You’ve probably noticed by now that each child is very unique.  And that means that you need to uniquely discipline them when they’ve disobeyed you. Each child responds to different forms of discipline.  Having said that, there are 4 foundational principles of discipline that always apply when you correct your child. First, be unified.  Make sure you and your spouse agree on how you’ll discipline your kids. ...

Of all the sports that make up the 2014 Winter Olympics, there is one that’s a lot like marriage: cross-country skiing.  So how can you learn to go for the gold in our marriage from this timeless sport?  First, you can learn to prepare for different terrains.  Some days you’ll glide freely in your marriage. Other days may feel relationally cold and icy.  Be prepared for these different terrains by having a...

For some it's gambling…for others it's pornography, overeating, or drinking too much. So, do you try to talk your way out of it? Do you get as close to it as you can without getting burned? Or, do you assume you're strong enough and keep putting yourself in tempting situations? Well, an ancient proverb says we need to flee from temptation. That’s right…physically remove ourselves from it. In other words, one of...

If you don’t maintain your car—change the oil, filter, check the points—on a regular basis, it may start clanking and sputtering.  If your spouse is making noises…if they’re negative, nagging, or flat out nasty, maybe it’s time to check under the hood.  When you do, you may find that neglect is the culprit…a husband who has neglected to listen to what his wife really needs, or a wife who has neglected her husband...

The day my daughter pulled away from holding my hand as I walked her into school surprised me. My little girl was growing up and holding my hand in public was a bit embarrassing to her.  That night, my wife gave me some wise advice on how to handle this season of life with my child. Here is some of that advice and 5 things to do when your kids don’t want to be with you.  First, don’t take it personally. ...

The average home has tens of thousands of dollars in debt, causing post holiday financial stresses that hurt marriages. If you want to sink your financial ship, start by completely ignoring your current obligations and keep adding on. No need to draw a line in the sand that says “we stop borrowing now.” You can also sink your ship by just getting another credit card and go shopping. Of course, no one wants to fail...

As one year ends and another begins, I’ve spent some time looking at which of my blogs in 2013 readers enjoyed the most. Many really liked the ones on parenting.  So, I decided to compile a list of the top parenting blogs from 2013 and share them with you.  First, thousands enjoyed the blog, “8 Things Every Father Must Teach His Son.”  “7 Notes You Should Write to Your Children” was really popular too. Our readers...