Teens
We described the idea of a formal coming-of-age ceremony here. We've done this with all six of our sons, and in a few years we'll consider how to celebrate our eldest daughter! One of the earliest questions to answer is the form the ceremony should take ... and therefore, who to invite? Since we're totally at…
People often ask if we'd describe what we do for a coming-of-age ceremony with our boys. Surely with six boys we've done something of the sort … and the answer would be, “Yes, indeed!” You've probably heard of the Jewish “Bar Mitzvah” tradition – where a Jewish boy is officially welcomed to adult status in…
When we were teenagers, we couldn't wait to get our driver's license. It was a step toward adulthood, and we were eager to have the independence that driving represented. All our friends felt the same way, and our parents encouraged it. Recently, though, we've been hearing something which frankly surprised us. We were listening to…
This morning a friend asked, "Do you think I should watch Fifty Shades of Grey with my teen and talk about it?" We're not as strict on media as some are. We think there's some value in watching things you don't agree with and analyzing and discussing them with your teens. Sometimes, though, there's more…
It came up on Facebook again today. What do you do when you find your child has been sexting? It's nauseating to even think about it, isn't it? Awhile back, I was shocked when one of my friends told me she'd found a series of explicit texts on her son's phone, but now we're hearing…
People often ask us how they can start a family business like we did. The problem is that they need to start a family business like only they can! One day we were visiting with some dear friends and talking about the need to help families who want the freedom and flexibility both our families…
Hal often says that boys seem especially tempted by anger, lust, and laziness. And if you think about it, it makes sense--those sins are connected to some of the most important roles men have as protectors, husbands, and providers. So, how can you overcome their natural laziness? How can you help your son become diligent? Sometimes…
"Hey, I've got some unexpected time free. Want to meet for coffee?" an adult young man texts an adult female friend. "I'm not comfortable meeting guys like that. You need to talk to my father," is the reply. These two are on a different wavelength. Let's peek into their heads for a moment. (No, we…
Recently we asked our Facebook page what people wanted us to write about. Several asked "How can mothers have a good relationship with their sons?" Our friends Marilyn and Rick Boyer helped us a lot with this topic in the articles they called Learning to Delight in Your Children. It helped us to clarify something we've…
To enter these giveaways, join us for our free LIVE webinar, Ballistic Parenting: Surviving and Appreciating Boys on Monday, January 27th at 3pm Eastern OR download the workshop and listen any time before February 3rd. Register free here! "Stacy Farrell hits another home run with the Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal. With insightful questions and thoughtful…