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From Focus on the Family Some years ago, sports enthusiasts around the world had their eyes on a young pole-vaulter from Texas named Billy Olsen. At the age of 19, he had already set the world indoor record and it was predicted that he would easily bring home the gold medal in the 1980 Olympics . In 1979, Olsen suffered an injury at the tryout and did not even make the team. Down but not defeated, he began looking instead to 1984. A few months later, however, he took a bad fall and broke his wrist. Doctors said he would probably never vault again. Still, Billy did not give up. In 1984 he was jumping high but not well enough to make the team. So, once again, he set his sights on the next time around. In 1986, he broke the world record four times. 1988 was surely going to be Billy Olsen’s year. This time, he qualified but, to everyone’s surprise, he did not jump well. He never won a medal. Billy may have never reached his goal but, in my mind, he will always be a winner, s...

From Focus on the Family Having trouble remembering what your teenager looks like? Maybe it’s time to rein in their busy schedules and preserve a little family time. With all the activities available to children these days it’s easy for families to lose touch. Children are so busy with sports , art lessons, ballet and dozens of other extracurricular activities that many families can’t remember the last time they sat down for a meal together. But family times are important to a child’s development and as parents, it’s our job to see that they get scheduled. Why not pick one night of the week as a regular family night? Maybe you could go out to dinner — somewhere away from phones and other distractions — and use the time to relax and reconnect. Try going on a hike or a picnic together. Or maybe you could just set up chairs in the park. Whatever it takes to keep the family unit together and well connected. But if you don’t put it on the schedule, it may never happen. Put a fa...

By Dr Bill Maier Kids today are spending more time than ever in front of the television or computer screen. And dormant kids tend to be chubby kids. As parents, it’s our job to recognise when our kids aren’t getting enough sunshine and exercise, and to do something about it. Left to their own devices, a lot of kids would spend all day lying on the couch. But they need to be active, especially if they’re getting a little flabby around the waist. If your family has gotten into some bad habits, consider joining a local health club . Indoor sports , like badminton or martial arts , are great ways to stay healthy while developing invaluable motor skills and coordination. In good weather, get the kids outside all you can. Take a family hike or biking trip, or just play frisbee in the park. Do whatever it takes to get your kids out of the house and into some good, healthy habits. From TODAY, Voices - Thursday, 03-June-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta How to Avoid B...

Image by richardmasoner via Flickr By Dr Bill Maier Are you looking for a good way to strengthen your marriage ? Try playing tennis with your spouse, or going on a bike ride. It's a fact that couples who play together tend to stay together. Men place a great deal of importance on shared activities with their spouse, while women tend to thrive on emotional intimacy , which usually comes through just being together. My wife and I are into hiking and mountain biking , and we've used those activities to bond, as well as to build a lot of great memories. Some of our best conversations have taken place on the hiking trail or the bike path. The quickest way to let passion plummet in a relationship is to disconnect. If he's always off playing golf with his buddies, and she's meeting with her hobby club, emotional intimacy can fall by the wayside. The strongest couples learn to develop shared interests, and then work them into their weekly schedules. From TODAY, Voices –...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife By Dr Bill Maier It's a wonder kids ever get their homework done with all the distractions life throws at them. They've got sports , choir, drama class and dozens of other activities they could sign up for. A lot of them have chores to do at home, as well. Most adults cannot even keep up with their kids' schedules! When kids have trouble getting their homework done, it's often because they're simply too busy. Parents need to step in and help whenever possible. Begin by setting clear boundaries on their time. Kids often feel pressured to sign up for every event that comes along — especially if they're overachievers. It also helps to teach them how to break down large projects into bite-sized chunks. Kids who are busy will often put off big homework assignments until the last minute, putting even greater pressure on themselves. Finally, insist that they establish healthy eating and sleeping habits. From TODAY, VOICES – Monday...

By Dr Bill Maier All right kids , pay attention, because today's message is for you! When was the last time you told Mum how much you appreciate all she does? Have you thanked her for driving you to school and football practice and your many other activities? How about the food she puts on the table? Or the piles of laundry she sifts through? It's easy to take mums for granted, but the fact is, she doesn't have to do all these things. She does them because she loves you. Why not take time to return the favour? It doesn't take much to make mums happy – a simple note of thanks will mean more to her than you can imagine. Better yet, why not give her a day off? Pick a Saturday and take over all the chores. Let her curl up with a good book and spend the day catering to her every need, just to let her know how much you love her. From TODAY, Voices – Friday, 31-Jul-2009

Image via Wikipedia By Dr James Dobson Most children tend to admire teachers who can be strict without being unpleasant. A teacher who can control a class without being oppressive or mean is almost always loved by her students. One reason is that there's clearly safety in order. When a class is out of control, especially in kindergarten , the children are afraid of one another. They can be vicious with one another, and they feel good with having a strong teacher who's in charge. Second, children love justice. When someone has violated a rule, they want immediate retribution. They admire the teacher who can enforce an equitable legal system. Third, children admire stricter teachers because chaos is nerve-racking. When you look at the secret of success behind a championship sports team, a magnificent orchestra , or a successful business , one of the principal ingredients is invariably firm discipline. Schoolchildren thrive when that same component is present in their classroo...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr Bill Maier Kids need parents as much as they need air and water . Our acceptance and approval are critical to their sense of self-worth. That's why it's important to look for opportunities to connect with our kids, and build into their future. Use mornings as a time of encouragement. Experts say that the first five minutes you spend with your child are the most important, so don't take that time lightly. Give them a big hug and a hearty smile, and let that set the tone for the entire day. After school, ask them how their studies went. Talk to them about whatever is on their mind, whether it's sports or friends, or even girls. And listen. This is how you get to know what's going on in their world. Finally, put them to bed with a hug, and another word of encouragement. From TODAY, Voices - Thursday, 16-Jul-2009 Related articles by Zemanta So Many Joys in Life (LearnThis.ca) Sibling reverly (busymom.net) Hope, Encouragement and the P...