There's a controversial new television show called Bleep my Dad Says. It's based on the colorful and irreverent exchanges between a father and his son. What began as a Twitter feed became a book, and now a syndicated sit-com, of profanity-laced life-lessons. Your children WILL repeat what you say, good and bad. So be mindful of your conversations, not only when you talk to them, but also with others. Will you...

It's tough to stay in touch with your kids when you spend most of your time at work… and they spend most of their time in the classroom. One family handles it this way: When the kids get home from school, the first thing they do—even before they head to the refrigerator—is call their father. It's not just a once-in-a-while thing. Dad puts it on his calendar… and sets that time aside every day, so he'll be free...

In 1909, Sonora Dodd created the concept of Fathers' Day to celebrate the many sacrifices her father had made to preserve his family after her mother had died. She described her father as a selfless, courageous and loving man. Today, more than 100 Fathers' Days later, more than 24 million children in America live in fatherless homes. The absence of fathers from their children's lives has led to poverty, low...

The old saying goes that girls often choose husbands who are like their dads. How does that sit with you? Our girls are watching us for an example of what to expect from their future spouse. Are you kind to your wife? Do you encourage her? What about your daughter… do you hug her and tell her you love her? Are you there when she needs you? If you aren't, it's not too late to change. Sit down with your...

My kids have taught me a lot of things…and I can tell you, it's a very humbling experience. One thing that they've shown me over and over again is my lack of patience. For example, my impatience with the grocery store cashier during check out, or the waitress at a restaurant, and my impatience driving them to school. You get the picture! It's kind of embarrassing to admit. When they point out my impatience...

The teachers I know tell me it's being an involved parent. Teachers invest a lot of their life into your child. They spend countless hours preparing lessons, grading papers and pouring knowledge into the minds of the children in their care. In most cases, the only time they hear from a parent is when something goes wrong. So if you really want to show your appreciation, be a present parent. Get involved in...

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,...