We celebrated Mother’s Day with a Weekly Blog on “Mr. Mom”, where I report on how difficult it really is to fill the shoes of a stay-at-home mom, even for a day. Our Monthly Feature on “Charlie and Lola”, demonstrated how children – just like adults – can let “argument bombs” blow up in their face if they let themselves get drawn into a fight when they feel slighted.

In “A Simple Twist of Fate”, we talked about doing what it takes to protect, nurture and keep your children, rather than risk having someone else do the job for you.

“WALL-E” celebrated Earth Day by discussing the need for a heartfelt desire to recycle, rather than recycling to look good in front of others who pressure us to do it. And “Lady and the Tramp” showed that when we view someone in a positive light, we can help them overcome a bad reputation.

We also learned some valuable lessons from Patricia Heaton also shared what it means to have a reasonable public expression of faith, in the midst of doomsayers foretelling the end of the world … a couple weeks ago. And my four-year old daughter, Abby, taught us the definition of a “chicken-spin”, some hair care tips, and tips for playing well with others!

Have a great day!

-RAD

For a year, we’ve worked with Abby about how to deal with difficult kids. She told us how one kid often refuses to share video games with her, and shuts off the computer when she tries to use it. We asked her what she does when that happens. “Do you yell at them? Do you hit them?” we wondered.

“No,” she said. “I just walk away.”

“That’s great,” we told her.

“Yeah,” she said. “And then I just say, ‘Whatever!’ in my head.”

Nicki usually combs Noah’s hair in the morning. One day, after I did it, Abby said, “It doesn’t look combed. When it’s combed, it’s supposed to look better.”

TV actress Patricia Heaton, from “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The Middle”, brings some balance to the public expression of faith, in the wake of apocalyptic rumors from last weekend.

Click the picture at left for an article about her interview with atheist Adam Carolla, former co-host of “The Man Show”.

We were driving in the van when we passed by a large farmhouse. “I think that was a barn,” Abby said. “It had a chicken-spin.”

“A what?” I asked.

“On the roof,” she said.

Nicki understood. “Oh, honey, that’s called a ‘weather vane’.”

We liked Abby’s word better.

April was a month of exploring new ideas and celebrating a new arrival! The Monthly Feature on “The North Avenue Irregulars” demonstrated that, as the world changes, we must be willing to change our approach to people if we want to have an impact on their lives.

Meanwhile, in Weekly Blogs, “Tangled” we learned to explore the world instead of fearing it, so we can experience all the wonderful things in life instead of always hiding from the dangers that also exist. The Da Vinci Code further showed that we must explore the truth for ourselves, instead of relying solely on the reports of others.

“Toy Story 3″ showed that our own personal suffering can give us a warped view of the world, that we can then pass on to others.  But if we look outside of our own pain, we can find the joy and contentment that those around us are already experiencing. In fact, Amy Grant’s song, “Better Than a Hallelujah”, reveals that God longs to meet with those who are broken-hearted and hurting, as a loving father to his children, even more than he longs to hear their praises.

Finally, in “Rent-a-Kid”, I announced that Nicki and I have welcomed a new foster one-year old boy, Noah (not his real name), into our home.  While the sudden new arrival showed me how unprepared I was to care for a small child again, no one is really prepared to be a parent. But the rewards of raising a child are worth the mistakes you might make along the way.

Have a great day!

-RAD