Last Sunday was Grandparents Day and it reminded us how special our relationship was with our own grandparents... and we miss them dearly! In that same reflection, we are so thankful that our boys have a special love and appreciation for their grandparents - our Mom and Dad. Studies from Oxford University and Boston College show that the Grandparent and Grandchild relationship can significantly add to the overall well being of the child and grandparent. [...]
What does it mean to be a Marr? This is one of the most important questions we faced as a young family. Being a Marr was not a question we contemplated walking down the aisle. For the two of us growing up in different cultures, Lis in Sweden and Dave in California, it’s interesting that family identity wasn’t one of the topics either of us encountered at the dinner table. But in raising our three [...]
Back to school has always been very similar to the start of a new year for our family. It marks the start 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. For mom [...]
We recently heard a terrific message, by Andy Stanley, how leaders can be more effective, innovative and open to creative exploration, when they have an attitude of “Wow” versus “How.” Many great ideas and creative thoughts get shut down and lost when executives or managers focus on the “how” of an idea instead of encouraging further creative exploration with a “wow” response. The same can be true in parenting. Are you a Wow Parent or [...]
There isn’t one among us who hasn’t had to forgive someone for something small or large. None of us will escape this earth without doing so again. Of all the spiritual tasks God has assigned to us, forgiveness is of the highest order. No other quality speaks to love and grace with as much reason for it. Forgiveness can release demons, restore relationships, establish a base on which to build, and set a path for [...]
When our boys were young, we mistakenly thought our summers would eventually get less busy as they got older. Between summer vacations, sports, camps and family visits, our summer schedule got completely booked… and this summer is no different with our teens. And while the anticipation of it all is very exciting and fun, we made sure to always schedule Family Fun Night in the midst of all the busyness. For us, Family Fun Night [...]
It's summertime! Do you know your neighbors? Do you know their first names? Last year we attended an event where we were challenged by these same questions. Embarrassingly, Rich could only admit to knowing about half of the 15 neighbors in our cul-de-sac and only 6 of them by their first name (Shelly knew a few more). Not very neighborly! Sure we are pleasant enough and we readily acknowledge all of our neighbors with the [...]
OneFamily is all about equipping, encouraging and sustaining couples as they journey in their marriages and parenting. Many of the concepts, principles and ideas that we share each week, in our OneFamily letter and quotes, are derived from the Growing Families curriculum we have taught for the past 15 years. As a result, we would be remiss if we didn’t make you aware of a fantastic opportunity to learn and connect with other families that [...]
Of all 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 3rd graders and high schoolers can throw temper tantrums when they get frustrated. Unfortunately, you may even notice this behavior in adults as well. With summer getting started, based upon our own experience, there tends to be [...]
This is part 3 of a 3 part series that went out to Dave’s Ironmen group. We thought it was worth a posting on OneFamily to provide some thought provoking couchtime conversation! “ This 3-part discussion, “What a Woman Needs”, is intended to provide you discussion points with the woman you have taken to become your suitable helper, the one you’ve empowered to speak into your life, and who you’ve promised to love, honor, and [...]