Daly Focus Blog
Have you seen them? Are you one of them?
All across the country, millions of parents, more often than not with children in tow, have descended upon stores and shops in search of coveted school supplies. If you’re not one of them and think that sounds like an easy task, think again. Many of today’s students are given a laundry list of very specific items to bring into the classroom, ranging from the classic wooden ruler to allergy-free wet wipes.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Do you ever yell at your kids?
Okay, maybe it’s not a full-fledged, lung-bursting roar loud enough to give the Lion King a run for his money, but do you raise your voice in anger when your children misbehave? Maybe you’re not the ranting type, but do you clench your teeth and, like a Doberman ready to strike, growl out your words one at a time?
“Do . . . what . . . Daddy .
Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
My friend Mark sent me this email and, frankly, I’m stumped on how to delicately answer his daughter’s question. He writes:
Hey Jim,
My wife and I had a really awkward experience during our vacation last week. Any chance you could give us some advice on how to handle it? Here’s what happened. We were traveling on the stretch of highway from the Orlando, Florida area heading south toward West Palm Beach. The kids were sitting in the back of our minivan, engrossed in their fifth episode of Adventures in Odyssey.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: intimacy, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
In Russia, it’s called “baking pancakes”, in Poland, “letting the ducks out,” in Ireland, “skiffing” and in the Ukraine it’s known as “letting the frogs out.” But in our house, and I suspect in yours, too, it’s simply called “skipping rocks.”
A few nights ago, after a long day at the office and an hour or so before the sun set behind the mountains, I took our boys, Trent and Troy, over to Monument Lake to teach them the fine art of skimming stones.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Somebody once suggested to me that the majority of successful entrepreneurs usually have two things from their past in common: The loss of a parent at a young age—and a paper route.
I was reminded of that while reading the Wall Street Journal recently. Douglas Belkin’s piece this past Saturday titled, “Superman Birthplace is Restored,” offers some interesting background information on the creation of the famous comic strip-turned television-turned movie character. And it actually has a lot to do with what we’re trying to do here at Focus on the Family.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Every now and again, I’m struck by how relevant the popular author Ken Blanchard’s managerial adages are to family life.
Probably best known for his blockbuster book, The One Minute Manager, the sought-after business guru is regularly reminding his audiences to “Catch people in the act of doing something right.” It’s a tactic I try to employ around the office of Focus on the Family, but it’s not a bad habit for parents to use at home as well.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
The other day there was an issue that required parental attention in the Daly household. Trent was upset that he had been disciplined. I can’t remember whether the offense warranted a spanking or a timeout. Either way, Trent’s reaction was to run to his room and plop down into his soft, oversized-bean bag chair.
One of the things Jean and I try to do after we discipline the boys is to reaffirm our love for them.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Ken Windebank, a colleague of mine, likes to ask a question of people, and I have begun to do it myself. The question is simple, “What’s one thing you did well as a parent?” The other day, for instance, I was meeting with a very successful financial manager in Southern California. I’ll call him Gary. I asked Gary that question and, after a brief pause, he said, “The best thing we did was to have dinner together as a family every night.”
Eating dinner together?
Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Sometimes God has to use simple words to get through to me. Case in point.
One of the things I like to do after dinner is to engage the family in a brief time of devotions. Given the age of our boys, we’re reading from a children’s picture story version of the Bible. The other day I was reading the story of King Saul, David, and Goliath. Keep in mind that the editors of the children’s Bible condensed the whole 58-verse saga down to about eight illustrated pages with maybe six words on each page.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
I know this is a tad early, but here’s a reflection with Father’s Day around the corner. As I said in my first book, Finding Home, life is wonderful . . . and life is hard. Having moved 23 times as a kid, I’ve experienced my share of both and prefer the good stuff this journey has to offer. Especially considering the train wreck that was characteristic of my childhood. My family put the “D” into Dysfunction.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, faith, kids, parenting 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.