Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
Boys have certain needs that only a father can meet. When sons hit high school age, they especially need their father to be active in their education. In some families, this involves the father taking over the complete responsibility for their son’s education, or some of the son’s classes. Mike, you have four sons. Can you give one or two examples of how you’ve provided special leadership in your sons’ education?

Mike Donnelly:
Mike, as my sons have gotten older, I’ve decided to bring them into work and on business trips with me. They have a desk in my office, and they do their work right along side me. And we go out to lunch, and we have opportunities to talk about school, what they’re learning, and about larger issues—about how God is calling them and working in their lives.

This year I’ve felt called to start an ALERT Cadet squad with the support of our local church. This is kind of a combination between Awana and Boy Scouts-it's really a ministry focused on assisting men to win the hearts of their sons. Fathers and sons work together on materials, attend meetings, we do adventure projects and service projects together. Really, it’s an opportunity for me and my sons to get together with other men in a Proverbs 27:17, iron-sharpens-iron kind of situation, which is really helpful.

But whether it’s ALERT Cadet, Mike, or something else, we fathers really to make time to invest and connect with our sons, to build those relationships that will help guide them and support them, as they achieve God’s purposes and His plans for them.

Mike Smith:
Mike, that’s terrific! Next time, we’ll talk about more about how busy dads can make time for their kids. Until then, I’m Mike Smith.