Jennifer Cain, Author at Building Great Dads

Teaching Your Kids About Financial Responsibility

My wife and I recently entered a new phase of life with all our children (mostly) off the proverbial “payroll.” It’s a great feeling of accomplishment, but it has caused us to reflect on what we have taught them about money over the last nearly 30 years. Did they learn the key life lessons of how to handle money? I think we did pretty well, but on a broader scale, as a country, we are clearly demonstrating low financial aptitude. Take, for example, the escalating level of household debt, which hit an all-time high in 2017. Clearly, we need [...]

Jennifer Cain2019-07-08T10:56:01-04:00August 30th, 2018|

The World’s Greatest Dad

Another Father’s Day which means that it’s time to clear off the mantel and make room for this year’s WORLD’S GREATEST DAD trophy that your son or daughter is so excited to give you! Now I know you feel unworthy to receive such an esteemed recognition of your fatherly status (after all, there are so many “good” dads), but then, your children are excellent judges of character! Well the truth is, there are moments when we are deserving of such a title. But then there are those times when, like all of us, you are probably deserving of a [...]

Jennifer Cain2019-07-08T10:33:13-04:00June 15th, 2018|

Moms and Dads Bring Different Skills to Parenting

Happy Mother’s Day! This time of year is perfect for reflecting on all the ways your wife, mother, grandmother, sisters or any woman who has cared for someone who needed a mom, has impacted your life. Mother’s Day also creates the perfect opportunity to consider how much it means to have a great partner as a spouse that in turn, allows you to be a better father. Some of you may not have a partner who can fill that role, and for this, my heart and prayers go out to you. But for those of you who do have [...]

Jennifer Cain2019-07-08T10:33:48-04:00May 11th, 2018|

How Do I Talk to My Kids About Gun Violence?

Sadly, mass shootings and gun violence have become a heartbreaking reality in our country. As with many parents, each tragic incident leaves me with a sick feeling in my stomach. But the tragedy in Parkland, Florida, hit much closer to home. My niece and her husband, as well as my nephew graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and I have family members who are very much part of the Parkland community. I’ve seen firsthand how the school shooting has profoundly impacted them and their friends. And, I pray for peace and strength in their community. I know many [...]

Jennifer Cain2019-07-08T10:34:14-04:00April 19th, 2018|

Don’t Be Fooled, the Resurrection of Jesus is Real

As a father, I have earned a distinguished reputation in my family for my April Fools’ jokes. They have certainly evolved to what some would call “fine art.” For my most recent masterpiece, one that left my family begging for more, I posted a picture of our new, very cute, brown, cuddly puppy on the morning of April 1, 2016. Of course, the photo was a fake, and my boys (now adults)…totally fooled! This was evidenced by their quick text reply of, “how cool!” followed by my response a few minutes later, “April Fools! Another successful April Fools’ Day [...]

Jennifer Cain2019-07-08T10:34:52-04:00March 30th, 2018|

Building a Place of Safety for Our Children

I typically don’t comment on current news items, but when I saw Randall Margraves on TV go ballistic in a Michigan courtroom a few weeks ago, I had to speak up for fathers. Margraves had just endured listening to two of his daughters provide accounts of how Larry Nassar, a once-prominent physician, had sexually assaulted them under the guise of medical treatment for sports injuries. The shell-shocked father asked the judge for a few minutes alone with Nassar during the defendant’s third sentencing hearing on sexual assault charges. When the judge denied his request, he lunged at the defendant [...]

Jennifer Cain2019-07-08T10:35:15-04:00March 1st, 2018|

Do Fathers Really Matter?

Influence: the capacity to have an effect on the character, development or behavior of someone or something. Who is the most influential person in your child’s life? A friend? A teacher, youth leader or coach? A relative? What about a favorite actor or rap artist? Any of these people can have a powerful effect. But ultimately, parents have the greatest influence on their children’s lives. And as research shows, dads have a huge impact on their children’s sense of value, purpose, life direction and a desire for adventure. Are You a Parent or a Dad? There are some who [...]

Jennifer Cain2019-07-08T10:35:33-04:00January 22nd, 2018|

Taxi Dad

A couple of weeks ago, I was heading by taxi from a company holiday party in Toronto to a hotel near the airport for an early-morning return flight home. My taxi driver, who looked to be about 40 years old, told me early into our 30-minute ride that he has two young children. Somehow, we got into a conversation about gun control and the differences in violent crimes in Canada versus the United States. I asked him if he had ever had a problem in his cab with someone wanting to do him harm. This simple question led to [...]

Jennifer Cain2019-07-08T10:35:54-04:00January 4th, 2018|

Mirror or Mere Image?

Actions speak louder than words. This plays out in sports all the time. We can make predictions about our favorite team all day long, but what happens on the field is the final statement of truth. It applies to fatherhood too. As dads, we know the difference between talk and action all too well. What we say versus what we actually do is under constant scrutiny by our kids. They’re always watching! It also comes into play as we learn more about the second of five foundational truths of being a dad: you are to be the example that [...]

Jennifer Cain2019-07-08T10:36:18-04:00October 26th, 2017|

Hey Dad – Guess Who Called?

…This is one call you don’t want to miss! Do you remember the day you found out you were going to be a father? I don’t remember much when I found out about our first son – I was probably too shocked and excited. But, I remember the experience with our second child. My wife and I were at the doctor’s office for an ultrasound and, for some reason, we brought our three-year-old son. As the ultrasound technician did her work, she exclaimed, “Look, you’re going to have a baby and be a big brother!” Our oldest quickly cried, [...]

Jennifer Cain2019-07-08T10:36:47-04:00October 6th, 2017|

About Jennifer Cain