How Not to Raise Stepford Children

I hear from parents all the time who struggle to create a loving marriage and a healthy family.

But it can be done.

I'm living proof of that.

I'm a husband and a father, but I'm also the president of an international organization

that helps people build stronger marriages and families.

Why first took over that role?

A reporter from the Denver Post came to our house for an interview.

My wife Jean was really nervous, especially when the reporter put our boys to the test.

You see, this reporter had heard that I told my boys every day that I loved them,

and she wanted to find out if it was really true.

After being with us for two or three hours, the reporter got the kids together and asked,

what is it that your dad tells you every day?

Troy was five years old at the time, and he said, eat my vegetables.

And then the older one, Trent said, clean my room.

Then both began to list a number of household chores, saying it all was smiles.

Then one of them finally fessed up.

We're just kidding.

He tells us he loves us.

As the reporter was leaving, she admitted that she was expecting to see children

who might not be very well adjusted.

But she was pleasantly surprised to find that the marriage and parenting principles

that focus on the family promotes actually worked.

And they do work.

There's no magic bullet, but with commitment and perseverance,

most parents can create a loving marriage and happy children who laugh and enjoy life.

To help your marriage thrive, visit FocusOnTheFamily.com.

I'm Jim Daily.