Every year, Hollywood entices our kids with a flood of new films designed for their consumption.  But, just like their favorite foods at the grocery store, not everything made for them is good for them.  With so many movies being released, it’s tough to sort out the good from the bad.   Well, we can help.  Check out our movie monitor.  There you can see if the release of Monsters University or The Smurfs 2 is...

One mom I know asked her four-year-old to tell her his favorite things about their recent trip. She wrote down his answers and put them in their vacation scrapbook. A dad uses his smartphone to make short videos of his kids that he uploads to YouTube for friends and family to view. Another parent uses a digital camera to catch candid moments throughout the summer, then they take the pictures and make a slide show...

Sure, technology can be tough on relationships. Just ask the wife whose husband's cell phone is glued to his ear. The husband who can't get his wife off the keyboard. Technology has downsides and upsides. With three daughters in college or working and two teen boys at home, I've tried to turn this relational foe into a relational friend. Here's how. First, I send a good-night text to my girls almost every...

We've powered up our laptops, phones and video games. We've powered down family meals, drive-time conversations and date nights with our spouse. We've increased tech and decreased touch. What can we do about it? Just remember these four R's. First, Recognize that you can control technology. Second, Remember that your children will learn more from your online actions than your offline words. Third, Require...

Honor them! Whether you're 5 or 50, you should honor your mother and father. How? First, pick up the phone tonight and tell them that you are thankful for the good things they did for you growing up. Second, realize that it's never too late to apologize, or forgive. Third, make it a point to enjoy their company whenever you have the opportunity. Invite them over for dinner and serve them for a change. ...

First, focus on the other person…open your posture, look them in the eyes, give them encouraging nods and acknowledging words. Second, summarize what they are saying. You might say something like, "So, what I hear you saying is such and such." Third, ask open-ended questions. Not questions that solicit just a yes or no answer. And don't use the word "why"... "why can't you…" "why didn't you…" "why aren't...

Your email has a feature that sends out a quick response to whoever's trying to contact you. That's fine for emails, but many of us carry that auto-reply mode into our daily conversations. Your kids ask you to play with them after work. Your auto reply is, "Not right now." Your spouse asks you to help with something around the house, without missing a beat, you reply, "I'm busy now. I'll do it later." Well,...