Dr Tim

Imperfectly Passionate About Parenting

Let’s get one thing clear, although I may know a fair amount about parenting but often lack the character necessary. Perfect parents do not exist…at least on this planet. So I hope that none of you read my posts with the idea that what I know is always reflected in what I do. Even though I have a long way to go, I am ridonculously passionate about studying, writing about, and teaching accurate and truth-based parenting principles. (Take it from me, when your wife tells you during a Friday night date that she would like to talk about something else besides parenting—you probably need to chill out.) But I’d like to think that I have more than just passion to qualify me to blog on parenting, so I’ll try to make that case with the rest of this bio.

“Wanna Talk About Me…”

My wife and I both graduated (on the same day) from the University of Utah with a degree in Human Development & Family Studies. My day job since 2011 has been as a professor in Marriage, Family, & Child Development at Brigham Young University—Idaho. This means that I study and “profess” things in areas such as Parenting, Child Development, and Child & Family Advocacy and Policy to name a few. Before working at BYU-Idaho, I studied and taught at Kansas State University for 5 years—home of the Wildcats—where I also completed a Masters and Doctorate in Marriage, Family, & Human Development.

I have conducted research among emerging adults (18-25 year olds) studying their life-goal pursuits, happiness and life satisfaction, and views on marriage and family. I like research but I LOVE teaching and speaking so I fill up a lot of my free time with extra stuff like that. I have spoken about children, marriage, and families at conferences and events in China, all over the United States, and several times at the United Nations in New York City during the Commission on the Status of Women.

Another one of my passions is Family Advocacy & Policy. I currently serve on the advisory board for United Families International and served on the organizing committee for the World Congress of Families IX. So don’t be too shocked if I weave child and family advocacy into some of my blog posts.

What Matters Most

On a personal and more important note, Jodi (my wife) and I have been married since 2000 and we have 1 son and 3 daughters. My children will probably be mentioned in my posts more often than you or they would like so I will refrain from telling you much about them here. 

Jodi and I have a unique dynamic in that I introduced her to musicals and Anne of Green Gables, I am probably more emotional than she is, and she is amazing at building at fixing things (yes, I still have my man card). She is a listener and I am a talker, so over the years I have helped her to speak up and she has helped me to shut up.I enjoy playing basketball, tennis, golf, the guitar and the piano, as often as occasion permits (which is rarely). And I may or may not be addicted to Nielsen’s frozen custard and banana milkshakes.

Why Do This Blog When You Have a Good Job?

I am driven to help parents—single or married—that the we are more often the problem than the children. Too many parenting books are how to fix kids and assume the parents requests and perspectives are healthy and accurate. I work hard to help parents see healthy parenting objectively rather than what is comfortable or “common sense.” I assert that there is a truth about parenting and it is not determined by subjective or popular opinion. My hope is to help with whom I associate come to a better knowledge of the Truth. There is no such thing as a strong family without some level of conflict, dysfunction, and problems. As you and I strive to be a little better each day in our families we can truly trust that there are always Good Things to Come.