Jay Payleitner Blog

Dear Moms and Dads: Have you taught your kids to make efficient use of their downtime? It’s a valuable life skill. In more ways than one. Some examples: *Instead of […]

Don’t be the dad who says, “Look what I did!” Instead, quietly do stuff that needs to be done so your wife and kids think I’m so glad I can count on Dad.  Opportunities […]

The core of my new book, Don’t Take the Bait to Escalate, is 21 different case studies of conflicts that were wonderfully resolved. Including hitting bottom in your marriage, business blunders, fist-fighting friends, honoring bridezillas, […]

At first glance, it seems like the Bible puts a significant emphasis on avoiding conflict. “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. […]

On some occasion when you might consider strangling your teenager, please don’t. Because they might give you grandkids someday. Also remind yourself often that most teenagers are really just trying to […]

There are a ton of things you take for granted that would be empowering to your ten-year-old son or daughter. That includes stuff you learned so long ago that you […]

Consider yourself warned. Don’t miss it. Don’t go overboard. Find a nice middle ground. And for heaven’s sake get all shopping and ordering out of the way a week before […]

Dear fellow life sojourners: The above piece — begun decades ago and finished last night — seems more timely than ever. I coined the term “Carpe Annum” back in 1995. Its intended […]

Dear Creative Friends: Having written more than two million published words, you may be surprised to hear that I could easily toss my MacBook Pro out the window and not […]

When our son, Randy, was in kindergarten, he told Rita he wanted to be Superman for Halloween. How could she say no to that? Early in October, the two of […]