kids Archives

VIDEO: How to Make a Difference

In East Los Angeles you’ll find a little boy with a big imagination. Only nine years-old, Caine Monroy spent his summer at his dad’s auto parts store with nothing much to do. So with the help of a little packing tape and a lot of creativity, he turned a back room full of empty boxes into a makeshift arcade.

There was only one problem.

For weeks and weeks, only one person stopped in to play. But that one person got an idea.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, events, kids August 16, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Dad Reflects on the First Day of School

Today I want to share with you a poignant reflection from my friend and colleague, James Anderson. If you have children, I know you’ll relate to his words.

A Morning I Will Never Forget

My wife and I walked our first-born daughter, Charlie Mae, to kindergarten the other day. The kids were decked out in new sneakers, sparkly clothes and backpacks so new they were stiff. The scene was full of parents with cameras in hand and tears in their eyes.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting, religious liberty August 16, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Dear Stay-at-Home Mom

You’ll never convince me that anybody works harder than a mother. Parenting is a joy-filled experience, of course, but it also requires a tremendous amount of effort. The legendary writer, John Steinbeck, once put it quite succinctly. “It takes courage,” he wrote, “to raise children.”

On the lighter side, the comedian Bill Cosby has always been deft at reminding us to not take ourselves too seriously. “No matter how calmly you try to referee,” he once said, “parenting will eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I’m not talking about the kids.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting August 8, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What One Mom Has Learned from the Olympics

The London Games continue to serve up hours and hours of spirited fun for millions around the world. For parents, the Olympics also provide all kinds of “teachable moments” for our kids, from talking about the dedication required in training to how to handle disappointment when a medal is just beyond reach.

For one mom, the delayed broadcast of the Games has also served to give her some much needed perspective. Christy Cabe is a talented writer who chronicles life with a mother’s heart because, well, she’s a happy mom who is busily raising three young children.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, family, kids, parenting, pop culture August 2, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What You Might Not Know About Olympian Missy Franklin

Missy Franklin has good timing – no pun intended.

At a moment when the country is hungry for some good news, for a hero to root for and an uplifting story about a star who will make you smile, the 17-year-old Coloradoan’s performance at the Summer Olympics seems to be just what the doctor ordered.

Have you been watching the games?

The family and I have been following the Olympics each night, especially the swimming, and we’re really getting into it.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting August 1, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Will China Stop Forcing Abortions?

An article in last Wednesday’s USA Today chronicled in horrifying terms the forced abortion of 31-year-old Pan Chunyan’s baby. The only reason we know about the tragic ordeal, similar instances of which happen frequently in China, is because of the Internet and the explosion of social media users in that Communist-controlled country.

Ms. Chunyan was eight months pregnant with her third child, a violation of China’s one-child policy. She was told that she could keep her baby provided she pay a penalty, which was the equivalent of $8,640 U.S.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, news, policy, pro-life July 30, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Son’s Reaction: “That is Really Weird!”

I promised to share an update with you regarding “the talk” I had with my son Trent over the weekend. Thanks to all of you who offered counsel and prayed for us. It was greatly appreciated!

In short, the conversation went very well. I decided to organize it into three sections:

God’s design for marriage
God’s design for human sexuality
The practical application of sections 1 and 2.

I was extremely pleased with how well and warmly Trent received and connected with the discussion about God’s view of marriage and sexuality.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, pop culture July 30, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Big Talk

It was twelve short years ago that the doctor placed a tiny little boy in my arms, his eyes still closed and his skin soft and pink.

Trent and I became fast friends, my little buddy by my side, and I wondered if any father had ever loved a son as much as I loved mine.

Two years later that scene was repeated, and I quickly discovered that love multiplies.

I began to wonder again, this time if any father had ever loved his two sons as much I love ours.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting, sex July 26, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Confessions of a College Intern

I’m delighted that Focus on the Family has long maintained a robust outreach to the next generation of leaders,especially high school, college and millennials.

Our Leadership Institute, which began in 1995, has been mentoring students from both Christian and non-religious universities in significant ways. In addition, our internship program has attracted some of the nation’s best young people. If you have a son or daughter in that age bracket, or you’re on the hunt for an opportunity yourself, I’d invite you to click here to connect with us.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids July 18, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What Do You Think of This Photo?

This past weekend, Tim Goeglein, one of my colleagues at Focus, visited New York City’s Ground Zero Memorial.

There, at the southern tip of Manhattan, the names of all the twin tower victims are etched into the walls of one of the two waterfall cascades that commemorate where the two towers stood, and fell.

All the victims are memorialized…including the unborn child of a woman named Vanessa Lang Langer.

The child was known to her family and God.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, pro-life July 17, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura