Perfection is an impossible standard.  Yet, in our results driven society, it's 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, pursuing excellence leads to accomplishment, confidence, contentment, and feelings of fulfillment.  This distinction was not only something we passed along in parenting our boys, [...]

Back to school has always been very similar to the start of a new year for our family.  It marks the beginning of a new school year with renewed expectations and resolutions not only for our boys, but also for us as parents. For the kids, it’s a great time to get them refocused on their schedules, routines and revisit some lessons that were learned or challenges faced in the previous school year and over [...]

“You can do anything for 1 minute” is not just an easy phrase for parental encouragement, it’s a brick in the foundation of a child’s life. It isn’t long after babies become toddlers that parents should begin the long process of building character through self-discipline. Every era in childhood will present new opportunities for parents to develop in their children the ability to face the arduous ability of sticking with a task and persevering through [...]

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 [...]

Every other week the Howards, Shelly and Rich, and the Marrs, Lis and Dave, trade off writing a OneFamily Letter with the intent to nudge, influence, educate, support and, in small part, come alongside women and men who are hard at work in the job of life. On the whole, life can be…well, complicated. They don’t teach parenting, marriage, or being an adult in school. It is true that a small misconception of how “things [...]

Last week, in The Purposeful Father-Part One, we covered the first four things dads can do to build and strengthen the bonds of trust with his children based upon The Father’s Mandate teaching that has wonderfully impacted our family and marriage. A father must cultivate a sense of Family Identity A father must regularly demonstrate love to his wife A father must respect his child’s private world A father must give his children the freedom [...]