My wife and I are both therapists. We love our work, but there are drawbacks when it comes to as psychobabble) and they turn it back on us from time to time. Let me give you a brief example. My wife and I left our children at home overnight for the first time a couple...

May 28, 2011

7 Ways to Teach Dependability

by John Salmon

Infants need their parents. Their parents feed them, bathe them, change their diapers, clothe them, help them get to sleep, calm them, and so on. In spite of all this effort from parents, I’ve never heard an infant tell his mother, “I see you’re busy with dinner, Mom. Don’t worry about my bottle. I’m hungry,...

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Family Shepherds

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May 22, 2011

A Carnival of Parents

by John Salmon

I enjoyed a day at a local amusement park with my family this weekend. My daughters are getting older now and they spend much of the day with their friends; but, we still eat supper together and meet throughout the day. Their independence does allow me and my wife to enjoy time together. It also allows...

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Family Shepherds

attention availability communication family intimacy family relationships parenting time

May 14, 2011

Misbehavior: A Call for Love?

by John Salmon

“Why do they do it?” I ask, pulling my hair out in frustration. “Why do they continue to misbehave?” Good question. After all, we teach our children to make wise choices and they continue to misbehave. Sometimes it’s just immaturity, but they continue to misbehave as they mature…why? Parenting experts offer some interesting insights in...

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Family Shepherds

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May 7, 2011

Teaching Children To Make Wise Choices

by John Salmon

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”—Henry Ford “We learn wisdom from failure much more than from success.”—Samuel Smiles I wanted to grow and harvest raspberries, so I bought some corn seed and planted it in the back yard. Do you think I got a good crop of raspberries? Of...

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Family Shepherds

character consequences empathy limits parenting teaching

May 1, 2011

5 Questions for Parents to Answer Before Discipline

by John Salmon

When children misbehave, parents generally respond quickly with discipline. Family shepherds immediately and energetically discipline their children in order to stop the misbehavior and teach more appropriate behavior. That is all well and good. However, as family shepherds we also have to remember that what we say and do during a heated interaction (like discipline)...

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Family Shepherds

communication consequences discipline misbehavior parenting

April 23, 2011

Parents as Perpetual Students

by John Salmon

Family shepherds model their parenting style after the Shepherd described in Psalm 23. David, the author of Psalm 23, tells us that his Shepherd “makes him lie down in green pastures” and “leads” him “beside still waters.” The word used for “lead” means “to lead someone helpless and needing guidance, to lead by the hand.” ...

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Family Shepherds

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April 16, 2011

Your Child’s Currency for Love

by John Salmon

Children have two currencies for love: TIME and ATTENTION. When parents give time and attention to their child, the child believes he has a place of importance and value in his parents’ lives. Unfortunately, parents often get so caught up in their busy lives that they only give their children distracted attention. Distracted attention is half-hearted...

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Family Shepherds

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March 27, 2011

Recognizing the Benefit of Emotions in Parenting

by John Salmon

What would you think if I told you I knew of a simple way to help your child grow while improving your relationship with him? Well, I do…accept their emotions. Emotions propel us toward maturity. They “integrate” our thinking, social interactions, motor ability, and language as we mature, especially in children (S. Greenspan workshop, 2009). For...

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Family Shepherds

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March 27, 2011

Family: Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts

by John Salmon

Recently I have read and heard several discussions about prioritizing love for spouse or love for children. Should we prioritize spouse or children? Is family focused around marriage or parenting? Do we create a “kid-centered family” or a “marriage-centered family?” Those siding with the parenting-focused, “kid-centered family” emphasize that we only have our children at...

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Honor

family intimacy family relationships father marriage mother parenting

Family by God's Design

Family by God's Design

Family by God's Design

A Therapist with Separation Anxiety

7 Ways to Teach Dependability

A Carnival of Parents

Misbehavior: A Call for Love?

Teaching Children To Make Wise Choices

5 Questions for Parents to Answer Before Discipline

Parents as Perpetual Students

Your Child’s Currency for Love

Recognizing the Benefit of Emotions in Parenting

Family: Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts