Get On Your Bike and Ride:
Family bike rides have started to become something my kid's really love to do. Usually on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, Angie will take the boys out on their bikes and ride a couple of miles to a place that has fresh made smoothies. For years, it used to be Angie just pushing them in the baby jogger, or double-jogger and even the triple-jogger to get them out of the house for awhile and enjoy the fresh air. Now that they are older, they love being able to ride on their own.
With the summers being so hot, after the ride they usually head straight to my in-laws house for a dip in the pool. Depending on where you live, I'm sure there are public pools nearby. So you may use that as the destination. Ride to the pool, have a nice swim and ride home.
So there you have it - five fun things for you and your family to do together that don't break the bank. There are tons more, and I'm sure you have found some things you enjoy doing with your family as well. Please send suggestions to us at todayschristiandad@yahoo.com
Know Your Role. Exceed Your Goals.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Family Fun Idea #4
Bowling Anyone?
Growing up in Wisconsin, there wasn't a whole lot of things to do, especially in over the winter. Bowling was something I did with my brother and my parents from a very young age, and continued all through high school. I have some very vivid memories of my dad trying to help me get better, telling me I needed to slow down a little. It took a number of years before I finally listened, and ended up getting to be a pretty good bowler. It's a little embarrassing to admit that, but it's the truth.
I know that when I started coming up with ideas to do with your family I wanted to make sure that nothing was too expensive. Unlike the old days when I used to pay a buck-a-game, it's more like $4 or $5 now. Well, with a family of 5, that's over $20 for just one game, not including the shoe rental. The trick to this suggestion (and something you can definitely use on some of the others) is to search out different coupons and special offers that the bowling alley may offer. You can be certain that a Saturday or Sunday afternoon is not the best time to go when it comes to saving money. There are typically specials over the summer, during the day, especially for kids. I know Angie took the boys and some of their friends this afternoon, and not only are the games cheaper, but they have a nice package that includes 2 games of bowling, shoe rental, lunch and a few tokens for the video games all for around $8 each. It still isn't something you can afford to do all the time, but once in awhile it is a great treat for the kids and another great opportunity to spend time together as a family.
Growing up in Wisconsin, there wasn't a whole lot of things to do, especially in over the winter. Bowling was something I did with my brother and my parents from a very young age, and continued all through high school. I have some very vivid memories of my dad trying to help me get better, telling me I needed to slow down a little. It took a number of years before I finally listened, and ended up getting to be a pretty good bowler. It's a little embarrassing to admit that, but it's the truth.
I know that when I started coming up with ideas to do with your family I wanted to make sure that nothing was too expensive. Unlike the old days when I used to pay a buck-a-game, it's more like $4 or $5 now. Well, with a family of 5, that's over $20 for just one game, not including the shoe rental. The trick to this suggestion (and something you can definitely use on some of the others) is to search out different coupons and special offers that the bowling alley may offer. You can be certain that a Saturday or Sunday afternoon is not the best time to go when it comes to saving money. There are typically specials over the summer, during the day, especially for kids. I know Angie took the boys and some of their friends this afternoon, and not only are the games cheaper, but they have a nice package that includes 2 games of bowling, shoe rental, lunch and a few tokens for the video games all for around $8 each. It still isn't something you can afford to do all the time, but once in awhile it is a great treat for the kids and another great opportunity to spend time together as a family.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Family Fun Idea #3
Garage/Rummage Sales
We certainly don't make a habit of this one, but once in a while, it makes for a fun activity without spending a lot of money.
For years, I have enjoyed heading over to the Salvation Army thrift store. You can walk into that place with a couple bucks, and find some incredible stuff. Usually I go in looking for some cool t-shirts, or some old movies. One of my best "picks" was a vintage motorcycle helmet that I picked up for $2.50. It was in great condition although the paint job was really ugly. A friend at work had a nice can of flat black spray paint and it was good to go. This past January I was in a motorcycle wreck, and that old helmet saved my life. Not bad for $2.50!
There are a number of families in our neighborhood that get together every few months and have a pretty decent size yard sale. We take the boys over, give them each $5 and tell them to see what they can find. They have found some great kids books, baseball cards, posters and even some great board games.
This idea may not seem like much of a family activity on the surface. The thing is that not only is it an exciting adventure to see what treasures they might find, but we have usually found some type of activity that we can go home and do together. From puzzles, to trivia books, to even putting together a desktop baseball/pinball game, we seem to get more than our money's worth in fun as a family.
We certainly don't make a habit of this one, but once in a while, it makes for a fun activity without spending a lot of money.
For years, I have enjoyed heading over to the Salvation Army thrift store. You can walk into that place with a couple bucks, and find some incredible stuff. Usually I go in looking for some cool t-shirts, or some old movies. One of my best "picks" was a vintage motorcycle helmet that I picked up for $2.50. It was in great condition although the paint job was really ugly. A friend at work had a nice can of flat black spray paint and it was good to go. This past January I was in a motorcycle wreck, and that old helmet saved my life. Not bad for $2.50!
There are a number of families in our neighborhood that get together every few months and have a pretty decent size yard sale. We take the boys over, give them each $5 and tell them to see what they can find. They have found some great kids books, baseball cards, posters and even some great board games.
This idea may not seem like much of a family activity on the surface. The thing is that not only is it an exciting adventure to see what treasures they might find, but we have usually found some type of activity that we can go home and do together. From puzzles, to trivia books, to even putting together a desktop baseball/pinball game, we seem to get more than our money's worth in fun as a family.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Family Fun Idea #2
Popcorn, Milk Shakes and a Movie (or game) Night
The title pretty much says it all. This idea is definitely one of the favorites for our family. Depending on how old your kids are, getting them to agree on what they want to eat can be pretty tough sometimes. Angie, however, has been making shakes for the boys that they absolutely love. What they don't know is that she throws a few scoops of a sugar-free protein powder into the mix. She also uses low-sugar ice cream and skim milk so watching the boys suck down their "shakes" knowing they are getting something healthy works for all of us.
Now that dinner is covered, it's time to sit down to a good movie, or maybe play some video games with the kids. Video games are a lot different than they used to be, and with the Wii the games get pretty intense - and sweaty! Whether it's a game of baseball, or an ultra-embarrassing round of "Just Dance," the laughs just keep on coming. I'll be the first to admit that it's a lot more fun for everyone when I get my butt kicked, which seems to be the case pretty frequently. If you haven't got a game system, there is any number of board games or puzzles that will achieve the same goal of spending time together without spending a ton of money.
Have you got a favorite game or an idea to share? Just leave a comment below to share with our other readers. And if you know somebody else you think might enjoy reading this stuff, please pass it along!
The title pretty much says it all. This idea is definitely one of the favorites for our family. Depending on how old your kids are, getting them to agree on what they want to eat can be pretty tough sometimes. Angie, however, has been making shakes for the boys that they absolutely love. What they don't know is that she throws a few scoops of a sugar-free protein powder into the mix. She also uses low-sugar ice cream and skim milk so watching the boys suck down their "shakes" knowing they are getting something healthy works for all of us.
Now that dinner is covered, it's time to sit down to a good movie, or maybe play some video games with the kids. Video games are a lot different than they used to be, and with the Wii the games get pretty intense - and sweaty! Whether it's a game of baseball, or an ultra-embarrassing round of "Just Dance," the laughs just keep on coming. I'll be the first to admit that it's a lot more fun for everyone when I get my butt kicked, which seems to be the case pretty frequently. If you haven't got a game system, there is any number of board games or puzzles that will achieve the same goal of spending time together without spending a ton of money.
Have you got a favorite game or an idea to share? Just leave a comment below to share with our other readers. And if you know somebody else you think might enjoy reading this stuff, please pass it along!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
5 Family Fun Things To Do This Weekend
With the kids out of school for the summer, there is a constant challenge to come up with new and exciting things to do as a family. And if you are anything like us, you also need to find things to do that won't break the bank. To help you out a little, over the next few days I'm going to give you five different ideas that you can do with your family without spending a fortune.
Today's suggestion: Pack up the gang and head to the beach.
Okay, to be honest, I hate the beach. I always have. There are way too many people. Everything you own gets covered in sand. No matter how hard you try somebody still gets a sunburn. And when it is all over, the car looks like you took half of the beach home with you. That being said, my wife and kids love the beach. Just a little reminder - if your wife isn't happy, nobody is happy.
We decided to head over to the beach on a Friday evening after I got home from work. This turned out to be the perfect time because it wasn't nearly as crowded, or as scorching hot, as it is during the day. We thought it would be great to pick up a pizza and have a nice picnic at one of the tables right near the playground. A little tip- don't forget to grab some paper plates and napkins. If you happen to forget those things, an extra t-shirt you have in the car will at least give the kids something to wipe their hands off on. Don't ask me how I know.
The big boys brought their baseball gloves and there was plenty of open space for them to play. The kids were happy running around, playing on the playground without ever going anywhere near the water. Because it wasn't very crowded, it was really easy to keep an eye on the kids. Before we knew it, we had spent a couple of very relaxing hours talking, playing and just enjoying a nice quiet evening together outside. We even got to enjoy the beautiful view of the moon coming up over the ocean. Once it got dark, we packed up and headed home. I've been told that Saturday nights are a lot louder and more crowded, so we will be sticking with Fridays.
I'll have another suggestion tomorrow. If you have any you want to share, please just leave a comment at the bottom of this post. Thanks!
Today's suggestion: Pack up the gang and head to the beach.
Okay, to be honest, I hate the beach. I always have. There are way too many people. Everything you own gets covered in sand. No matter how hard you try somebody still gets a sunburn. And when it is all over, the car looks like you took half of the beach home with you. That being said, my wife and kids love the beach. Just a little reminder - if your wife isn't happy, nobody is happy.
We decided to head over to the beach on a Friday evening after I got home from work. This turned out to be the perfect time because it wasn't nearly as crowded, or as scorching hot, as it is during the day. We thought it would be great to pick up a pizza and have a nice picnic at one of the tables right near the playground. A little tip- don't forget to grab some paper plates and napkins. If you happen to forget those things, an extra t-shirt you have in the car will at least give the kids something to wipe their hands off on. Don't ask me how I know.
The big boys brought their baseball gloves and there was plenty of open space for them to play. The kids were happy running around, playing on the playground without ever going anywhere near the water. Because it wasn't very crowded, it was really easy to keep an eye on the kids. Before we knew it, we had spent a couple of very relaxing hours talking, playing and just enjoying a nice quiet evening together outside. We even got to enjoy the beautiful view of the moon coming up over the ocean. Once it got dark, we packed up and headed home. I've been told that Saturday nights are a lot louder and more crowded, so we will be sticking with Fridays.
I'll have another suggestion tomorrow. If you have any you want to share, please just leave a comment at the bottom of this post. Thanks!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
The Parent - Coach Relationship
When your child is playing sports, your goal as a father should really be to try to make it as fun as possible. As they grow older, and the excitement of competition and striving to become better players sets in, your goal should still be to make sure they have as much fun as possible, and leave the rest to the coach.
It’s hard for any parent to sit back and watch while another adult is trying to teach their son or daughter how to do something. That goes for all sorts of things, not just sports. When you add in the pressure of where the child is playing in the field, batting in the lineup, or taking their turn sitting on the bench, parents often have a hard time keeping their mouth shut - or at least waiting until the right time and place to bring up their concerns with the coach. Having been on both the field and in the bleachers during games with my sons doesn’t necessarily make it any easier for me.
One of the most important things you can do for your child is to let them know that no matter what the situation is, you are on their side. You have their backs covered at all times. They need to know that so they can come to you at anytime to let you know whats going on, what they did, or how they feel – and that it isn’t limited to just baseball. They need to know that whatever happens to them, they can come to you for support and unconditional love. If they feel a coach, or teacher, or friend is giving them bad advice or making them feel inferior, you want them to be able to come to you.
With that being said, you as the parent (or the coach) need to know how and when to step-in and say something. We’ve all seen the stories on tv about the lunatic parent that gets into a fist fight with the coach on the field during a game only, to be hauled away by the police. This isn’t showing the child that they have their backs, rather it’s showing that maybe it is more about the parent than about the child.
So be sensitive to your child’s needs. Pay attention to what is going on in the field (or at school). Talk to them and let them know they can come to you anytime. It’s going to help them have more fun, and it could be the foundation for your relationship that makes it easier for them to come to you as they get older when the issues are bigger than sports.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Where Did the Fire Go?
When I was talking with my wife the other day she said something to me that I guess I knew, but didn't really know how to describe it. "You've just lost your fire. It's just been snuffed out lately."
It was something I needed to hear for a lot of reasons. I sure don't want to be an example to my kids of just going through the motions at anything. If they see their Dad living without passion, how can I help them grow to find theirs?
I know that things are different for a lot of people these days. Jobs are jobs. If you are lucky enough to have one, chances are that you are doing it to try to provide for your family. Working in the ministry, I've come to realize that I am not able to provide for my family the way I see lots of other men doing it. This just isn't a good feeling. After all, isn't that what the man is supposed to do? I guess I need to realize that what He has chosen to have me do, it is truly up to God to provide for us. We haven't missed any meals. We have a roof over our heads. We are very blessed. But I wouldn't be human if I didn't admit that sometimes I'd like to have more than that. I'd love to be able to send my kids to baseball camp. To be able to afford spending a few nights out of town with Angie without stressing out over how much it is going to cost to eat once we get there.
I guess I really need to get my fire back for what I'm doing and for whom I am doing it. If it is just to pay the bills, I could probably make more in construction. But that isn't really what He wants me to do. It is time to get the fire back and re-ignite my passion to serve Christ and other people. (And when somebody comes after me trying to put out that fire, I'm going to have to squash'em like a bug!)
It was something I needed to hear for a lot of reasons. I sure don't want to be an example to my kids of just going through the motions at anything. If they see their Dad living without passion, how can I help them grow to find theirs?
I know that things are different for a lot of people these days. Jobs are jobs. If you are lucky enough to have one, chances are that you are doing it to try to provide for your family. Working in the ministry, I've come to realize that I am not able to provide for my family the way I see lots of other men doing it. This just isn't a good feeling. After all, isn't that what the man is supposed to do? I guess I need to realize that what He has chosen to have me do, it is truly up to God to provide for us. We haven't missed any meals. We have a roof over our heads. We are very blessed. But I wouldn't be human if I didn't admit that sometimes I'd like to have more than that. I'd love to be able to send my kids to baseball camp. To be able to afford spending a few nights out of town with Angie without stressing out over how much it is going to cost to eat once we get there.
I guess I really need to get my fire back for what I'm doing and for whom I am doing it. If it is just to pay the bills, I could probably make more in construction. But that isn't really what He wants me to do. It is time to get the fire back and re-ignite my passion to serve Christ and other people. (And when somebody comes after me trying to put out that fire, I'm going to have to squash'em like a bug!)
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