The temperature… a little warmer, the grass… a little greener. The crack of the bat is in the air.  It’s that time of year again – Opening Day of baseball. Guys, remember when you were a child and you played in your first Little League game? Now, you’re grown-up. But just for today, you can relive your childhood dream of hitting that grand slam… and you can do it with your children. Take your kids to a game at the...

Giving teens room to grow while guarding them is a balancing act. But there are some things you simply must know about your teen’s friends. First, get to know them. Learn more about their friends by having them over to your house. You'll learn a lot through casual conversation. Second, get to know their parents. Introduce yourself to them and try to discern whether they have the same parenting mind-set.  Third,...

Just like anything else in life, parenting will bring out strengths and weaknesses in you.  For example, you may be great at spending tons of time with your kids, yet struggle to communicate well with them.  So, to help you honestly evaluate your relationship with your child, here are 15 questions to ask them.  First, ask your child, “How do you know I love you?”  Next, ask, “Do I spend enough time with you?”...

Over the last few years, I’ve watched all 5 of my kids grow up and head out into the world.  Though I can’t be with them as they journey into life after high school, I worked hard to prepare them.  Be sure to share these life skills for teens with them if they’re about to leave the nest.  First, make sure they know some basic cooking skills.  They’ll be much better off knowing how to prepare a few simple, healthy...

It’s important for every parent to know the fundamentals of discipline.  One of the fundamentals is unified discipline. You need to agree on how you will discipline your children—ahead of time.  If a new situation arises, talk privately first and come to agreement with your spouse—before you approach your children.  Show your kids you’re unified, it’s easier for you, and much better for them.  If you have more...

Graduation is a whirlwind.  As for my kids, there have been 5 gowns worn, 5 caps thrown into the air, and 5 high school diplomas received.  At each graduation, we celebrated the closing of a chapter, and also celebrated the start of a new chapter: college.  As your teen prepares to head off to college, here are the ABC’s of college wisdom to share with them. “A” stands for Academics. School is a top priority.  A...

Every child faces pressure from peers.  While some of those pressures can be harmless, or even positive, there are a number of negative peer pressures that your child will face over time—being offered drugs, or being encouraged to sneak out of the house with a boyfriend or girlfriend.  To help your child avoid serious consequences, here are 3 C’s to guide your child through peer pressure.  First, communicate. ...