Responsible Father » Tuesday Tip

Tuesday Tip: Complaining

jamsco — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:29:20 +0000

Dads, the next time you’re thinking about complaining about your kids to other people, consider what percentage of your listeners might think: It’s probably his fault.

Tuesday Tip: Every Year

jamsco — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 07:25:06 +0000

Each December for perhaps 8 or ten years we’ve been going to the St Croix Valley Tree Farm to get our Christmas tree. It’s a pretty drive and it makes getting the tree an event. We recommend it.

So while we were cutting down our tree, there was another family with a Mom, a Dad and two late teen age kids. The two kids seemed to be having fun and they did the cutting and we took a picture of their family for them and they took a picture of ours. There was no sign of these teens being grumpy or bored.

Later, I asked the Mom if she had any tips in raising kids who would want to do something like going to get a tree even when they’re older and she immediately said, “Do it every year.”

She said that they had considered getting a tree in a lot and the kids insisted that they do what they had done for so many years. That’s what I want.

But here’s the potentially more important point: Do you think that if this works for getting Christmas trees, it might also work for more eternally crucial habits?

Perhaps.

Tuesday Tip: Twin Cities Northern Suburb Christmas Lights

jamsco — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:49:20 +0000

A day early because of the relative few days until Christmas –

Our family makes a practice every year to take a drive around neighborhoods and look at Christmas Lights.

We did this on Friday and happened across a home in Shoreview that is really doing the job well.

They have created an impressive system of lights that they’ve coordinated and synchronized to music that you can listen to on the radio. And they just happen to be across the street from the Sitzer park parking lot so you can watch for a long time.

It’s impressive and fun and gave our whole family joy. We recommend it. Bring some food and they’ll donate it to the Emergency Food Shelf.

More information at mnlightshow.com.

Go see it.

Tuesday Tip: Presents Presense

jamsco — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:37:41 +0000

Dads! Play this game: Find out how little you can spend on presents for your kids and still have them experience joy when they open them.

Tuesday Tip: Bad Example

jamsco — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:12:09 +0000

Dads, the next time you see your child behaving badly and you think, “where did that come from?” consider yourself as a potential source of their inspiration.

And let that inspire you to change.

Tuesday Tip: Church Nursery Service

jamsco — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:10:03 +0000

Dads, those women and men who serve God in your church nursery should be given honor and respect. So give them honor and respect.

Tuesday Tip: Diffuse It.

jamsco — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:52:28 +0000

Dads, Anger spreads through a family. Don’t be it’s source, be it’s resolution.

Tuesday Tip: Incentive for Boys

jamsco — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:52:04 +0000

Dads, do you want an inexpensive way to motivate boys?

Tell them you’ll bring them to Target and buy them a HotWheels or Matchbox car. It’s often less than a dollar, and they’ll get to choose from dozens of options.

Tuesday Tip: PFK

jamsco — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 05:36:53 +0000

Dads, pray for each of your kids by name. Today.

Tuesday Tip: It’s better than the alternatives.

jamsco — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 05:06:04 +0000

Dads, if your kids like relatively healthy and fairly inexpensive food for snacks, let them eat as much as they want.