When my boys were young, I couldn’t imagine what they’d be like as men.  But before I knew it, they were growing up.  Learning to catch in the backyard turned into Friday night touchdowns.  The spelling bee turned into the SAT.  And chasing girls on the playground turned into looking at girls in their prom gown.  But before our boys become men, there are a few things we need to teach them.  First, teach him to be...

Every family has relationships and relatives that are difficult. Here are some tips on how to handle these guests in your home. Maybe you have a “Judgmental Judy.” Judy is the relative that is always telling everyone what someone else is doing wrong, usually behind their backs. Be ready to gently remind Judy that you're not going to listen to constant judgments about others. Or, maybe you’ve got a “Profane Paul.” ...

Discipline is an appropriate wake-up call for our kids when they continue to misbehave over and over. But being too harsh in our discipline can cause significant damage. So when harshness becomes the normal way you treat your kids, it may be time to re-evaluate. To help fix this parenting problem, here are two steps to take. First, prepare in the morning how to patiently teach your child a lesson when rule...

Twenty-five years of marriage to my wife, Susan, has taught me that women often communicate by saying one thing, but meaning another. So for all the men out there who thought it was impossible to understand women, here is a key for decoding your wife’s words. First, when she says “I’m fine” she really means “I’m not fine, but I’m not ready to talk about it.” Second, when she says, “Didn’t you go out with your...

We all make bad decisions sometimes. But when those bad decisions happen over and over, they lead to bad habits. Here are a few common bad habits that moms may want to break. First, break the habit of telling your child “I’ll be right there” and then forgetting about it. If your child doesn’t get attention from you, they may go looking for attention in the wrong places. Second, break the habit of spending money...

While I can’t give you superpowers, I can give you the power of insight regarding your spouse with 7 Ways to Be a Hero to Your Husband. First, praise him in front of the kids.  Say something along the lines of, “You should have seen your Dad today—he was awesome!” Second, engage in something he enjoys. Figure out what he’s passionate about and join in—whether it’s sports or exercise or cooking. Third, respect his...

In my effort to help wives better communicate with their husbands, I’m going to share with you today a double secret male code that we men completely understand, but women don’t.  So for all the women out there who thought it was impossible to understand men, here is a key for decoding just some of your husband’s words.  First, when he asks “What’s wrong?” he really means “It’s obvious something’s wrong, so please...