As an expert in working with adolescents, people often look to me as an expert in understanding youth culture today. I do what I can to stay “up” on the key dynamics that are happening throughout “youth culture” in our country and our region. Sometimes this is fun and entertaining. Read more…
Training our kids to live according to the compass of Reality is difficult. It is NOT the path of least resistance, to be sure! It is the nature of kids of all ages, and particularly teens, to fight against the compass of Reality and cling to the compass of Fantasy. Read more…
1. Expect your kids to grow to be approximately as healthy, responsible, and emotionally mature as you are. This is not a guarantee, but it is very likely. 2. Be a facilitator of pain in your children’s lives. We’re not talking about cruelty or abuse here. Let’s be clear on Read more…
Thanks to David Dixon of Smart Parenting (via Twitter) for bringing this short, very practical article to my attention. I have long encouraged parents to be very pro-active in engaging television and other electronic entertainment with their children. In fact, this was the topic of my doctoral dissertation – long Read more…
I recently referred to teens and tweens in a Twitter post, and promised a forthcoming blog post on why I hate the term “Tweens.” Here it is. If you are easily offended, you might want to stop reading now. If you think it is cute to pose your pre-teens as Read more…
Parents, if your child has a cell-phone, or if you are thinking of allowing your child to have a cell-phone – you really need to be aware of the power of this electronic portal. You may think, “But, it’s just a cell-phone. What’s the big deal?” Let me assure you, Read more…
“Unmerited favor.” For some reason, I remember that being the classic simple definition of grace I have heard over the years of my religious experience. I would always smile and nod, and offer my intellectual agreement with this two word explanation. But truthfully, “unmerited favor” just doesn’t connect with me Read more…
I became a fan of the Latin phrase for “Seize the Day” after becoming a huge fan of the movie, Dead Poets Society, when I was in high school. In fact, on my first date with the stunning gal who would eventually become my wife, I wore a t-shirt that Read more…
Whether or not we are aware or intentional about it, we hit where we aim. In all of life. We may be looking somewhere else, thinking we are aiming there, but we will always hit where we are aiming. Where are you aiming your family time this summer? You will Read more…
Just a quick word for you, and this word comes straight from The Word. Whether we are talking about our economic situation, raising children, or career advancement, there is one ingredient that will do us so much good – if we will respond well to it. But, oh, how we Read more…