How can dads CONNECT with their children?

Much research suggests that connecting with your youth comes from TIME and PRESENCE. All to often I hear that dads are present, but absent (meaning they are physiclly around in the child’s life, but not contributing to the positive growth and development of the father/child relationship).

What does TIME and PRESENCE look like for your family? Is it giving baths, reading books, making breakfast and/or “special/big” activities?

David Walsh book

Question: What is Minnesota Say Yes to No?

It’s a book. It’s a conversation. It’s success for our kids.

Minnesota Say Yes to No is a statewide grassroots campaign igniting community conversations around raising healthy self-reliant kids so they will be successful in school and life. The campaign was formed around the book No: Why Kids – of All Ages – Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It (Free Press), by Dr. David Walsh.

 Source: www.sayyestono.org

All people need to have “me” time for themselves here and there. As a single parent often time the “me” time is significantly reduced because of the many tasks associated with daily living-parenting, working, etc. Giving yourself a little “me” time can make great strides in reducing stress and increasing your overall wellness.

How do you spend your “me” time? 

If you are not allocating me time,  how can you fit in a small time each day or week that is just for you?

Question: Why do teens like to argue about everything?

Teen arguing is part biological and part psychological. Their brain is causing them to be testy and at the same time they are striking out for independence.

Here are some tips for managing teen anger and arguing.

1. Don’t be surprised when your teenager gets surly. It’s their brain.

2. Don’t harass your teen about every little thing. Pick and choose issues that matter.

3. Don’t get dragged into power struggles. Calmly state your expectations and consequences and let your teen know that you expect him to comply but that if he chooses not to, then he will have to accept the consequences.

4. Don’t make consequences into threats.

5. Don’t let your emotions get out of control when your son or daughter starts yelling. Take a deep breath and count to ten. Take a break if you need to.

6. Don’t let your teenager get his or her way by yelling and threatening or by other objectionable behavior.

DO YOU HAVE OTHER TIPS FOR MANAGING TEEN ANGER AND ARGUING? What works or doesn’t work?

Source: Teen Wise Parents is a resource of the National Institute on Media and the Family http://www.mediafamily.org/teenwiseparents/top_10_faq.shtml

Looking for a way to initiate conversation with another parent about teen drug or alcohol use? 

What do you think? Last weekend a son was at a party where kids were drinking alcohol. The son didn’t drink, but the parent was upset that this happened at another friends home. Do you think the parents should talk to the friends parents or not?

The MN Family Strength Project asked 2000 people WHAT MAKES YOUR FAMILY STRONG? Here’s what people said:

1. Communication 2. Health 3.Time together 4. Spirituality 5. Support 6. Respect 7.Unity 8.Cultural Traditions 9.Extended sense of family

(Family and Children’s Service, 2008)

What makes your family strong? Is it family unity? Beliefs? Tranditions? Activities? Other?