• Books
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Kari
  • Speaking
  • Video & Press
  • Kari’s Viral Posts
  • Columns
  • Connect

Get Kari’s posts by email:

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Sitemap

  • HOME
  • ABOUT ME
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
  • FICTION
    • Reader Reviews
    • First Chapter of Candy Apple
  • CONTACT
  • Kari Kampakis, Writer

    13 hours ago

    Kari Kampakis, Writer
    We all want good friends, yet one big problem in friendship today is expecting perfection.Just as we expect perfection of ourselves, we often expect it from those around us. And when they slip, we get stingy with grace.Pope Francis has defined modern society as a “throwaway culture” marked by disposable relationships. We are quick to say good-bye. Many relationships today have very little loyalty, and it’s no surprise why people get clingy and insecure.Expecting perfection makes it easy to write people off. While relationships certainly need standards of kindness, respect, and consistency, they also need grace and forgiveness. Any relationship that lasts long enough will have highs and lows, and learning to hang in there when conflicts arise helps keep things afloat.This is how relationships survive - and how friendships go the distance for 20 years or more.A mentor for teen girls tells them, “You’ve got to give your friends room to have a bad day. We all get moody and grumpy sometimes, and you have to create space for your friends to be themselves.”That’s the friend we all want in our corner - and therefore the friend we should strive to be🤍For more inspiration, join Kari Kampakis, Writer, and check out Kari’s bestselling books: #morethanamom —> amzn.to/3ytEDiE#loveherwell —> amzn.to/2EtDBFX#10truths —> amzn.to/2niGdf9#likedbook —> bit.ly/3ow245h#friendship #forgiveness #raisinggirls #sistersoftheheart ... See MoreSee Less

    Photo

    View on Facebook
    · Share

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

    Kari Kampakis, Writer is at St. Michael Catholic School - Houston, Texas.

    1 day ago

    Kari Kampakis, Writer
    Well, that was fun! A quick trip to Houston to speak to mothers about #morethanamombook and to middle school girls about friendship. In my first visit to this city, I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I was blown away by the hospitality of so many women who quickly felt like friends I could transport back to Birmingham. Truly, I meet the best people through my work, and this trip was no exception. A huge thank you to Kim Sellers and Marissa Underbrink for leading the book study that led to this visit, to Kathleen Cox and St. Michael Catholic School for graciously hosting me, to Kristin Sartelle for helping take care of me, and to the lovely ladies who welcomed me with open arms yesterday and this morning. Since my mom was a Texas native, Texas has a special place in our family’s heart, and I will always treasure this memory that reminded me of her roots❤️#motherhood #momwellness #morethanamombook #loveherwellbook #parenting #Christianparenting #10truths #likedbook #houston #texas #speakingevents ... See MoreSee Less

    Photo

    View on Facebook
    · Share

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

    Kari Kampakis, Writer

    4 days ago

    Kari Kampakis, Writer
    6th grade dance for my baby girl, Camille, to ring in the last week of elementary school for her class (and our family🥲) It’s been a great ride, and I’ll be teary this week as they graduate from this sweet season at Mountain Brook Elementary, which will forever hold a special place in my heart!Shout-out to all the moms who worked hard behind the scenes to make this dance special, especially my co-chair Sumner Rives and our balloon arch queen Peyton Russell. With a small army of moms, Peyton took a picture that Camille found and brought it to life. It was a labor of love with lots of funny backstory memories, and I just want to say kudos to every momma pouring into your own labor of love during this crazy May-cember!! Only a mom can appreciate the time, effort, and glitches that go into these things we do to celebrate our kids and their classmates. The world is more beautiful and events are more meaningful because of you💚🤍💛 ... See MoreSee Less

    Photo

    View on Facebook
    · Share

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

    Kari Kampakis, Writer

    5 days ago

    Kari Kampakis, Writer
    Moms of girls: This episode of Storytellers Live episode is mom gold. It will encourage you, enlighten you, and help you trust God when your teenage daughter is hurt by friends (the #1 issue I get emails about). I love Melanie Shankle -The Big Mama Blog, and the way she tells her story - with honesty, wisdom, and the perspective of seeing prayers answered after a 3-year wait as her daughter thrives in college - makes this story rich and thought-provoking. I’ve always valued my friends, and I will never tell my daughters “Girls are mean!” because that’s not 100% true, and believing that gender stereotype prevents girls from ever finding real friends. The reality, however, is that some girls (and boys) in our world today are very mean. For reasons we may never know, and can certainly pray for, they start rumors, speak callously, and seem to have no conscience about it, and for parents, it’s a struggle to navigate. What do you do when the harassment continues after your child has tried to work things out? At what point do you tell her to be assertive and stand up for herself? Melanie covers it all, with grace and a rational mind, and knowing what I know about how deeply Melanie values her friendships (she even wrote a book about her best friend Gulley!) and how she wants the same for her daughter, she’s the perfect person to tell this story.Thank you Melanie and Caroline for sharing a story that will give hope to so many families. Also, if you’re not familiar with Melanie‘s work yet, I highly recommend all her books and The Big Boo Cast podcast she hosts with Sophie Hudson. Both Melanie and Sophie are hysterical, and If you don’t already follow them, you’ll love them both and quickly feel like their BFF!!Find the link to Melanie’s episode on Storytellers Live in my link above. Even if your daughter has great friends, you’ll take away lots of wisdom of what real friendship does (and doesn’t) look like🤍 ... See MoreSee Less

    ‎StoryTellers Live: The Parenting Struggle - Melanie Shankle Story :: [Episode 177] on Apple Podcasts

    podcasts.apple.com

    ‎Show StoryTellers Live, Ep The Parenting Struggle - Melanie Shankle Story :: [Episode 177] - Mar 2, 2022
    View on Facebook
    · Share

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

    Kari Kampakis, Writer

    7 days ago

    Kari Kampakis, Writer
    The hardest part of love? Learning to forgive🤍For more inspiration, join Kari Kampakis, Writer, and check out Kari’s bestselling books: #morethanamom —> amzn.to/3ytEDiE#loveherwell —> amzn.to/2EtDBFX#10truths —> amzn.to/2niGdf9#likedbook —> bit.ly/3ow245h ... See MoreSee Less

    Photo

    View on Facebook
    · Share

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

  • My Tweets
  • Kari on Instagram

    We all want good friends, yet one big problem in f We all want good friends, yet one big problem in friendship today is expecting perfection.

Just as we expect perfection of ourselves, we often expect it from those around us. And when they slip, we get stingy with grace.

Pope Francis has defined modern society as a “throwaway culture” marked by disposable relationships. We are quick to say good-bye. Many relationships today have very little loyalty, and it’s no surprise why people get clingy and insecure.

Expecting perfection makes it easy to write people off. While relationships certainly need standards of kindness, respect, and consistency, they also need grace and forgiveness. Any relationship that lasts long enough will have highs and lows, and learning to hang in there when conflicts arise helps keep things afloat.

This is how relationships survive - and how friendships go the distance for 20 years or more.

A mentor for teen girls tells them, “You’ve got to give your friends room to have a bad day. We all get moody and grumpy sometimes, and you have to create space for your friends to be themselves.”

That’s the friend we all want in our corner - and therefore the friend we should strive to be🤍

#friendship #forgiveness #raisinggirls #sistersoftheheart
    Well, that was fun! A quick trip to Houston to spe Well, that was fun! A quick trip to Houston to speak to mothers about #morethanamombook and to middle school girls about friendship. In my first visit to this city, I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I was blown away by the hospitality of so many women who quickly felt like friends I could transport back to Birmingham. Truly, I meet the best people through my work, and this trip was no exception!

A huge thank you to Kim Sellers and Marissa Underbrink for leading the book study that led to this visit, to Kathleen Cox and St. Michael Catholic School for graciously hosting me, to Kristin Sartelle for helping take care of me, and to the lovely ladies who welcomed me with open arms yesterday and this morning. Since my mom was a Texas native, Texas has a special place in our family’s heart, and I will always treasure this memory that reminded me of her roots❤️

#motherhood #momwellness  #morethanamombook #loveherwellbook #parenting #Christianparenting #10truths #likedbook #houston #texas #speakingevents #authorsofinstagram
    I love these girls! And it was so much fun watchin I love these girls! And it was so much fun watching them & their classmates ring in their last week of elementary school last night at the MBE 6th grade dance. It’s been a great ride, and I’ll be teary this week as they graduate from this sweet season of life. Shout-out to all the moms who worked hard behind the scenes to make this dance special, especially @sumnerrives, party planner extraordinaire 🎉, and our balloon arch queen @peytonrussell, who took a picture Camille found and brought it to life. It was a labor of love and with the help of Aimee Reese, Libby House, Heather Siebert, Destin Crosby, and Leigh Ann Fleming, Peyton created this showstopper with lots of funny backstory memories. Mommas get it done, and kudos to every momma pouring into your own labor of love during this crazy May-cember to celebrate your kids and their classmates. The world is more beautiful and events are more meaningful because of you💚🤍💛
    Moms of girls: This episode of Storytellers Live e Moms of girls: This episode of Storytellers Live episode is mom gold. It will encourage you, enlighten you, and help you trust God when your teenage daughter is hurt by friends (the #1 issue I get emails about). 

I love Melanie Shankle, and the way she tells her story - with honesty, wisdom, and the perspective of seeing prayers answered after a 3-year wait as her daughter thrives in college - makes this story rich and thought-provoking. 

I’ve always valued my friends, and I will never tell my daughters “Girls are mean!” because that’s not 100% true, and believing that gender stereotype prevents girls from ever finding real friends. The reality, however, is that some girls (and boys) in our world today are very mean. For reasons we may never know, and can certainly pray for, they start rumors, speak callously, and seem to have no conscience about it, and for parents, it’s a struggle to navigate. 

What do you do when the harassment continues after your child has tried to work things out? At what point do you tell her to be assertive and stand up for herself? Melanie covers it all, with grace and a rational mind, and knowing what I know about how deeply Melanie values her friendships (she even wrote a book about her best friend Gulley!) and how she wants the same for her daughter, she’s the perfect person to tell this story.

Thank you @melanieshankle and Caroline for sharing a story that will give hope to so many families. Also, if you’re not familiar with Melanie‘s work yet, I highly recommend all her books and The Big Boo Cast podcast she hosts with @boomama205. Both Melanie and Sophie are hysterical, and If you don’t already follow them, you’ll love them both and quickly feel like their BFF!!

Find the link to Melanie’s episode on Storytellers Live in my link above. Even if your daughter has great friends, you’ll take away lots of wisdom of what real friendship does (and doesn’t) look like🤍
    Congrats to Marie Claire, All-A honor roll. Proud Congrats to Marie Claire, All-A honor roll. Proud of our girl because she works hard!❤️ #9thgradehonorsnight
    The hardest part of love? Learning to forgive🤍 The hardest part of love? Learning to forgive🤍
    Sometimes we forget this, right? We forget that lo Sometimes we forget this, right? We forget that love doesn’t always feel good - and that the teenage brain is only 80% developed, and our job as parents to fill in that 20% gap until their brains can take over. 

(Especially since the last part to develop, the pre-frontal cortex,  is their center of reasoning and impulse control. Even the best minds aren’t firing on all cylinders!)

Love wants what is best for your teenager long-term. Love teaches them how to stand on their own two feet and handle life (and freedom) without you. In an age of parenting when we can farm out practically anything - enlisting the help of tutors, counselors, ACT coaches, college advisers, athletic trainers, party planners, even Uber drivers - our initial response to a need is often, “Who can I call for help?” While outside expertise is sometimes needed, there are many parts of parenting we can’t afford to outsource. Your teenager only has one mother, and if you don’t parent them, who will? Who on earth cares as much about their future and long-term health as you?
 
I often think of who I hope my daughters will be at age 40, and I work backward to ask, “What can I do today to cultivate those qualities?” I remember these words from youth pastor Cameron Cole: “We aren’t parenting for our 16- year-old to like us. We’re parenting for our 40-year-old to respect us.” A child’s opinion of a parent evolves over time, and only with a mature mindset will they understand many past decisions.  While many teens won’t need extreme measures, there are times (like when lives are at risk, or they’re going off the rails) when they need to know their parents mean business. There are times that call for tough love.
 
I can’t promise that your teenager will sing your praises one day or apologize for giving you grief. But I can tell you that listening to God brings peace, and that shaping a child’s heart is a long and humbling journey. Sometimes love means setting boundaries, making hard calls, and taking away privileges. Sometimes love means being a strong, steady parent who a mature-minded adult can respect and understand. 

#loveherwellbook #morethanamombook #parentingteens
    Happy 50th birthday to my BFF from college! One th Happy 50th birthday to my BFF from college! One thing that makes it bearable as I watch my girls grow up is knowing they are meeting their “Rebeccas” - those lifelong sisters of the heart who know your entire backstory and will love you through 1000 ups and downs. They know the boys you dated before you met your husband, the parents & siblings who shaped you, your first boss, your first job interview, your childhood pet, your most embarrassing moments, your bravest moments, your dumbest mistakes, your biggest victories, the bad fashion choices you made, and all your dreams, fears, and life goals. When life feels like a roller coaster, they’re the steady force that keeps you grounded, makes you laugh like crazy, helps you grow up, and becomes your family away home. I could fill an encyclopedia with all the memories I have with this girl, but suffice it to say that God gave me the best gift in Rebecca and I’ll always be thankful for my 30+ year friendship with this loyal, kind, funny, compassionate, tender-hearted, wise, and fun-loving girl who is easy to love and celebrate. Rebecca, you are one-of-a-kind and adored by so many!! I hope you have the best day, and I can’t wait to celebrate with you soon and make lots of new memories in the years to come! Love you always, sweet friend!
    Move-in day, move-out day, and a few in between. T Move-in day, move-out day, and a few in between. Thanks for the memories Owen #105!🧡💙
    Load More... Follow on Instagram
  • ©2020 Kari Kampakis. All Rights Reserved.
    Designed and Built by DataPerk