You may remember watching Kevin McCallister’s pranks and adventures in the movie when he is accidentally left  “Home Alone.”  And while most situations aren’t nearly so extreme, leaving your child home alone for the first time is still a huge step that requires much thought and consideration.  Things like age, maturity, and behavior should factor into your decision.  Another factor that must be considered is your...

"Life Hacks” are clever tips and tricks that can be used to solve an everyday problem a person may be facing. So to help make your job as a husband a little easier, here are some life hacks for husbands.  First, check out the Love Your Wife Well Life Hack.  It includes love actions to show your spouse—things like writing notes, planning a great date, and making the bed for your wife.  Next, check out the Watch...

I think of moral margin as creating an extra amount of space between us and immorality—immoral thinking and immoral actions. Here 6 ways to create moral margin in your life. First, build a relationship with a “personal auditor.” Just as a financial auditor would do a complete examination of financial records, your “personal auditor” would be given authority by you to ask you questions about your life and your...

Every child longs for encouragement from their mom and dad.  It’s what they strive for, and what they thrive on.  Giving your child compliments is one way to encourage them.  Compliments also build confidence.  Here are 10 specific compliments to give your kids.  First, compliment character.  Our world needs more men and women of good character.  So when you see your child act with integrity, humility or courage,...

When you look at a tombstone, you see a name, something nice about the person, the year they were born and the year they died…and a small dash in between. The dash…it’s what we do between the time we’re born and the time we die…that’s what’s most important. It’s critical because the dash is your identity…it’s who you are—husband, wife, mom, dad.  The dash is your influence…it’s how you touch the lives of others. ...

When our boys were young, we built a tree house together. I learned some important parenting principles from building that tree house.  Here are four of them. First, it takes time.  Just as it takes time to make a plan, gather tools and construct the tree house, it also takes time to plan and make memories with your kids.  Second, it requires a firm foundation.  A tree house needs to rest on a sturdy foundation....

You may have heard me say…your kids spell love T-I-M-E.  And spending one-on-one time with them individually is a critically important way to communicate love.  Great conversations can happen while you’re folding clothes or cooking a meal together.  When you’re driving them to an after school activity, turn down the radio and strike up some conversation.  Or get out of town for an overnight trip.  Your time alone...