In fall and spring a ritual takes place among millions of 14-24 year olds that has nothing to do with school. For one hour every Thursday night they tune in to watch a group of castaways that have been left on an uninhabited island far away. They watch these ordinary people on Survivor form alliances against one another, compete...
Continue ReadingA whopping 97% of12-17 year olds play video games, making it the most popular activity among teenagers. On any given day 60% of teenagers will play a video game in their home. With $12 billion dollars in video games sales come concerns that the excessive violence in many of the games leads to aggressive behavior in those that pl...
Continue ReadingIf you are like many parents, the teenage years hit your home like a tornado. In your child’s opinion, you went from being a Zen Master of all things related to life and morphed into their own real world version of Homer Simpson. This child who once was the source of such joy and affirmation in your life now causes you to perp...
Continue ReadingEach summer tens of thousands of families plan trips to sunny destinations in order to relax on the beach, squish sand between their toes, and get a tan. While there is nothing wrong with waves and sand castles, a growing number of families are choosing short-term mission trips for their next adventure. Chances are good that you...
Continue ReadingSitting down for a regular healthy family meal can be a real challenge for working parents. Add to that having a teenager in your home who has an ever-changing schedule and a family meal can seem nearly impossible. But the benefits of those few minutes together as a family is too good to pass up. Improves Your family Heal...
Continue ReadingI walked into the living room to see my son playing on his XBox 360. With his headphones on and an intense look on his face, he was lost in a world filled with armed alien soldiers. Out of nowhere he said, “No dude, don’t go that way. Follow me.” Only he wasn’t talking to me. Curious, I asked, “Who are you talking to, ...
Continue ReadingMore than 80% of high schoolers and 50% of middle schoolers carry a cell phone. We all know that the thing they spend most of there time doing with the phone is texting. The average teen sends/receives an average of 2400 each month. As a parent, you’ve probably had a talk with your teen about it, yelled about it, or rolled you...
Continue ReadingGrowing up under the watchful eye of his mom and dad, Eric loved going to church. Like most kids, he loved the songs, his teachers, and seeing his childhood friends each week. But even for a kid, church wasn’t just a social thing for Eric. He could clearly remember the summer of third grade during one evening at Vacation Bible...
Continue ReadingI love art museums. My wife and I have gotten to visit some of the finest museums in the country. I feel peaceful and unhurried when I walk along the long hallways of giant paintings of masters from long ago. When I look at a classic painting I see definition, purpose and meaning. Whether its an etherial seascape or a couple of...
Continue ReadingIn their final year of high school, every action of your goal-oriented child is another stepping stone to help them get into the right college. They will be focused on entrance exams, college applications, and financial aide forms–everything on their checklist they think will launch them into success. A key step they could mis...
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