Orange Parents

I caught this shot last month while on vacation with my family in Haliburton, Ontario.  Everyone else was asleep that morning.  I slipped out of our cabin and saw the sunrise.
I used to feel guilty about doing things like this.  Why?  Well,  if you have my wiring, getting up early might mean taking a nap later… [read more]

I am not a morning person. I used to have a lot of statements to defend sleeping late. But somewhere along the way, I learned the value of not always missing the first part of the day. When I started writing books, I made a personal discovery about morning time. I can think more clearly… [read more]

Lesson #3 to Parents of Brides and Grooms: Leave family baggage at home.
Here is one thing that is sure to pour cold water on the excitement and joy of your child’s wedding day – trying to resolve unsettled family issues. Every family probably has unresolved matters that could tend to show up on the wedding day…. [read more]

Lesson #2 to Parents: Let the bride decide.
I’m not suggesting that she gets to decide the budget. Coming up with a reasonable budget is definitely a family matter. But the bride should be the one who decides how to allocate the budget. Treat her as if she is the CEO of this wedding. Depending on… [read more]

I have seen weddings from a number of viewpoints. I usually officiate them. Sometimes I even get to photograph them as a second shooter for some incredible wedding photographers. I have done premarital counseling for a host of couples and stood at the altar hundreds of times by a nervous groom. After countless wedding… [read more]

In the spirit of Reggie’s post, Looking Back, I want to reflect today on what I might do differently if I could start raising my kids all over again.  But we thought it would be fun to draw my dad, Marten, into the conversation. He was (and is) a great dad, but we both… [read more]

We have gone to the same area of Florida beaches almost every year as a family. I took this picture this summer looking out across a scene that has pretty much stayed the same for the past 30 years. It made me think about my younger days as a parent. This is going to sound… [read more]

“I (Reggie) recently sat down to summarize a few truths I want to remember about parenting, just so I could stay focused. I’m not suggesting this is a comprehensive list. It is just my own list of parenting priorities:
• What matters more than anything is that my kids have an authentic relationship with God.
• My wife and… [read more]

I still remember the first day of kindergarten for both of my sons so very clearly, like it was yesterday.  But right now, we’re preparing for two new firsts a few weeks from now.  My eldest son starts his first year of college and my younger son begins his first year of high school.
Gulp.
Some of… [read more]