What could destroy America

Theodore Roosevelt said, "The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life."

I believe the same could be said of our families. Talk about Roosevelt's quote around the dinner table tonight and get your family's input.

Have your kids take a quiz to see how well you're doing as a father, click here!

Repeat Yourself

Fifty percent of our speaking involves the recycling of the same 100 words. Even in Shakespeare's works, 40 words make up forty percent of the text in his plays. We repeat words a lot, so why not make them positive words that will encourage our children?

How many "I love you" and "I'm proud of you because..." statements have you spoken lately to your children? No matter how many times, it's still not enough. Intentionally repeat yourself often.

Need some conversation starters? Click here!

A beautiful family

Jay and Suzanne Faske of Brenham, Texas are the embodiment of All Pro Dad and iMom as the parents of 15 children. Three are biological and thirteen are adopted from India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Colombia. Think any of these kids harbor the least bit of bitterness? Ask Jay. Once, when the Faske family already numbered in the double digits, he called a family meeting. "You have two choices," he said. "Either you can have a swimming pool, or we could adopt more children. But not both." The children cast their votes on strips of paper. "Not one voted for the pool," Jay says, still in disbelief. And their numbers increased. What a beautiful family.

Is adoption an option for your family? Find out here.

Leaders build leaders

In 1998, half of all the head coaches in the NFL had either worked directly for Bill Walsh or Tom Landry, or had worked for someone who did. Currently, four head coaches in the NFL were assistant coaches for Tony Dungy. Great leaders build leaders.

This is true in sports, in the business world, and at home. So what makes a great leader? Humility. The willingness to listen to others. Apologizing for and correcting mistakes. Are you that kind of leader? If so, you are replicating the best in others long after you’re gone.

Read about some great leaders in the NFL Click Here.

What hands-on looks like, Part 2

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found kids with "hands-off" parents are twice as likely to smoke, drink and do drugs.

In the previous blog, we hit the first six characteristics of being a-hands-on-parent. Here are the rest: be very aware of your teen’s grades, have a curfew, eat dinner together most every night, know where your teen is at all times, and tell your kids you won't tolerate any drug use.

So be "hands-on" and your teens will keep their hands off drugs.

For the complete hands-on article: click here.

What hands-on looks like, Part I

A new study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse says the key to keeping your kids off of drugs is to be a-hand-on parent. What does that mean?

Well, these parents monitor their kids TV-watching and Internet use, they put restrictions on what music their kids buy, they know where their kids are after school and on weekends, and they give regular chores to their children.

Tomorrow we'll hit the other half of the list.

For the complete hands-on article: Click here.

You only half-listen

Science has proven that most men really aren't good listeners. An Indiana University researcher found in a new study that men listen with only half their brains while women use both sides. So men, is it hopeless? Nope. But it means we’ll have to try twice as hard as women.

Concentrate on what your wife is saying and resist the urge to interrupt. Good listening, like good speaking, is an art that must be learned and an invaluable treasure in marriage.

Is your marriage headed for divorce? Click here.