Part 3 in the series on becoming “tech-wise” The first two posts in this series laid down a philosophical framework … More
Tag: Balance
Becoming Tech-Wise: Philosophy of Use
Becoming Tech-Wise: Philosophy of Use (Part 2 in series) Technology continues to improve, but is our use of technology improving? … More
Why Technology Worries Us So Much
Since 2010, human behavior has changed. In these last 7 years, we have experienced the complete integration of smartphones, the … More
Motivate. Don’t Manipulate Your Kids.
Once again, his room isn’t clean, not by any standard. Her backpack, jacket, and shoes are scattered about the floor … More
Look Up
Perhaps this video is a bit of an overstatement. It oversimplifies the problem, but I like the main theme. Train … More
The Connected Family
2014 is the first year in American history in which everybody has a mobile device. We are at the saturation … More
The Peril of Productionism
My wife and I struggle with what I call productionism. It is a variation of perfectionism. It is the … More
Connect With Your Young Teen
First Connect, Then Guide The best parents are the ones who are deeply connected with their children and offer support … More
Prepare for Happiness
Lately, I have been pondering the question, “What are some things that I can do to put myself in a … More
Living in Crisis
Our family is in crisis. It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last. Three weeks ago, … More
Storm Preparation
A Creeping Crisis Some crises develop gradually. Some are excruciatingly slow. Perhaps it is the approaching death of a parent … More
Mister Rogers
I’m a huge Fred Rogers fan, so I was skeptical when I heard about the video remix recently done about … More
Parenting With and Without Fear
Fear is universal. Columnist Dave Barry writes, “All of us are born with a set of instinctive fears — of … More
I Wish You Failure
Once again, I offer an article from NPR’s This I Believe. Jon Carroll started at the San Francisco Chronicle editing … More
The Race to Nowhere
The Race to Nowhere is a film that will make you think deeply about what a good education looks like. … More
Failure’s Top Ten List
1. Not Everybody Gets A Trophy Somewhere along the line we became a society that preached instant gratification. Like a … More
Avoiding a Mid-Life Crisis
If you are growing old well, then you are likely to help a child grow up well. 40 is not … More
Youth Sports is a Means to a Greater End
Every parent of an athletic child wonders if their kid has a shot at the big time. Well, let’s look … More
Healthy Adults, Healthy Kids
Being healthy as an adult will yield both direct and indirect benefits for the kids in your care. Take care … More
Finding Significance
I’ve had the blues for a few weeks now. It’s not a full-blown depression. It’s just a nagging funk that … More
Realistic Expectations for Life
Donald Miller’s book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years is quite good, but the end of chapter 29 is … More
Helicopter Parents
D.H. Lawrence, the literary giant, advised parents and teachers a century ago: “How to begin to educate a child. First … More
Counting Blessings
Why can’t we be thankful? Why is having an attitude of gratitude so difficult? Even the most optimistic people have … More
Delayed Gratification
Very few things anymore take a long time to happen. Nearly everything is available in an instant. Instant messaging. Movies … More
Just Believe in Yourself
“Just believe in yourself, and you can achieve anything.” “Pursue your dream, and don’t let anyone tell you that you … More
Time Management for Kids
As preteens enter the hallways of middle school for the first time, they often feel totally overwhelmed by the amount … More
Slowing Down for Kids’ Sake
On the way home from soccer practice last night, my son asked if he could join a track and field … More