“Dad’s Dead,” But Don’t Get Heated

My almost-seven-year-old son was taking a bath with his sister. Bath nights at our house can drag for up to an hour, and I was getting tired of nagging to get out of the tub. I decided to lay down outside my kids' view next to the tub on the bathroom floor. After a minute … Continue reading “Dad’s Dead,” But Don’t Get Heated →

Want to Stop Reacting to Your Conclusions? Seek to Understand.

He did it. The coach told my son to leave the club sport. The story according to my six-year-old son was that he was hanging out, playing on the mats (not playing basketball,) and the coach asked him to leave. The school then called to pick him up early. Proverbs 4:7 says to get wisdom. … Continue reading Want to Stop Reacting to Your Conclusions? Seek to Understand. →

Substituting a Why or a What or a How: Paths to a Two-Way Relationship

My son's school has a uniform. The last week of school and he wanted to wear gym shoes instead of the more formal black standards. My first reaction was no, it's not a gym day. Can't. Then I recall how I always reacted to no or can't. Yup, I was one of those don't tell … Continue reading Substituting a Why or a What or a How: Paths to a Two-Way Relationship →

Angry Dad, You’re Feeling Inadequate Again

Wrong side of the bed. Late. A solid work schedule with over-committed appointments. A solitary banana for breakfast. Mix in a six and two year old trying to have a leisurely breakfast and you've got irritability. Time to get out the door kids! One thing to remember--and I write this for myself most of all--is … Continue reading Angry Dad, You’re Feeling Inadequate Again →

The Balance of Discipline

As a father today, I don't condone the use of physical punishment. (Although, my lack of patience at times brings the thought of implementing it into to my head.) I also don't see how nuns thought that such physical reprimand helps and supports the discipline they were probably seeking. My opinion is that these nuns … Continue reading The Balance of Discipline →