Word problems in math class. Sometimes the best solution was a fresh sheet of paper and a new beginning.That phrase either excites or terrorizes you. Word problems represent an attempt on the textbook author’s part to apply math to the real world and demonstrate how and where we might someday use the principles we were […]
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Category: Parenting
I worked with children, teens, and college-aged young people in my church assignments. Along the way my wife and I raised two daughters. Here are my insights on the joys and challenges of parenting.
We Forgot to Pray
When our schedules overload what practices of our faith are we most likely to set aside? And then a toddler reminds us, “We forgot to pray!” I’ll confess there are mornings where my quiet time with God gets deleted. Perhaps I slept late —the blankets were at just the right temperature and the pillows resisted […]
Do You Name Your Stuff?
Why did my daughters do it? They named everything from dolls to lawn equipment. Do you name your stuff? Raising daughters presented an opportunity for me to probe the intricate workings of the female mind. I had discovered within a few months marriage to Shawn that her mind consists of unfathomable layers. Should a man […]
Just Ask Dad
“Just ask Dad!” Was I really that much of pushover? Raising two daughters gave me firsthand experience with “puppy dog eyes”, a technique the girls deployed in an attempt to get their way. The sparkling wide-open eyes and the angelic expressions were designed to turn Dad into a pile of mush. Shawn was immune to […]
Help Young People Make Good Decisions
Grownups sometimes forget that young people face as many decisions in a typical day as we do. Choosing one flavor of ice cream over another or opting for waffles over pancakes may seem less important than the weighty matters of adulthood, but we miss teaching opportunities when we label our children’s decisions as not important. […]
Grandpa’s Father’s Day Thoughts
Father’s Day has morphed for me. It now includes Grandfather’s Day and a flood of new considerations and thoughts. In my new role as Grandpa I’m revisiting familiar stories with a new and unbiased audience. Fern’s attention span is nearly as long as mine and she must have some tendencies toward speed reading. If the […]