All Pro Dad

Underage drinking is an epidemic

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:50:00 +0000

According to Newsweek: "People who drink before they're 15 are four times as likely to be alcohol-dependent or have alcohol problems when they're adults. Even though drinking under the age of 21 is illegal in all 50 states, 41 percent of ninth graders reported drinking in the past month, according to National Institutes of Health literature." Underage drinking is a serious problem. If you think your pre-teen or teen is hitting the bottle, dont sweep it under the rug. It's not a rite of passage; it's a prescription for disaster.

Why is underage drinking more dangerous for girls? Click here!

Preparing for marriage, not a wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:53:00 +0000

When your son or daughter finally meets Mr. or Ms. Right, if they move too quickly, they'll be preparing for a wedding, not a marriage. I can't give you an ironclad timeline, but I would suggest that they be together for at least a year and a half before they marry. The last six months will be pretty focused on the wedding, so that gives them a year to really know each other and discover core beliefs. Encourage your kids not to rush to tie the knot, or they may inadvertently create a noose.

Questions your kids should ask before they say "I do": click here!

Save, Share and Spend

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:48:00 +0000

By the time a child reaches the age of twenty, he's received an average of $33,000 in allowance. That's a lot of money! So use it as a tool to teach your children about saving, sharing and spending. First, have chores your children can do to earn the money. Next, have your kids save half of their allowance. Then help them develop a giving heart by setting aside money for church or charity.

Finally, let them spend a portion of their hard-earned money both on present wants, and earmark some for future wants. If you teach your children how to save-share-spend, youll be making a profound investment in their future family.

For more on teaching your children about money, click here!

Write out your goals

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:47:00 +0000

A Harvard study followed the progress of students who had written out their goals while still in college. Years later, those students were found to be more satisfied with their lives and more successful than those who had not put their goals down. So, to help achieve your dreams, put your aspirations to paper. First, be specific with your goals and include a timeframe. Next write out three things you can do to reach each one. And finally, evaluate your progress every year. Start with family goals and work from there.

Set a goal to help 5 fathers become better dads by asking them to sign up for the Play of the Day e-mail. Please send them the following link: click here!

Warm your heart and stomach

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:43:00 +0000

Does your family consistently go out to eat at least once a week? How about -- once a month -- substituting that outing by staying home and eating oatmeal? No, I'm not trying to lower your cholesterol, but raise poverty awareness. Take that same money you would have spent going out to eat and have your children pick a charity to donate to. You can do this monthly or save up and give it all at the end of the year. The oatmeal will warm your stomach and the giving will warm your heart.

You don't have to just give money. Teach your children the value of giving their time as well - Click Here

Reading minute milestones

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:06:00 +0000

If your kids are past the "read to me" stage, youll need to try a different approach. One way is to set "minute milestones." Set up a chart and have your kids record how many minutes they read each day you might want to set a 10-minute daily minimum. This is reading done outside of homework. Then, each time they hit the 100-minute mark; do something special for them. You can also apply this approach by keeping track of the number of books they read. Set a goal and a deadline. Agree on a reward for reaching the mark, and let the doorways of imagination swing open for your children.

For a recommended reading list for your kids, click here!

More family dinners = better kids

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:04:00 +0000

According to Parade magazine, a recent study from the University of Minnesota reported that teens who had regular meals with their parents had better grades and were less likely to be depressed. Harvard University reports that children are fifteen percent less likely to be overweight if they eat with their families.

Researchers at Emory University found that preteens whose parents tell family stories at dinner have higher self-esteem and better peer relationships. And a study at Columbia University showed that teens who have two or fewer family dinners a week are more likely to smoke, drink and hang out with sexually active friends. And they are six times more likely to use marijuana. The study also revealed that 84% of teens said theyd rather eat with their parents than alone.

Cut to the chase. If you're not having dinner regularly with your kids, you're not being a good father. For a different, better and realistic way to eat more meals together as a family, click here!

Pyrrhic victories aren't worth it

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:02:00 +0000

Pyrrhic victories arent worth it

In 280 B.C., Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, defeated the Roman armies, but at such cost to his own troops that he was unable to follow up and attack Rome itself.

He remarked, "One more such victory and we are lost." His statement and situation are reflected in our modern day adjective "pyrrhic."

As a father, do you have a lot of pyrrhic victories -- where you win the battle but lose the war?

You may make your point in an argument, but if you crush your childs soul by belittling them and scarring them, what have you really won? A whole lot of alienation.

So pick your battles and always dress your words with grace and sympathy.

Remember, victory as a father is a thriving relationship with your children. Anything less is massive defeat.

Cut down on conflict using three discipline basics, click here.

Teaching an invaluable work ethic

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 15:57:00 +0000

Note: Today, my son Emmanuel Grant turns 8. He was born at 12:40am January 1, 2000. My father, Edward Grant II is also a day older. He was born January 1, 1953. Happy Birthday fellas!

According to World magazine, skipping work just got a lot easier.

"Millions of Americans work dead-end jobs, and sometimes they just need a day off," reasons John Liddell, who helped found Vision Matters, which sells excuse notes as part of its Excused Absence Network.

"People are going to lie anyway," said Liddell, who sells dishonest employees fake jury duty notices, forged doctor notes or a funeral program with their name listed among the pallbearers.

We would count John's ethical fallacies if we had time. But I want to focus on the lack of a good work ethic in our country and how you can swim upstream to make sure your kids not only love what they do when they get older, but take pride in doing it with excellence.

It starts with giving your children chores.

Find out how to avoid The Chore Wars - click here

What could destroy America

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:53:00 +0000

Theodore Roosevelt said, "The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life."

I believe the same could be said of our families. Talk about Roosevelt's quote around the dinner table tonight and get your family's input.

Have your kids take a quiz to see how well you're doing as a father, click here!

Repeat Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:49:00 +0000

Fifty percent of our speaking involves the recycling of the same 100 words. Even in Shakespeare's works, 40 words make up forty percent of the text in his plays. We repeat words a lot, so why not make them positive words that will encourage our children?

How many "I love you" and "I'm proud of you because..." statements have you spoken lately to your children? No matter how many times, it's still not enough. Intentionally repeat yourself often.

Need some conversation starters? Click here!

A beautiful family

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:47:00 +0000

Jay and Suzanne Faske of Brenham, Texas are the embodiment of All Pro Dad and iMom as the parents of 15 children. Three are biological and thirteen are adopted from India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Colombia. Think any of these kids harbor the least bit of bitterness? Ask Jay. Once, when the Faske family already numbered in the double digits, he called a family meeting. "You have two choices," he said. "Either you can have a swimming pool, or we could adopt more children. But not both." The children cast their votes on strips of paper. "Not one voted for the pool," Jay says, still in disbelief. And their numbers increased. What a beautiful family.

Is adoption an option for your family? Find out here.

Leaders build leaders

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 12:54:00 +0000

In 1998, half of all the head coaches in the NFL had either worked directly for Bill Walsh or Tom Landry, or had worked for someone who did. Currently, four head coaches in the NFL were assistant coaches for Tony Dungy. Great leaders build leaders.

This is true in sports, in the business world, and at home. So what makes a great leader? Humility. The willingness to listen to others. Apologizing for and correcting mistakes. Are you that kind of leader? If so, you are replicating the best in others long after youre gone.

Read about some great leaders in the NFL Click Here.

What hands-on looks like, Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:04:00 +0000

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found kids with "hands-off" parents are twice as likely to smoke, drink and do drugs.

In the previous blog, we hit the first six characteristics of being a-hands-on-parent. Here are the rest: be very aware of your teens grades, have a curfew, eat dinner together most every night, know where your teen is at all times, and tell your kids you won't tolerate any drug use.

So be "hands-on" and your teens will keep their hands off drugs.

For the complete hands-on article: click here.

What hands-on looks like, Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:01:00 +0000

A new study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse says the key to keeping your kids off of drugs is to be a-hand-on parent. What does that mean?

Well, these parents monitor their kids TV-watching and Internet use, they put restrictions on what music their kids buy, they know where their kids are after school and on weekends, and they give regular chores to their children.

Tomorrow we'll hit the other half of the list.

For the complete hands-on article: Click here.

You only half-listen

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:18:00 +0000

Science has proven that most men really aren't good listeners. An Indiana University researcher found in a new study that men listen with only half their brains while women use both sides. So men, is it hopeless? Nope. But it means well have to try twice as hard as women.

Concentrate on what your wife is saying and resist the urge to interrupt. Good listening, like good speaking, is an art that must be learned and an invaluable treasure in marriage.

Is your marriage headed for divorce? Click here.

Not everyone is doing it

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 23:54:00 +0000

Studies show that half of all male high school students are virgins, up from 39 percent in 1990.

According to the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation, 92 percent of all teens ages 15 to 17 believe that being a virgin in high school is a good thing.

Contrary to what some popular television shows and movies indicate, being a teen virgin is pretty popular.

Want to share your views of sex with your children? Click here.

The three needs of well-being

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 23:50:00 +0000

Your children have three physical needs that must be met for well-being and they can usually be met with lifestyle changes, not drugs:

Sleep - Dr. Timothy Roehrs, Director of the Sleep Disorders Research Center at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, did a study on young people and found when they get enough sleep, their sensitivity to pain was reduced to the same degree as a tablet of codeine and they were much happier and alert.

Diet - Harvard Medical School professor of psychiatry Dr. Andrew Stoll has found that eating fish can be just as effective as prescription drugs in elevating moods.

Exercise - "I like to say that exercise is like taking a little Prozac or a little Ritalin at just the right moment," says John J. Ratey, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of A User's Guide to the Brain. "Exercise is really for the brain, not the body. It affects mood, vitality, alertness, and feelings of well-being."

Sleep, diet and exercise are the trinity of good physical and emotional health in children. Make sure these three are priorities before resorting to pharmacology.

Did you know we offer complimentary online fatherhood classes? Click here.

Dance with Cinderella

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:40:00 +0000

Musician Steven Curtis Chapman wrote the following lyrics:

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you.

There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Dance with your Cinderella and get other dads to do the same before your girls are gone. Plan a Daddy/Daughter dance at her school. For a how to guide: Click here.

Gift of Inspiration and Encouragement

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:33:00 +0000

Score big with your father, brother, son or friend this holiday season with a gift of inspiration and encouragement.

Order our special, highly-collectible autographed edition of Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices and Priorities of a Winning Life, by Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy, who speaks man-to-man about the struggles and successes in his life, both on and off the football field. His quest for excellence and integrity has been revealed in Coach Dungys commitment to his faith and family life, and rewarded with the highest honor in his profession, the Super Bowl trophy. His story inspires us all to examine and redefine our ideas of what it really means to be a winner, in the game of football and in the game of life.

Click here to order the New York Times Best Seller Quiet Strength, a 256-page hardcover memoir with full color photos. Suggested donation: $25. Or for an extra special gift, order our highly-collectible autographed edition. Suggested donation: $55.

All Pro Dad Apparel

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 02:42:00 +0000

Looking for a great Christmas gift for yourself or another All Pro Dad you know? Be sure to check out our great selection of All Pro Dad apparel by clicking here..

Please order by December 14 to guarantee arrival before Christmas. Thanks again for being an All Pro Dad. We wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season.

Your wife's antibodies

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 15:17:00 +0000

Most women are marvelously social creatures and love human interaction. In fact, by just being around your spouse, you can actually raise her antibodies to help fight infection and alleviate her stress. And this can do wonders in your marital relationship. Weve stressed over and over the importance of spending time one-on-one with each of your children. The same is true in marriage. Make time with her a priority and enjoy her. By doing so, you will inoculate your relationship against divorce.

For marital antibody-raising resources, Click Here

Neglect Your Family Gaurantee

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:16:00 +0000

You put a lot of time, love and effort into raising your children right. You can do everything well and, unfortunately, your kids can still make significant wrong choices that will lead them down ill-advised paths. Theres no guarantee that all your parental hard work will pay massive dividends down the road. Sorry. Chances are, it will. Thats why All Pro Dad is here.

But I can guarantee the opposite. If you are a workaholic, or couch potato, or hang out more with friends than family, or are cruel, or bitter, or sarcastic, or neglectful, your children will suffer and end-up broken under lifes train wreck. Very, very few exceptions to this rule. So as youre weighing choices in your life and ranking them in importance, think about your decisions light of The Neglect Your Family Guarantee and ask yourself it its really worth it.

Do you know the 10 ways to be an All Pro Dad? Click Here

Champion Father

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:29:00 +0000

At three-years old, Tiger Woods shot a legitimate 48 on nine holes. He then went on to become perhaps the best golfer in history. But the most impressive thing in his life isn't what he's done on the golf course, but what's been done for him at home. Tiger Woods credits an unlimited love from his parents with giving him the confidence to succeed. The heart of a champion starts with the loving heart of a father.

For champion fathers on and off the field, visit allprodad.com .

Power of the pen

noreply@blogger.com (Edward Grant) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:01:00 +0000

You write letters and notes to your most important clients, why not to your children?

Go to The Playbook and get some great tips on the power of the pen and how that can transform your relationship with your kids.