Activities with the kids – It is meaningful to a child when you take time to watch him/her in sports or school activities. It is even better to do activities with them. Recreation time together can be a great time for bonding, talking, and building positive memories for your children. Seek to do what your child enjoys for recreation and play. If a child likes to fish, then fish. If they like soccer, play it with them. If they want to sleep in the tent in the back yard, join them. This shows that you care about him/her as a unique person. This helps avoid resentment over the years because they remember you only willing to give time and attention when they did what you enjoy.

Do you know when to be strong and when to be gentle?

Knowing when to be strong and when to be gentle: Stu Weber, football player and Vietnam veteran wrote a powerful book called “Tender Warrior”. The basic take away for me was the importance of knowing when to be strong and when to be tender. Men are to be the defender and protector of the family unit which calls for strength against those who threaten it. We are to be kind, gentle and caring toward our spouse and children. It is problematic when a man is tender (wimpy) to the outside world and rough with the ones in the home. God is tender toward us as our Father and powerful to protect us from evil helps us live in proper balance.