I sometimes feel overwhelmed by all the different demands on my time. How about you? Does it seem that you live out each day trying to “keep your head above water.” This inevitably leads to discouragement. I am a goal/task oriented sorta guy. I like to mentally "check off" tasks in my head as I complete them. If I can't accomplish the goals and tasks I set for myself sometimes, I feel like I will never succeed at anything. This can be further frustrated when kids enter the picture. Your kids love you and want to spend time with you. But this further complicates the matter because now, as a father, you are faced with a decision of how to prioritize your time. What's a dad to do?

In his informative article 'Hope For Overwhelmed Fathers,' Mark Brandenburg provides 5 ideas to help you reduce the stress that comes from feeling overwhelmed by life.

Money. Are you responsible with your money? Where did you learn about managing money? Nearly every day we make decisions that require the use of money. Whether it's filling the car with gas, eating lunch at a restaurant, buying groceries, paying bills or taking the kids out for ice cream. Just as you can be sure that your child will one day ask where babies come from, you can also be certain that you'll be answering some tough questions about money and family finances.

In his informative article, 'Teaching Your Kids About Money' Sam Gray offers 7 tips for you to try out on your kids. 

So, who taught you how to manage your money? How and what are you teaching your children about money? Do you have a great way of communicating the value of money to your children? Write and let us know. We'll post your responses on the website.

Now on to the good stuff...

By Mark Brandenburg via markbrandenburg.com

For more great tips and action steps for fathers, sign up for his FREE bi-weekly newsletter, “Dads, Don’t Fix Your Kids,” at http://www.markbrandenburg.com.

Respond to this article.

Advertisement

By Sam Gray via Fathers.com

There are a variety of things we will leave to our children when we are gone. Many of you probably think immediately of the money you'll leave behind. I wouldn't place money itself as the most important inheritance you'll give to your children-but the skills and values involved in handling money and using it wisely are certainly among the greatest gifts you can give them. Like water to the earth, money can either nourish or destroy, depending upon how it is directed. 

Money is not the root of all evil-in reality, it's just a medium of exchange. So the proper use of money depends on one's underlying values and habits. As a parent, you want to pass on a set of worthwhile values to your children, and what you teach them about handling money will help to do that. Depending on your own values and the way you regard money, you will be teaching them to be careful or slipshod, generous or stingy, wise or foolish. 

Here are some suggestions to help your children establish a good foundation for using money wisely throughout their lives: 

1. Give children an allowance and help them plan how to use it. Make helpful suggestions, but do not supervise too tightly. They should also understand from the beginning that when they are able to earn their own money, the allowance will be phased out. 

2. Teach them to save for the things they want. Help them to open a bank account while they are young. 

3. To the extent that you are comfortable with it, discuss some family financial matters with your children. Money should be neither a deep, dark secret nor the focus of your family life. Allow them to learn from your responsible habits with money. 

4. Let children observe your generosity with money when you give to a church or charity, sharing with those in need. Learning to give away money wisely is as important as learning to save it. 

5. Allow children to spend family money for the things they need, or handle payments at the grocery store or gas station. Learning the mechanics of money leads to confidence, and at the same time they are getting acquainted with economic values. 

6. Teach children to earn their own money by honest toil. Money becomes a meaningful resource when you've worked for it. 

7. When possible, allow children to observe investment and learn about the earning power of money. 

Your success in passing along these skills and values will be a gift of great wealth to your children as they enter a world where money matters. Building the right habits and values will help them avoid the painful abuses where people cheat, steal and kill for money, or treat it as an end in itself. By contrast, you can help them attain and achieve what will bring a lifetime of satisfaction. 

Sam Gray, father and grandfather, has worked men and fathers for over 35 years.

Respond to this article

Is school preparing your child for the real world? This audiocassette program shows you how to awaken your child's love of learning and financial genius. Audio Book - $17.98

Rich Kid Smart Kid. Give your child a financial head start. Awaken your child's love of learning how to be financially free. Imagine the results you'll see when they start early! Paperback - $15.95

Fatherhood Writers Wanted

Are you interested in writing fathering related articles for Fatherville.com? We are always looking for dads who like to write. If you are interested please contact us.

STEPFATHERS---STEPFATHERS---STEPFATHERS---STEPFATHERS---STEPFATHERS---STEPFATHERS

Are you a stepfather? Would you be interested in sharing your stepfathering experiences with other stepathers? We are looking for one stepfather who would would be willing to contribute his stepfathering experiences, on a monthly basis, over a one year period and allow Fatherville.com to publish his experiences on the Fatherville.com website. As a special incentive Fatherville.com will reward the qualifying father with three fathering related books of choice from Amazon.com.

Note: None of the fathers who contribute to the Fatherville.com web site are financially compensated for their contributions. However you will almost certainly be richly rewarded by the interaction that takes place between our readership and you, the potential author. So c'mon dad...give it a go. You never know when your fatherhood experiences will touch the life of another father.

Isn't It Time You Express Your Fatherhood?

Awesome T-Shirts 
for Dads and Grandpa's

T-Shirts Make Great Gifts

Buy One Now

Until next month...hang in there dad!!

Michael E. Farrell
Fatherville.com - Where Real Fathers Write About Real Fatherhood

You may reach me anytime via email at: mike@fatherville.com