The Session: Giving our Children Tough Love

Romans 8:38–39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Emotions, Teens, and Hormones

• Emotions can be very tumultuous for a teen. Emotions for teenagers can be like unto the life interruption that pre menopause, menopause, and a midlife crisis for a man
• If the upheaval were strictly environmentally driven, it would be hard to predict its onset.
• If it’s hormonally driven, it can be very predictable. Reality suggests it is predictable.
• It has the capability of changing a person’s attitude. An attitude is the total of what a person’s thinking and feeling. When you put it together, you have their attitude.
• The emotional changes coincide with the physical maturation of a teen.
• Human chemistry goes crazy for a period of time. The chemistry issues also impact a teens, mind and decision-making process.
• At the age of 13 to 14, boys awaken to a whole New World, and all of a sudden becomes very aware of what he feels. He can be very stressed by social situations and the fear of being ridicule and embarrassed.

Adolescent society is dominated by beauty for girls & physical maturation for boys.

• The girls beauty is scary for boys (TERRIFYING, ACTUALLY...SCOTT)
• Boys physical characteristics that help in sports intimidate physically immature boys (SCOTT ALWAYS WANTED A 6 PACK)
• Physical strength in boys facilitates the bully into hurting the weaker boys
• The junior/senior prom is dominated by the fear of rejection reaction and ridicule
• The fear of going to school due to harassment and humiliation

Our memories of teen life for our children and us…OH, NOW YOU’RE MEDDLIN’!

Have a New Kid by Friday, by Kevin Lehman

• Kevin promotes tough love by letting our teen children know if they are disrespectful to us that we are less cooperative. A great example would be you were disrespectful to me, so I am not taking you to your friend’s house tonight.

Reality Therapy

• Reality therapy was created by William Glasser to help troubled teens.
• Similar to Kevin Lehman, reality therapy lets teens learn on their own. We allow life to teach them and not be the heavy ourselves. A great example is if they need to be ready to catch the team bus to one of their sporting events, but they’re poking around and not motivated to get there on time, we allow them to miss the bus.

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS FROM DR. DOBSON THAT YOU STUDIED OVER THE YEARS?

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, visit his website at https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com or email Tom at tom.hccm@gmail.com

The Session: The Importance of Dad in the Home - a Collection of Tom’s View on Dads

Luke 22:41-44: "He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.' An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."

From Manhood Journey

• The biblical role of a father extends beyond biology, including stepdads, mentors, and spiritual leaders who invest in others’ lives.
• Scripture calls fathers to lead spiritually, model Christlike love, and be encouragers in both words and actions.

From Focus on the Family

The Significance of a Father’s Influence

Our culture seems to place little value on the role of fathers. I see evidence of this everywhere, from pop culture and media to government policy.

Dads bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is as likely to bring. They provide protection and economic support and male role models. They have a parenting style that is significantly different from that of a mother and that difference is important in healthy child development.

David Popenoe, Life Without Father,

Dads tend to stress rules, justice, fairness, and duty in discipline. In this way, they teach children the objectivity and consequences of right and wrong. They give kids insight into the world of men.

82% of studies on father involvement and child well-being published since 1980 found “significant associations between positive father involvement and offspring well-being…” Paul R. Amato and Fernando Rivera, “Paternal Involvement and Children’s Behavior Problems,” Journal of Marriage and the Family 61 (1999):

In an analysis of over 100 studies on parent-child relationships, it was found that having a loving and nurturing father was as important for a child’s happiness, well-being, and social and academic success as having a loving and nurturing mother.

Kyle D. Pruett, Fatherneed: Why Father Care is as Essential as Mother Care for Your Child,

Dr. Pruett states, “positive father care is associated with more pro-social and positive moral behavior in boys and girls.” Pruett, 2000, p. 52. This is borne out by research from the University of Pennsylvania which indicates that children who feel a closeness and warmth with their father are twice as likely to enter college, 75 percent less likely to have a child in their teen years, 80 percent less likely to be incarcerated and half as likely to show various signs of depression.

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, visit his website at https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com or email Tom at tom.hccm@gmail.com

The Session: Defeating Alzheimer’s (from Defeating Dementia, by Dr. Furman)

I Corinthians 6:19-20, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies."

Start with the name. How did we come to calling it Alzheimer’s?

7.4 million adults suffer from Alzheimer’s

Jan’s story

The Notebook with James Gardner

Those who suffer from Alzheimer’s lose:

• memories
• fellowship with God
• childhood
• loss of marriage
• memories of dating
• valuable relationships

Millennials

• have parents and grandparents that may be showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Symptoms

• losing car keys
• getting your cell phone out but forget why
• calling someone and forgetting why
• driving somewhere that you frequently go to and forgetting how to get there

Historically it was believed that Alzheimer’s was inherited.

• 2 Genes showed evidence that made it appear to be inherited. Beta Amyloid and long protein
• Genes are only 5% responsible

3 Healthy Preventions of Alzheimer’s

• Healthy eating vs. bad eating
• Healthy eating was 40% less likely to get Alzheimer’s
• Exercise vs. not those who exercise were 48% less likely to get Alzheimer’s
• Those who ate well and exercised were 67% less likely to get Alzheimer’s than those who did not do both
• Weight those who were overweight doubled their chances of Alzheimer’s. Those who were obese increase their odds 3xs

Health of the arteries is vital for blood flow to the brain

Taking care of the heart is taking care of the brain

Weight health effects our immune health

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, visit his website at https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com or email Tom at tom.hccm@gmail.com