09/08/08

Helpful, Easy, and FREE resource for parents and spouses ...

Parents are busy people.  We all know that, either from working with them or by being them.  Yet, almost all of them probably make time to read several emails every day.  A great resource that someone recently referred to me provides a daily email of parenting and marriage advice that is just “bite-sized” enough for the busiest spouse and parent.  The organization “Family First” (http://www.myfamilyminute.com/about/) provides three similar services that are free and convenient, “Family Minute,” “iMom,” and “All-Pro Dads.”  I encourage you to look into these resources, both for yourself and for those you may serve in ministry, and please let folks know how they can take advantage of them.

Family First is hosting an event in collaboration with the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, November 3, from 2:00 – 5:30, specifically for fathers and their young children.  For more information, go to http://www.allprodad.com/event_details.php?id_event=20.  

One feature article that appears on the Family First website that I found particularly interesting and helpful appears that the following link ... http://www.myfamilyminute.com/articles/viewarticle/index.php?id=284.  In the article, the author refers to the book, Giving Your Child the Excellence Edge, by Vicki Caruana, in which she outlines 10 important life skills parents can teach their children for future success in a high tech world.  These are character building lessons, not advice on padding one’s resume or how to manipulate others, which is the kind of advice I usually associate with secular resources on “success” and “excellence.” 

If you subscribe to the Family Minute, and you have an aggressive spam filtering program, you will probably need to “whitelist” the daily email once when you first receive it, so watch your filter reports carefully.  The subject line will say “Your ____(whatever day it is)___ Family Minute.”

My thanks to David Siler at Catholic Charities for introducing me to this resource.  I hope many parents can benefit from this free and easy opportunity to improve their parenting and marriage skills.