We emerged from the seven day family road trip that involved five nights of camping in the Blackhills of SD, and the only person with clean clothes remaining was my wife. An hour on the road with a five and one year old can seem like a half-day. Snacks are crucial, but can give way … Continue reading The Ultimate Test of Spiritual Fitness: Family Tent Camping for Five Nights
My kids are now five and 15 months. No matter how hold they get, it is hard to watch them struggle. Whether it's using a fork to eat raspberries or working their way across the monkey bars, I have this fatherly urge to jump in and help them along. I'm a fixer. This is what … Continue reading Watch the Struggle and Watch Growth
My son has been to many of weddings for someone a little over four years of life under his belt. He is at the perfect age for running around the reception, dancing, getting hopped up on sugar and entertaining people of all ages. He’s slow to warm up, but my four year-old eventually joined a … Continue reading Getting Back Up After Getting Knocked Down: A Lesson From My Pre-School Son
I write about the the necessity of God in my life to be a good father. And I believe it, after all that's what keeps me writing about it over and over. However, there are times where I feel like an absolute fraud, wondering why anyone should even take my advice. There are times when … Continue reading Forgotten Matchbox Cars and losing My Sanity with My Parking Ticket
My life is busy. Two kids under the age of five, a full-time job, a wife with a full-time job and all of the grown up responsibilities that come with running a growing household. I could easily say I'm tired. I can easily say I'm tired. Everywhere I look there is a floor that needs … Continue reading Letting Go, Letting God and Letting the Baby Eat Her Socks
The number one rule at my son's pre-school is: "Do everything to the glory of God." I could get used to this one pretty easily, as I am a man of faith and put effort towards working this rule in my own life. He's been attending this school for about 18 months, but I'm just now starting … Continue reading Sharing Toys, Tattling and Supporting Kids to Traverse Their Own Battles
I love the questions my son comes up with. I also like asking him questions in response to questions. "Why is the chair squishy like that, dad?" "Well, why do you think?" is a standard response he receives from me. And it's not that I am trying to be difficult or as some would say … Continue reading In How Many Days Am I Going to Die?
"I'll give you a snack if you get in the car." "Come to the dinner table or there won't be a bed time snack." "Stop whining or you can get your pajamas on and get ready for bed." Anyone with little kids will tell you the power of bribes and threats. After all, there are … Continue reading Incentives, Threats and Bribes for Doing Things My Way
I am someone who pushes themselves to get as much done as possible in a waking 16 hour day (or often more). Work, home, writing and relationships. How much can I "get done" today? A busy full day leaves me with a sense of accomplishment. However, this outlook also can lead to frustration because much … Continue reading Cleaning and Scrubbing Can Wait ’till Tomorrow
I've written before that I've always been a little more of a pushover than someone who stands up for what they believe. At least this has been true up until my mid-thirties. I've recently heard hindsight as described as 10K rather than 20/20 vision, and I am feeling like that is true. I can now … Continue reading Which is more Fatherly? Parenting So They Like You or Giving Them What They Need
Father Through Me 