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

Loving Grandpa

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Family Matters

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

Books for Boys

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video Games

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

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

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

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

Kindness Matters

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

Chess Builds Brains

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

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

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

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

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

Helicopter Parents

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