Dear Friend 

This is a very special time of year for me, and I'm sure for everyone who recognises Jesus as their Saviour, as we remember His death and resurrection at Easter. I trust the significance of those events and the importance of His life on earth will once again stir our hearts to serve Him.

April will prove to be a busy month as we look forward to some important events. Firstly the official opening of the Esther House, our second foster care home is taking place on the 24th. The very next day we will host a number of business men and women for the "Heart of Success Breakfast Seminar" with Rob Parsons. The same seminar will take place in Cape Town on the 30th April.

With the second Foster Home up and running, the focus begins to shift towards planning for a third home. One of the vitally important keys is the selection of the foster parents. I would like to use this opportunity to ask that if you feel this could be something you could commit to, please speak to Natalie or e-mail her at nataliec@fotf.co.za. The other need we have is for tutors. If you have the heart and the necessary skills we would love to hear from you as well.

Our Africa Initiatives continue to expand with No Apologies workshops taking place in Botswana and the potential for further outreach into Lesotho.

As always, we continue to correspond with and counsel families throughout this nation. Through magazines and other resources, phone calls, letters and emails we are able to make over 20 000 contacts with families every month.

Below you will find a Question and Answer excerpt by Dr Dobson.

Please click here to find out what exciting radio programmes will be broadcast during the month of April. To find out which stations in your area broadcast our programmes, please click here.

Sincerely

Danie van den Heever
Executive Chairman

QUESTION: How can parents prepare their younger children for the assault on self-esteem that is almost certain to come in adolescence? That was a tough time for me, and I want it to be easier for my kids.

DR. DOBSON: Well, one important approach is to teach boys and girls valuable skills with which they can compensate in years to come. They can benefit from learning something that will serve as the centerpiece of their self-concept during the difficult years. This would include learning about basketball, tennis, electronics, art, music, or even raising rabbits for fun and profit. It's not so much what you teach your child. The key is that he or she learn something with which to feel good when the whole world seems to be saying, "Who are you and what is your significance as a human being?" 

The teenager who has no answer to those questions is left unprotected at a very vulnerable time of life. Developing and honing skills with which to compensate may be one of the most valuable contributions parents can make during the elementary school years. It may even be worth requiring your carefree kid to take lessons, practice, compete and learn something he or she will not fully appreciate for a few more years.

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