It’s common to see TV commercials portray dads as blundering and inept. The following commercials for Eggo Waffles and T-Mobile are examples. Though an uncritical perusal of these ads may provoke laughter, are they all in good fun or could they be harmful? Let’s consider this question in honor of Father’s Day. (Keep in mind, though, … [Read more...] about Countering TV Commercials’ Portrayal of Dads as Incompetent
serving others
Forming Positive Relationships with Difficult Neighbors
Last week I wrote a post about the declining sense of connectedness between neighbors in our nation and why we need to reverse this trend (read the post here). It is often easy to assert the benefits of connectedness and make recommendations for getting to know your neighbors when speaking of neighbors in a general sense. The subjective view … [Read more...] about Forming Positive Relationships with Difficult Neighbors
Do You Know Your Neighbors?
Over the last few days I’ve been thinking about neighbors a little more than I usually do. I began doing so after hearing a news story about 3 women who were kidnapped and then held captive for 10 years in a house in Cleveland. The general public and the media have asked how these women could be held in a house in a very populated neighborhood … [Read more...] about Do You Know Your Neighbors?
Beyond Infrequent, Impersonal Expressions of Gratitude to Mom
As I’ve looked at Mother’s Day items in the stores this spring, I’ve been struck by how impersonal the holiday has become. I’m bewildered by the mass-produced, impersonal gift baskets that appear to me to communicate one of three things: The purchaser (1) didn’t know what to get mom, (2) didn’t shop in time to get something personal, or (3) … [Read more...] about Beyond Infrequent, Impersonal Expressions of Gratitude to Mom
His Way Works, Too
A few months ago I found my husband loading some dishes into the dishwasher. At first I was elated—after all, it meant there would be less work for me. As I watched him, though, I grew concerned because he wasn’t loading the dishwasher the correct way…you know, the way I load it. I started giving him some pointers regarding where certain … [Read more...] about His Way Works, Too
Navigating the Nutrition Maze: Embracing a Food Philosophy Without Judging Others
Our culture is rife with various food philosophies, which are the beliefs, attitudes, and values a person holds regarding food selection, cooking, and eating. The philosophies seem innumerable—real food, traditional food, organic, fair trade, free range, unpasteurized, locavore, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, etc. While the health and environmental … [Read more...] about Navigating the Nutrition Maze: Embracing a Food Philosophy Without Judging Others
Studying Your Husband
How well do you know your husband? I’m not talking about knowing his favorite ice cream flavor, the name of his best friend, or the make and model of his dream car. Do you know what makes him feel loved? What does he do to unwind when he feels stressed out? What encourages him the most? A few days ago I came across some materials … [Read more...] about Studying Your Husband
Love Your Neighbor
Valentine’s Day is just a couple of weeks away. While I’m not a huge fan of commercialized holidays or mass-produced pink and red symbols of romantic love, I do appreciate the reminder to express love. I’ve been meditating this week specifically on love for my neighbors. Note the manifestations of love identified in 1 John … [Read more...] about Love Your Neighbor
