To really love your child, you must know them.  And knowing your child comes through spending time talking with them.  My wife has done an awesome job of this with her “Pillow Talk” questions—open-ended questions she asks to get our kids talking.  This way, they were able to stay connected in the midst of their busy lives.  I encourage you to share meaningful conversations with your kids by using these 20...

Disciplining our children takes dedication and effort. It also helps to mix in a little creativity. So get out of the discipline rut with our twenty one creative consequences. If you have younger children who are messy, try this: set the toy somewhere out of reach but within sight for a few days. Seeing it, but not getting it, will remind them to pick it up and put it away next time. Here’s another one…want your...

Last night, Susan and I got into an argument.  So is this simply a confession? No. I’d like for good to come out of it. Here are the cardinal relationship rules that I broke last night.  First, I broke our 9pm curfew on having serious discussions. We’re usually tired and cranky after that time so we shouldn’t talk about important topics. Last night, it was really late, about 11:30pm. Second, I broke the one issue...

Unfortunately, it’s really easy to spend money. The best way to avoid wasting your hard-earned money is by forming financial priorities. So here are 3 specific financial priorities for you and your family. First, shelter is a priority. But, keep in mind, it’s not about having more garage doors than your neighbor—it’s about choosing a home based on safety, local education, and affordability. Second, nourishment is...

We’re creatures of habit: We enjoy going to the same places and doing the same things week after week. And there’s nothing wrong with that, right? Well, sometimes habits cause you to miss out on new adventures. So break your routine with these 3 family activity ideas you should make your kids do. First, go on a cultural adventure. Check around town for a cool museum exhibit or musical performance. Second, do...

When it comes to relationships, technology has developed a bit of a bad reputation over the years. But before you jump on that bandwagon, consider these 3 ways to love your family well with technology. First, Skype, Google Hangout or FaceTime your college and career kids. It’s a great way to stay emotionally connected despite the physical distance.  Second, post old and new pictures of your spouse or kids on...

You had aspirations of doing and being something in your life. But, now your dream just isn’t possible. Maybe an accident or illness took your dreams away. Maybe a divorce or financial problems killed your dream. Every day, people are forced to make a choice…hang on to a dead dream or reach for a new one. So how do you deal with the death of a dream? First, allow yourself to grieve. It’s okay to feel badly or even...