The market changed. What had been college funds for the kids was gone. When he was introduced to the “high risk, high return” fund years earlier, what he heard was just the “high return” piece. On the highly focused quest for financial security, one step was to secure funds for the kids’ advanced education. That step was behind him, he thought. Then the “risk” piece hit. The fund collapsed.
Life is like that. Folks hear what they want to hear until ...read on
His phone went off and he answered it in the middle of dinner. He stepped away to carry on a short conversation and then returned to the table. His daughter asked, “What was so important that interrupted our family dinner time Daddy?” Dad was busted and that started a dialogue around protecting family time from distractions. A new family policy around phones and other electronic devices was initiated.
The mere presence of one’s own smartphone may induce “brain drain” by ...read on
She was lucky. She escaped and managed to call her mom and dad. Many are not lucky and become statistics associated with the epidemic of pornography and sex-trafficking. For her, it started off innocently enough – a new “friend” told her how attractive she was and encouraged her to visit a photographer that might be able to help launch a modeling career. Modeling sessions became compromising photographs which became leverage for control over her. Scared and intimidated, she saw no way out.
Three things girls need to hear from their dad are: ...read on
His dad had passed during his early teen years. He processed the grief as best he could and pressed on to complete his education, begin a career, marry and have kids of his own. Now as a dad himself, he realized yet another void in his life without a dad around – He did not have a sounding board, that fatherly wisdom to draw on for this new chapter of life as a dad.
One of the big differences between men and women is ...read on
He was under a lot of pressure at work. While he was trying to keep up a regular exercise routine to stay healthy, the long hours and stress were taking their toll on his overall health and wellbeing. The tension was not being left at the office but beginning to carry over into his marriage and home. His identity was defined by success in the job but his life was spiraling out of control.
There are three primary identities men associate with: ...read on
He was identified as a hot-head, an angry young man mad at the world. He had made the high school basketball team but armed with an intensity that frequently led to angry outbursts, he was not seen as a team player. The coach decided to cut him from the team. While all his buddies proceeded with their high school basketball experience, he failed to hold his spot in that group of athletes.
The apple does not fall far from the tree. Dad and Mom often jokingly tell the kids to just catch their good qualities, not their bad ones. Alcoholism was historically a bad one they wanted to make sure not to pass on. Both had experiences with an alcoholic parent so there was to be no alcohol in their house. They agreed early on to be cycle-breakers when it came to alcohol. Other areas – language, finances, faith and church attendance did not receive the same disciplined approach.
There was such excitement when she learned she was pregnant and shared the news with her husband. They celebrated the blessing of the miracle, a child developing in her womb. While a bit anxious about the responsibility before them, both were joyful about the prospect of becoming mom and dad. Life is good.
Life is also easy to take for granted. When ...read on
Masculinity is not toxic, nor is it a sickness as the American Psychological Association’s new guidelines suggest. “The truth is that masculine traits such as aggression competitiveness and protective vigilance not only can be positive, but also have a biological basis. Men produce far more testosterone, which is associated biologically and behaviorally with increased aggression and competitiveness. They also produce more vasopressin, a hormone that makes men aggressively protective of their loved ones.” (Komisar, WSJ-1/17/19).
He got home after a long day, wiped out and ready to just relax a bit. When he walked in, his daughter asked for help with math homework, his son wanted to ride bikes with him through the park, his bride had a long day as well and was debating going to the store to get groceries or to make supper work with some leftovers. And the sink was still full of dishes from a gathering the night before. Balance or priorities?
The market changed. What had been college funds for the kids was gone. When he was introduced to the “high risk, high return” fund years earlier, what he heard was just the “high return” piece. On the highly focused quest for financial security, one step was to secure funds for the kids’ advanced education. That step was behind him, he thought. Then the “risk” piece hit. The fund collapsed.
His phone went off and he answered it in the middle of dinner. He stepped away to carry on a short conversation and then returned to the table. His daughter asked, “What was so important that interrupted our family dinner time Daddy?” Dad was busted and that started a dialogue around protecting family time from distractions. A new family policy around phones and other electronic devices was initiated. 
She was lucky. She escaped and managed to call her mom and dad. Many are not lucky and become statistics associated with the epidemic of pornography and sex-trafficking. For her, it started off innocently enough – a new “friend” told her how attractive she was and encouraged her to visit a photographer that might be able to help launch a modeling career. Modeling sessions became compromising photographs which became leverage for control over her. Scared and intimidated, she saw no way out.
His dad had passed during his early teen years. He processed the grief as best he could and pressed on to complete his education, begin a career, marry and have kids of his own. Now as a dad himself, he realized yet another void in his life without a dad around – He did not have a sounding board, that fatherly wisdom to draw on for this new chapter of life as a dad.
He was under a lot of pressure at work. While he was trying to keep up a regular exercise routine to stay healthy, the long hours and stress were taking their toll on his overall health and wellbeing. The tension was not being left at the office but beginning to carry over into his marriage and home. His identity was defined by success in the job but his life was spiraling out of control.
He was identified as a hot-head, an angry young man mad at the world. He had made the high school basketball team but armed with an intensity that frequently led to angry outbursts, he was not seen as a team player. The coach decided to cut him from the team. While all his buddies proceeded with their high school basketball experience, he failed to hold his spot in that group of athletes.
The apple does not fall far from the tree. Dad and Mom often jokingly tell the kids to just catch their good qualities, not their bad ones. Alcoholism was historically a bad one they wanted to make sure not to pass on. Both had experiences with an alcoholic parent so there was to be no alcohol in their house. They agreed early on to be cycle-breakers when it came to alcohol. Other areas – language, finances, faith and church attendance did not receive the same disciplined approach.
There was such excitement when she learned she was pregnant and shared the news with her husband. They celebrated the blessing of the miracle, a child developing in her womb. While a bit anxious about the responsibility before them, both were joyful about the prospect of becoming mom and dad. Life is good.
Masculinity is not toxic, nor is it a sickness as the American Psychological Association’s new guidelines suggest. “The truth is that masculine traits such as aggression competitiveness and protective vigilance not only can be positive, but also have a biological basis. Men produce far more testosterone, which is associated biologically and behaviorally with increased aggression and competitiveness. They also produce more vasopressin, a hormone that makes men aggressively protective of their loved ones.” (Komisar, WSJ-1/17/19).
He got home after a long day, wiped out and ready to just relax a bit. When he walked in, his daughter asked for help with math homework, his son wanted to ride bikes with him through the park, his bride had a long day as well and was debating going to the store to get groceries or to make supper work with some leftovers. And the sink was still full of dishes from a gathering the night before. Balance or priorities?
