Is homework a painstaking chore?
Homework. I hated it when I was a kid, and I don’t like it much now, either. Especially math. Now, as a dad, I’ve always wanted my kids to know that I’m there for them any time they need my [...]
Do our kids do more laughing or crying?
There’s nothing more infectious than a 2-year-old laughing so hard they can hardly contain themselves. You’ve seen the videos on YouTube, right? I was speaking in a church recently, and outside the sanctuary was this little boy laughing hysterically. You [...]
How to teach boys to become men
What does a real man look like? There’s the Arnold Schwarzenegger type of character who blasts his way through challenges in life with raw guts, strength, and guns. Then there’s the touchy-feely-type of man—totally lacking in confidence, afraid to move [...]
They’re just going through a little stage.
It’s pretty tempting when our son or daughter isn’t behaving very well. What we really mean by that is that we’re hoping the problem will correct itself—it’s no big deal. We may not want to say that, though. These little [...]
Even good kids need God’s grace.
Do you have that “perfect” child? I don’t either. But, seriously, do you have that one who requires the absolute minimum of parental input? My oldest daughter was like that. She was a great student, responsible, and respectful. No matter how [...]
Do your kids practice?
My youngest daughter has always been a pretty good athlete. Just about everything she touched athletically, she was pretty good at. But, just like everything else, if you don’t practice—well, you know what happens. Anastasia was a natural basketball player, [...]
Don’t touch that personality!
We as parents need to influence the behavior and character traits of our kids. But personality, well, that’s different. For example, my youngest daughter—she is a planner. She’s got to know what’s going on. She also is a little sarcastic. [...]
Are you building or tearing down?
It seems like every family has at least one kid that’s a challenge. How did I handle it? Sometimes poorly. While the experts say it’s important to point out the positives in our kids, when you’re mad, it isn’t easy, [...]
Do your parents need parents?
As our parents head into the twilight of their lives, are you finding that you’re not just parenting your kids—but your parents, too? I have friends who are looking at caring for their mom and dad. If you’re considering it, [...]
The death of a friend or loved one can be devastating.
Mourning the loss of a close relative or friend can be really difficult. Even though it’s been more than 20 years, my wife still struggles with Valentine’s Day week. That’s when my mother-in-law passed away. While we know she’s with [...]