Posts Tagged ‘Children’
To Spank or Not to Spank?
On two of our shows this week, we have what I think, is an intelligent and thought-provoking debate about an age-old question: To spank or not to spank. Big question, and one that the answer to can have a profound and lasting impact on your child. I have seen surveys that tend to be split, with about half of parents believing if you spare the rod, you spoil the child, and the other half saying no way does it make sense to hit your kid.
Not one to waffle around on issues, I won’t hesitate to weigh in with my opinion: I believe spanking genuinely confuses children. I believe they think to themselves something like, ”OK, let me get this right. You are supposed to love me, nurture me and protect me from harm, and now you are standing there, five times my size, and hitting me and inflicting physical pain? Hmmm … I don’t get it.” (more…)
Yes, Virginia, There Are Still Sports Heroes
(AP Photo/Bill Haber)
I love, and I mean love, college football. I played it, I watch it, and I follow it, but I have a feeling that a lot of you, like me, are sooo ready for all the college football bowl games to come to an end. Seriously, is there a college team this year that did not play in a bowl? And when you read about a bowl game called the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (I’m not making that up), you have to wonder what’s next. The Toilet Bowl?
The season finally — yes, finally! — ends this week. But before it does, I’d like to take a moment and say a fond farewell to one of the great young men in the history of the game: University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. Chances are, you might not know much about him other than his playing ability, but if you are a parent, he is worth a second look. This year especially, when so many headlines have been about sports stars embroiled in scandal, we should all take the time to acknowledge a real All-American hero. Tebow is exactly the kind of role model we are so in need of for our kids, who get bombarded with the glamorization of the wrong kind of attention-getters in today’s world. (more…)
It's Time for Kids in America to Rock Out!
My ears are still ringing from the jam session we had in the studio for last Thursday’s show. You would think I’d be used to it by now, after raising our very own rocker dude, our youngest son, Jordan. He can wail now, but boy, oh boy, those early years were rough! Ha! Jordan, I kid. I kid! (Sort of.)
I had such a great time with our amazing musical guests to kick off The Dr. Phil Foundation’s new music program called “Little Kids Rock Across America“, and man, they ROCKED. I’ve always said that parents need to encourage their children’s passions, and for some, that passion is music.
Not every kid is just a good student or athlete. For some, it’s music that can be a great way to enhance his or her self-esteem and help keep them out of trouble — “idle hands are the devil’s workshop” and all that. I really believe that when some children get to a certain age, they really want to feel like they belong to something, or at least have an identity that distinguishes them from being just a face in the crowd. (more…)
Every Parent's Worst Nightmare
If you have trouble holding back your emotions while watching Thursday’s show on child abductions, I more than understand. In the years I’ve been doing this show, I really always try to remain professional, maintain my composure and stay focused on the guest’s feelings rather than my own. This show was a challenge because as a father I was thinking, “But for the grace of God, go I.”
In fact, when I walked out of the studio with Robin at the end of that taping, I squeezed her hand tighter than usual. It made us both want to run and hug our children long and tight. It doesn’t matter that our kids are now grown. When I talk to these parents going through the pain of dealing with the abductions of their children, I can’t help but think of the horror that I would have felt if something like that had happened to one of our two sons. Despite the fact that I’m a mental health professional, I’m not sure I would be able to handle such a scenario. To be real honest with you, I’m not sure if I would be able to cope at all. It is an Achilles’ heel I know I have. (more…)
