Reframing Why Kids Should Do Chores
Home is the place of their first citizenship. I started reframing how I talked about chores. I started talking about how important it was that they be good citizens of… Read More
Skin in the Game Changes Everything
It’s fun to surprise your kids with gifts and luxury experiences like a 13-year-old getting a manicure. But it’s equally important to give them the gift of working for a… Read More
Imagine The End | Make It Personal
Parenting Takes Courage
Confession: I lay awake at night and worry about my kids. It’s true. I know that worry is a waste of time. I know that worry shows a lack of faith. But sometimes . . . I worry. I have a child… Read More
Character and Values | High School (9th-12th) | Imagine The End
Developing Character and Responsibility in Your Teen
One of the ironies of parenting is that we have to give our kids freedom to fail in order for them to grow up. If you over-parent your teenager, your actions are shouting to her that you don’t believe she can succeed… Read More
The Work Of Teaching Kids to Value Everyone
“I will never be friends with Will*! He has a funny looking hand, and I will never play with him!” my 4-year-old passionately declared the moment she climbed in the backseat of our car after her first day of pre-k. I froze,… Read More
Advice I’d Give Myself If I Were Starting Over as a Dad
This is going to sound strange, but I do wonder sometimes if God got it backwards when it comes to parenting. I’m not really questioning God’s wisdom, so don’t respond with a super-spiritual answer to correct my logic, just let me think… Read More
High Hopes
We all have high hopes for our future, especially for our kid’s future. We all want the “perfect” family and we even try to fake it to the world through social media. But the truth is, we are not perfect. Our lives… Read More
High School (9th-12th) | Imagine The End
The Temporary Car Lot at My House
I’m not exactly sure how to say this without it coming across like I’m bragging, so I’ll just come out and say it. I’m overly considerate. Before you nominate me for humanitarian of the year, let me rephrase that. I’m overly .… Read More
Character and Values | Imagine The End
Helping Kids Come Alive
“Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.” That’s what Donovan sang way back in 1965. Sure—on the surface, it’s a sweet ode to his true love. But let’s be honest. He might as well have been singing about… Read More
Character and Values | Imagine The End | Special Topics
Why Showing Kindness to Your Spouse Matters to Your Kids
My wife and I worked with teenagers for many years, and one of the skills we learned was to ask great questions, which often lead to great conversations. Now we work with married people; but we get to practice those same skills… Read More