Jim Daly

Why Moms Need Friendships

A couple of weeks ago, I started my blog by saying, “Motherhood feels like the loneliest job on the planet for many women – especially for young moms who live far away from close family. They go through their days as a one-woman army, balancing work, children, and a never-ending list of responsibilities around the home.”

Moms need friendship, but many struggle to find it. Judging by a lot of moms I know, I’d guess one reason is that they struggle to find the personal time and space that would allow them to build relationships.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, friendship, parenting

Focus Resources Also Available En Español

Did you know there are 41 million native Spanish speakers living in the United States?

That means you probably know someone whose first language – the tongue they understand at a heart level – is Spanish.

It’s because of those 41 million people (and the other 429 million native Spanish speakers around the world) that we carry Spanish-language versions of many of our key marriage and family resources.

Our latest such offering is the six-session, DVD-based curriculum “Luchando por un mejor matrimonio,” based on the popular and effective book “Fight Your Way to a Better Marriage.”

It sounds counter-intuitive, but it’s true: there really can be a purpose to fighting in marriage – if you fight well.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, promos

Freeing Teen Girls from Their Secrets

There’s a saying that “you’re only as sick as your secrets.”

Some secrets are fun and are part of a healthy life – like staying quiet about a surprise party or that special gift you bought for a friend. Other secrets are like a virus. They attach to the deepest, most vulnerable parts of who we are, and they eat away at us, bringing nothing but unhappiness.

That dark reality is a struggle many teen girls face every day.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, parenting

A Lost Bear at Chick-fil-A?

My wife and I recently had one of “those” parenting experiences.

You know the type. It’s a bit exasperating while you’re living it, but later makes you chuckle when you retell the story?

It all started a few months ago, when Jean and I welcomed two children from Colorado’s foster care system into our home. They’re a sister-brother pair, “Chloe” and “Sam.” She’s 4, he’s 3, and they both are great kids. They’re adjusting well to life at the Daly home, and our sons enjoy being big brothers.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, parenting

Darrell and Stevie Waltrip on God, Faith, and Marriage

This coming weekend in Richmond, Virginia, upwards of 200,000 NASCAR fans will gather at the Richmond International Raceway for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and millions more will watch on television.

Detailing the event’s “play by play” for FOX Sports will be Darrell Waltrip. I recently had the opportunity to spend some time with Darrell and his wife, Stevie, and I’m excited to welcome them to our program as our guests.

Darrell was one of the most successful drivers on the NASCAR circuit in the 1980s.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, marriage

From Manson-Follower to Christ-Follower

Over a period of two nights in 1969, seven people were murdered in their homes in the Los Angeles area.

Several of the victims were bound, and strange messages were written on the walls in their own blood. The most well-known victim was actress Sharon Tate, who was 8 ½ months pregnant. Her baby boy died in her womb.

The crimes became known as the Tate-Labianca murders and were carried out by members of the “Manson Family” at the instruction of their leader, Charles Manson, who is considered one of the most notorious murderers of the last century.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, pop culture

Help for Family Caregivers

Actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, best known for her 90s hit movie “Father of the Bride,” has written a book about her mother’s dementia.

Kimberly first noticed something was awry with her mom, Linda Williams, on her wedding day in 2003. (She married country singer Brad Paisley.) Her mom was acting irrationally that day, and uncharacteristically struggled through a reading during the ceremony.

Two years later, at age 61, Williams was diagnosed with a rare and incurable form of early-onset dementia called primary progressive aphasia.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, pro-life

Trusting God in the Barrenness of Life

Writing about a time of deep struggle in her life, Sara Hagerty described her experience this way:

“My awareness of my infertility was as variable as the rain. Some days it was a drizzle on the backdrop of my story. Other days it was a downpour altering my whole day.”

That captures so well the emotional upheaval that often accompanies life’s difficulties.

We all go through seasons where we’re overwhelmed, the answers to our problems are hard to come by, and our faith in God is tested.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith

Educational Options for Christian Families

As many Christians have observed, the impact from the Supreme Court’s redefinition of marriage last year will be felt for generations and across many aspects of our daily lives.

Our children’s education is one of those areas affected by the government’s legal recognition of same-sex marriage.

A few months ago here in the blog, Focus’ Education Analyst Candi Cushman helped us consider the impact the redefinition of marriage might have on public schools and students’ rights in those schools.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: events, kids, pop culture, religious liberty

Dr. Karyn Purvis, a Champion for “Children from Hard Places,” Dies at 66

Focus on the Family and many parents from around the world lost a dear friend to cancer yesterday.

Dr. Karyn Purvis, one of the most respected child advocates in the nation, developed effective research-based ways to help children with histories of trauma, abuse and neglect. She co-authored “The Connected Child: Bringing Hope and Healing to your Adoptive Family,” a best-selling book on adoption that’s one of the first resources our orphan care team recommends to families considering adoption.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: adoption, parenting