Parenting as a Christian Single Dad

It's often been said that children learn what they live. So if you're looking for a place to start helping your child build positive self esteem and self value, then you should show them your positive sense of self and strong self esteem. Be positive when you speak about yourself and highlight your strengths. This will teach your child that it's okay to be proud of their talents, skills and abilities. Your child also benefits greatly from honest and positive praise. Find something about them to praise each day. You could even give your child a task you know they can complete and then praise them for a job well done after they're finished. Show your child that positive acts merit positive praise. When your child's feeling sad, angry or depressed, communicate openly, honestly and patiently with them. Listen to them without judging or criticizing. They may not fully understand why they feel the way they do, so the opportunity to communicate with you about it ma...

Ferwerda, Julie. One Million Arrows : Raising your Children to Change the World. Enumclaw: WinePress Publishing, 2009. 175 pp. $13.95. Purchase at Amazon . Introduction There is a movement afoot within conservative Christian denominations regarding discipleship of children for kingdom purposes. Julie Ferwerda has added yet another call to discipling your children with one caveat–she is taking it global. Summary The book is divided into three parts: Gather, Sharpen, and Launch. Recognizing that the time is short, and the need great, Julie exhorts all parents to disciple their children to impact the world instead of the world impacting their children. In her part on gathering, she lays out a plan for the parents to chart their own course with their families and to hop on board the one million arrows campaign and challenges each family to own the mission of discipling their children. Part two guides the parents in gathering the arrows (children) to sharpen them. She helps the reader t...

Many of the best classic fairy tales for kids have been around for a long time... I guess that is why they are classic. There are many great resources on the internet that offers these for free but finding them in a way that is easy to print or read can be challenging. The Brothers Grimm published 100's of books for kids and I posted a few of the best fairy tales for kids . They are about 8 to 10 pages in length in pdf format. Even though they don't have pictures Madalyn still enjoys them. She just lays back in bed while I read them. Give it a try and see what your kids think. Some might not be appropriate for really young chidlren however they do have a message to learn. Remember classic means old so the language is a bit different - just check it out for yourself.

Have you ever felt not very loved? I know I have. It seems the older I get the harder it is to make friends and try new things. In order to be loved I need to be lovable. Here are some tips to be more lovable. * Start with prayer for a changed heart filled with the love of God to flow through me to others. * Here is a biggy - SMILE * Stop being boo-hoo, poor me person. Have a positive mental attitude . * Look people in the eye when talking to them, it conveys honesty. * Listen when people talk to you. * Improve your self image by taking care of yourself.

From a very young age you can involve your kids in cooking . Not only do they have fun doing it they are more inclined to try new things. Most children learn quickly taht eating is fun. I know Madalyn enjoys helping me cook in the kitchen. Putting the two together we have the makings of a good time and quality time spent together is always a blessing. Children learn best when they are busy and interested in what they are doing. When scrubbing, mixing, stirring, kneading, spreading, tossing, squeezing, and pouring, they don't realize there's even more going on, it is called learning. I enjoy cooking with Madalyn because it involves us reading and talking to one another. As we follow directions, me from the recipe and her from me we make something that we both can enjoy eating. Also good nutrition is encouraged through cooking. Tips for cooking with the kids inlcude: * washing hands before and after * use plastic knives and supplies * don't worry about the mess * dis...

It was several months ago when I decided to file for primary physical custody of Madalyn. Of course I had my reasons but over the years I noticed that it was mostly moms that had custody of the children while dads got visitation every other weekend. To me this was absurd. I knew I had my work cut out for me but I also knew that in my case God was with me. How you ask? Well I prayed for years on whether I should make this move and it took that long for me to clearly see whether or not I was doing this for Madalyn or revenge. Yes, revenge was one of my motives in the beginning. Not very nice I know. Of course I though I had just cause to do it but I didn't want to hurt my little girl if I was just trying to get back at her mom. September of 09 sitting in front of a lawyer explaining what and why I wanted to do I had a peace about me. I can honestly say God was with me and my motives were purely for doing what was best for Madalyn. Even though it took nearly 6 months, and never making...

Communicating and actively listening to/with our children can be a difficult task at times. We feel like they're not listening to us; they feel like we're not listening to them. Good listening and communications skills are essential to successful parenting. Your child's feelings, views and opinions have worth, and you should make sure you take the time to sit down and listen openly and discuss them honestly. It seems to be a natural tendency to react rather than to respond. We pass judgment based on our own feelings and experiences. However, responding means being receptive to our child's feelings and emotions and allowing them to express themselves openly and honestly without fear of repercussion from us. By reacting, we send our child the message that their feelings and opinions are invalid. But by responding and asking questions about why the child feels that way, it opens a dialog that allows them to discuss their feelings further, and allows you a better un...

You’ve heard phrases like "You are what you eat." and "You are what you think." before but have you ever given much thought to their validity? The human body is made up of various compounds that require a mixed diet of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Water also plays a major role in body composition and is the most critical nutrient the body requires to continue to function properly. Our bodies are only as good as how well we take care of them. Now consider the complexity and power of the brain. The brain controls every aspect of our lives from the involuntary to the voluntary. Have you ever wondered why there seem to be times in your life where you just can’t catch a break? Your life seems to be running in tandem as a mid-morning soap opera. As life is passing you by it seems others are reaching new levels of success, what is going on? Believe it or not but there could be a simple explanation to what is going on and the solution is within your reach. Fam...

Continuing with this theme from Dr Hornell Hart we will begin part 2 of this riveting series. When in a relationship it is important to find ways to do new fun things together, even if they seem trivial. Part 1 of this series basically discussed the negative. To take the positive approach – surprise your mate with a gift from time to time. Make a private list of the small things that please your mate the most and make a habit of giving. Whenever possible have children deliberately when you both agree. Have as many as you and your mate wholeheartedly agree on. Give your kids the best you can which include; faith, self-respect, courage, and the desire to serve others. Make it a point to understand your mate. Do this as if your life depended on it! Your married life and happiness do depend on it. Understanding one’s wife or husband is far more important than earning a college degree or getting that new car. A good way to go about this is to spend quiet alone time thinking about y...