Parents can learn from the "best practices" of other families and can establish family systems that make the household run better and more efficiently and that give children a sense of security and consistency. On today's show, the Eyres talk about setting up a "family infrastructure" of family laws, family responsibilities, and family rituals and traditions that, like any infrastructure, take a while to build, but that then help everything to run more smoothly and effeciently. Using their book Mother, Father, and the Family that Worked (available for free at EyresFreeBooks.com), Richard and Linda cover things like "daddy dates," "tutors and tutees," "responsibility pegboards," the "family bank," weekly "family awards," and more.

On today's show, Richard and Linda discuss the gift of agency and the process through which agency can be exercised and developed into freedom. Ever since the War in Heaven, there has been an ongoing battle between false freedom and true freedom. Freedom from responsibility and difficulties and challenges is the false freedom that Satan proposed in that premarital conflict, which opposed the agency and opportunity for growth (but also for failure) that was championed by Christ. In our lives today, and in our families, we must learn to discern between these two freedoms; we must avoid being the kind of snowplow parents or helicopter parents that remove challenge and growth and the opportunity to fail from our children's lives. Real freedom is not free, and Richard talks about working for freedom from doubt, from guilt, and from caring too much about what others think.

On today's show, Richard and Linda discuss the gift of agency and the process through which agency can be exercised and developed into freedom. Ever since the War in Heaven, there has been an ongoing battle between false freedom and true freedom. Freedom from responsibility and difficulties and challenges is the false freedom that Satan proposed in that premarital conflict, which opposed the agency and opportunity for growth (but also for failure) that was championed by Christ. In our lives today, and in our families, we must learn to discern between these two freedoms; we must avoid being the kind of snowplow parents or helicopter parents that remove challenge and growth and the opportunity to fail from our children's lives. Real freedom is not free, and Richard talks about working for freedom from doubt, from guilt, and from caring too much about what others think.

Today the Eyres talk about the ups and downs, the highs and lows of motherhood. Richard essentially interviews Linda about her book Joyful Mother of Children. There have been three bestselling editions of this classic motherhood book, the first of which was written when Linda and Richard's children were preschoolers and elementary-schoolers, and the last edition when they were teens and college students. Linda discusses how to have perspective, how to simplify, and how to be flexible in "the most important occupation in the world. The book is available for free at EyresFreeBooks.com for those who want to go beyond the summary in this podcast.

Today the Eyres talk about the ups and downs, the highs and lows of motherhood. Richard essentially interviews Linda about her book Joyful Mother of Children. There have been three bestselling editions of this classic motherhood book, the first of which was written when Linda and Richard's children were preschoolers and elementary-schoolers, and the last edition when they were teens and college students. Linda discusses how to have perspective, how to simplify, and how to be flexible in "the most important occupation in the world. The book is available for free at EyresFreeBooks.com for those who want to go beyond the summary in this podcast.

No matter how many good parenting methods and techniques and ideas we have, sometimes the most valuable thing we can have is PERSPECTIVE! If we can learn to think of our children as our equals, as our brothers and sisters as well as our children, as offspring of the same Heavenly Father as we, it will give us a sense of stewardship and respect that will make us better parents in every regard. This week the Eyres start with that beautiful and sacred moment when we first look into the eternity-eyes of our new infant and feel, somehow, that this is an "old soul" and that what is inside is much greater and more ancient than the genetic creation of our bodies. Remembering this feeling can make us better parents.  The Eyres book The Change That we Call Birth is the text for this podcast, and if you want to go deeper, the book is free on EyresFreeBooks.com.

No matter how many good parenting methods and techniques and ideas we have, sometimes the most valuable thing we can have is PERSPECTIVE! If we can learn to think of our children as our equals, as our brothers and sisters as well as our children, as offspring of the same Heavenly Father as we, it will give us a sense of stewardship and respect that will make us better parents in every regard. This week the Eyres start with that beautiful and sacred moment when we first look into the eternity-eyes of our new infant and feel, somehow, that this is an "old soul" and that what is inside is much greater and more ancient than the genetic creation of our bodies. Remembering this feeling can make us better parents.  The Eyres book The Change That we Call Birth is the text for this podcast, and if you want to go deeper, the book is free on EyresFreeBooks.com.

This week the Eyres discuss how important Sundays can be in keeping families on track and in helping children learn to set goals and communicate better with siblings and parents. Thinking of the Sabbath not only as a day of rest but as a day of renewal and re-creation can give families a fresh start each week and allow parents and children to "spiritually create" the week ahead before it happens. Holding "Sunday Sessions" as a family where the schedule is reviewed concerns are communicated can draw everyone closer together. Richard and Linda suggest several methods and ideas for making Sundays a special, anticipated day that children look forward to rather than a restrictive day that they resent. Living the Sabbath in this way can be a great simplifier and clarifier for families that make the deliberate effort to make each Sunday a positive family experience.

This week the Eyres discuss how important Sundays can be in keeping families on track and in helping children learn to set goals and communicate better with siblings and parents. Thinking of the Sabbath not only as a day of rest but as a day of renewal and re-creation can give families a fresh start each week and allow parents and children to "spiritually create" the week ahead before it happens. Holding "Sunday Sessions" as a family where the schedule is reviewed concerns are communicated can draw everyone closer together. Richard and Linda suggest several methods and ideas for making Sundays a special, anticipated day that children look forward to rather than a restrictive day that they resent. Living the Sabbath in this way can be a great simplifier and clarifier for families that make the deliberate effort to make each Sunday a positive family experience.

This week the Eyres discuss the universal challenge of helping children grow into responsible adults. Many studies show that the single biggest concern of parents worldwide is "Raising Responsible Kids in an Irresponsible World" and Richard and Linda break down the subject into twelve different kinds of responsibility--one each month of the year for parents to focus on.