There was a time in my life when the only badly behaved people I knew were all adults. They were utterly entitled and completely uncivilised. I can give you chapter and verse of shouting, harassment of all kinds, extreme bullying; and all done with a smile and “she’ll be right, mate”. These people saw themselves Read more
Younger fathers may be at greater risk of experiencing major depression and the “baby blues”, a study has found. A letter has been published in the New Zealand Medical Journal on Friday about paternal depression among fathers in the Christchurch Health and Development Study by researchers Louise Rippin, Geraldine McLeod, Jacki Henderson and Joseph Boden. Read more
My dad nearly died many times. He served as a RAF pilot during World War II when longevity was rare. Later, not long before I was born, he was badly injured in a civil air accident when his aircraft iced up. When I was three-years-old he had two engine failures in single-engine aircraft but successfully Read more
Not one parent wants to see their teen suffer. Sometimes it does feel like your teen’s suffering is harder on you than it is for your child. It feels harder because you know more. You know how hard life is. Your teen isn’t even to the “hard part” of life yet and is still hurting Read more
Can parenting be a missionary activity? In the current environment of secularity within the first world, where all belief systems compete for adoption, the Christian faith has distinct advantages. Much like the day of Elijah calling down fire as visible proof of the superiority of his God, the climate of secularity demands a new apologetic—one Read more
A growing number of Americans do not follow a religion. But chances are that the details of their lives — from their phones and their politics to their dinner plates and how they raise their kids — are still ruled by some sort of a religious impulse, says author David Zahl. Zahl is the founder Read more
“Baby girl, no!” My 14-month-old daughter’s hand briefly paused in the air, dripping water back into the dog’s drinking bowl. Her hand went to her head, to her chest and completed a toddler’s awkward sign of the cross. My husband and I were horrified by the slobbery dog-water blessing. But we were also awestruck: We Read more
Worrying about possible drug use, alcohol abuse and drunk driving; concerns about smoking and vaping; pushing kids too hard to succeed in school and at sports; providing a home and financial support; paying attention to grades and schoolwork; getting them to eat healthy and go to church or temple or simply disconnect and get outside… Read more
Helicopter parents are really helpful to their kids in the short-term. They act like personal concierges who assist their kids with everything from sports equipment to science fair projects. They rescue their kids when they forget their soccer cleats and they chauffeur them from one activity to the next. Quite often, kids with that type of support are Read more
Unfortunately for all (especially the kids), overparenting is far from being over. In November 2009, TIME published an article called “The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting.” In a fascinating examination of all the bizarre lengths to which modern parents will go in order to prepare their precious little ones for the world, writer Nancy Gibbs suggested Read more