Resources Youth & Singles Pre-married Couples Married Couples Parents & Families Step Families Marriage Investors Northwest Marriage & Family Movement The Campaign Community Transformation Plans Regional Marriage Promotion Leadership Training & Resources National Movement Learn More Our Mission Our Board & Staff Premier Partners Ways to Support Media & Publications Issues & Research Articles Employment Opportunities Speech Request Contact Us Every Kid Needs a 'Hugger' July 23, 2003  Click to hear the show.  Requires the RealPlayer from RealNetworks. Transcript A lot of us have come to realize that in many ways our kids are in a dog-eat-dog world. Daily they’re in a performance-based, conditional world that measures them heavily on appearance. And many times they can be treated pretty harshly, even excluded. I’ve told the story before of how in the Special Olympics in the one hundred yard dash there are "huggers" designated to hug the athletes when they come to the finish line. Those "huggers" are not just needed in the Special Olympics for the handicapped and disabled; huggers are also needed in every kid’s life. And it’s a great coach or parent who knows when and how to hug a kid for their character or sportsmanship, not just high-five ‘em when they’ve scored. It’s especially important for us as parents to hug our kids for their good character and effort. To be there in the parking lot or at the car after the game, or in bed at night hugging our kids and letting them know they’re loved and unconditionally accepted. We need to let them know relationship and character are of even greater importance than the competition on the field or the court. What station did you hear us on? --choose one--KACS FMKARY FMKBAM AMKBBO AMKBSN AMKDRM FMKEDO AMKELA AMKGY FMKGY AMKITI FMKITI AMKJOX AMKKSN FMKLAY AMKLRFKLTR FMKLYK FMKMAS AMKMBI FMKMBI AMKMLW FMKNCW FMKOLU FMKOMW AMKONA FMKONA AMKOZI FMKOZI AMKPDQ FMKPDQ AMKRQT FMKRSE FMKSBN AMKSPL FMKTSL FMKUJ AMKULE FMKULE AMKVAN AMKWIQ FMKWIQ AMKWPZ FMKXDD FMKXLE FMKXLE AMKXLY FMKXLY FMKXLY AMKZBE FMKZNX FMKZOE FM Its Your Turn... please give us your comments, questions, or suggestions for family matters. (response limit: 1000 characters)