You can’t see where you are going; you’ve lost your vision. Maybe you’ve lost your vision for your marriage. The road you were heading down with your spouse was suddenly engulfed by an affair, illness, cancer, or an addiction.  You once could see a bright future for your child, but the light has dimmed because of rebellion, drugs, or sickness.   So, what can you do?  First, pull over. Stop what you are doing for a...

School is coming to a close and that means some households will be child-free for the first time in 18 years.  For many moms, the Empty Nest Syndrome can be really difficult emotionally.  And moms who’ve invested all their time and energies into raising their children also face another challenge.  When the kids fly the coop, mom suddenly turns her affection and attention back to her husband, only to find that he’s...

Every mom desires to do her job well. But how can a mom know she’s doing it right?  And with all of the parenting options out there, how can a mother feel confident with her choices? The answer lies in a new book, The Passionate Mom, written by my wife Susan. The book shows mothers what they can start doing today to turn their passion for their children into a plan to protect them and provide them a promising...

It seems like everything we hear today links strength with independence… it’s the American way, right?  Well, independence is great if you’re talking about things like freedom and finances, but not when it comes to family relationships. There’s only one independent Being in the universe and it is not you or me!  We are made to be dependent.  A child should depend on, and live under, the authority of his mother and...

Well, actually the concept of “stranger” can be confusing to children, so instead, teach them to recognize unsafe situations. Warn against adults who might stop to ask for directions or help in finding a lost pet. Tell your children never to go anywhere with an adult who doesn’t know the family password. Teach your children that it’s OK to run away or cause a loud scene if they feel someone might be dangerous....

The other day, my son tried on my reading glasses.  “Wow!” he said, “I can see really good up close, but far away—it’s blurry.”  That made me think … all children, whether they need glasses or not, are “near-sighted.”  Like my son, they only see what’s up close… what’s happening today at school or tonight after dinner.  Stuff in the distance —college, marriage, career—that’s more fuzzy and out of focus.  Parents...

Well, for a flame to exist, you have to have fuel.  You know those old pictures you have tucked away… the love letters you’ve saved… the texts you exchange… the seemingly harmless flirtations on Facebook.  These are the fuel that—given a spark—might just become a raging inferno.  So, the first step to extinguish an old flame is to get rid of the fuel source.  Throw out the reminders, get rid of the pictures of...