Eyres On The Road

Today the Eyres talk about the subject of goal setting from a family and parenting perspective. Referencing a book they wrote called simply GOALS, they discuss the charting of a life course and the setting of corresponding plans via the sailing analogy of knowing your destination and then setting and trimming the sails in a way that will get you there. Of course it is the wind that propels the sailboat, and it is work that propels us toward our goals. And relationship goals are even more important than achievement goals. At this time of year, as a new school year begins, there are special opportunities to help our children set academic, extracurricular, and character goals. You can get an online copy of the book GOALS for free at EyresFreeBooks.com.

The third book the Eyres ever wrote was called The Discovery of Joy and it set the tone and the theme for much of their subsequent writing. In today's show, Richard and Linda tell the story behind that book and present the case that the pursuit of the deepest joys can become the foundation of family life and the key to lasting marriages and successful kids.

This week the Eyres continue their series on the core message of each of their 50 published books on family, parenting, marriage, and life balance. This is the second week in the series, and the focus is on their second book, titled RELATIONSHIPS, With Self, With Family, and With God. The prime message of the book is that relationships are more important than achievements and deserve an equal or greater amount of time and mental energy. While achievement goals are often set with numbers and percentages and quantitative measurement, relationship goals are set with descriptive paragraphs about what you want a particular relationship (with spouse, or a child, or with God) to be like in five years. Those who deliberately change their priorities from achievements to relationships will find ways to improve the one thing that, late in life, everyone wishes they had spent more time and effort on--the key RELATIONSHIPS of their life. If, after listening to this podcast, you find yourself interested in the concepts

This week's show begins a series by the Eyres on the main concepts from their 50 published books, all of which take aim at strengthening families. The books covered in this series are free at EyresFreeBooks.com. Each week during this series, Richard and Linda will summarize the main thrust of one their publications, summarizing the points it makes about parenting, marriage and life-balance. 50 is a big number for the Eyres this year, as a new grandson became the 50th member of their family and as they celebrate their 50th anniversary this month. The first of Linda and Richard Eyre's 50 books was published in 1972 while Richard was a graduate student at Harvard, and was co-authored with Paul H. Dunn. It went through dozens of printings and sold in the hundreds of thousands. It has two front covers, one titled I Challenge You and the other titled I Promise You. A reader can start from the challenge side and read one of the 21 challenges, and then flip the book over to read the corresponding promise that follow

FAMILY REUNIONS.... What are they really? Just a time to get together and grill up some food and have a good time? Or are they something more than that? Can they be the glue that holds families together and that makes cousins more than friends? The Eyres share their family reunion experiences and how it has strengthened their family bonds.

If we look at statistics, the prospects of marriage in today's world look pretty bleak. Divorce rates are high, and marriage rates continue to drop while the numbers for cohabitation without marriage continue to rise. But as the Eyres travel the world, they see a counter trend that is much more positive. There has never been a better time to forge a great marriage!

Equality in marriage can sound like a good goal to start with, but can sometimes lead to score-keeping in the house. Relationships are about striving for the same goal together with one purpose where two people can contribute different things. Today the Eyres share how they've been able to complete each other, not compete, in their marriage over the years.

Today the Eyres, broadcasting from London, England, talk about myth #6 from their "8 Myths of Marriaging." Today's myth, known as the "Test Drive Myth", is particularly troublesome because it is based on the false belief that living together for a while before marrying will ultimately make your marriage better and more lasting. The opposite is true. Commitment is necessary in every relationship especially in a marriage and can help you in overcome the hard times that come.

Richard and Linda take a little break from their eight myths of marriage and instead talk whats been on their mind during a trip to Moscow, Russia. Parenting here in Russia is a lot different than most of us are used to. Most families have only one child and instead of entitled children like one would expect, we are seeing entitled parents and grandparents that are thriving off their child's success. Learn how Russian families support one another through their hard work and dedication!

If you believe that 'some things are better left unsaid' then you are dooming yourself to a relationship where 'unexpressed feelings will fester.' Richard and Linda are tackling two myths in one today both relating to making waves in a marriage. The important thing to remember is that there is a right and wrong kind of communication, and most relationships can use more (not less) of that good talking.

Kids are waiting longer and longer before their first marriage. One reason might be waiting for the "perfect" match. Whether your mindset is focused on finding The One, or if you think you can make someone perfect just by working on them, both can cause harm to future relationships. Instead of working on changing the other person, accept that two different people can make a great relationship. And you can always work on being a more perfect person yourself too!

An American audience might prickle at the idea that Independence could ever be a bad thing, but Richard and Linda want to broaden that horizon today. Independence in a marriage is good, but two people coming together to be interdependent on one another can be stronger than the two working individually alone. And it's less lonely. Interdependence is great, but ultimately dependence on a higher power is the final step of unifying a relationship.

Richard and Linda are continuing to debunk marriage myths on the show, today focusing on that famous work/home balance. It might be common knowledge that achievements are harder and take more work than relationships, but the opposite is true. And the relationships will be more important when you look back on your life. Make sure to include your family in the daily schedule of to-dos.

The Eyres are embarking on another series to help keep your family focus. Over the next few weeks they will be debunking some of the more prevalent myths when it comes to marriage. When Richard and Linda were newlyweds they were told to never let the sun set on an argument, but that didn't work out so great. Today they bust the myth that the best way to measure your marriage is by how seldom you disagree. Disagreements and differences are natural and great for relationships.

Richard and Linda Eyre have been providing parenting advice on the radio, TV, and books for years. Families are first in their practical approaches, but the family is more than just the kids. Now in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary they will publish their first book on improving your marriage. Eyres on the Road will give a sneak peak of the subject of that book in a series called The 8 Myths of Marriage-ing.

The Eyres have been debunking old parenting cliches on the show. Richard and Linda both grew up hearing 'if a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well' and now they're here to help you feel better about prioritizing your list. Some things still need to be at the top, but there are plenty of other tasks that can take less time. Even if it's worth doing, it doesn't have to be perfect.

Parenting is a busy business. Sometimes it can feel like you don't have time to hear yourself think. Even worse, it can seem like to be a good parent you always have to be doing something. This week Richard and Linda put a new spin on that famous phrase 'don't just sit there, do something'. Sitting and reflecting, giving time and quiet for inspiration to come is just as important as anything you can go do. Stay tuned in as the Eyres turn cliches on their head, and listen next for how to think differently about 'if it's worth doing it's worth doing well.'

Very little can properly prepare you for being a parent. You know the big things about how they can bring great joy and serious heartache. You know they'll keep you up some nights and have you cheering from the stands. But what about the weird things? Today the Eyres dive into the unexpected of parenting. They are joined by one of their own kids to help relay some crazy family stories. For more of the side effects that cropped up in Shawni's parenting journey, check out her blog at 71toes.com.

Teaching children goes so much beyond the classic reading, writing, and arithmetic. There are opportunities in the world for practical education and learning social and service literacies. Today Richard and Linda share stories of some of their wonderful humanitarian work and how it helped their kids learn, even outside the school walls. For more information about how you can reach out and help, The Eyres recommend checking out these sites: choicehumanitarian.org careforlife.org

Richard and Linda give parenting and family advice every week. The importance of their relationship with their own family is matched only by the importance of their relationship with God. For religious people, that higher power plays an important part in daily family life, and the Eyres address that impact today. The Eyres have been on the road and on the internet this week. You can access information about the 8 Myths of Marriage keynote address here: my.iammomsummit.com