If you were to take just 30 minutes to interview your daughter’s potential date, you would be able to learn a lot about him, while setting clear expectations for him. Here are a few key steps to consider: First, have your daughter prepared to tell any guy that asks her out to call you first before answering him. This makes you her first line of defense. And it sets up the interview itself. But it also allows you...

A recent study from my alma mater, the University of Florida, revealed that major childhood stresses—like divorce, exposure to substance abuse, and economic hardship—have an almost immediate negative impact on a child’s health.  So, what can you do? First, protect your child from the stress of divorce. Sometimes divorce is beyond the control of a spouse. However, there are times when couples all too quickly buy...

If you’re a father, being a dad is your most important job. And in that job, it’s important to have a job description that spells out what is required of you. So, here are some essentials to being a successful dad. First, spend quantity time with your kids. How you spend your time is a reflection of what’s important to you. You value your kids by being with them, making memories that will last a lifetime.  Second,...

Webster’s Dictionary says a legacy is “something handed down from one who has gone before.”  Fathers, we will eventually be that “one who has gone before”—we will leave a legacy…good or bad and how we live will influence our children and descendants for generations. Sure what you say to your kids is important, but what they see in you is equally important. So be a man of character, conviction, and passion. As...

The old saying goes that girls often choose husbands who are like their dads.  How does that sit with you?  Our girls are watching us for an example of what to expect from their future spouse.  Are you kind to your wife?  Do you encourage her?  What about your daughter… do you hug her and tell her you love her?  Are you there when she needs you?  If you aren’t, it’s not too late to change.  Sit down with your...

There will come a time in every man’s life when he finds himself in a season when he feels like failure.  It’s a time when you seem to continually mess up at work, in your marriage, and as a parent.  But it’s important to keep in mind that struggles put you in a great position to grow and move forward.  Here are 5 ways dads can turn failure into success.  First, you must learn that parenting is a team sport. ...

Being a father is the most important job you’ll ever have. So let’s check out 3 ways to succeed in your role as a dad. First, pour your energy into your work life and your home life. Second, be sure to connect with your kids. Connecting with your kids on a daily basis could be as simple as asking about their day, going for a bike ride together or sitting down for a family dinner. Third, be sure to make parenting a...