You and your daughter used to be “besties.” She was your princess; you were her knight in shining armor. Y’all were like peas and carrots, PB and jelly, Gronk and Brady… Then KABLAM! She turned into a teenager. Which resulted in radio silence… Been there, currently doing that, wearing the proverbial t-shirt at this very…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AdobeStock_52390757-scaled-e1611611627126.jpeg13652048Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2021-01-25 16:54:012021-01-25 17:24:26Five Reasons Teen Girls Stop Talking to Their Dads
We’re told there are two things we don’t talk about in life: politics and religion. The only problem is, this “rule” sets us up for failure when these topics come up in conversation. Inevitably, most of us don’t know how to talk about them in a healthy way. Children are exposed to endless amounts of…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/pexels-daria-obymaha-1684038-scaled-e1611086634536.jpg427900Mitchell Quallshttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngMitchell Qualls2021-01-19 15:04:082021-01-21 11:30:39How to Talk to Your Kids About Politics
It’s hard to watch our teens feel insecure or see them lacking self-confidence. We want to encourage them to be more confident in themselves. So, we often have specific knee-jerk reactions to their insecurity. It’s easy to understand why. As parents, we… Want them to see themselves in all the wonderful ways we see them. …
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/warren-wong-u7dy-n4uZVk-unsplash-scaled-e1608559761910.jpg193600John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-12-21 09:09:402020-12-21 12:16:284 Ways to Encourage an Insecure Teen (And 2 Things Not to Do)
Parenting a teenager is easy, said no one, ever. But it can be easier if you know what to avoid.
When you became a parent, you were probably bombarded with “sage” advice for all the stages of parenting. Much of it you immediately threw away. There may have been a few statements that stuck in your psyche like: Just wait until they start walking. They will get into everything. Oh, just wait until they reach…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/pexels-any-lane-5727783-scaled-e1608040671602.jpg237600Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-12-15 08:58:012020-12-15 13:31:165 Mistakes Parents Make With Teens
It’s been a different kind of year, to say the least. You’ve changed, adapted, adjusted, and dealt with disappointments, uncertainties and the unexpected. But you made it. And as a family, you made it together. Here are 20 fun ways to end 2020 on a high note with your family. These ways will help you…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/pexels-any-lane-5727905-scaled-e1607437907972.jpg205600Reggie Madisonhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-12-08 09:32:012020-12-14 20:15:2920 Fun Ways (And A Bonus) To End 2020 On A High Note With Your Family
The best advice is always in the comment section. It’s an adage that’s proven right over and over. Doesn’t even matter what kind of publication. So, I’m reading an article online by a national beacon of journalism about the things teens need most from their parents. Couldn’t wait to get to the comment section! Having…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/AdobeStock_274973022-1-scaled-e1607437307145.jpeg247600John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-12-08 09:22:052020-12-08 13:32:465 Things All Teens Need From Their Parents (From Parents Of Teenagers)
Here we are at Christmas, supposedly “the most wonderful time of the year.” Children are wide-eyed in anticipation, excitedly telling their parents what they want Santa to bring them. On the other hand, parents are reeling amid the pandemic with too many unanswered questions to count. Let’s don’t even talk about finances. Or the pressure…
A while back, 23-year-old Alonzo Johnson made the news for helping an elderly gentleman down an escalator. When asked about what happened, he said his mother raised him to be nice and kind. “It’s really the way I was brought up and raised,” he said. Johnson went on to say that all the attention was…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/pexels-cottonbro-3662845-1.jpg9001400Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-12-02 14:36:462021-03-30 08:48:01How to Raise a Generous Child
If there is a generational divide today it is definitely digital. It’s not like parents don’t know how to use smartphones and understand how to use social media—they do (mostly). The generational divide is a mentality. Parents send texts and make posts on social, but they fail to realize that online, digital life is the…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/andrew-neel-JBfdCFeRDeQ-unsplash-scaled-e1605642161914.jpg253600John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-11-17 14:43:402020-11-18 12:06:01Dating Violence in the Digital Age
The goal of parenting is to raise competent and self-reliant adults. You may be shocked because parents often think about raising “their” children. In reality, you’re raising someone’s future spouse, someone’s prospective employee, and someone’s future parent. For your future adult to be successful, things like communication, conflict management, and interpersonal skills are necessary. Additionally,…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pexels-cottonbro-3662800-scaled-e1605542949531.jpg236600Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-11-16 11:09:402020-11-16 12:55:115 Ways To Help Your Child Be More Confident
Marvin Marinovich thought he knew how you pass down your values to your kids. He may have tried harder than any parent in history. Recognized as a training guru in the 1960s, he became the NFL’s first strength and conditioning coach. He opened an athletic training research center and pioneered training methods still in use…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/some-tale-eiANLw5neAM-unsplash-scaled-e1604332063332.jpg231600John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-11-02 10:48:022020-11-02 11:59:53How To (And How Not To) Pass Down Your Values
“NO!” Do you remember how you felt the first time your child dead-eyed defied you? As a parent of very strong-willed sons, I remember the first time my oldest said, “NO!” when I asked him to pick up his toys in the living room. I was so taken aback I said to myself, “I must…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/omar-lopez-zsXDWzlqpKU-unsplash-scaled-e1603887737184.jpg204600Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-10-28 08:22:272021-03-16 12:53:49I Feel Like I’m In A Constant Power Struggle With My Child!
Adults are working from home. Students are learning from home. We’re Zooming and following IG stories to keep up with our friends and family. We have become more reliant on technology to earn a living, get an education, and stay connected to loved ones than ever before. Even in the midst of our dependence on…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pexels-august-de-richelieu-4260325-e1603804296998.jpg229600Reggie Madisonhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-10-27 09:11:492020-10-27 11:50:338 Tips For Setting Technology Boundaries In Your Family
Do you remember your first trip home from college? My mother picked me up from the airport and immediately took me to my favorite hometown restaurant. When we got home, we sat in the kitchen and talked for hours about my time away at school. She was curious and asked about the new things I…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/AdobeStock_202356724-scaled-e1603803709673.jpeg207600Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-10-27 09:02:172020-10-27 10:20:41How to Deal With Your College Student Coming Home for an Extended Winter Break
“Honey, the test was positive.” When you find out you’re about to be a dad, the lack of experience can strike fear into even the most confident man. There are a few things I’ve learned after playing a part in bringing seven kids into this world that would’ve been helpful to know on the front…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/oscar-lennin-salazar-m-1xuy92N718o-unsplash-scaled-e1603199488131.jpg207600Reggie Madisonhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-10-20 09:11:422020-10-21 12:22:535 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Became A Dad
So you’re a new dad. Congrats!! This is an exciting time. Did you get your how-to manual full of explanations and instructions? You didn’t? Hmmm, wonder what happened there? Oh wait, that doesn’t exist. If only kids came with instruction manuals. (Even if they did, would you even read it? I probably wouldn’t. Maybe that’s…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/devon-divine-nMv8DMdM4Z8-unsplash-scaled-e1603199202603.jpg238600Mitchell Quallshttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngMitchell Qualls2020-10-20 09:07:482020-11-03 11:41:53Tips For A First-Time Dad
Here's one key to guiding your teen through romance.
I was sitting at my middle school son’s football game. Some parents around me were discussing who was dating who in the school. I kept quiet during the conversation, but was anxiously waiting for them to mention my son. They did. I was astonished and a little embarrassed because I was totally unaware my son…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pexels-pixabay-248021-scaled-e1603198861415.jpg192600Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-10-20 09:01:182021-03-30 08:57:22How Do I Talk to My Teen About Their Romantic Relationships?
College for my son began with the entire family traveling to NYC to drop him off. College life this year is DIFFERENT. You probably experienced many different emotions all at the same time like excitement, sadness, pride, worry, happiness, and anxiety. You had concerns because it was the first time your student had been away…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pexels-ketut-subiyanto-4560092-e1603139734387.jpg210600Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-10-19 16:35:492020-10-21 08:56:29A Parent’s Guide To Mental Health For College Students During COVID-19
The past year was crazy. Finances. Family. Working from home. Homeschooling. Navigating a pandemic. Stress. Anxiety. Depression. The present is hard. The future is uncertain. What happened to our family? What will happen next? Rarely are our minds engaged in what is going on right now. Our attention is so focused on what happened yesterday…
Just wait until they turn 13, they said. Yeah, they’re cute now, but the day is coming, they said. Then my daughter turned 13. And I admit, the days are a lot more unpredictable when you have a middle school daughter. I never know whether I’ll be driving Jekyll or Hyde home from school on…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/AdobeStock_280730049-scaled-e1602530871101.jpeg312600Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-10-12 15:28:112020-11-03 11:36:26Dad, Here Are 5 Things Your Middle School Daughter Needs from You
Five Reasons Teen Girls Stop Talking to Their Dads
You and your daughter used to be “besties.” She was your princess; you were her knight in shining armor. Y’all were like peas and carrots, PB and jelly, Gronk and Brady… Then KABLAM! She turned into a teenager. Which resulted in radio silence… Been there, currently doing that, wearing the proverbial t-shirt at this very…
How to Talk to Your Kids About Politics
We’re told there are two things we don’t talk about in life: politics and religion. The only problem is, this “rule” sets us up for failure when these topics come up in conversation. Inevitably, most of us don’t know how to talk about them in a healthy way. Children are exposed to endless amounts of…
4 Ways to Encourage an Insecure Teen (And 2 Things Not to Do)
It’s hard to watch our teens feel insecure or see them lacking self-confidence. We want to encourage them to be more confident in themselves. So, we often have specific knee-jerk reactions to their insecurity. It’s easy to understand why. As parents, we… Want them to see themselves in all the wonderful ways we see them. …
5 Mistakes Parents Make With Teens
When you became a parent, you were probably bombarded with “sage” advice for all the stages of parenting. Much of it you immediately threw away. There may have been a few statements that stuck in your psyche like: Just wait until they start walking. They will get into everything. Oh, just wait until they reach…
20 Fun Ways (And A Bonus) To End 2020 On A High Note With Your Family
It’s been a different kind of year, to say the least. You’ve changed, adapted, adjusted, and dealt with disappointments, uncertainties and the unexpected. But you made it. And as a family, you made it together. Here are 20 fun ways to end 2020 on a high note with your family. These ways will help you…
5 Things All Teens Need From Their Parents (From Parents Of Teenagers)
The best advice is always in the comment section. It’s an adage that’s proven right over and over. Doesn’t even matter what kind of publication. So, I’m reading an article online by a national beacon of journalism about the things teens need most from their parents. Couldn’t wait to get to the comment section! Having…
What Your Child Really Wants for Christmas
Here we are at Christmas, supposedly “the most wonderful time of the year.” Children are wide-eyed in anticipation, excitedly telling their parents what they want Santa to bring them. On the other hand, parents are reeling amid the pandemic with too many unanswered questions to count. Let’s don’t even talk about finances. Or the pressure…
How to Raise a Generous Child
A while back, 23-year-old Alonzo Johnson made the news for helping an elderly gentleman down an escalator. When asked about what happened, he said his mother raised him to be nice and kind. “It’s really the way I was brought up and raised,” he said. Johnson went on to say that all the attention was…
Dating Violence in the Digital Age
If there is a generational divide today it is definitely digital. It’s not like parents don’t know how to use smartphones and understand how to use social media—they do (mostly). The generational divide is a mentality. Parents send texts and make posts on social, but they fail to realize that online, digital life is the…
5 Ways To Help Your Child Be More Confident
The goal of parenting is to raise competent and self-reliant adults. You may be shocked because parents often think about raising “their” children. In reality, you’re raising someone’s future spouse, someone’s prospective employee, and someone’s future parent. For your future adult to be successful, things like communication, conflict management, and interpersonal skills are necessary. Additionally,…
How To (And How Not To) Pass Down Your Values
Marvin Marinovich thought he knew how you pass down your values to your kids. He may have tried harder than any parent in history. Recognized as a training guru in the 1960s, he became the NFL’s first strength and conditioning coach. He opened an athletic training research center and pioneered training methods still in use…
I Feel Like I’m In A Constant Power Struggle With My Child!
“NO!” Do you remember how you felt the first time your child dead-eyed defied you? As a parent of very strong-willed sons, I remember the first time my oldest said, “NO!” when I asked him to pick up his toys in the living room. I was so taken aback I said to myself, “I must…
8 Tips For Setting Technology Boundaries In Your Family
Adults are working from home. Students are learning from home. We’re Zooming and following IG stories to keep up with our friends and family. We have become more reliant on technology to earn a living, get an education, and stay connected to loved ones than ever before. Even in the midst of our dependence on…
How to Deal With Your College Student Coming Home for an Extended Winter Break
Do you remember your first trip home from college? My mother picked me up from the airport and immediately took me to my favorite hometown restaurant. When we got home, we sat in the kitchen and talked for hours about my time away at school. She was curious and asked about the new things I…
5 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Became A Dad
“Honey, the test was positive.” When you find out you’re about to be a dad, the lack of experience can strike fear into even the most confident man. There are a few things I’ve learned after playing a part in bringing seven kids into this world that would’ve been helpful to know on the front…
Tips For A First-Time Dad
So you’re a new dad. Congrats!! This is an exciting time. Did you get your how-to manual full of explanations and instructions? You didn’t? Hmmm, wonder what happened there? Oh wait, that doesn’t exist. If only kids came with instruction manuals. (Even if they did, would you even read it? I probably wouldn’t. Maybe that’s…
How Do I Talk to My Teen About Their Romantic Relationships?
I was sitting at my middle school son’s football game. Some parents around me were discussing who was dating who in the school. I kept quiet during the conversation, but was anxiously waiting for them to mention my son. They did. I was astonished and a little embarrassed because I was totally unaware my son…
A Parent’s Guide To Mental Health For College Students During COVID-19
College for my son began with the entire family traveling to NYC to drop him off. College life this year is DIFFERENT. You probably experienced many different emotions all at the same time like excitement, sadness, pride, worry, happiness, and anxiety. You had concerns because it was the first time your student had been away…
A Family’s Guide To Mindfulness
The past year was crazy. Finances. Family. Working from home. Homeschooling. Navigating a pandemic. Stress. Anxiety. Depression. The present is hard. The future is uncertain. What happened to our family? What will happen next? Rarely are our minds engaged in what is going on right now. Our attention is so focused on what happened yesterday…
Dad, Here Are 5 Things Your Middle School Daughter Needs from You
Just wait until they turn 13, they said. Yeah, they’re cute now, but the day is coming, they said. Then my daughter turned 13. And I admit, the days are a lot more unpredictable when you have a middle school daughter. I never know whether I’ll be driving Jekyll or Hyde home from school on…