Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Krista Davis who directs Safe Families for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana. Safe Families is a national movement of compassion that gives hope to families in crisis. So many great things are happening through this organization. Check out my full interview with Krista here:
A couple of years ago, my son got busted! I mean, REALLY busted. ‘Bigger than life’ busted. But the most important thing about that day was the lesson on priorities that we learned as parents.
In nearly 18 years of working with teenagers and their families, I have watched countless parents become frustrated with their teenager. Similarly, I have watched countless teenagers close themselves off from their parents. While there’s much to say to teenagers about their interaction with their parents, there is also much to say to parents about understanding their teenager.
The other night I caught my son doing something he was not supposed to do. But when I questioned him about it, he lied. Right to my face. Admittedly, I was being harsh. My tone was harsh, my words were harsh… I was frustrated. Mostly due to the fact that he lied. But also because he would not tell me why he lied. As I pressed and pressed, he lied all the more. And then it hit me- “I’m causing this.”
Twelve years ago, before my wife and I had children, we needed someone, who had gone before us in having children, to speak wisdom into our lives. Mostly (and unfortunately) we received comments like, “Oh, you wouldn’t understand, you don’t have any children.” That wasn’t helpful. Now, years later, we want to be.
I love my kids. Every single moment I have with them as they grow is a gift. I feel it necessary to begin this post, with the title it has, with that disclaimer. Especially after you read the rest below. Perhaps beginning with a small disclaimer will cut down on the email or comments I may get reminding me to cherish every moment I have of their childhood. Don’t worry, I do. But sometimes, we dream!
A couple of months ago, one of our daughters told us that she and her boyfriend were pregnant. We were frustrated and a little embarrassed by her choice. But then we realized that hers, or any other bad choice that our children might make, are not our fault. Here’s why…
I wrote this post over year ago as I was just beginning Confessions Of A Parent. I was reminded of it the other day when I received a message from an adoptive father about the struggles he and his wife were having over “sharing” their daughter with her birth parent. I would love to hear your thoughts or feedback. After reading, leave a comment!
As I look back over my adult life I realize something- I’ve never been one for making New Year’s resolutions. I’m not against them, they’re just not something I’ve ever given any attention to. Over the past few years, however, I’ve begun establishing personal and professional goals. This post is one of my personal goals in 2014:
Confession: my daughter wants to die! My daughter is sensitive, quiet, caring and loving. She takes everything to heart. She is wildly creative and a little eccentric. She also struggles with depression. We have always suspected this about her. She rarely talks about how she’s feeling but occasionally alludes to feeling stupid, dumb, worthless and unwanted. When she was in first grade she said she wished she had never been born. Over the years she has allowed us small glimpses into her soul. She has shared tidbits of her true feelings but she has always been guarded. I have prayed
