“I told the team, ‘We’re going to win.’ And I meant it,” my son told me the day after their 40-6 loss. Varsity had lost badly to this team last weekend. Every bone in my body said, “They’re going to lose.” But I was surprised that he had started staring the odds in...
Tips & inspiration
BY FAMILIES, FOR FAMILIESTeaching Character: Think About the Future to Adjust in the Present
My son is almost nine. He loves to make things. Cardboard boxes, scraps of cloth or wood, and pieces of anything and everything are sources of imagination and delight for him. I’ve had to covertly throw out many, many things, or else our house would have likely become...
A Memorial Tribute to My Wife Giusi Johnson
By Mark Johnson When I think about my late wife Giusi, I am in an endless state of awe and amazement. I had the privilege to witness the life of a very special person up close for 17 years. It’s hard to believe that 23 years have gone by since her time of passing. I...
Healing Fractures: A lesson in parenting
By K.M. When you have a boy, there are certain things that you know will probably be inevitable: knee scrapes, fights, mud, and broken bones. Even if you expect it - each one weighs heavy on your heart. So when our extremely active three-year-old boy fractured his...
Understanding Man’s Psychology Based on the Four Masculine Archetypes
Ignorance is NOT bliss. It prevents us from realizing our full potential. One case in point is in understanding the full potential of man himself. Part of this struggle is not knowing what a mature man looks like. Therefore, it is essential and critical to think...
Keep Doors Open
Susan’s son is now grown. In fact, they are really close. They even work together. But Susan knows, a child’s happiness is not something that comes easily. It is something that a mother has to keep fighting for. Susan’s son has special learning needs. He was often...
Extending Our Family Means Extending Our Hearts
By Ken Bates There is often a significant event that becomes the "defining moment" for an individual or group. As a defining moment, it's some special occurrence or decision that makes a statement on who you are and what matters most to you. It may be overcoming...
A Precious Gift from My Aunt
By M.I. My life has been quite a journey so far, and yet there is still so much ahead of me. It's been hard sometimes, so it's been important that God was always with me, and I shouldn't give up. One of the main people who helped me realize that is my aunt. She taught...
Tales about Grandpa and the Gifts He Gave to Mom
Originally published: Jun 19, 2020 This is a shortened version of a biographical essay I wrote when I was in elementary school. We were asked to interview our parents and I had interviewed my mother. This became, in a way, more of an ode to my mother’s father (my...