It’s no secret that the world was once thought to be flat. And it was considered a fact that the world was flat … even though it was not true … until Columbus proved otherwise.

It’s the same thing with parenting. We simply don’t know what we don’t know. Parenting is a complex job. What works for one child, may not necessarily work for another ... even in the same family. What worked for you growing up, may not work for your children. There are different personalities, genders, ages, lifestyles, life experiences, learning styles, and so much more. The variables are endless.

When you and your child are in a conversation, stop what you are doing and give them 100% of your attention, including eye contact. This tells them how much you care about them. It builds their self-esteem. They feel important. If you can’t be 100% present in a particular moment, depending on their age, negotiate a time when you can be present, and have your conversation then. For little ones, usually one minute of “Mom, guess what!” is all they need. If you can, stop everything and take that one minute break.

It is amazing to me how fast this year has gone. I cannot believe we are already well into the holiday season. Personally, I am ecstatic. It is definitely one of my favorite times of year!

That being said, I know that it is quite a challenging time of year for many families, especially when the family is split by divorce/broken relationships. Many ex-couples fight about the kids around the holidays, wanting to make sure they don’t “lose” something. In the end, unfortunately, the ones who really lose are the kids.

I would imagine that every father wants his daughter to marry a man who is going to take care of her, keep her safe, and treat her well. When girls begin to spread their wings and notice boys, begin dating, and get broken hearts, I can only imagine how that impacts dad. He can’t do anything to fix it, and wonders what to do about it, especially her heart and tears.

Well, dads, as a woman who is a daughter and a mother, and someone who has experienced a broken heart, and felt the loving care of a man, I would be honored to share some insights with you on this subject.