That's a question children hear all the time. And we enjoy hearing their answers…a doctor, a teacher, a fireman, a ballerina. But what if the question was not about what they wanted to do for a living but who they wanted to be as a person? Less about career and more about character. Imagine your child answering, "I want to be a person of integrity…of wisdom…of courage and conviction. I want to be...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
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,...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
Let's face it—we live in a world of instant gratification. We want it all, and we want it now. We're a nation of express lanes, fast food, texts and tweets. But it's a problem when we impose those same expectations on people. We want instant acceptance from our peers, instant response from our colleagues, instant help from our spouse—regardless of the circumstances. And when we don't get the immediate response we...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
Our kids are constantly evaluated on their abilities at school, in sports, in the arts and even at home. But what about you? What grade would your kids give you as a parent? Well, here's a way to make an A every time. Remember the 6 A's of parenting. First is Affirmation. When your children are sharing their feelings or opinions, they want you to listen to them, identify with them and affirm them. Second is...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
Fall "sweeps" month begins today, and that means TV shows will resort to more sensational programming to boost their ratings and advertising dollars. So be prepared for even more sex, violence and vulgar language than usual for the next 30 days. While there isn't much you can do about what's on TV, there's a lot you can do about how much you'll allow into your home. Why not consider skipping TV for awhile, and...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
Practically everything you purchase these days comes in a protective shell. The covering is designed to keep out dust and dirt, and to protect the contents from damage. Many of us parent the same way. We wrap our children up to protect them…we want to keep them isolated from harm and potential hurt. We have car seats, bumper guards, and baby wipes. As they grow, we try to keep them from bad influences and...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
It's tough. In a "me" focused world, getting your kids to focus on others is challenging. So, how do you do it? Well, last night, we took a shot at it…with a little coercion…we got our teens together. We assembled some "manna" or food bags for the homeless and hungry. We filled large zip lock bags with non-perishable items like granola bars, beef jerky, peanuts, fruit cups, and vegetable juice. Now, when we're out...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
