Daly Focus Blog
The year’s “it” Christmas present changes from year to year … or does it?
Back in 1983, parents were fighting over Cabbage Patch dolls. “Elmo-mania” swept the country during the Christmas of 1996 as moms and dads did the impossible to get their children “Tickle Me Elmo” toys. The Nintendo Wii was all the rage in 2006. And in their zeal to make sure Timmy and Susie found the year’s hottest presents under the tree, too many parents found themselves pushed, shoved and even injured.
Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
We’ve all heard of “wrongful death” lawsuits – a civil action where someone seeks damages against a party for causing a person’s demise.
Well, there’s a new trend gathering steam: the “wrongful birth” lawsuit.
But … can there even be such a thing?
Apparently some people think there is. Parents who paid for prenatal screening for genetic abnormalities ultimately had children born with conditions that had gone undiagnosed. A handful of these parents have contended in court that, had they known of the disabilities their preborn children had, they would have aborted rather than carried the children to term.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, pro-life by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
This ad from Coca-Cola Argentina captures the contradictory nature of parenting better than anything I’ve seen in a long time.
It also does a marvelous job of capturing the splendor of marriage and raising children.
Let’s face it. Parenting can certainly play to the extremes. In one Facebook status update a mom can share about her challenging day homeschooling but two hours later post a picture of her kids with a caption suggesting parenting is the most rewarding thing she’s ever done.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting, pop culture by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
I recently had the opportunity to write a piece for The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, a group dedicated to engaging the culture and speaking to issues in the public square.
The ERLC is led by Dr. Russell Moore, who recently guest blogged for me.
If you want to read my post, “Five Things Christians Can Learn from Adoption” – a piece that captures the lessons all of us at Focus have learned from our Wait No More program – you can do so by clicking here.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, faith, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Ralphie Parker wanted just one thing for Christmas:
“An official Red Ryder, carbine-action, two-hundred-shot, range-model air rifle.”
Fans of the perennial Yuletide favorite “A Christmas Story” know the plot like the back of their hand. Many even recite the lines from memory.
Of course, Ralphie’s quest is repeatedly met with a warning and a charge:
“You’ll shoot your eye out!”
If you ask me, the film works and has aged so well because it taps into the spirit and desires of boyhood.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
This 39-second clip demonstrates the need for engaged dads more than a thousand research papers ever could.
In 1998, the Jenny Jones Show aired an episode titled “Boot Camp my Pre-Teen” featuring a former Marine trying to shape up seemingly incorrigible boys.
The show takes an unexpected twist, however, when the drill sergeant asks a 10-year-old a question:
“Do you want me to be your daddy for the next eight years, son?”
Undoubtedly, the tough Marine thinks the idea will scare the child.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Just a few miles to the west of the Focus campus stands one of the premier ministries in all of Christendom. There, in the shadow of the red rocks of the Garden of the Gods park is headquartered the Navigators, an international, interdenominational organization committed “to know Christ and Make Him Known.”
Jim Downing, a long-time member of the Navs and a personal friend of their founder, Dawson Trotman, continues to serve the ministry as a volunteer on the collegiate team.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. Today I want to share with you my November newsletter.
Thank you for your support—it’s one of the things I’m grateful for today!
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It’s November, and that means Thanksgiving and—FOOTBALL! That word might not resonate with all of you, but for many families, the act of sitting back in a recliner to watch a game on Thanksgiving afternoon is as much a tradition as the turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
One of the greatest tasks of any parent is to raise children who care about others, and who show God’s love to their fellow man.
While there is no “10-step” program to ensure our kids will grow up to value “the least of these,” there’s something we can do to help instill this heart of compassion in our little ones. We can create an environment of awareness, and encourage our children when they seek to live their faith.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
For many families looking to adopt, the ride can be scary and expensive. That was the case for friends of Focus on the Family, Jonathan and Amanda Schmitt. The Schmitts’ story is the third in the adoption series I’m running during this November, National Adoption Month. (You can also read parts one and two.)
Here’s the Schmitts’ adoption story, as told by Amanda.
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Months turned to years and I still wasn’t pregnant. We were beginning to question what was going on.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, family, kids by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.Home
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