CONTACT DAVID FOR QUESTION AND COMMENTS- davidhiggtx @gmail.com You Are God's Gift To Me/Us We are responsible for being the best parents we can be Will you pray for us that we will become the best parents we can be? I want to be the best Dad/Mom I can be…
Contact David for any Questions or Comments davidhiggtx@gmail.com I don't have a plan for your life, but I want to help you discover your dream for your life. I'm more concerned about the kind of person you become than the job/career you choose. It’s your life…it’s your choice! You don’t have to decide right now…dream a little. Dream WITH your child…Let them discover their dream not some version of yours. It's important for a parent to not shoot down something their child says as they are proces...
Contact David for Questions and Comments davidhiggtx@gmail.com If you're ever worried, concerned, or scared, you can always talk about it with me. It’s important to communicate this to children before they are worried, concerned, or scared, as well as when they have these feelings. Dads must work to NOT be in “fix-it mode” when listening to a child’s concern or problem. Making sure that you resolve conflicts between yourself and your child is essential for deeper levels of communication. Look fo...
Contact David for Comments and Questions- davidhiggtx@gmail.com When I'm not with you, I still think about you. I always carry your picture with me when I go away. I have your picture on the wallpaper on my phone. Call home-"I was thinking about you today and was reminded of ____________ and how proud I am of you.” “I was thinking about you this morning and praying for you about…” When out of town make it a priority to talk to them every day. Even when we are apart, our family is still connected...
Contact David for any comments and questions: davidhiggtx@gmail.com When I make mistakes I will always apologize and try to make things right with you. I am going to make mistakes and so are you. It’s part of being human. We have to learn to forgive one another for our mistakes and make things right with one another. It takes practice...and humility. When you admit you are wrong and apologize, you teach your child to do that with others. "I was wrong to do/say/act the way I did. I'm sorry, and h...
Contact David for Comments and Questions- davidhiggtx@gmail.com I’m Proud of You Because You Are Mine And I Get To Be Your Parent! There is a difference between being proud of what your child accomplishes and being proud of them for who they are. Both are good but need to be communicated differently. It is important to tell them how proud you are of them when they do the right thing. This reinforces their actions with your approval. However, if they only hear that you are proud of them when they...
Contact David For Questions and/or Comments davidhiggtx@gmail.com . Spending Time With You Is One Of My Favorite Things To Do- Going to Mcdonald's for ice cream and play area with you. Going to the park to play with you. Sitting and reading a book with you. Watching a Lassie movie with you… Doing things special to your child, not you, are essential activities. Going to Sonic and taking drives during high school… Birthday breakfasts You will have to carve out special time to spend with your child...
Contact David for any questions and/or comments- davidhiggtx@gmail.com I don’t expect you to be perfect, you are going to make mistakes, and that’s ok. I’m not perfect & no one else is either- I do expect you to try your best all of the time. I do expect you to find a good attitude when you have a bad attitude. When I am correcting your behavior, it is because I love you and want what is best for your life. Your being happy right now is not my biggest concern. You growing up to be the right ...
Contact David for comments and/or questions: davidhiggtx@gmail.com There is a special place in my heart that is only for you, and no one can take your place! Do you have a special place for Tato (my brother) too? And for Mommy? For Grandma? God has a special place in His heart for you too. Knowing that they have a special place in their parent(s) heart(s) allows a child to feel secure and cared for at a deep level. This security gives a child a sense of belonging and that there is a safe place f...
Contact David with Questions & Comments: davidhiggtx@gmail.com 10 Things Every Child Needs To Hear From Their Parents No kid has perfect parents, and no parent has perfect kids 1. I love you all of the time Even when you act in ways that I don’t want you to. I don’t love you more when you obey or less when you disobey. I love you when I feel good and when I feel ill. I love you even when I’m disciplining you. I love you when you’re sleeping. I love you when you’re awake. I love you when you’...
Feel free to contact Anna at anna.collier16@gmail.com Bonus Episode Notes: Dealing with an abusive relationship. This is not an “I’m just not happy in my marriage” situation. Our working definitions of abuse: Verbal abuse: Harsh and insulting language directed at a person Emotional abuse: Emotional abuse includes non-physical behaviors that are meant to control, isolate, or frighten you. Physical abuse is self-explanatory If there has been physical violence once, you need to expect it will happe...
Contact David For Comments or Questions: davidhiggtx@gmail.com Don't Expect Him to Relate to You Like Your Best Girlfriends Your friendship with your man can, and should, grow and mature to a place of deep love and companionship. However, it will not be like your friendships with your girlfriends. It will be different in virtually every way. Remember that we have talked in several episodes about the fundamental difference between men and women. Friendships are another area where men and women di...
CONTACT DAVID FOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS: davidhiggtx@gmail.com He Needs To Decompress On A Regular Basis When we use the term “decompress” we're talking about “changing gears” or transitioning from one focus to another. Men will do this at different speeds and thoroughness. When a guy has been focused on work, or a project, all day, he will need to change gears before being free to engage with his family without distractions. It’s not uncommon for a guy to carry work home with him, either in ...
Contact David For Comments & Questions davidhiggtx@gmail.com He's Probably More Insecure Than He Appears- He has been trained since childhood through social/cultural and perhaps family conditioning to act in a particular way. That “way” may not be authentic to who he organically is. He is the collection of personality/temperament, biological factors, family history, and tendencies. Posturing, or putting forth an expression that presents him as “a guy who has his stuff together” is a requirem...
Contact David for comments & questions: davidhiggtx@gmail .com He’s probably going to view the world very differently than you do- Men and women generally view and interpret the world around us differently. This might translate into differences in your approach to many aspects of life- politics, parenting, finances, education, family traditions, etc. Remember: neither of you is the standard that defines balance. Learning to be ok with the fact that the other person sees things differently an...
Contact David for questions or comments- davidhiggtx@gmail.com He is not a stereotype- We all fall into some general categories, and tendencies, but we are all individuals. None of us can be fully defined by a stereotype. Look for the positive qualities and characteristics that make him unique. (Talents, abilities, priorities, character, etc.) DO NOT COMPARE HIM TO OTHER MEN. "Why can't you be like..." You wouldn't like being compared to other women, would you? Men will tend to respond better to...
Contact David for Questions and Comments: davidhiggtx@gmail.com He needs a safe place where he knows he is accepted and protected and that place is you. In the same way that you need to feel like opening up with him is a safe place, he needs to feel like opening up with you is a safe place too. A Safe Place is a place where you feel accepted, protected Forgiveness is a learned skill and at the core of acceptance He will often feel like he has to perform for acceptance in his job and the culture ...
Contact David for Questions or Comments: davidhiggtx@gmail.com He's probably a fixer- Women need to understand that this is not a bad thing. This is how he wired. He is going to want to fix your problems because he cares about you. He is not saying “you need to be fixed” It will help him learn how to respond if you can help him know when you are "just venting" about a situation, rather than asking him for his help to fix a problem. "I don’t need you to fix anything here, I just need you to liste...
Contact David for questions or comments at: davidhiggtx@gmail.com He expresses & deals with emotions differently than you This is true with the vast majority of men. He probably is not in tune with his emotions like you are. You've had a lot more practice! Most expressions of emotion he is familiar with involve a ball of sorts or some other form of competition. He probably has bought into the myth that a Real Man keeps his emotions locked up inside and only takes them out on rare occasions. ...
Contact David at: davidhiggtx@gmail.com He Is Not A Mind Reader...He's Going To Need Some Help! Many women think that telling him what they want will take away from the romance but that’s not true. Where does that idea come from? ROM COM, Hollywood We want you to show us love and we just expect you know how! He will typically take his cues from you about what it takes to win with you because he needs to learn how to win with you. (Brenda & jewelry) He isn't typically going to know a lot abou...
The thing he desires most from you is respect - Respect is the fuel that drives his engine. He wants to be respected by his peers and people in general, but respect from you is most important. A man desires respect the same way women desire love This is so vitally important to men because this is how God created men! This is why men are so often driven to succeed. (Money, success in business, knowledge/education, sports, winning at video games) All of these are a means to gain respect. He will g...
Contact David with your questions and/or comments davidhiggtx@gmail.com She wants to be your partner in life Women want to be involved in the details of your life. They want to be participants in leading your family and not just window dressing or a functionary. Partnership implies joint leadership, ownership, and responsibility Partners make decisions together regarding holidays, finances, parenting, family involvement, Etc. She’s not your maid, cook, or children’s nanny. You both live there…yo...
Contact David with Questions & Comments at: davidhiggtx@gmail.com The little things go a long way- Developing an attitude of Servanthood Purposefully embracing the role of a servant toward her needs to be a regular attitude. Expressions of thoughtfulness (little unexpected gifts) The unexpected gift, text, letter, email, or other communication makes her feel special. The unexpected acts of service- helping with housework, taking kids for the afternoon, ETC. The unexpected says you were think...
For any questions or comments contact David at: davidhiggtx@gmail.com Women are going to think your most important qualities are your heart and character. There are some men a woman may be willing to date, but not willing to marry. When looking for a long-term relationship most women are looking for a “good man”, not a “perfect man.” How you treat other people matters! How you treat & interact with her family & your family matters. How you treat and interact with her friends and your fri...
Have Questions? Contact David at davidhiggtx@gmail.com She needs to regularly hear that you love her and are there for her! Don’t think that she knows she is loved because you’ve told her in the past. She longs to be cherished & valued! Knowing and hearing that she is loved and cherished feeds her soul. Men need to be supportive, despite any inconveniences to me. Men, communicating your love and appreciation for your woman is investing in her emotional well-being and your relationship. It is...
Send questions or comments to davidhiggtx@gmail.com Sometimes she needs to vent and is not looking for you to fix things Venting can be a means of releasing emotion and/or frustration. Sometimes she might need to "get it out" and be heard, “I just want you to listen, not do anything.” (This can be so hard for a man to do because men are often hardwired to fix things) Sometimes it is about her own feelings and other times it might be about her friend’s situation or her feelings about someone else...
Contact David at davidhiggtx@gmail.com Women tend to be more in tune with their emotions than men…and that’s not bad. Women tend to think with their emotions and men tend to think with their logic. When she is acting in an emotional way, it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you or even her world. She may just be emoting about something entirely apart from her relationship with you. Or…it might be about you. :>) (Difference between feelings and emotions) during our discussion, we think feel...
Contact David at davidhiggtx@gmail.com Her being nurturing is not a bad thing (caring for those she loves) She is not saying you are weak when she is nurturing toward you. She is simply acting out of the overflow of her heart. It is innately within her to nurture and care for the ones she loves. When she expresses concern for you, she is showing her love & care for you, not being critical. Mom vs Dad approach to parenting. (Nurture differently) She probably has a deeper well for nurturing th...
Contact David with your comments and questions at: davidhiggtx@gmail.com Women tend to have different strengths than men…and that can be complimentary or cause conflict. Have babies- more to it than giving birth Women tend to focus more on the family and home than men do and that is a good thing. Support and encourage that. She may handle money and/or money management better than you. This is a great asset and is not a threat, but a compliment. “What can I do today that will help you out?” Both ...
REACH DAVID AT: davidhiggtx@gmail.com You will tend to communicate completely differently- Men are from Mars & Women are from Venus (check out this book. It will give you some fascinating insight into the general differences that exist in the way men and women communicate) Enjoy the ride vs landing the plane (different communication styles) Invest the time to learn how to communicate with your partner and learn how to honor them in that. It’s important to NOT see your partner’s communication...
