family Archives

Why Strangers May Know Where Your Children Are

At the risk of alarming you, this is something you’ll want to know.

Whenever your youngster uses their phone or computer to access the Internet, there are businesses out there collecting, analyzing, dissecting and selling the details of their use to other businesses.

For example, if your daughter posts a photograph of friends on Facebook, it’s possible for certain technology to determine the exact location of the snapshot. Such finite details can be valuable to companies trying to market to teenage girls.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, parenting, technology October 2, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Caption this Photo

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids September 28, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Three Ways Marriage Improves Your Health

I want to share with you some scientific findings about the family that were culled from nearly 35 years worth of research. The results were analyzed and compiled by two of my Focus colleagues, Andrew Hess and Glenn Stanton. Following is a condensed version of their full report.

The Health Benefits of Marriage

The pursuit of health has become a cultural phenomenon. Diet, exercise, supplements, relaxation and medications have all been touted as the way to achieve good health.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, husband, marriage, wife September 27, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Give the Refs a Break

I know what I’m about to say may not be very popular, especially today.

Last night’s chaotic and controversial end to the Seahawks and Packers Monday Night Football game has thrown gasoline on the fire surrounding the performance of replacement officials in the NFL.

And let me just say that I get it. I’m a fan. I watch the games. I enjoy the purity of the sport and don’t appreciate the delays and the mistakes that impact outcomes.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, family, pop culture, pro-life September 25, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Five Types of Weekend Warriors

Do you have a home improvement project planned for this weekend?

When it comes to fixing or building things around the house, the late writer, Andy Rooney, once identified five categories of people.

Which one best describes you?

1. The person who knows how to do it, and proceeds quietly and efficiently to get the job done right, alone. This is a rare species.

2. The helpless. This person can’t do it, won’t try to do it, and has no interest in learning how.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, husband, marriage, wife September 21, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Father-Daughter Dances Are Now Illegal?

Public school officials in Cranston, Rhode Island, have banned all “father-daughter” and “mother-son” activities, citing a threat from the American Civil Liberties Union, according to published reports.

The ACLU had filed a complaint on behalf of a single mother who argued such events were unfair to her daughter, who is unable to participate. A school attorney suggested that Rhode Island law banning gender discrimination makes gender specific activities illegal.

My heart breaks for every child forced to grow up without two parents.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, kids, news, parenting September 19, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Five Things You Might Not Know About the Ryder Cup

You’ve heard of the Ryder Cup and might even know a little bit about the storied golf tournament, but do you know anything about the man behind the trophy?

In this age of negotiating naming rights and corporate sponsorships, a youngster recently suggested the Ryder Cup was named after the Ryder Truck Company.

Not quite.

Because many of you are interested in golf and since Focus on the Family will be sponsoring a special event (more on this in a moment) in conjunction with this year’s tournament in Medinah, Illinois, I thought it would be fun to share five things you probably don’t know about the history of the Ryder Cup.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: events, faith, family September 17, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

One Consequence of Same-Sex Marriage

By the end of this month it’s likely to be legal for children in California to have three parents.

As of now, the state’s current law only allows two parents per child, which is both the historical standard and the common sense one.

So why aren’t two enough anymore?

Same-sex marriage.

Children of lesbian couples may have two “mothers,” but it’s obviously impossible for a child to be conceived without a father. The same is true for homosexual men; every child is born of a mother, even if the male couple deems her simply utilitarian in nature.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, homosexuality, kids, parenting September 13, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What Do You Tell Your Children About 9-11?

To some, September 11, 2001 seems like a lifetime ago, especially to the parents of young children. Our oldest son, Trent, was just one year-old and Troy hadn’t even been born when the serenity of that late summer morning was shattered by terrorists.

As I drove the boys to school this morning we discussed the anniversary. Over the years we’ve talked a lot about what happened on that tragic day, about the loss of innocent life and how so many dreams of so many families never came true – all because their father or mother never came home.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, family, parenting September 11, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Child’s Ten Commandments to Parents

1. My hands are small; please don’t expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball. My legs are short; please slow down so that I can keep up with you.

2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely: don’t restrict me unnecessarily.

3. Housework will always be there. I’m only little such a short time—please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting September 9, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura