Remember the good old days in the lunchroom? Watching the smaller kids get picked on by the bigger ones, only to see them come crawling back later with a half-eaten cookie and a pleading “Please, can I have some?” It’s a natural human instinct: we fear asking for what we’re worth, worried we’ll be seen […]
Your Right to Believe: How Freedom of Religion Builds a Better World
Let’s talk about something that might not be on your mind first thing in the morning, but it oughta be. I’m talking ‘bout religious freedom. Now, when you hear that, what comes to mind? Some dry legal argument? A political shouting match? Let me ask ya this: Have you ever tried to tell a mama […]
How to Raise Saints in a Sinners’ World: A Dad’s Guide to Catholic Parenting
The other day, I was down at the church potluck, and young one comes running up to me with this concerned look on her face. “Papa Bojangles,” she says, “I saw a commercial for a toy that talks back! And it’s not very nice words!” I just chuckled and said, “Well, honey, some folks think […]
Don’t Let the Boogeyman Win: Dad’s Guide to Taming Your Kiddo’s Fears
Alright now, let’s talk about something every parent knows is scarier than a tax audit or a flat tire on the interstate. It’s the middle-of-the-night panic call from your little one’s room, the trembling voice that whispers, “Daddy, there’s a monster under my bed!” My own child, went through a phase like that around age […]
Stop Hustling, Start Living: A Catholic’s Guide to Escaping the Productivity Trap
I remember a fella who came into my hardware store one afternoon, looking like he’d wrestled a bear and lost. His name was Tim, and his hands were shaking so bad he could barely hold the box of nails I’d sold him. “Bojangles,” he panted, “my shed’s falling down. My wife wants the kitchen remodeled […]
Don’t Turn Your Kitchen Cabinet Into a Pharmacy
Ever been in that place where you’re just so tired you figure, “What’s the worst that could happen?” You’ve got that throbbing headache from staring at spreadsheets all day, your back feels like it’s made of concrete after mowing the lawn, and the little pill bottle from last year’s doctor’s visit is looking awfully… tempting. […]
Has Careless “Wokeness” Left Your Kids Confused?
The Great Identity Crisis of Our Time Remember that time I tried to explain “cancellation culture” to my grandkid, and he asked if it was like when Mom took away his tablet for backtalk? I laughed so hard I nearly choked on my sweet tea. But honestly? That little guy gets more than most adults […]
Quiet Strength in a Loud World: Thriving as an Introvert in Corporate America
Wanna hear about my old friend, Earl? Earl was the best mechanic this side of the Mason-Dixon Line. A man who could talk to a transmission like it was his own child and coax it back from the brink. But put him in front of a room full of folks at the annual Chamber of […]
Stop Being Your Partner’s “Human Crutch”: Breaking Free from Codependency
I was in my hardware store one slow Tuesday afternoon, mind you, and a fella walks in looking like he’d just wrestled a greased pig into a thorn bush. Turns out his wife had “borrowed” his good wrench to pry open a jar of pickles, and now it was missing a critical piece. He didn’t […]