You've Got a Friend In Me - LIVE Performance by 4-year-old Claire Ryann ...

Dr. Meg Meeker's Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters provides ten practical suggestions for raising daughters in our culture. She leans on both her clinical experience as well recent data to aid fathers in raising strong, healthy daughters.  Ultimately, a relational father significantly impacts his daughter's well-being.  This video reminded me of Meeker's resource.

Questions to Ask Your Kids After School

Have you ever wondered what questions fo ask your kids when they come home from school?

Here are some great suggestions from fathers.com:

Questions to Ask Your Kids After School

Commitment to Your Son

What is your commitment like for your son?
This recent article challenges fathers to make a commitment to their son.  Gabriel Marshall was diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma and required surgery for treatment. Gabriel's father responded to his son's fear of "looking like a monster" by getting a tattoo to help his son feel normal.  

Why "theRelationalFather" blog?

For the past 3 1/2 years,  I have invested specific time, money, and energy towards the research of the subject matter of fathers and sons.  Specifically, my original research has confirmed that a father influences his son's stage called emerging adulthood. Jeffrey Jenson Arnett has identified this new stage of development that spans from the ages of 18-25.  The key result I have learned is that the most important characteristic that contributes to an emotionally healthy son is simply a relational father. To that end, I have created this blog along with a bi-monthly newsletter to provide both encouragement and resources to fathers. If you desire to subscribe to this newsletter, you can do so here. 

Everyone's A Teacher

I am currently reading Paul David Tripp's devotional on Psalm 51 entitled Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy.  In chapter 23 entitled "Everyone's a Teacher", Tripp argues that teaching is not reserved for the professional. Rather, everyone is called to be a teacher. Specifically, people learn from our lives.  Tripp says, "People learn, not because I've opened the dictionary of grace, but because I've shown them the video of grace in operation." (p.72)

The question for fathers is simple: what has your life been showing your children? Has your life been full of grace?  When you come home from work, how can you live out a life of grace for your kids?

Motivation for being a relational father.