As a new school year begins, there are seemingly countless items to do to prepare our kids for the year ahead. There are conversations that need to take place as well. Among the more important conversations, a meaningful discussion about friendships should be at the top of the list. Are you comfortable with your children’s current friends? Is your child choosing to be friends with others who are a good influence on them or not? [...]
What if you knew the greatest predictor of your children’s success, later in life, came down to one particular skill? A skill that, if well developed, could lead to better social skills, handling stress, and greater academic success? How about a skill that could lower levels of substance abuse, lower levels of obesity, and create more success in every area of life? Training and reinforcing the skill of Delaying Gratification leads to the development of [...]
One of the best things we’ve seen in a long time is a recent press conference by the University of Oklahoma Women’s Softball team that has gone viral just prior to winning their 3rd National Championship. These young women displayed the kind of conviction and character that, as parents, we want for our own children. It’s about finding meaning and fulfillment in living a life filled with virtue and faith; a contagious faith that is presented [...]
En UnaFamilia escuchamos y hablamos con muchas mujeres que buscan información sobre la crianza de los hijos y el matrimonio. A menudo buscan consejos para un matrimonio fuerte, estrategias creativas para mantener la intimidad, cómo apoyar a su cónyuge en torno a cuestiones desafiantes relacionadas con ser padre y esposo, y similares. Sin embargo, todo se reduce a esto: ¿Qué puedo hacer que motive a mi esposo a comprometerse conmigo y energizarlo para cumplir una [...]
As a parent, if the long-term goal is to raise a child whose inner life is one of abundant positivity, a joy that expresses itself in family relationships, friend relationships, a relationship with God, and a desire and ability to serve others in work and community, your parenting efforts must assist in developing a psyche strong enough to engage in a full life. Recently Dave was interacting with a young man in his mid-20’s over [...]
As parents, it is a challenge and a blessing to provide the language that our children will use as the building blocks which forms their thinking structure. If we use constructive words, words of life, and positive reinforcement words when we encourage, then those are the concepts that will form their reality and the development of their character. Here are 2 concepts that have helped us with our children to develop their internal thought processes that affected their [...]
“My husband and I have taken two classes from OneFamily this year. We were immediately put at ease in our Zoom class. Our leaders were warm, friendly and had a wealth of knowledge with the subject matter. We also love the way they related to each other and support each other as they present the information. Recently, we had a situation with our extended family where we needed help processing. With some personalized coaching/mentoring, they [...]
Sometimes we can feel like we are winging it as parents. The demands and pressure of life can get so overwhelming that we can get sidetracked from those meaningful things our hearts desire - like being a good intentional parent. In desperation, when we often look for the one thing or a quick online resource to help us to put a “Band-Aid” on whatever issue of the day we’re dealing with in the moment. All [...]
A successful parenting journey requires consistency, patience and resolve. Yet the journey is often filled with frustration, anxiety and, at times, hopelessness even when we are trying to do our best. Thankfully, there are those moments that can unexpectantly encourage and sustain us in the process! Recently, we were blessed to see a heartwarming story on social media from friends and OneFamily leaders. This story is a wonderful example of one of those unexpected moments [...]
Ok, if it were me reading this in my 30’s, I probably wouldn’t read any topic as mundane as cleanliness. But, now that I’ve put a few miles under the tires, this fundamental skill of life contains way more than I would have thought. There’s more here than you’d first guess. You parents are underway with the greatest undertaking possible – structuring a life from which your child will come to distinguish themselves from mere [...]