Great article on the use of television in the home

As many of you know, our church is hosting a parenting class this summer. It's been a great success with about 16 families participating. Going through the class again (this is my third time) has been a great reminder of why we do certain things and also a reminder of some things I've forgotten to implement. For me, television can become a huge time consumer...I can find myself wasting endless hours doing nothing but "checking out" in front of the TV. I came across this great article which has some of the most practical rules for television that I have ever heard. Believe me, if you follow them it will help your marriage and parenting. Have a great week!


Did you ever walk into a friend’s home for coffee and conversation and feel overwhelmed by the distraction of a big honking TV, right there in the living room, running some mindless show and competing for everyone’s attention?
Are you constantly worried about what kind of trash Junior might be watching at all hours on the TV in his room?
Is TV the dominant social presence in your home?
Are you afraid to limit your kids’ usage because you’ve tried to go down that road before and it was nothing but whining and complaining and breaking the rules?
If you answered “YES!”, or have any other TV issues constantly in the back of your mind, then it’s time to step up and establish manageable standards and limits in your home. There’s nothing to be afraid of, and a whole lot to look forward to once you get over the hump and introduce protocols that are fair and consistent.
Here are “10 Rules” from All Pro Dad that should help right the ship just in time for the summer break from school.

Follow this link to read the full article: 10 TV Rules You Must Have | All Pro Dad

We Finally Won A Game!

As many of you know, I play basketball in a recreational league. This is my second season of playing and finally this past Sunday we won our first game! I'm not sure if that says something about how good our team is or if it says something about how good our competition is (I'll let you make your own decision).

A Visit To My Office by the CORE teens (and their parents)!

Top 10 Things You and Your Wife Fight About from All Pro Dad

Read this article today and found it very insightful. Many marriages (including my own) go through seasons were it seems that everything, regardless of how small, can turn into conflict with your spouse. Here are two great suggestions from the article:

Money
Sit down together and work out a budget. Agree to take a look at expenses every month. If the meeting is pre-arranged and you both come to the table with 100% transparency, then the conversation about money can move from the emotional and into the practical.

Family communication
“You never talk!” “You never listen!” Well, it’s easy to be distracted, so try this
- No TV during meals
- Dedicate 30 minutes every evening to “conversation with coffee” (or the beverage of your choice)
- Go through a book such as “201 Great Questions,” and actually schedule time for a tête-à-tête every day

You can read the entire article here:

Top 10 Things You and Your Wife Fight About | All Pro Dad

How I've Been Spending My Saturdays

Union City Green Dragons

At the time, I wasn't quite sure what I was thinking but looking back I'm sure glad I choose to coach my son's soccer team. Although trying to coach 3, 4, 5, and 6 year old boys can be very daunting (sort of like hurding cats), it truly is a blast! It was especially fun this weekend since Ethan scored his first goal.

Ethan

The Biggest Threat To Your Marriage

Recently I came across this article that really confirms what I have seen over the last few years in so many marriages. I hope this isn't your situation but if it is, don't wait...get the financial help you need now!

If you tracked the rate of debt in America over the past 50 years and compared it to the rate of divorce, they’re virtually identical.   In fact, according to Dave Ramsey, of the couples who divorce between the ages of 20 and 30, 80% cite finances as the primary reason.  The way you and your spouse handle money has a direct impact on the health of your family.

So if your finances aren’t what they should be, where should you start?  With Steve Martin of course!  Then, you need to figure out how to get out of credit card debt and how much to save.  Love your family enough to get your finances in order.*

*Taken from www.allprodad.com

Spring Break Fun!

This past week, the kids were off from school for Spring Break. So we decided to have a "staycation" (a vacation at home for the unenlightened). So I took two days off work and got to hang out with the family. On Wednesday we went to Great America. This was the first time for the kids and they had a great time (it was also my first time since high school). I found out that my stomach can't handle what it used too. On Thursday we spent the day in Vacaville with my parents. On Friday we stayed home and played games. On Saturday we went to Gilroy Gardens for more rides...after the 8th ride on the Silver Miner Roller Coaster, I had to get off or risk losing my lunch.