Permissive parenting plagues our society today. And there’s an easy answer for why—it’s rooted in convenience. In nearly any situation, the easiest thing for any parent to do is either nothing at all, or, take the least path or resistance. Picture a family at the park...

“Dad, for what it’s worth, I respect you and Mom even more now after seeing how you’ve handled this whole situation.” Those words from my teenage son meant more to me than he probably knew at the moment. We don’t always get it right, but this time we did, and he took...

As my son walked across the platform and officially graduated from college this past weekend, it brought back a flood of memories and emotions. Where did the time go? How could my little boy already be a grown man? Life is so short and life’s most important things so...

People often say that there’s no such thing as a perfect parent. But I’d argue that they’re wrong. Because believe it or not, I actually used to be "the perfect parent." That is, until July 31st, 2002, when we had our first son. I remember as a teenager looking at...

Do you have a "Chief Encourager?" If not, you need one. In my life, there’s one person who is my chief encourager. This person is not only positive, but personable. They naturally look for the good in others. That’s why they’re also a chief encourager to many more...

Want to physically bless your kids this week? Touch with our kids should be regular, intentional, and enjoyable. Meaningful touch from a parent can be a language all its own that speaks something beyond words to reach your child's heart, not just their head.  And...

My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past weekend! As we took them out for a nice steak dinner to celebrate memories and milestones, I was reminded of some lessons learned from watching their marriage over the years. Here are just a few. 1. A...

For years, I hated the idea of exercise… until I recently recognized all its benefits. Now I strive to exercise daily and my mind and body thank me.  If we’re being honest, we don’t naturally like difficult or painful things, do we? Yet it’s through pain that some of...

“Everyone is silently fighting a battle you know nothing about. Except toddler parents. The battle we’re fighting is loud and everyone is aware it’s taking place.” In the past couple of weeks, I’ve met with more parents than I can count on one hand who all seem to be...

Have you ever caught your kids in the act? My 16-year-old son enjoys wearing his AirPods (much like his dad) to listen to music, audiobooks, and podcasts, etc. In the world of noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds where you can easily be in your own little private...