Parents are smart to exercise discernment before stepping into a difficult circumstance their child faces. Failure is part of life. We adults get that — and we probably have grown tremendously because of a setback or two. Many of us might even say, “I appreciate some of the difficult things that have come my way because […]
Let’s not steer our children away from ‘hard things’ Read More »
Many thanks to Joseph Gagliano and Pat McCalla for inviting me to appear on “No Grey Areas,” a motivational podcast focused on helping people understand how our choices “humanize, empower and define who we become.” You can tap into some fantastic resources and learn more about the truth of Joseph’s story — and one of
Podcast: Why it’s important to let your kids fail Read More »
We dads play a crucial role in shaping our children’s lives, and the bad habits we live out every day, especially ones we aren’t aware of, can negatively impact them in many ways. Children learn by observing and imitating the adults around them, especially their fathers. If a dad exhibits habits, such as anger, pessimism, or
Habits you may not realize are negatively impacting your children Read More »
Children are a gift, and many of us feel that way. However, life has a tendency to give our children different messages that can leave them questioning who they really are. As parents, we get the privilege of speaking into this and turning back the wave of discouragement that can sometimes drown them — and
How to make your child feel valued and important Read More »
Raising resilient kids is like nurturing little oak trees amid life’s storms. It’s about teaching them to bend without breaking and to weather adversity with courage and grace. We cultivate resilience by allowing them to stumble and fall, knowing they have the strength to rise again. It’s in fostering a sense of optimism and in
My nephew was a very young boy when he blurted out some colorful language at an appropriate time. The salty expression fit the moment, but he should have expressed his sentiments differently. His parents were clearly embarrassed as one stammered, “Where did you learn that?” Without hesitation, my nephew simply said, “Dad.” Sometimes we parents
Why do you coach? I have come to realize that not many coaches ask this question of themselves before stepping into this role. Most of the time, a person coaches because their child is on the team, and their consideration of this commitment goes something like this: the team needs a coach, my kid is
Recently, I was working with some dads, offering some practical wisdom on raising truly great kids. In preparation for my talk with them, I was studying four types of “hearts” that I ran across from an “Dad” expert, and I thought they would resonate with my audience. These four virtues come from developing in your
Conflicts between parent and child are bound to happen, and they often require a parent to correct their child. This can be uncomfortable and difficult. As a former school administrator, I have seen too many times when parents choose to skip the correcting part because they don’t want the challenges that come with accountability. Peace
We are not always fully aware of what we do intentionally and unintentionally to shape our children. Working in education for thirty-five years, I have run across too many young people who have been wounded and who struggle to find passion to pursue their dreams and be all they can be. I can’t believe the
