Father’s Day Five

Wrapping up a good, long day, here are five top things about this Father’s Day:

  1. Five kids still at home – they really are great, each one so different, all so very fun
  2. One kid in DC for the summer – he called, bless his heart
  3. Was able to talk with my dad, wishing him a fine Father’s Day
  4. Enjoyed root beer floats in the backyard – that was supper (my idea)
  5. Played Wii with the kids, got beat at tennis (by our 15 yr-old), golf (by our 13 yr-old) and boxing (by our 5 yr-old, and boy, was he elated by that victory!)

Now, onto the workweek and whatever God has in mind!

Three Father’s Day Reminders

If you haven’t heard Dennis Swanberg’s touching – and humorous – tribute to his father, give it a listen here. Then be sure you tell your own dad on Sunday that you appreciate him!

Also, watch the recent pre-Father’s Day webcast with Carey Casey and be inspired to become a “championship father.”

Finally, read some thoughts from Dr. Dobson about the most important thing every parent can do for their children. You might be surprised!

Eureka! Daydreaming and Discovery

You’ll probably agree with the premise of this WSJ piece by Robert Lee Hotz. You know intuitively that this is right. And you may even yearn for what is described:

…Our brain is most actively engaged when our mind is wandering…

The article cites research that supports the benefits of daydreaming, and notes that those who have had historically significant “Aha!” moments discovered something important when they were allowing their minds to wander.

Now, don’t use this research as an excuse for being inattentive and lazy; rather, consider the need in your life for some downtime, some space. That means getting away from the phone/laptop/paperwork and the crush of the routine, and giving your mind permission to sort, ponder and discover.

Related: You might want to get this classic book, Margin, by Dr. Richard Swenson. He illustrates this same kind of principle by referring to ink on a page. Nobody can read a book that has text running from top to bottom, side to side, without any margin. That white space that every book (and indeed, every website) has surrounding the text allows the brain to process and understand. In the same way, we need “margins” in our lives, so we don’t overstimulate and overload.

And, in this audio discussion, Dr. Archibald Hart offers a scientific look at anhedonia, a condition in which an individual is addicted to overstimulation. It is a growing problem, especially amongst younger people who are constantly bombarded by sensory input.

Maybe today will mark the start of something different for you? Turn off the electronics, get away from the calendar and let your mind wander.

If you are a parent, this is especially important. You’ve got to model healthy choices in life, and the children are watching your use of technology and entertainment. Show them you can live without all that plugged in gear! Your kids will benefit when you encourage – even force, in some cases – them to step away from the TV or computer, turn off the radio, and let their lives have a little breathing space without external noise.

Not That Old

We’re still trying to get the Twitter feed at the top right of this blog fixed. I’ve been doing updates regularly but it is still showing “tweets” from last week (misspellings and all). Our tech crew has a lot going on right now, but keep watching! Meantime, if you’re curious about my activities in the “Twitterverse” go here – I promise my tweets there aren’t a week old.

Washing Hands?

OK, I may be a bit paranoid about this, but I want my kids to wash their hands well, especially before they help in the kitchen and after they’ve used the restroom. I don’t know how many times I’ve asked them if they’ve washed their hands – “using soap?” – but eventually the children get the idea and do it right.

Somehow my youngest is one of the most effective hand-washers we’ve raised…perhaps because he is rather fastidious about matters, anyway.

Here’s an article that may be enlightening for some. Not rocket science, to be sure, but as the author indicates, come down with an illness for a day or two and you’ll appreciate simple things that can cut down on the transmission of germs.

Is it important for kids to wash their hands well?

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A Touching Love Story

In this radio program, Dr. Dobson shared a touching love story he wrote about his parents. It is a tribute to a couple who lived out a life of faith, particularly his father, and shows the power of God at work in the lives of His people. Pretty emotional stuff.

More on Vasco, The Malawi Orphan

An update to a recent post about Vasco, an orphan who was brought to the States for heart surgery, from USA Today. Short read, long impact.

Great Webcast Interaction

Thanks to all who participated in today’s live webcast with Carey Casey from the National Center for Fathering! It was great to talk with callers and to field questions from the online forum.

If you missed the webcast here’s the link to see the video.

Also, hear Casey on the daily Focus on the Family broadcast here.

Where’s My Twitter Feed?

Well, we’re working on the little Twitter feed at the top right of this blog. Not sure what the problem is, but keep watching! Meantime, if you want to see my latest “Tweets,” covering everything from the mundane of meetings to the revolutionary uses of technology in Iran, go here.

How Fatherhood Is Changing

Here’s an overview of recent demands on and changes in fatherhood, from a Voice of America report, including a look at portrayals of dads in the press and on television. Interesting to note that there are 140,000 stay-at-home fathers in the U.S.

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