My philosophy of parenting seems to be changing daily these days. Now that two of my boys are adults and one is not to far from that milestone I am starting to figure a few things out. I have been extremely fortunate over the years to watch some real parenting pros in action. That was particularly true when the boys were small. I watched parents of teenagers navigate that time in life in a way that I desired to imitate….
I have to admit it…I love the character that Carroll O’Conner played on All in the Family whom we all know as none other than: Archie Bunker. He called his sweet wife Edith a “dingbat” but Edith was anything but a “dingbat.” Archie was forever mispronouncing words. He referred to Edith’s doctor as a “gronacologist.” Rich people drove “Lincoln Contrinentals.” And things of special value have “sentrimentral value.” Even men like Archie own things that they consider to have “sentrimentral”…
Both of my neighbors on either side of our home could have their lawns featured in some gardening magazine or website. They have carefully manicured yards with flowers and shrubs placed strategically throughout the landscape. I am sandwiched between them with weeds growing on the dirt that has collected on back deck for the past three years. The grass under the largest tree in our backyard met an untimely death during a freeze in 2007 or what is it 2008?…
March is nearly over and I have written very few blog entries. There has been no shortage of interesting topics to write about. But the vast majority of the encounters I have had recently with people are intensely personal. It would not be appropriate me to divulge details about the private crises of those that I am privileged to serve. Confidential pastoral communication is actually a great thing. I like to write, so it is has been a tad frustrating…
As a general rule, men don’t like the idea of going on marriage enrichment conferences or retreats. I think I have solved that issue. I have a handful of favorite classic country songs that I really like. The lyrics from those songs could be used as the basis of a male friendly marriage enrichment event. The sessions at the retreat would look like this: Session #1 Daydreams about Night Things, by Ronnie Milsap I’m having day dreams bout night thingsIn…
We carry our stories with us. They go with us everywhere night and day. Our life story shapes us much more than what we would like to admit. Even events that took place as young children in elementary school continue to impact us as mature adults. During the course of the past year two friends of mine from elementary school apologized to me for things that were done when we were kids. They had carried the guilt from those encounters…
I have enjoyed reading my friends’ status updates on Facebook this week, as they have enjoyed spring break. Friends from Wisconsin vacationed in San Antonio. Grandparents spoiled their grandbabies. Teachers took a short break from their responsibilities. Students stayed up later and slept in longer. But I have one friend in particular who did not spend his spring break at Fiesta Texas or Six Flags. 19 year old Valiente (not his real name) spent his spring break at the world…
I am not a good list maker. I lose the grocery list that Jan’s gives me somewhere between the driveway at our house and the milk vault at Walmart. If asked, she would imply I aid and abet its mysterious disappearance. When I take a day off, I hate making a list of things that need to be done. It cramps my inclination toward the spontaneous. But I have found that there are a certain kinds of lists that even…
Kids growing up and leaving home is way overrated. Playing Monopoly during school breaks at Christmas and Spring Break has been a family tradition for a number of years now. This afternoon I showed the boys that the old man can still monopolize them. But we were missing a player during this game. Randall is spending his Spring Break with friends. He will soon be 22 years old. What should I expect? I expect him to roll the clock back and…
About 8 years ago we hosted a small group of students from another country in our home overnight. They were teenagers involved in a Rotary Club International exchange program. When the group arrived in our city, I ended up being the member of our local Rotary Club that hosted them. They were all teenage female, so I enlisted two of the girls in our youth group at church to assist me in this effort. We showed them the sights of…