.

How do we fight back? Prayer is the best offense once the false narrative is held tightly. We can prepare by telling the stories and showing the photos that contradict the seeds being planted by the enemy of our souls who wants to divide people, especially families.

Parenting

Let’s Make a Memory. Or Not.

June 27th, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

I wanted my children to have wonderful memories of their years with us, and I worked hard to create them. “Do you remember?” I later asked and waited for the excitement or joy or whatever I hoped to create.

No. I don’t remember.

Was the experience wasted? Maybe. Maybe Not.

Moments after entering the Lewis Ginter Memorial Gardens one holiday, a child yelled, “Butterfly, Butterfly.” Children were running everywhere because, unbeknownst to me, I had chosen a free admission day to visit the LEGO® creations in the gardens.

Given my experience with my now adult sons, I figured these exuberant youngsters would probably not remember the day. However, as they explored the area, they were receiving something just as good if not better than a memory—joy, laughter, wonder, curiosity, and adventure.

Children rarely get what we expect from an experience. When my youngest was four, he went to George Washington’s birthplace with my mother and sister. On his return, I asked about his adventure i.e. his memories. He saw a horse poop. Big stuff for a preschooler—both literally and figuratively.

May God give us grace to choose moments over making memories.

Favorites, Parenting, Relationships

Do You Need a Mediator?*

June 13th, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

As my children aged, their sharing with us lessened and our need to understand them grew. Misunderstandings mounted from our lack of communication. They wanted freedoms we weren’t ready to give, and the resulting arguments wearied us.

How could we break barriers and truly listen? One son, a tween at the time, brought his teddy bear one evening as a mediator.

Teddy** had a disarming voice and a sweet way of saying Grandperson.

“Grandperson, Bob** is mad at you,” said Teddy.

“Why?” I asked.

“He thinks you are unfair.”

“How am I unfair?”

The conversation continued as we patiently listened to each other.

A friend tried this with her son and reported, “It works because you can’t fuss at teddy bears, and they don’t fuss back.”

I shared my experience with another friend. “It is not a new trick,” she said, “but I am always amazed that it works.”

Is this a gimmick? I don’t think so. I think it was a way of breaking bad communication patterns. Variety helped us listen carefully because talking through a teddy bear was unpredictable. And fun.

*Edited and republished for the sixth anniversary of 100words.

** pseudonyms

Book Recommendations, Parenting, Relationships

A Fresh Start: Gordon Korman

April 4th, 2026
Mollie T. Cox

Gordon Korman is one of my favorite authors. I binge read his books after I discovered them. (See here and here.) My friend Barb recently reminded me of my favorites, The Unteachables and Restart.

In the aftermath of celebrating Easter, The Unteachables and Restart would be good family read alouds for those ten and older. While not explicitly Christian, they explore two good questions: What does it mean to forgive and be forgiven? What does it mean to have the opportunity to start a new life?

In The Unteachables, teacher Zachery Kermit was shunned and relegated to the worst classrooms after an eighth-grader’s folly. Twenty-seven years later, Mr. Kermit’s former student repents, seeks to make amends, and be forgiven. His teacher resists while simultaneously helping his current students rise above injustices done to them.

In Restart, Chase has amnesia after falling off a roof. Why is his stepsister afraid of him. Why do classmates avoid him? As Chase’s memory returns, he is appalled he was a bully and wants to change.

Although the themes are serious, the creative plots and memorable characters entertain and lead to great discussions. Can we forgive the deep hurts inflicted on us and by us?