Why is it all so confusing? Or is it just me? I sometimes wonder why parenting feels so different (complex? overwhelming?) than it was for my parents. Sure, the pace of change (particularly technology change) makes today’s world almost unrecognisable to previous generations. But, parenting itself just feels more confusing than ever. Possibility vs Fear … Continued
Routine. It’s a dull sounding word isn’t it? I beg to differ. In fact I would argue routine frees us up to have a more remarkable lives. Take Mark Zuckerberg. Same grey t-shirt and blue jeans, day-in, day-out, and looks where it’s got him! But whilst his success with Facebook has a [bit] more to … Continued
“Whether you are a parent or not, carving out time to turn off your devices, to disconnect from the wired world and engage with the real people who are all around you, is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and the people you love.” – Alan Brown Back in 2015, Habyts hosted … Continued
Why reward your kids? Rewards help motivate and inspire. They provide positive reinforcement for good behaviour while helping encourage your child to complete a difficult task. Rewards are recognition for a job well done. And while descriptive praise and attention are the most effective form of reward a parent can offer a child, tangible rewards such as an activity … Continued
When my son was younger, he played on a basketball team with a group of athletes who were more interested in playing for their individual glory than for the glory of the team. Over and over again, the coach would chew them out for their individualistic attitudes. Each time, they’d come out and play unselfishly … Continued
Delayed gratification is not something that comes naturally to young children, sometimes even teens. And, if we are being completely honest with ourselves, many of us adults struggle with it as well. We know that if we exercise and eat right, in a few months we’ll have the bodies we want. Yet, since we don’t … Continued
I struggle with helping others out financially. Don’t get me wrong; I do it, but it’s not easy. I have to conduct a little self-talk to convince myself that I’ll be okay to donate ten bucks to the local elementary school’s jog-a-thon, that the man on the street asking for a buck for a cup … Continued
Riley just turned sixteen this month. When she was four, my wife became pregnant. We would be adding a fourth to our threesome. I wanted to make something special for Riley, before her sister arrived. I was a Film Studies major in college and recorded everything those first years of Riley’s life. So, I decided … Continued
What happens when you ask your teen to wash the dishes, tidy up after themselves, do their homework or any other task which contributes to your vision of raising a well-adjusted adolescent – and they say NO? Do you feel frustrated, helpless, overwhelmed? And most importantly what can you do in these situations that enhances … Continued
We made it! After a full 30 days of screen challenge, I find myself reflecting back. There have been high and low points throughout the month. We didn’t have resounding success, nor did we fail. Overall, I’d call it a step in the right direction. As a family, we learned more than a few lessons. … Continued