Addiction. We seem to hear more about it all the time. New forms of addiction. New addiction treatment options. Someone famous has been crushed by an addiction. This is what addiction is costing society. And on and on and on. Addiction is a serious issue that devastates countless lives. And Read more…
Your kids are about to be out of school for the summer. They may already be stricken with “spring fever,” and can’t wait to be out of school for a good long stretch. That’s cool. We’ve all been there. They should enjoy their summer break. I just want to challenge Read more…
Life gets tough. And busy. And distracting. And even discouraging. Right? While it may take many different forms from family to family, I love that our country continues to recognize a holiday that is all about giving thanks. Whether as individuals, families, organizations, communities, or nations – we are better Read more…
As parents, we should aim to inspire our kids whenever we can. It isn’t easy. It takes purposeful effort. It takes seizing the right moments. It often takes discipline. But our kids, from infants to teens, need our inspiration. And counting on their inspiration to come from teachers, coaches, and Read more…
Ever see the movie, Groundhog Day? It is a rather insightful story based on a very farfetched premise. Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is a local weatherman who is utterly miserable and discontented with his life. He basically thinks his job is beneath him, and that he should be further along Read more…
(Photos and collage compliments of Sandra “Sam” Morris, who embodied the spirit of this post as well as anyone I know, and who created this very photo collage as a loving welcome gift to me for my first office in Baton Rouge.) Of all the forms of hatred, violence, and Read more…
What is your favorite part of the Christmas season? I know there are significant elements of the holiday season that are irritating or even downright painful for some. But for many of us, there are so many special layers to the Christmas season. What’s your favorite? The food? The time Read more…
In my last post, I shared some ideas for helping make homework time a more peaceful and successful part of your family life. In reflecting upon the importance of academic success for our teens, it occurs to me that there are some key subjects in life of far greater importance Read more…
One of the most fundamental changes in parenting teens in our times is the lightning speed with which new technologies are embraced into and throughout their world. We are still working on how to handle emerging digital technologies and the always expanding world of social media for ourselves, so we Read more…
My family has officially reached that time where we have made the decision for our young adolescent son to have his own smartphone (after having his own tablet for gaming/YouTube only for a year or two). For as much as I have been helping other families navigate Read more…