| Today we are faced with many problems that | | | | take 5 minutes a day and talk to your kids, and |
| are destroying family units everywhere. In a fast | | | | not as a group. Individually spend five minutes |
| paced world we are always in a hurry to get to | | | | with each of them and talk to them about their |
| work to get to the beach, or to get home before | | | | interest not yours. You may find that they are |
| the kids go to sleep. We never seem to have | | | | far more important then the Super Bowl, or a |
| enough time in one day to do all that needs to be | | | | day on the golf course. You may even earn their |
| done.There was a song written in the 70's called | | | | trust and loyalty. My oldest daughter told a friend |
| "The Cats and The Cradle," and in this song the | | | | on the phone once that it would hurt her parents |
| lyrics talk about a man that was so involved | | | | too much to have sex before she was married |
| outside the home that his own son never really | | | | and for that reason she has decided to wait. She |
| spent quality time with him. The song goes on to | | | | has redirected her thinking only because she is |
| say that the son looked up to his dad and he was | | | | receiving the companionship she needs at home. |
| going to be just like him. As the son grew up and | | | | Teenagers that are sexually active in many cases |
| went to college the father wanted to spend | | | | are that way because they are substituting |
| sometime with him when he got home, but his | | | | parental attention for sexual attention. If my folks |
| son was to busy. As the song goes on and his | | | | won't pay attention to me the boy down the |
| boy moved away he realized in the end that his | | | | road will.This is just one of the dangers of not |
| boy turned out to be just like him (never having | | | | spending more time with your family. How does it |
| time to spend with his family). The moral to this | | | | affect your spouse? Is he or she content with |
| story is that we may need to reprioritize our lives | | | | the time you have? If not, do you want them to |
| to put our families first.You may ask, "Where do I | | | | look elsewhere? Of course not, but it can happen. |
| start?" One thing that seems to separate the | | | | Many marriages end in divorce, because the |
| family is television. In this country we spend more | | | | couples grow apart. They form their own lives |
| time watching others live their lives and less time | | | | without including the other. It is imperative that |
| living our own. Why not turn the TV off and play | | | | we take the time that we have today and spend |
| monopoly, yahtzee, or cards. I know these are | | | | it with your family, and make time tomorrow. If |
| not the greatest suggestions, but the key is to | | | | we do we will begin to repair any damage that is |
| make the family stronger. If you all have a | | | | already done, and grow closer to our families in |
| common interest then do that. I have 2 teenage | | | | the future.You may ask, "How do we separate |
| girls and a 4-year-old son. My oldest daughter | | | | work from home?" When you are at work and |
| loves horses and she enjoys riding and competing. | | | | you know that you are not going to finish before |
| My youngest daughter likes to write songs, and | | | | you leave. Plan to just leave it there. It will be |
| sing. She may not be the greatest singer in the | | | | there tomorrow and so will the rest of it. Many |
| world, but she enjoys it. My son is into DVD's and | | | | employers don't staff their businesses correctly, |
| video games. All of them like to spend time with | | | | because of those people who take their work |
| their parents. Up to a few years ago I did not | | | | home. If your load is too much tell your boss you |
| even know them like I thought I did. In fact, I | | | | need help. If your job is worth keeping your boss |
| think it is safe to say that I knew very little at all. | | | | will understand that family comes first. Never let |
| I was always consumed in my work to the point | | | | anything break up your home. Families united are |
| that I brought it home.The thing that hurt me the | | | | stronger then divided. There is no mountain to |
| most was when our family Doctor asked me if | | | | high or river to wide for a strong family to tackle. |
| my son had all of his shots. I answered, "I don't | | | | Do what ever you have to do to keep your |
| know ask my wife." The look the Doctor gave | | | | family together, and never regret the decisions |
| me was one of disappointment. She told me that | | | | you make to strengthen your family. It all pays |
| that was a common answer for a father to give. | | | | off in the end.Don McKay is the owner of several |
| Why? I should know the answer to such a | | | | free information websites and the sole proprietor |
| question, because I am his father. The answer to | | | | of Java Jakes Gourmet Coffee Co. |
| that is I am not interested in that, so it is not | | | | |
| important. This selfish attitude had to change if I | | | | |
| was going to have a relationship with anyone in | | | | |
| my house.The advice a friend gave me has | | | | Visit these sites today and become informed. |
| helped me to grow with my family. He said to | | | | |