May 25, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

5 Ways to Teach Your Children to be Honest

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  “Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom,” wrote Thomas Jefferson. Here are a few ideas to help guide your children as the chapters of their lives unfold. 1. Reward the Truth Parents are often quick to scold, but aren’t always so quick to praise. Reward honesty with loads of praise and …

May 24, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

5 Ways to Maximize Family Time

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  Families are spending less and less time together. As a result, many children are getting less personal love and attention than their parents did. American Demographics reports that parents today spend roughly 40 percent less time with their children than did parents a generation ago. The following family time tips will help you stay …

May 23, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

Reclaiming the Nest: 4 R’s to Restore your Marriage

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  One of the biggest mistakes parents—and dare I say especially moms—make is to build their entire world around their children. Then, when their children leave that world for college or a career, mom finds an alien, a strange man sleeping next to her. Or, no man at all because he realized long ago that …

May 20, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

Triple Crown: 3 Races You Must Win

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  The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races. In the United States, the races that compose the Triple Crown are: Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes—these are the most important races that a horse needs to win on the track. There’s an even more important triple crown that you and I …

May 19, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

Coping with Criticism

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  Teaching your children how to cope with criticism is something that will help them for the rest of their lives.  Criticism is something that everyone experiences. When used properly, criticism is a tool for building others up and improving a person. I’m the kind of person that doesn’t just want a pat on the …

May 10, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

Liberate Your Spouse’s Body Image

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  In today’s Family Minute national radio feature, I addressed the topic of “body image”—how someone feels or what he thinks about his or her physical appearance. Americans are consumed with the topic.  I don’t think I need to take your time to explain why we are so self-absorbed with our bodies and our appearance. …

May 9, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

How to Extinguish an Old Flame

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  It starts out so innocently.  Rummaging through some old things, you run across a faded picture of you and an old flame.  Your mind starts to think about them, “I wonder what ever happened to….?”  And nostalgia prompts you to look them up online.  It’s surprisingly easy to find them and shoot off a …