My beautiful wife has shared some awesome tips for parents with a special needs child that is also homeschooled. Check out the latest podcast on the Home School Support Network to learn how we deal with tough times with a special needs child in our home.
Special Needs Education at Home
February 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Episode 20 – Holiday Traditions
December 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Gingerbread Train
I talked about Family Identity in Episode 12. It is important for dads to cultivate a sense of family identity. Getting your family together for a project like an annual gingerbread train or house is a great way to build family identity. Enter your creation into a competition. Have some fun with the project by creating some custom cars. Read more about the annual Osborne Family Gingerbread Train on Grill’n Time.
The Father’s Mandate – Where to learn more?
Best – Take a Growing Kids God’s Way class in a small group setting
Better – Go through the videos as a couple at home (GFI.org sale)
Good – Read On Becoming Childwise: Parenting Your Child from 3-7 Years
Find a Growing Kids God’s Way Class in your local area by visiting the GrowingKids.org web site. Use the “General Ministry or Curriculum” contact email address to ask about classes in your area.
Listen to the eight part series on The Father’s Mandate
1. A father must cultivate a sense of family identity.
2. A father must regularly demonstrate love to his wife.
3. A father must understand and respect his child’s private world.
4. A father must give his children the freedom to fail.
5. A father must be the encourager of the family.
6. A father must guard his tongue and his tone and learn to measure his response against the excitement on their faces.
7. A father must routinely embrace his children.
8. A father must build the trusting relationship on God’s Word, not on human wisdom.
Update on Caden – He broke his arm and the next week was hospitalized with pneumonia.
Tech Time:
Leo Laporte and Steve Gibson – Security Now Podcast
Which apps are safer? Apps from the Android market or the Apple App store?
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God’s Wisdom Above Man’s Wisdom
December 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Fathers Mandate number 8. A father must build the trusting relationships on God’s Word, not on human wisdom.
The Fathers Mandate Part 8 of 8
http://www.growingkids.org/leaders/gkgw-chapter-summaries/
Reference: Chapter 4 of Growing Kids God’s Way by Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo
Mr. Ezzo says that if you don’t get this then everything else in the other mandates does not matter.
From Psalm 118:8 (TLB) “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
Who is God and what does He mean to you and your family?
Please remember that much more is caught than taught.
“Adapted from a recent online discussion.
New dad wonders how to juggle parenting with football season
Football season!: How much is my child going to hate me as he grows up with me watching three football games in a row on Sundays, and another on Monday nights? (I do chores during breaks, I swear, but I’ve never had a baby or child to care for during football season before.)” Source Tampabay.com
New dad wonders how to juggle parenting with football season
Football season!: How much is my child going to hate me as he grows up with me watching three football games in a row on Sundays, and another on Monday nights? (I do chores during breaks, I swear, but I’ve never had a baby or child to care for during football season before.)” Source Tampabay.com
This issue of building relationships with your children based on God’s word is not about choosing church over sports on Sunday. It is about having the ways of God “on your hearts. Impressing them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the street, when you lie down and when you get up.” from Deuteronomy 6: 6-9 New International Version (NIV)
Read God’s word in the Bible for yourself. That is how you will be able to determine what God’s wisdom is verses what other people around you say.
Reading Plans
By the numbers
The Bible has 66 Books made up of 1189 Chapters. To read the Bible in a year you will read on average:
99 Chapters in a month
5.5 Books per month
3.26 Chapters per dayYou can read the entire Bible from cover to cover in less than 100 hours.
99 Chapters in a month
5.5 Books per month
3.26 Chapters per dayYou can read the entire Bible from cover to cover in less than 100 hours.
Here are some audio Bibles: (aff)
The Word of Promise: Complete Audio Bible
Why read? To get a better understanding of who God is and what He means to you and your family.
Proverbs 14:12 New King James Version (NKJV)
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
How to become a Christian:
1 John 1:9
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Ephesians 2:8-9
New Living Translation (NLT)
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
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Dads: HUG YOUR KIDS!
November 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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The Fathers Mandate Part 7 of 8
From Growing Kids God’s Way by Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo
Scroll down to the reference for Chapter 4
Feedback: Andy from Better Dad Podcast says thanks!
Mandate number 7. A father must routinely embrace his children.
Sherry and I meet in a hugging community. We meet through Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Some folks shake hands, but PTK members HUG!
Mom’s touch provides kids with a feeling of comfort and love. Dad’s hugs
Mr. Ezzo warns that if parents, especially dads, don’t embrace their kids, they will eventually seek it from someone else. And they will find the affection they want and you will likely not like it.
Don’t let you daughter’s preadolescence physical changes cause you to treat her any different. She is the same person on the inside. She needs to know her dad loves her as she goes through these changes.
Hug your kids!
Tech Time
Which anti-virus should you use on your Android phone?
Facebook social engineering.
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Technology Safety is more about Behavior than the Technology!
Podcast Episode 16 – Google Security Tips
November 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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The Fathers Mandate Part 5 of 8
From Growing Kids God’s Way
Scroll down to the reference for Chapter 4
Happy Birthday Caden
Check out the details of Caden’s birth on Caden’s Page and my Happy Birthday Note to Caden.
Mandate number 5. A father must be the encourager of the family.
Not just encouraging words but a spirit of encouragement.
Leave notes for your kids in their lunch boxes.
Write a letter. Tell you wife to remind you about this one. Scapbooks!
Consider having dad sign Christmas cards and birthday cards.
Give your kids the opportunity to prove themselves trustworthy.
My dad gave me the freedom to drive my little sister around our farm in the old Ford Fairlane. I talked about this in my Howto Train Your Kids to use the Internet Safely.
Tech Time
http://www.google.com/goodtoknow/
- Strong Passwords – change them
- Enable two step verification
- Always PATCH your operating systems, browsers, and applications
- Be aware of suspect web sites – social engineering
- Check for antivirus and malware – Use well know products and keep them current
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Technology Safety is more about Behavior than the Technology!
Podcast Episode 15 – Give Your Child the Freedom to Fail
October 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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The Fathers Mandate Part 4 of 8
From Growing Kids God’s Way
Scroll down to the reference for Chapter 4
The Fathers Mandate Part 4 of 8
http://www.growingkids.org/leaders/gkgw-chapter-summaries/
Scroll down to the reference for Chapter 4
4. A father must give his children the freedom to fail.
– Your children need to freedom to fail…in front of Dad.
– So many adults are haunted by the fact that they feel like they could never live up to -dad’s expectations.
– Achievement and relationships are areas that your child will experience failure
– Your job is to help them find the blessings
I have already covered the following:
1. A father must cultivate a sense of family identity.
2. A father must regularly demonstrate love to his wife.
3. A father must understand and respect his child’s private world.
In the coming weeks I will share ideas to help dads fulfill the remaining mandates
5. A father must be the encourager of the family.
6. A father must guard his tongue and his tone and learn to measure his response against the excitement on their faces.
7. A father must routinely embrace his children.
8. A father must build the trusting relationship on God’s Word, not on human wisdom.
Tech Time
iPhone or Droid for your children?
The iPhone has some pretty good security features to limit and control access. See security settings that I recommend on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
FEEDBACK:
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Voice Mail: (864) 372-9833
Technology Safety is more about Behavior than the Technology!
Podcast Episode 14 – Smart Phone Security Concerns
October 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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The Fathers Mandate Part 3 of 8
From Growing Kids God’s Way
Scroll down to the reference for Chapter 4
3. A father must understand and respect his child’s private world.
Public World – What people see and hear when you are out and about in a public setting. The things that can be seen by strangers on the street.
Personal World – The world where your closest friends and family commonly see and hear things you that are never shown in public.
Private World – This is on the inside. People have to be invited in to see what is in here.
Open window phenomenon – Its when your child invites you into their private world. It can come when walking or at bedtime. Be careful because you never know when the open window will come.
I have already covered the following:
1. A father must cultivate a sense of family identity.
Riley’s birthday trip
2. A father must regularly demonstrate love to his wife.
In the coming weeks I will share ideas to help dads fulfill the remaining mandates
4. A father must give his children the freedom to fail.
5. A father must be the encourager of the family.
6. A father must guard his tongue and his tone and learn to measure his response against the excitement on their faces.
7. A father must routinely embrace his children.
8. A father must build the trusting relationship on God’s Word, not on human wisdom.
Tech Time
iPhone 4s
Pretty much looks the same on the outside, but on the inside:
Duel processor promises to give better performance
Two Antennas for better reception
Upgraded Camera to 8 megapixels with improved optics including an added lense
Voice activated search and response from Siri
“The Defense IA Security Accreditation Working Group (DSAWG), which is the DoD approval body for Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs), determined that iOS devices should not be deployed in the DoD at this time due to unmitigated iOS device security risks. Therefore the DSAWG directed the draft iPhone/iPad STIG be removed from the IASE web site.” Source
Cellphones will become a way to attack otherwise protected devices: report
- Attached to USB for charging and data transfer – moving pictures from your phone to your PC or Mac
- They act just like Thumb drives Remember Stuxnet? The attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
- Small keyboard make fro more mistakes typing. How many times have you had to apologize for an auto correction done by your phone?
- Browsers are less sophisticated and do not give indications of insecure content.
Convenience comes at a price. The easier it is for the user to do the wrong thing, the easier it is for hackers slip into you phone and then into your network at home or in the office.
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Technology Safety is more about Behavior than the Technology!
Podcast Episode 13 – GKGW Fathers Mandate 2 – Regularly Demonstrate Love to your Wife
October 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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The Fathers Mandate Part 2 of 8
Based on Chapter 4 from Growing Kids God’s Way
1. A father must cultivate a sense of family identity. (Review)
– Be proud of your family – as Mr Ezzo said be the cheer leader (We are the Osbornes and we…) Rise above the level of mediocrity!
I added a couple of blog posts this week. One related to Cub Scout activities this past weekend. Our oldest two boys got to shoot BB Guns, Bow and Arrows, and Sling Shots.
Make sure your activities are in line with your family goals and values. Do you have them written down? Are your goals Simple, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, TRUTH based?
What education method makes your family unique: Public, private or home school?
2. A father must regularly demonstrate love to his wife.
Mr. Ezzo says, “If you really love your children then give them the gift of confidence and security. Show them how much you love their mom.”
In Episode 4 I talked about the importance of Dating and Couch Time.
In Episode 7 I talked about the need for dads to take your wife out of her role as a mom and put her back in her role as a wife. To do this you need to elarn your wife’s love language. The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman
In the coming weeks I will share ideas to help dads fulfill the remaining mandates
3. A father must understand and respect his child’s private world.
12 minutes
4. A father must give his children the freedom to fail.
5. A father must be the encourager of the family.
6. A father must guard his tongue and his tone and learn to measure his response against the excitement on their faces.
7. A father must routinely embrace his children.
8. A father must build the trusting relationship on God’s Word, not on human wisdom.
Tech Time
The PDF report can be found in the download section ont he right side of the page.
An in-depth perspective on software vulnerabilities and exploits, malicious code threats, and potentially unwanted software in the first half of 2011.
45% – User Interaction Required
26% – Autorun of USB or network files
What you can do.
- Be smart.
- Implement strong passwords and Patch your systems. There are patches for your OS, Browsers (IE, FireFox, Safari, Chrome) Aplciaitons (Adobe flash, reader, etc), iTunes, Qiucktime, MS Office.
FEEDBACK:
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Voice Mail: (864) 372-9833
Technology Safety is more about Behavior than the Technology!
Being a Home School Family
October 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Using home school to educate our children is another thing that makes our family unique. Homeschoooling adds to our family identity. Certainly homeschooling is not for every family, but what ever your education method, that adds to your family identity. Dads, you should be very active and intentional in choosing how your children will be educated. Don’t take the public school education program blindly without understanding if it is the right choice for EACH of your children. One child may be better servered by a private school. Another child within the same family may be better served by public education or home school.
Sherry and I are passionate about home school education. We enjoy helping families through their review of education choices. Sherry is a former 3rd grade public school teacher and now she has several years of homeschool teaching under her belt. This is another subject that we approach carefully and prayerfully. We encourage you to do the same. To help you decide if homeschooling is right for your family we have a new resource. If you choose homeschooling we will lead you through the mounds of choices with curriculum, resources, books, co-ops, and more. Our new online support group web site launched this week is called the Home School Support Network. The site is a Blog and Podcast for now. Eventually we will be adding video and possibly even a member area. The first episode of the podcast was just released this week. We are waiting on the iTunes review process to complete, but in the meantime you can get the introductory podcast episode via the HSSN RSS feed.
Podcast Episode 12 – GKGW Fathers Mandate 1 – Cultivate a Sense of Family Idenity
October 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Part 1 of an 8 part series on how I implement the Fathers Mandate from chapter 4 of the Growing Kids God’s Way (GKGW) parenting series by Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo. This episode provides a short click from GKGW session four where Mr. Ezzo introduces the first mandate.
CNN Opinion article Why Men are in Trouble by William J Bennett
“Today, 18-to- 34-year-old men spend more time playing video games a day than 12-to- 17-year-old boys.” via Shawn Wood
Courageous Movie opened Friday September 30th. This awesome movie is a great challenge for dayd, Courageous came in number one in the box office for new releases last weekend.
Parenting and Relationships
The Father’s Mandate – How I cultivate a sense of family identity.
- Special family activities Gingerbread train
- Other cooking activities like 4 year old biscuits
- Let them help you with tasks around the house even if it slows you down
- Create memories with special activities and trips (NC apple picking, family camping, fishing, geocaching)
- Be the spiritual leader by praying and leading devotionals with the family – As kids get older let them lead portions of the devotional time
- Take your child shopping or on errands
- Be proud of your family – as Mr Ezzo said be the cheer leader (We are the Osbornes and we…) Rise above the level of mediocrity!
- Holidays (we work very hard to tell our kids the truth. We do not lie about Santa, the tooth fairy, or the Easter bunny.) Read about how Halloween is different in our family.
Tech Time
Facebook Share “feature”
My friend, we will call him John, shares a photo on his wall. He shared it via the “share” button from his friend Sue who shared it from her “Wall Photos” album. I am only friends with John and I am not friends with Sue on Facebook. BUT, now that my friend John has shared a photo from Sue, I can not click on that photo and then cycle through all of the Wall photos that Sue has ever shared….and get this…I can even comment on those photos. Sue does not know me and I do not know Sue but here I am leaving comments on Sue’s wall.
The reverse is true. Based on the default settings in Facebook…Once you share a photo it can be shared by any one of your friends and their friends can then share it and so on and so forth. And all of the friends of all of the people who have shared the photo now have access to view and write comments on ALL of the photos in the album that contains the one photo that your friend shared.
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Technology Safety is more about Behavior than the Technology!
