Here are 5 ingredients to consider as you cook up ways to improve your marriage. We say ingredients as if to a delicious meal because each plays a role in the overall experience – none standing alone, each interacting to enhance the whole. There is no priority among these elements as circumstances could make a case for the emphasis of any element over the others. Yet each flavor adds a spice that truly makes a five-star meal. [...]
For every parent, there comes a day when you wake up to realize that your relationship with your maturing teen is about to change. They are most likely a high school senior, making guided decisions for their future and taking the necessary steps to prepare for their life apart from you. It’s a challenging time for most kids as they may seem to be hesitant or seem like they can hardly wait to get out [...]
With anything that is a skill, there are basics that can be honed into muscle memory that make performance easy and effective. Whether it’s scooping up ground balls, shooting free throws, knocking in a 4-foot putt, or developing a pre-swing routine, it is these fundamentals you must practice over and over, not because fundamentals are simple (because they are not), but because the rest of the game is founded on the principles inherent in them. [...]
When you close your eyes and imagine what a thriving family looks like, what do you see? A quality home environment filled with encouragement and harmony? Husband and Wife on the same page and enjoying their relationship? Children laughing and enjoying one another and excelling in their development? Wonderful and meaningful holidays and vacations? Whatever vision you hold of what a thriving family looks like, do you see that in your family? Building a healthy [...]
With school quickly approaching and the uncertainty surrounding what may or may not happen, we wanted to share some insights from the Widmier Family. Not only are they wonderful friends and periodic contributors to this weekly letter, but Jon also serves as Social-Emotional Behavior Services Coordinator for Littleton Public Schools in Colorado. _______________ As we sit down and write this, it is hard to believe that 150 days have passed since remote learning started [...]
One trait that separates humans from animals is our curiosity, the fascination we have with discovering new things. The dopamine hit and mental energy that comes from satisfying curiosity can develop a golden outcome where mental growth leads to understanding, more confidence, and more fascination about life that is increasingly more satisfying. A lifetime of mental exploration in an infinite universe of discovery. Isn’t this what we want for our kids? What can you do [...]
As we have both grown and matured since getting married right out of college, there is one skill we have learned to develop that has been significant in all of our relationships. Whether it is with our marriage, our children, our family and friends, or everyday relationships at work or in our community, learning the skill of discernment has become a game changer in our lives. Discernment is the ability to gain understanding in order [...]
As our boys have gotten older, one parenting tool that we have utilized the most is planting seeds. While the generic concept of planting seeds is not new, our friends Dave and Lis provided us with a perspective that took the concept to a new level in our parenting with a 2 step approach – Planting seeds (initiate an idea or topic with a question) and Cultivation (ongoing conversation follow up). This tool has been [...]
Adventure. Doesn’t that sound exotic? To us the word conveys a sense of travel with new sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and experiences. To us the notion of adventure has been to answer the call of travel. Since Lis grew up in Sweden, we traveled to visit her parents every other year and took the opportunity to explore other countries. The stresses of travel can be pretty taxing on old and young alike, so having a [...]
Perfection is an impossible standard. Yet, in our results driven society, its amazing how the pursuit of perfection continues to be coveted in almost every aspect of life even though it derails us in our pursuits. The pursuit of perfection often leads to disappointment, shame, frustration, and feelings of failure. However, the pursuit of excellence leads to accomplishment, confidence, contentment, and feelings of fulfillment. This distinction was not only something we passed along in parenting [...]