There are many times when we must stand strong as parents and say “no” to our children, especially when something is not what’s best for them.  Because I often say “no” to my kids, I am always searching for more ways to say “yes.” So, every time one of my kids asks me to do something with them, I do my best to figure out how to make it happen even though it’s inconvenient or even though I had other plans.  When it...

Maybe you’ve had a bad day at the office, or you’re stressed about the bills. You’re grouchy, you’re ready to unload, and you let the words fly. You take out your frustration on your mate hoping they’ll take the bait. Well, there’s a better way to vent.  Instead of creating conflict, try these 3 ways to fight conflict in your marriage.  When you see your spouse, just say, "I’m cranky." They’ll ask why, and that’s...

In our search for new energy supplies, we are learning more about the value of our natural resources and how to harness and channel them in the right direction. Well, you have a very valuable "natural resource," and it's important that you T.A.P. into it. T stands for Take … take a personal inventory of your strengths and write them down. A is for Ask…ask people you trust what they see as your greatest abilities....

My wife, Susan, and I knew a couple…let's call them Sally and Greg. They were always so sweet and kind to each other…so affectionate and attentive. We always looked at their marriage and wondered why ours wasn't as wonderful. Well, shortly after we drooled over this dreamy relationship, they went through a terrible divorce. What seemed like a magical marriage publicly was actually a dreadful relationship...

In a study done by the University of North Carolina, underage children were able to buy cigarettes on the Internet in 76 out of 83 attempts. These kids were monitored by the researchers in the study. How closely do you monitor your own children’s use of the Internet? Do you know what your child types into Google’s search engine? What ground rules have you discussed, what safeguards do you have in place? Help your...

The list of "I wants" can go on and on. For kids it's, "I want that video game." "I want that scooter." For us, it's, "I want that car." "I want that couch." No matter what we have, there's always more. Henry David Thoreau said, "We make ourselves rich by making our wants few." Most of us already have what we need… it's just a matter of controlling what we want. So, the next time someone in your family wants to...

I know there are times when I've said things I wish I hadn't. This can be especially true for a parent who, in stressful times, tells his kids to "shut up" or a spouse who says harsh things to his mate – things he later regrets. You can't rewind and erase your words, so choose your words wisely. Here's how. First, in a heated moment, remember that silence is golden. You will never regret a harsh word you never...