Family by God&#039;s Design

How I Had to “Break Out” to Become a Better Parent

I am not the most emotionally expressive person in the world. Truth be told, I’m a little overwhelmed when people become very emotionally expressive. I would much rather quietly, and privately, experience emotions. My mother recalls my two-year-old self opening Christmas gifts one at a time, calmly setting each down to open the next, with...

Family Shepherds Honor

emotional health emotions healthy development parent child relationship personality

January 4, 2020

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for GOOD NEWS!!

I have good news. It comes from a study completed by Yoshihiko Koga, a professor at Kyorin University in Tokyo. He gave a group of people three spoons of ice cream to eat upon waking and then gave them mental acuity tasks to complete on the computer. The other group simply got up and completed...

Celebration Family Shepherds

family relationships happiness routine

December 30, 2019

Help Your Children Flourish

Parenting is like trying to balance a multi-dimensional see-saw. On one end of the see-saw sits discipline and structure. On the other end is warmth and affection. How we balance these two ingredients contributes to four possible types of parenting: Neglectful parenting, which is low in both discipline and warmth, Permissive parenting, which is high...

affection family meals parenting student time

December 14, 2019

“Cheat Codes” for Dads: Your Daughter’s Sense of Security

If you play video games, you know the value of a good “cheat code.” They help the player advance to a new level or gain a special power. Other “cheat codes” help the gamer obtain a special tool or weapon you’ll need in the game. If you’re a Dad of daughters, you may feel as...

daughter development father parent child relationship security

December 2, 2019

“Cheat Codes” for Dads: Household Chores

chores daughter example father parent child relationship parenting

November 23, 2019

Geometry, Infants, & Compassion

What can we learn about compassion from geometry and infants? Researchers at Ben-Gurion University in the Negev answered that question by showing two videos to a group of 6-month-old infants. In the first video, a square figure with eyes climbed a hill to meet a round figure with eyes. They go down the hill together,...

Family Shepherds Grace

compassion help parenting volunteering

November 16, 2019

“Cheat Codes” for Dads: Shared Rituals

If you play video games, you know the value of a good “cheat code.” They help the player advance to a new level or gain a special power. Other “cheat codes” help the gamer obtain a special tool or weapon needed in the game. If you’re a Dad of daughters, you may feel as though...

father intimacy parent child relationship quality time rituals routine time

November 9, 2019

“Cheat Codes” for Dads: Your Daughter’s Beauty

If you play video games, you know the value of a good “cheat code.” They help the player advance to a new level or gain a special power. They help the gamer obtain a special tool or weapon needed to succeed in the game. If you’re a Dad of daughters, you may feel as though...