There will be times when you will miss a big moments in your kids’ lives—moments like their game, their school play, or even their piano recital. And whether missing these big moments is intentional or not, it still damages your relationship with your child. So here are 3 A’s to recovering when you miss a big moment with your child. First, be aware. Notice when your child is upset with you by staying tuned into...

I have a hard time with clichés. Something sounds good so people start saying it over and over. And while they’re usually shared with good intentions, the problem remains that many clichés are skewed truth. So here are some common false pieces of wisdom you should not teach your kids. First, don’t teach them that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” There are a lot of things that may not kill you, but can...

Speed bumps on the road are designed to slow us down. In the same way, as we speed through life, there are natural speed bumps that tell us that we need to slow down, take notice and focus on our relationships with others…especially our kids. Here are a couple of bumps we should be on the lookout for. First, there’s often a speed bump when our kids hit puberty. As their bodies and minds change, we must slow down...

My wife, Susan, and I believe it’s important for us to invest in the relationship with any young ladies our sons are dating. Here are some ideas to help get you started. First, have her over for dinner. Time around the table is a great relationship builder. Second, have a game night with her and your son. Ask her what her most, or least, favorite games are to play and you’ll learn a lot about her. Games reveal a...

Growing up is a challenge. And one of the biggest factors that can add to a difficult childhood is bullying. Bullying is a hardship that must not be dismissed as either expected or unimportant. That’s why it’s critical that you understand the signs of bullying. One sign your child might be getting bullied is if they begin faking an illness in the morning. It may be their way of trying to avoid school and bullies....

My wife, Susan, and I are advocates for interviewing your daughter’s date, but we also see the importance of building a relationship with your son’s dates too. There are several reasons. First, you are showing the girl that your family cares about each other. While it might seem intimidating, she should understand that family comes first. If she’s the right “dating material,” she’ll appreciate that.  If she...

As parents, it is our duty to keep an eye on our kids. That includes looking for any danger signs you might see as they travel through those young years. Here are some warning signs that your child may be headed for trouble and solutions to lead them back on the right road. First, your child may be headed for trouble when they have excessive mood swings. If they’re going from extreme highs to extreme lows, instead...