Discipline. It’s never easy.
Are you the disciplinarian in your family? My guess is you have to be at some point in time. I seem to be the guy in my family. Almost every time I have to do something punitive to discipline, I [...]
Afterthoughts—they have it rough.
My wife and I have four kids. They’re thirty-three, thirty, twenty-nine, and sixteen. Yep, sixteen. Yes, we planned it. Not an afterthought at all. But, because she’s adopted, she thinks we love her brother and sisters more. Why? In her [...]
Kids love to fight. Do you?
I’m sure you’ve seen it. You’re in the mall, and there’s a family, and the kids are at each other’s throats. They’re teasing and hitting each other. You wonder, Why isn’t that mom doing something about it? Then, all of [...]
Are you a giver or a collector?
There are a few different kinds of people in this world. There are people who are super generous. And then, there are those who think the ones with the most toys in the end wins. Then, there’s everything in between. [...]
Are your kids struggling in school?
I’ve had it both ways in my family. One of my kids could have taught her Earth science class and was an amazing tutor in math, but another one of my kids struggled at every turn. Both kids raised the [...]
Don’t let your kids divide and conquer you.
Deep down, our kids really want Mom and Dad to be in love and on the same page. But, sometimes, they test us. They go to one or the other and complain about our spouses. Don’t get mad, though. Listen. [...]
Give gifts to our kids.
Kids are going to love this one, aren’t they? Jesus tells us parents, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts [...]
Do you expect good or bad things from your kids?
In your parenting, do you find yourself generally expecting your kids to behave poorly? Do you assume the worst? Or do you assume that they’ll do well and are actually surprised and saddened when they fail to do their best? [...]
Is it possible to have too many toys?
Remember the rich young ruler in the Bible? He asked Jesus, “What do I have to do to be saved?” Jesus was emphatic—He said, “Sell all your possessions and give to the poor and follow me.” Well, the rich young [...]
Are you keeping score?
Picture this. You get home from work. Your kids didn’t take care of the dishes, forgot to take their laundry to their room, and left crumbs in your La-Z-Boy. What?! They didn’t do their homework, either? Well, now you’re really ticked. [...]