The successful entrepreneur has averaged four business failures in his lifetime. According to leadership expert John Maxwell, "Failure is the price you pay for success." The key is to fail well... meaning you learn from your mistakes.

It’s no different in fatherhood. Are you a successful failure? Or does your pride in not admitting your shortcomings build a wall between you and your children? The best thing you can do for your kids is say you’re sorry when you need to, and give them some freedom to fail as well. The idea is not to have a perfect family, but a learning family. And that can only start by admitting mistakes.






Warmly,

Mark Brandenburg

Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC
mark@eqnow.org
www.markbrandenburg.com
www.eqnow.org ... read more >>

Hi, I’m Tim Sisarich and just recently I went in search for a couple of sets of cowboy guns for my four-year old boys.

You know, the kind with the wide belt and twin holsters.

I hadn’t gone out of my way not to buy them buy guns up to this point.

Nor do I really have any staunch view of the dangers of boys and guns ... it's just sort of the way it turned out.

So I popped into the local toyshop to discover that the only guns they sold were strange looking space lasers, with flashy buttons, lights and sounds.

They didn’t even look like guns!

To my surprise, they inform me that they don’t stock those sorts of guns ... Nor did any of the other 6 toy stores I went to.

Can you believe that? ... read more >>

If you're the parent of a teenager, helping them get their first job is one of the first steps toward maturity and personal responsibility. Here are seven ways you can ensure that their job hunt is a rewarding one.

1. First, work with your teen to come up with a list of personal strengths and things they enjoy doing. If they enjoy working with children and animals or love the outdoors, make a note of those items. Any seemingly small and insignificant item can lead to ideas for potential jobs.

2. Take your child's schedule and commitments into consideration. How will your teen get to and from their workplace? What other school activities are they involved with?
Will they have enough time to study, work AND socialize? (Yes parents', socializing is a natural and necessary part of being a teen - you know what they say about all work and no play!) ... read more >>

My ex husband and I divorced over 10 years ago. He remarried 10 months later. I lost my home because I was unable to pay for it do to my lack of education and skills. He continued to prosper his business and lives on a golf course home, has a ministry, and travels. His wife has undermined the relationship with his daughter where her family has priority over our daugther. He was abusive to me and abandoning during our marriage. The relationship with his wife supersedes the one with his daughter. He has a
hands off with her, and will not help her out financially, even though he is well off. My daughter is very capable and responsible, but could have used
some assistance in acquiring her own home as well as for other issues. My ex will not even speak to me, even if it has to do with our daughter. Our daughter is our only child. His present wife cannot have children. I feel that his priorities are misplaced greatly and it continues to place a wound on our daughter. ... read more >>

Even before our children were born Al and I had always wanted to be equal as parents. We were lucky that both of us were home for the first few months of our first daughter's life. Even though I was very clear in my mind that I wanted both of us to be involved and equal - and we knew that I would have to go back to work and he would stay home with her - I found I had to bite my tongue when he did things differently from what I thought was the "right" way. ... read more >>

So you're between the ages of 13 and 24. What makes you happy? A worried and weary parent might imagine the answer to be sex, drugs, and a little rock 'n' roll. Maybe some cash, or at least the car keys.

Turns out the real answer is quite different. Spending time with family was the top answer to that open-ended question, according to an extensive survey conducted by The Associated Press and MTV. And even better: Nearly three-quarters of young people say their relationship with their parents makes them happy. So the answer to the enigmatic question of what makes your children happy? You do.

Don't ever forget it!

Warmly,

Mark Brandenburg

Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC
mark@eqnow.org
www.markbrandenburg.com
www.eqnow.org
Phone (+1) 651-766-9976 ... read more >>

Us dads, before we're officially Dads, aren't quite sure how this whole parenting thing will work out. We've seen other guys, whom we've deemed far inferior to us, thrust into the parenting world and somehow, against all odds, they make it. We, too, should be able to master this. Why do we doubt ourselves? Because society makes us! It's a mom's world out there - everything relating to kids is built around them. Mother's Day Out. Playgroups. Magazines. We're trying to break into this huge fortress, but the gates are locked tight and there are big, burly guards out front keeping us at bay. ... read more >>

Oh those dreaded teenage years. As parents you may experience anxious feelings about the coming years when your children will grow up to be young teens. Those temper storms, stubborn behavior, changes in ways of thinking and so many new and difficult situations to deal with. And above all, you know deep within there will come a day when your daughter will start going out with a boy.

As a parent, acknowledge that everyone does start dating at some point. Don’t forget your past years as a teenager and youth. Dating is both a normal and good activity. ... read more >>

Remember when you were like eight? And your friends convinced you to join the big boys and jump off the high dive at the public pool? Yeah, this is just like that.

Right now I’m standing in that line at the high dive.

Some of the people in line at the high dive have dry suits on, like me. Others are already dripping with parenthood. The fact that the wet ones are confidently heading back up there is only mildly encouraging.

I do know it’s going to be totally fine. I know that all kinds of people have felt exactly the same way before me and have walked the plank and lived to tell about it. I know I couldn’t be making the trip up the ladder with a better person.

Despite this, I still slightly dread that weird pit in the stomach on the way down - you know, when it seems like you’ve been falling forever?

This time it’s kind of the opposite. The drop could take 25 years. And it could feel like an instant. ... read more >>

Potty training was Alleke's idea. She came streaking through the apartment, dripping from her inflatable swimming pool in the kitchen. I watched her hop like a dolphin with her knees together and disappear into the bathroom.

"Potty," she yelled, and I bolted out of my chair.

She sat on her potty and kicked her legs while I sat on the edge of the tub–not sure if I was supposed to do something. I had as much experience with potty training as Alleke did. She seemed confident at least.

She asked to read a book, and when she finished, she set it down, stood up, looked in the potty, and pointed. I looked over her shoulder.

There was a puddle.

"Nice work," I said.

I'm no expert on potty training. Alleke just lets me tag along when she has to go. I'm there for moral support. But what I find interesting is that Alleke started using the potty when she had to. ... read more >>