Teach Your Son Accountability
Teaching your son accountability is as important as teaching honesty, empathy and integrity. Often accountability gets overlooked as a core value; when in fact it’s one of the most important!
Tips for Dads
“The Train of Life”
Periodically I am moved by a poem or quote that I have read or received. If you follow me, you know that one of those poems is by Rudyard Kipling “If.” Recently one of my dear friends, my United States Air Force buddy sent me this.
Meet “Phoney:” The New Nanny!
Let me introduce you to “Phoney” the new reliable, relatively inexpensive nanny. Its very busy these days; responsibilities include entertaining, and in some cases educating your son. Not my son, what’s he talking about you ask? Does your son have a phone? If the answer is “yes,” you’ve likely allowed the phone (who I refer […]
4 Parenting Tips: Raising Young Men 17-19
It’s not easy raising boys 11-13 and 14-16 years old. However young men in the 17-19 age group are unique and I’ll tell you why. They are (or should be) young adults at this point. That doesn’t mean you stop parenting but more importantly, he needs your help “preparing for” critical next steps. The most […]
Mentored-Mentor-Mentoring
In honor of National Mentor Day on October 27, 2020 I would like to share my experience as a mentor to young men, ages 11-16 who work every Saturday during the summer months in a garden. About the “Patch” The name of the garden is “Charity Patch.” Seven years ago, my wife and I set […]
5 Parenting Tips: Raising Young Men 14-16
Are you raising a young man 14 to 16-years-old and you are concerned because he’s pulling away from you (mom and/or dad)? He suddenly thinks he knows everything, and you know nothing! Here are some helpful tips:
5 Parenting Tips: For Boys 11-13
Looking for parenting tips on what’s happening with your 11-13 year old son? I’ve worked with over 2,000 boys for more than 20 years in The Quest Project® a 10-week Modern Day Rite of Passage® program. We meet in age appropriate groups: 11 to 13, 14 to 16, and 17 to 19-year-olds. Here I focus […]
Parenting Tip: Discipline vs Punishment
What’s the difference in discipline and punishment you ask? There’s a big difference, in fact a huge difference between them. Let me explain. Punishment Your son has broken the rules; he’s been caught drinking or smoking, maybe a bad report card. You must do “something,” he needs to be punished. The way to stop a child from misbehaving […]
Parenting Tip: Peer Pressure and Your Son
It’s time for a new school year to begin. As you monitor grades, homework and schedules, don’t forget to watch for social changes that may be related to peer pressure. Peer pressure is by definition: Social pressure by members of one’s peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in […]
9 Reasons for Modern-Day Rite of Passage
A rite of passage for a young male is a transition, and in its simplest terms means “changing from a boy to a man.” Unfortunately today in our society we have forgotten and moved away from recognizing and honoring this time in a young man’s life. The result is Our Boys are in Trouble! If you read […]