Every child faces challenges growing up. But culturally, certain childhood challenges come with a greater social stigma. Here are 3 ways your child may be silently struggling and how to support them. First, statistics show that 1 in 10 young people suffer from mental disorders like anxiety, depression, and ADHD. If your child suffers in this way, talk openly with them about it. Create an environment to help them...

We like to think that kids have it easy—that their lives consist of nothing more than good, old-fashioned fun. But that couldn’t be further from the truth because each day your child faces huge amounts of pressure. They’re pressured to get perfect grades and be accepted into a good college. They’re pressured to “fit in.”  They’re pressured to have sex. They’re pressured to use drugs and drink alcohol.  They’re...

As families become busier, I notice fewer kids doing chores. Instead, professionals are hired to care for our lawns, wash our cars, hang our Christmas lights, and clean our houses. And while that’s understandable and sometimes necessary, releasing our kids from all work at home can deprive them of a good work ethic. So I challenge you to teach your children to work hard by doing these things. First, create...

When your kids talk back, the last thing you want to do is engage in a verbal tug of war. Instead, it’s best to have wise words prepared for some of the most common ways that kids talk back. For example, when your child says, “That’s not fair,” respond with, “Being fair doesn’t mean treating you the same way I treat others. Let’s do what’s right for you and everyone involved.” When your kids say, “Everyone else...

Most job descriptions just cover general areas of responsibility. Few job descriptions actually capture what a typical workday is really like. So, I'd like to take a stab at a real dad job description that every father needs to know. A dad must be a Cheerleader. He will strive to be present at and loudly cheer during sports, music, dance, and other performances. A dad must be an Energy Conservationist. He will...

Each day we have a choice to make. We can choose to be joyful around our kids or we can choose to be joy-less. We can choose to make our kids smile when we walk in the room or make our kids cringe. Even though every moment can’t be perfect, I hope you’ll have more moments of joy in your life as a mom. Here’s some advice to get you started. First, smile at your kids. Send the message you are happy to be their mom....

As my daughters went through high school, I was very intentional about talking to them about their relationships with young men. I also made it a point to interview each of their dates. Why interview your daughter’s date? First, you are showing your daughter that you value her and that you expect other men to value her too. Second, you are showing the young man how much you value your daughter. Third, you are...