Life is unfair – extraordinarily unfair. Sometimes the good guys lose, while the bad guys revel in their victory. Sometimes, … More
Tag: Maturing
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
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
Helicopter Parents
D.H. Lawrence, the literary giant, advised parents and teachers a century ago: “How to begin to educate a child. First … More