This is a must-do for every dad. If this isn’t at the top of your list, once you have done it, it soon will be. Keep reading to find out. If you want to connect with your kids, I can think of no better way than to … write them a letter. I did this last weekend when I was at a dads’ training conference, and my kids received their letters ...

With the young becoming quickly addicted to digital technology and social media, parents need to be aware and prepared for disciplining and guiding their children in the use of the internet. Whether we like it or not, you and I are pioneers in this brave new world of parenting in cyberspace. Answering questions our parents never had to deal with, like: is my child too young to have a Twitter account? ...

Teaching your children to help with chores doesn’t just benefit your family in the present — it has lifelong effects on your children’s confidence and success. My parents did not teach me to help in the home. Now I regret it. I have found out that the science is on the side of the parents to get their children to do chores and help in the home. The ‘benefits are enormous.’ ...

Anniversaries aren’t just for reminiscing about a past event. They are an opportunity to forge new memories together and cherish one another with expressions of true love. As critical as I am about New Year’s resolutions and the feckless sentimentalism attached, I am not averse to using January to prepare for key anniversaries. These key calendar events spark hope in the midst of the dull, back-to-work, post-Christmas grind. An anniversary is ...

It can be a habit to push oneself to the limit, but consciously carving time out of paid work, housework and childcare to rest, tend to yourself and others, and listen to God’s soft prompting will keep you happier and at peace amidst the busyness of life. Life has been crazy busy since Phoebe was born. At the beginning of this year, I was able to source some writing work which ...

My son’s many allergies have been a trial. In learning to alleviate his pain, and watching him bear patiently with discomfort, I have found a depth of strength and love which I never knew I had. ‘We’ll have to shut down the whole clinic for the afternoon,’ she said, annoyed. ‘Well, you just go ahead and do that,’ I thought, annoyed. But didn’t say it. My 11-month-old had suddenly developed a ...

Coronavirus is sweeping across Australia. Here are some tips to boost your immune system — and your loved ones’ immunity — so that you will be prepared if you catch it. Your body is your best friend. You live in your body, so it is important you take care of your body. The 12 Ways to Beat Covid-19 are more based around the concept of prevention as opposed to cure. The ...

Research shows that religious men tend to do more chores than non-religious, progressive men. What is the reason behind this? And what other reasons might men have to delve into the thick of housework? While housework is not the most glamorous of duties, research from the University of Utah suggests that some men are holding their own, both in the kitchen and outside it. Surprising Observations In January 2021, Utah-based Deseret ...

We’ve all been in that situation. A friend or relative confides in us that they are having some marriage trouble. We want to help but knowing what to do that is genuinely helpful is tricky. Here are a few tips to keep in mind. Use your best listening skills: give your full attention, validate the thoughts, emotions and needs expressed: “What I hear you saying is…” While it’s important for your ...

To guide your children through the throes of their teen years, help them form genuine relationships and find their purpose. Having a goal directs their energies in a productive and life-giving direction, instead of frittering their youth away with a YOLO attitude. This generation of teenagers is worrying parents like never before, throwing their talent out the door and accepting minimal wages to focus on a life of partying and binge ...

It can become overwhelming to juggle one’s duties and deal with interpersonal conflict. However, taking a step back and considering what matters most in your life can help you regain perspective on why the daily grind is all worth it — for your family. Life is never without problems, is it? When you think you’ve got a handle on a situation, something comes up unexpectedly and the problem rears its head ...

Noelle (2019) is mainly a movie about a daughter of Santa Claus discovering that she has inherited her father’s talents for the vocation of gift-giving to children across the world. However, it also highlights the importance of fathers, in both intact and separated families.

A family needs other families for friendship, support and mentoring, especially in hard times. It takes a village to raise a child, and it also takes a village to sustain a family. Be open to growing alongside other families, sharing love and care for one another. Recently my wife and I received a message from a close friend of ours, “Mum’s condition has rapidly deteriorated and she is now just sleeping… ...

Extinguishing conflict requires good communication. Here are some basic pointers on how to mediate a family quarrel and restore peace to your home. Most of you reading this would know that conflict resolution is a staple in just about every workplace. I don’t think I would be met with a whole lot of disagreement by asserting that the same emphasis should also be applied in the home. Two people step up ...

Nobody is perfect, and familiarity breeds contempt. It is far too easy to resent family members when they fall short of our expectations, especially when we are under stressful conditions. Pausing to examine your negative thoughts and put them in perspective can save your mental health and your marriage. There’s nothing like the turnover of the year for stimulating lifestyle re-evaluation. How can we make the Christmas spirit of ‘peace and ...

One’s career ambitions or personal desires can take longer to achieve when busy parenting your children. Still, have patience and savour each moment with your family. At my old church, there were initiatives and events in place to get more women to connect with each other, mainly to get the older and younger women interacting with each other. To broaden my friendship group from the girls I already hung out with ...

Parenting expert Michelle Mitchell shares pointers on how to address the thorny topic of premarital sex with your teenaged daughter. Sexual intimacy is a wonderful gift but it can also be a source of great harm when misused. It is essential to provide guidance on this aspect of human relationships, particularly as your children experience puberty. Parent Question:  My daughter is 15 and has recently fallen for a really lovely boy. ...

Every New Year is a fresh opportunity to start anew. Take this chance to assess your life and implement achievable steps to practise good habits and prioritise what matters most. We each have only so many years on this earth — make this year a great one! Only six more sleeps and we all enter the New Year together. How exciting! A New Year always brings new opportunities. Hundreds of millions ...

Christmastime is difficult for many people suffering loss and separation from their loved ones. If you are in pain, turn to the Christ Child Who was born in a stable, far from home; the Father Who loves us so deeply no matter how far we may wander; and the Holy Spirit Who set the stars in the heavens and Who dwells in your heart. Every Christmas, I have one song which ...

This New Year, instead of making unrealistic resolutions that are swiftly discarded by the wayside, focus on what really matters deep down and take sustainable steps toward nourishing that. The worst things about the closing of another year are New Year’s Eve hype and paraphernalia. With a few exceptions, the event is — on the whole — a dumb-ass excuse for a celebration. How many New Year’s resolutions touted the day ...