“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4) At some point you will be releasing your children into a world filled with adult challenges; they will certainly face situations requiring resilience despite feeling down-hearted. Whether facing finals week when sick, or social engagements [...]

Thanksgiving is just three weeks away, and the holiday season is beginning to stir with its familiar rhythm of preparation, reflection, and anticipation. For our family, Thanksgiving has always been more than a meal or a gathering—it’s been an intentional moment to anchor ourselves in gratitude and to make thankfulness a defining part of our Family Identity. When our boys were five and three, we started a simple tradition. Each Thanksgiving, like many families, we’d [...]

Why Teaching Courtesy Matters A child’s behavior often reflects the values and training they’ve received at home. When children act out or behave in ways that embarrass us, it’s usually not because they’re “bad” — but because they haven’t yet been guided in how to act courteously. For us, we realized that our constant need to correct or restrain our kids stemmed from our own lack of intentional leadership in teaching moral courtesies and practical [...]

If you really want to learn something – teach it to someone else. Aimless, often lacking an engaged father, addicted to the visual reality of screen pleasures (video games, doom scrolling, and porn), shamed by society’s bias against masculinity, unable to desire or risk female intimacy. Drifting in an endless state going nowhere. There are millions of Charlie Kirk’s “Lost Boys”. [From Erika Kirk at Charlie’s Memorial: “Charlie passionately wanted to reach and save the [...]

Our mindset plays a powerful role in shaping our happiness and success in every area of life. In today’s world—where we’re constantly exposed to social media, 24/7 news, and a nonstop flow of information—this influence is more intense than ever. Navigating uncertainty, discouragement, and tough times demands real emotional strength. Many of us have felt the weight of increased stress and anxiety, and if left unchecked, it can show up in harmful ways. Parents often [...]

Life is busy.  With school, kids' sports, and various activities, our daily life can easily feel hectic and overwhelming. Picking up Chic-fil-a on the way from practice can easily become the norm, rather than the exception, for getting everyone in the family fed.  However, we discovered that Family Mealtime can actually make a significant impact on your family. Current research shows that having a shared Family Mealtime has tremendous benefits for marriages and families.  A [...]

Among the expressions of unwanted behavior that we encounter during the course of parenting, Whining and Temper Tantrums seem to span all ages. Toddlers and Teens resort to whining when they don’t get their way, just as 3 year olds, 4th graders and high schoolers can all throw temper tantrums when they get frustrated. Unfortunately, you may even notice this behavior in adults as well! As school is in full swing, many homes experience a [...]

We remember when our kids had chores to complete. They weren’t always excited about it, but we understood how important it was for them to learn about contributing to the family. We made a parenting transition during their younger years by giving them age-appropriate responsibilities, which significantly improved their attitude and behavior. In fact, we discovered that the benefits went beyond just creating a tidier home and fostering family harmony. Chores help children reach their [...]

Your child was born blessed. They are blessed because your boys, your girls, were born into your family. By reading this letter, and any material like it, you’re looking for insights into how you can be more effective at parenting, in marriage, at life. Your children are the beneficiaries of your life’s effort and any insights you gain.  OneFamily provides some parenting and marriage methodology and structure, tips and techniques that provide ways in which [...]

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 [...]