In the late 1990s, author J.K. Rowling invented the term “muggle” as a derogative term for the normal people of … More
Tag: Success
3 Skills + 1 Passion
For young people to achieve success in their career, it is no longer enough to have a college degree. New … More
Your Family. Your Culture.
The most common theme among parents of young teens lately is that they want to live differently than the culture. … More
Peace in the Parenting Journey
Being a parent is overwhelming in mid-December, when everybody’s activities and pressures are multiplying. During the holidays, our expectation of … More
Connect + Guide + Enjoy = Good Parenting
You are never done parenting. There is never enough time, energy, money, or wisdom to do it all right. Parenting … 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
Storm Preparation
A Creeping Crisis Some crises develop gradually. Some are excruciatingly slow. Perhaps it is the approaching death of a parent … More
Career Guidance for Young Teens
The Need for Early Guidance A few kids know from a very early age what they want to pursue as … 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
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
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
Our Friend, Failure
I once heard a speaker named Dan Miller at an educator’s conference tell the audience about how he learned to … 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
The Great Abigail Adams
John Adams was a man of tremendous intellect and inner strength. With the aid of Thomas Jefferson and the other … 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
It’s a Wonderfully Difficult Life
It’s a Wonderful Life strikes a chord — several chords — deep in my soul, every time I watch … More
If (Rudyard Kipling)
. If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If … 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
Well-Mannered Teen Rebels
With the decline of civility and manners in public life, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that so many young people lack … 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
Training Up Independent Kids
Embracing Mistakes; Developing Problem-Solvers Thomas Edison believed that failure was not a bad thing; it merely directed him closer to … More
Success and Significance
Charles Schultz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip, had some words to say about success. It starts with a … More