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Tag: Maturing

You win some; you lose some

Life is unfair – extraordinarily unfair. Sometimes the good guys lose, while the bad guys revel in their victory.  Sometimes, … More

Adolescence, Growing Up, Independence, Kids, Maturing, Personal life, Philosophy

Loving Grandpa

One of my favorite 7th grade essays ever is this memoir about a grandfather. Ashley Aucker, is now a 25 … More

Adolescence, Christianity, Faith, Family Life, Grandparents, Grief, Growing Up, Kids, Maturing, Relationship, Resiliency, Role Models, Significance

Raising Boys to be Real Men

Boys are misunderstood.  Too often, they are disciplined and shamed by their teachers, parents, or grandparents because it is falsely … More

Adolescence, Boy, Boys, Education, Emotion, Encouraging, Family, Friends, Growing Up, Health, Kids, Maturing, Men, Mental health, Parenting, Preteens, Relationship, Resiliency, Role Models, Significance, Teacher

Middle School: Top Ten Things to Know

The following is an open letter from my boss, Steve Hall, Head of Middle School at Westminster Christian Academy, to … More

Adolescence, Communication, Education, Encouraging, Family Life, Growing Up, Maturing, Middle School, Relationship, School, Significance

Growing Up Too Fast

Our culture tends to throw kids in the deep-end of the pool without teaching them how to swim. Kids are … More

Adolescence, Maturing, Media, Media consumption, Parenting, Preteens, Teens

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

Adolescence, Balance, Faith, Family Life, Fear, Growing Up, Kids, Maturing, Parenting, Relationship, Teens, Youth Sports

The Power of No (Part 3)

Young teenagers often “cross the line.” It’s inevitable, so it should not surprise us. Yet, we should not just acquiesce … More

Adolescence, Community, Consequences, Growing Up, Kids, Maturing, Parenting, Relationship, School, Teacher, Teens

The Power of No (Part 2)

Sometimes a bad example is as motivating as a good one. I had just such an experience last Saturday: Guitar … More

Adolescence, Consequences, Growing Up, Immaturity, Kids, Maturing, Teens

Never Too Young for Compassion

Sometimes, a single, simple act of compassion can change the world for someone else.  As a middle school teacher, I … More

Beauty, Compassion, Encouraging, Love, Maturing, Parenting, Significance

Family Matters

Imagine two American families, living on the same street, both successful in pursuing the American dream. Their Christmas cards are … More

Community, Family Life, Growing Up, Kids, Maturing, Parenting, Relationship, Role Models, Sacrifices, Serving, Significance, Teens

Books for Boys

Finding a well-written, entertaining book for a boy who hates to read is always a challenge.   Woods Runner, by … More

Adolescence, Books, Family Life, Growing Up, Independence, Maturing, Reading, Resiliency, Sacrifices, Significance

Questions Kids Have But Don’t Ask

Here are some of the big questions kids (10-14) have, although they will rarely, if ever, vocalize them.  Understanding the … More

Beauty, Career, Christianity, Community, Faith, Friends, Growing Up, Immaturity, Kids, Maturing, Resiliency, Significance, Success

The Wrong Kind of Pain

Generally speaking, children who face difficulties will grow up stronger in the long run.  They earn a host of other … More

Adolescence, Bullying, Growing Up, Loneliness, Maturing, Parenting, Relationship, Resiliency

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

Adolescence, Balance, Christianity, Coaching, Communication, Education, Failure, Growing Up, Hard Work, Independence, Kids, Maturing, Parenting, Perseverence, Significance, Sports, Teens, Work, Youth Sports

Fandango: How boys make friends

fandango  |fanˈda ng gō|  noun 1. a lively Spanish dance. 2. a foolish or useless act or thing. In May … More

Activities, Adolescence, Community, Friends, Friendship, Growing Up, Maturing, Relationship, Significance

Prepare Them for Life

Protection and provision are not enough. “Here’s the paradox: If we protect our children too absolutely, we actually end up … More

Adolescence, Consequences, Education, Encouraging, Growing Up, Maturing, Parenting, Relationship, Resiliency, Role Models, Serving, Significance, Work

Video Games

I grew up with the Atari 2600 video game system.  It was the cultural phenomenon of 1978, right along with … More

Activities, Adolescence, Education, Growing Up, Kids, Maturing, Media, Media consumption, Parenting, Rest, Technology, Teens

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

Balance, Christianity, Coaching, Community, Friends, Growing Up, Independence, Maturing, Parenting, Relationship, Resiliency, Sacrifices, Significance, Success, Thankfulness

Father or Friend?

Father’s Day.  We give Dad something like a pocket knife or a round of golf.  We remind him that we … More

Adolescence, Maturing, Parenting, Relationship, Sacrifices, Significance

Lousy Starts and Strong Finishes

I’m grading papers on the second to last day of the school year.  I’m grading fast, trying to finish ASAP, … More

Adolescence, Growing Up, Hard Work, Maturing, Parenting, Perseverence, Relationship, Resiliency

Kids Should Work Alongside Adults

“Unfortunately, many of today’s teenagers make no meaningful contribution to their families.  They have nothing more to contribute to the … More

Adolescence, Chores, Education, Family Life, Hard Work, Independence, Kids, Maturing, Parenting, Serving, Work

Kindness Matters

Now and then, the tables are turned, and an everyday kid doing a good deed gets some attention. Let’s all … More

Adolescence, Christianity, Coaching, Encouraging, Faith, Growing Up, Kids, Maturing, Serving, Sports, sportsmanship, Youth Sports

Chess Builds Brains

Chess is one of the best educational games of all time.  Even the most casual player will admit that the … More

Adolescence, Chess, Education, Independence, Kids, Maturing, Scholastic Chess, School, Success

Loyalty and Love Personified

John Wooden, the most-successful and most-revered basketball coach of all time, is a role model for so many men — … More

Coaching, Love, Maturing, Parenting, Relationship, Role Models, Significance, Teacher, Youth Sports

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

Balance, Christianity, Faith, Growing Up, Maturing, Parenting, Perfectionism, Relationship, Significance, Thankfulness

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

Activities, Balance, Christianity, Growing Up, Maturing, Perfectionism, Resiliency, Thankfulness

Beyond Beauty and Athletics

Athletic talent is instant karma for the social status of any young man.  In modern American mythology, the quarterback is … More

Beauty, Growing Up, Maturing, Media, Role Models, Sports, Success, Teens, Youth Sports

Liars, Cheaters, and Role Models

This week on the car radio, I overheard the most obnoxious sports radio talk show host furiously ranting and raving … More

Coaching, Growing Up, Maturing, Role Models, Sacrifices, Sports, Youth Sports

Are Your Kids Resilient?

Bouncing Back: Increasing Resilience for Hurting Kids This is an excerpt from an article by Maria Drews on August 3, … More

Adolescence, Growing Up, Maturing, Resiliency

Helicopter Parents

D.H. Lawrence, the literary giant, advised parents and teachers a century ago: “How to begin to educate a child. First … More

Activities, Adolescence, Balance, Education, Growing Up, Independence, Kids, Maturing, Parenting, Preteens, Rest, Teacher

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