Category Archives: Family

True Lies

One of the greatest frustrations that parents ask for my help is with how they should deal with their lying teen. I’m honored to facilitate Leadership & Parenting Workshops for Moms, Dads, Single Parents, and Guardians throughout the country on a regular basis.

Long before I recommend a specific strategy, I begin by asking them to describe their relationship with their teen son or daughter. More often than not, their perspective is ripe with animated testimonies of foul language, mistrust, poor decisions, and irresponsibility. Sound familiar?

No parent ever wants to hear that they are somehow partly responsible for their child’s dysfunctional behavior. It’s in these moments of truth where true leadership is brought to bear. Listen–what you value, you do. Lying, for a young person, is generally a means to an end. Once they study your behavior, and practice what they’ve learned, “Why should there be any cause for concern?”

How many times has your phone rang, and you’ve instructed your child to tell the caller you weren’t home or unavailable? How many times have you complained or gossiped about someone, and later told them everything was great? How many times have you lied about your age, and your child had a front row seat to witness the mastery of your conviction?

The sum total of what appears to be little “white lies” will grow up to become your greatest nightmare. I have never met a person who ever wanted to have their child grown up to be world famous for lying. Sadly, our culture is filled with varying levels of deceptions and lies. If you want your child to speak truth or display integrity, then you will be required to model character that’s taught, learned, and demonstrated in your teens life. Rules without relationships always lead to rebellion.

Until next time, Be encouraged.

 

I speak to hundreds of thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, decision making, and relationships.  Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote to life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please  contact me.

In the meantime, I encourage you to subscribe to my Tribe/Newsletter on my homepage. Post your comment below, Share my blogs with your friends on social media, and visit my website often for daily inspiration.

 

Egypt McKee

Speaker | Author | TV Host | Life Coach

©2014 Copyright, Egypt McKee. All Rights Reserved.

Life Book_READ IT

 

Dads: This is Your Last Straw.

If you take time to observe your family and the unique differences of each member, you’ll find out quickly that none of you seems to be the same. You should be thankful that everyone isn’t like you.

One of the chief complaints of young people about their fathers and men of authority is that we always go to the end of the story when it pertains to them. We always have a predetermined final answer and objective to every argument, confrontation, and discussion.

Rarely do we listen, legitimately listen to our children’s dreams, thought process, or creativity. It feels all too masculine to barge in and apply our engineering genius with mathematical precision.

When all is said and done, we end up treating our children like a business customer rather than acknowledging the spontaneity of their thoughts, ideas, and plans.

Sometimes, the best response we can give is in intently listening, smiling, and celebrating the fact that they thought it up all by themselves no matter how we feel about the soundness of their proposal.

Dads: Change that diaper.

I remember being a young dad  years ago, and the adventure of raising my children as if out in the wild. The thought of changing diapers was not only as a hazardous occupation, but one requiring smelling salts.

If it were up to me, I’d test the limits of Pampers as if there was no tomorrow. Often times, my little ones would not tell me they needed to be changed, I would simply depend upon the toxicity of the surrounding air.

Checking and changing their diapers would not only make them hygienically sound, but also happy campers. The moral to my story is that your role as the detective for finding crap in your children’s lives will ultimately be a skill that allows you to protect those in whom you love most as they grow into adulthood.

 

Moms: Get savings over stuff

It never ceases to amaze me as to the perceived desire to overdo the celebrations for newborns, infants, and toddlers. Simply put, you don’t need more “stuff” for your little ones.

Not only will they grow faster than you can blink, but they end up outgrowing those expensive clothes in just weeks. Decide to save your money, invest in their future, and make due with less. This is the right thing to do.

They will not likely remember any of the extravagant things you felt compelled to purchase. Babies won’t stay babies forever, but you’ll surely call them “your baby” regardless of their age.

Moms: Draw Your Line in the Sand.

Trusting your instincts is one thing, yet relying upon others is another. So often, momma’s are exhausted from carrying a watermelon in their stomachs for 9-months then delivering it through a garden hose. The birthing process is nothing short of miraculous!

Keeping your purpose and mission in mind requires healthy boundaries, which must be reinforced regularly. The people you invite into your world are critical to your success as a mom, wife, and parent. Choose wisely.

I’m honored to be the Guest Speaker for Sunday morning Worship Service. Join Us if you’re in the area.

Date: July 20, 2014
Time: 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Event: Lighthouse Community Church
Venue: Lighthouse Coastal Communiuty Church
(949) 631-3010
Location: 301 Magnolia Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
United States of America
Public: Public