Excessive Parties

In Dads Matter I make a wrote that some parents springing for lavish parties for their teens. I amde the point that these parents setting their kids to expect bigger and bigger celebrations. I have wrote of one experience of a gilr who didn't consider her sweet 16 party to be of any significance.

In today's paper, August 30, 2009, there is an article by Ileana Morales that says many parents are cutting back due to the recession. But Ileana cited examples of parents cutting back. One family spent $14,000 for their daughters coming of age party, half of what they spent on their older daughter's party! Another family is spending $7,000 saving themselves $5,000. A party planner stated that families who would have spent $17,000 last year are now spending $12,000 and families who would have spent $35,000 are now spending $25,000.

I frankly don't understand this phenomena at all.

Daddy Ain't Happ

You've heard the expression "when momma's not happy nobody's happy." Well what happens when dad is not happy. An acquaintance recently said to me, "when dad's unhappy nobody cares."

What do you think, is it true for or an exaggeration?

Dads Matter Review

Check out the kind words Kelly Sandstrom (Workshops for Women) has to say about Dads Matter and Me.

Dads Matter Review

Being Open

Three things surprised me about today post.
First - I saw an aritcle in Sunday's Parade magazine by Bill O'Reilly using President Obama as an example of what positive things kids can learn from the President. The lesson are: Forgiveness, Respect, Persistence, hard work and In America, anything is possible.

Second - I read the entire article

Third I provided a link to the article.


Parade Magazine

More To Love

Fox has a new "reality" show that has "full" sized women in competition for a regular guy. I think it’s absolutely demeaning to all women to see a group of “regular” women waiting breathlessly to see if they get selected by this Luke or any man frankly. I wonder what ever happened to feminism and the women’s lib movement of the 60’s and 70’s.

Dads please teach your daughter that they can be powerful confident females without a man. Sure relationships are great but the obsession of being in relationship at all costs is destructive.

Setting Boundaries

I've said this before, parents must set rules, boundaries and limitations for their children. But setting the boundaries is just the start. You must also be willing to consistently enforce these boundaries. If you don't your children will know you don't mean it when you set boundaries.

You must "say what you do" and "do what you say."