October 25, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

3 R’s of Discipline

3 R's of Effective Discipline_thumb

  I shared with you the 7 Foundational Principles of Tried-and-True Discipline in a previous blog post. Now let’s talk about a practical tool for disciplining your child.  I call it the three “R”s of discipline: remove, reflect and reconnect. Now, before you think that these R’s only apply to younger children, know that, with …

October 24, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

Dads: Feeling Left Out?

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  It’s easy to feel left out as a father. Between working hard at the office and keeping up the house, finding time and energy to really connect with our kids can be tough.  It’s not that our family means to keep us at a distance, but, in the busyness of life, we sometimes get …

October 20, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

The Mighty Macs

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  I love stories about underdogs.  That’s why I am excited about a new movie called The Mighty Macs.  It’s cut from the same cloth as Hoosiers and Rudy.  In the film, we travel back to 1971 where we meet Cathy Rush (played by Carla Gugino), a woman ahead of her time, who is about …

October 17, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

How to Prepare for Marital Storms

How to Prepare for Marital Storms_thumb

  During hurricane season here in my home state of Florida, we are reminded of one important thing over and over again. Here it is. How you do when the storm comes depends on what you did before the storm comes. That same thought applies to marriage relationships as well. We need to be prepared. …

October 13, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

8 Secrets of Conflict Resolution

8 Secrets to Conflict Resolution_thumb

  In his book, Learning to Live with the Love of Your Life… And Loving It!, Dr. Neil Clark Warren provides eight secrets to working through conflict with your spouse. 1. Marriage is a “We” Business Dr. Warren says, “Any couple who gains a ‘we’ perspective eventually experiences great success in marriage.” Shift the focus of …

October 11, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

The Importance of Pain

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  Today, my good friend Tony Dungy shares with us how he learns from pain. His son, Jordan, is unable to feel pain. At first that may sound enticing, but it is more challenging than you would think. Take a moment to hear what Tony and his family have learned as a result of Jordan’s …

October 6, 2011 Posted By: Mark Merrill

Are You a Turtle or a Skunk?

Are You a Turtle or a Skunk_thumb

  How do you handle conflict? Well, some of us are turtles and some of us are skunks. What do turtles do at the first sign of trouble or conflict? They pull back into their shell. On the other hand, skunks do just the opposite. They let everyone around them know they are standing to …