Give the Gift of Connection
Tag encouragement
Focus on the Good: The Surprisingly Awesome Thing About Your Child’s Misbehavior
Focusing on the good is powerful. “No one has ever said anything like that to me!” The rough-looking teen’s tough veneer had softened. I (Jim) detected tears in his eyes. What had caused this teen, a complete stranger and one…
An Appropriate “Punishment” for Name-Calling? It’s Not What You Think
Teach connection and reconciliation with this simple policy
Are You Unintentionally Encouraging Bad Behavior? Here’s How to Switch That
Parents want to encourage good behavior from their children. But do you ever have a nagging suspicion that you’re actually encouraging bad behavior? Somehow, do all those well-meaning corrections and conversations end up encouraging hurtful behavior? The energy we give…
3 Ways To Help When Your Child Refuses To Do Schoolwork
What can you do when your child refuses to do schoolwork? For a variety of reasons, kids sometimes (or often!) are unmotivated to do what needs to be done. You know the importance of schoolwork, so it can feel frustrating…
When It Comes to Expressing Love…Timing Matters!
If you ask most parents, they would say it’s important to love children unconditionally. But in practice, sometimes that’s harder than it sounds! What exactly is unconditional love? What does it look like? One thing’s for sure: unconditional love is…
Hurtful Comments: Teach Your Child How to Process and Grow
How do you respond when your child is the recipient of really mean, really hurtful comments? When your child hears and experiences another child’s (or grown-up’s) hurtful words, it’s painful for you. Sometimes those words come from a sibling, a…
Here’s How to Seize the Opportunity When Your Child Feels Distant
“My daughter is distant from me.” How often have parents repeated these words? Or maybe it’s your son that is emotionally distant these days. The truth is, all relationships hit low points at times. For some kids, distance is their…
Got a Smart Teenager (or Child) With Bad Grades?
How to Inspire, Not Nag
“God is Always Up to Something!” | Ep. 27
NOTE: This content is available as a video, a blog post (below), or a 7-minute podcast. We trust this will serve every situation and learning style well. Here at Connected Families we realize this is a tough time for many…
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Encouragement from a Dad Who’s Been There
Hey, dads! I’ve been thinking a lot about you lately. You see, Lynne and I have this amazing opportunity to speak to groups of parents all over the country. Most of these workshops, however, are filled with a majority of…