I like Pooh…that sounds bad. Let me rephrase and start again. I like Winnie the Pooh. He brings us a great deal of wisdom. For instance, consider the wisdom in this sketch and Piglet’s request to “be sure of you.” Very wise, especially when it comes to family. Sometimes we just need to know our...

September 26, 2015

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Father’s: “Committed to a Precious Responsibility”

by John Salmon

Paul Young’s was right: “A man doesn’t need to be flawless to be a perfect father….” In fact, we will never be flawless parents. We make mistakes. We fall short. “But,” Mr. Young wisely continues, “the commitment to his family is a precious responsibility”—a precious responsibility to become actively involved in his family’s life. A...

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Family Shepherds Honor

father intimacy marriage parent child relationship parenting

September 21, 2015

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Prime Your Children for a Good School Day

by John Salmon

School has begun. That means getting our children up in the morning and off to school on time. If that isn’t hard enough, we want to get them off in the morning while everyone stays in a good mood. Not an easy task. However, there are steps we can take to make the morning go...

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Family Shepherds

discipline parenting routine schedule structure

August 17, 2015

Does Your Child Get a Choice or a Voice?

by John Salmon

H.G. Ginott made an important distinction between a child’s voice and a child’s choice in his book Between Parent and Child. Children need to have choices. Giving our children choices builds their sense of responsibility. It helps them learn that choices have consequences; so they learn to choose wisely. Choices allow our children to become...

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Family Shepherds

discipline emotional health healthy development maturity parent child relationship parenting

August 10, 2015

Lincoln on the Parental Tyrant

by John Salmon

My family and I enjoyed a wonderful trip to visit family in Illinois. While there, we visited the Lincoln Museum and Lincoln’s home in Springfield. As we toured a home in Lincoln’s community, I read a quote by Mary Todd Lincoln: “He [Lincoln] always said, ‘It is my pleasure that my children are free, happy...

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Celebration Family Shepherds

acknowledgement consequences consistency discipline label parent child relationship parenting

August 3, 2015

Motivation & Focus in Children

by John Salmon

Did you see the article in Time magazine (7/23/15) entitled “In Praise of the Ordinary Child”? The author (Jeffrey Kluger) made several excellent observations. I would like to share two of his quotes along with a few comments. “There’s a difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation;” and, I would add, parents need to learn the...

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Family Shepherds Honor

encouragement healthy development motivation parenting play student value

August 1, 2015

Parenting Advice from Horton the Elephant

by John Salmon

I really enjoyed the 2008 movie Horton Hears a Who. Of course, I love Dr. Seuss. Who doesn’t? He has given us wonderful children’s stories that include the deeper, more significant lessons of life for kids and adults alike. For instance, Horton the elephant offers a lesson every parent needs to learn. Horton states this...

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Family Shepherds

consequences discipline limits parent child relationship parenting rules

July 27, 2015

Six Ingredients to Strengthen Your Parental Authority

by John Salmon

Children develop and mature best with parents who practice benevolent authority in the home. Children gain a sense of security knowing their parents not only have power, but use that power to establish and enforce a loving structure in the home. Still, not just any authority will do. Children benefit most from a benevolent authority...

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Family Shepherds

consequences consistency discipline parent child relationship parenting power of words

June 13, 2015

Family Homes Filled with Sacred Places

by John Salmon

Our homes are filled with sacred places, places set apart for special purposes. We often take these sacred places for granted. Unfortunately, we disregard the sacred places of home to our own peril. When we neglect the sacred places in our homes, we miss the opportunities they offer for intimacy and growth. We fall “out...

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Celebration Family Shepherds Honor

family intimacy family relationships parenting priorities value

Family by God's Design

Family by God's Design

Family by God's Design

What Piglet (& family) Needs to Know

Father’s: “Committed to a Precious Responsibility”

Prime Your Children for a Good School Day

Does Your Child Get a Choice or a Voice?

Lincoln on the Parental Tyrant

5 Ways Parents Undermine Their Parental Authority

Motivation & Focus in Children

Parenting Advice from Horton the Elephant

Six Ingredients to Strengthen Your Parental Authority

Family Homes Filled with Sacred Places