Last week was National Youth Sports Week (July 15th-21st).  In our nation, we are blessed to have wonderful youth sports programs for kids that do so much more than teach children skills for playing sports. Sports teaches kids about life while providing health benefits, increased prosocial behavior, improved emotional and psychological health, increased academic performance, and overall sense of well-being. We loved watching (coaching and team mom too!) our boys play different sports as they [...]

Emotional control or self-discipline is being able to manifest the appropriate expression of our emotional state.  Our ability to manage our emotional responses is a lifelong skill that can define our character positively or negatively. Anger, frustration and disappointment are a part of life as a child and as an adult.  There will always be times when these difficult emotions happen, but how we respond and express ourselves is the key to emotional maturity.  When [...]

We recently read about an idea that really resonated with us.  It described how children need their parents’ blessing.  A blessing from mom and dad communicates unconditional acceptance and affirmation while greatly impacting a child’s identity.  Your blessing frees their hearts and minds to grow into all the good things you as a parent want for them. For Dads, its especially important to know the impact your blessing has in the lives of your children.  [...]

Parenting is a year-round process.  However, we found that summertime seemed to be a really productive and effective time in our parenting.  Maybe it was because many of the school year obligations and hectic schedules got dialed back and the excitement of sunshine, family vacations and barbecues filled our home.  Whatever the reason, we used our summertime excitement as a special time of the year to “super charge” some of our parenting initiatives while enjoying [...]