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How My Toddler Is Teaching Me the “Good” in Saying “Goodbye”
I had a joyful moment the other day I’ll remember for a long time.As I sat on the chair in our bedroom, reading, I looked over to see our 20-month-old son, Landon, enter the room. He got no more than...
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You'll Never Believe What My Wife Gave Me For Father’s Day
My wife, Christi, is the sentimental one in our relationship. For my first Father’s Day, she had a hardcover book made with pictures of Landon and I together throughout his first year of life....
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How to Change Your Spouse
After last week’s blog, I had a number of individuals ask me to help them with their marriages. I’m super thankful for those who emailed or shared personal stories with me. Your courage to reach out,...
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What My iPhone Stole From Me
by Christi StraubThe first thing I reach for the in morning. The last thing I say goodnight to before bed. Always within arms reach. If not, I search until I find it. How could I live without it?...
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Raising Successful Kids: Why EQ Trumps IQ
I’m going to cut right to the chase and say something a bit controversial about raising kids.If my kids' resumes are filled with athletic and academic achievements but they can’t love or relate well...
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Why I Love Public Temper Tantrums
Living in Branson, MO has its perks. One of those is having a season pass to Silver Dollar City, an amusement park with great food and activities for the entire family.A few weeks ago, Christi and I...
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3 Ways to Make Prayer Matter With Your Kids
When we sit down as a family for dinner, we begin in prayer. Our 22-month-old son Landon is often the first to remind us, by holding out his little hands and repeating, “A-men, A-men, A-men.”...
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Do You Really Have What It Takes To Be a Parent?
I had the privilege of speaking at the International Marriage and Family Summit last week in San Diego. One of the highlights of my week was being able to spend some time with one of the nation’s most...
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Do Your Kids Really Know?
My wife, Christi, is 37 weeks pregnant. People ask if our nearly two-year-old son knows he’s getting a baby sister soon. He knows there’s a crib in the other bedroom. He runs into the room pointing at...
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Why Being an Imperfect Parent is Way More Fun!
We’re getting ready to become new parents—for the second time.I think the single biggest lesson I learned from our initial journey into parenthood, is that trying to be a perfect parent is exhausting....
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Our Daughter Came into the World This Week—A Gift, Indeed.
Our daughter came into the world this week. As a husband, I couldn’t be more proud of my wife. As a father, I couldn’t be more grateful for the two precious gifts we call our children.Gifts, indeed....
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Why Mister Rogers Is Smarter Than Baby Einstein
I had a parenting moment the other day I know gave me more joy than it did my nearly two-year-old son. I introduced him to the nostalgia of my own childhood—something I’ll do in various ways for years...
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4 Ways To Use Screen Time To Your Kids' Advantage
The impact technology is having on our relationships, brain wiring, and kids remains a topic I’m asked to write about and speak on quite often. The consequence of this is that many people wrongly...
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How I'm Dying In My Marriage & Why That's A Good Thing
I was exhausted, and quite honestly ready for bed. Yet, my wife was relentless. "Honey, I really want to go out to one nice dinner with you before we leave town. Please, will you get dressed up?" she...
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Hungry Babies, Whiny Toddlers, Needy Kids: Two Ways to Make the Most of These...
I took my first trip today since our daughter was born three weeks ago. You would think being away by myself would be a welcomed reprieve. Maybe I’m being overly sentimental, but it was difficult...
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Read This And You'll Never Say "I'm Busy" The Same Way Again
A friend of mine brought up an insightful thought the other day about the modern day greeting in America. In years past when somebody asked how you were doing, the most common response was, “I’m...
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The Screen-Balanced Family: Six Secrets to a More Connected Family in the...
Christi and I love working together (okay, most of the time). She’s a go-getter and drives what we do. I want to begin this week by honoring my wife for her persistence in coming up with a way to...
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Why I'm Glad My Dad Remains In Intensive Care
Last Sunday I received that phone call--the kind that leaves your legs weak and your stomach churning.My dad, who battled congestive heart failure for the past 21 years, was now critical. His heart,...
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Making Memories, Praising Struggles, and Writing Meaningful Stories
I want to begin by thanking each of you for your prayers for my dad the past few weeks. I don't say this lightly. I believe in a God who suffered more than I'll ever know so that I could experience a...
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An Open Letter to Grandma and Grandpa: From Your Adult Children
A few weeks ago our family—my wife Christi, our two-year-old son and six-week-old daughter—all traveled to Pennsylvania to be with my dad as he had surgery. For two-and-a-half weeks this meant we were...
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