Last week I got to do something very special. I said the opening prayer at a session of the United States House of Representatives. It was a wonderful experience, one I won’t forget.
As I was writing the prayer, I thought about the powerful roles spirituality, faith and religion play in our country and at Boys Town. We tend to lump these three words together and use them interchangeably. But they are different in both subtle and profound ways.
How we explain it to our kids is that...
If you travel by air a lot, you know that a lot of passengers are parents with young children.
And you also know that the moment those wheels lift off the runway, tears, shrieks and demands will fill the cabin. Whether you are a passenger or one of those parents, the experience can be unnerving, uncomfortable and unpleasant.
I recently read an article on CNN in which the author proposed a flying ban for parents who can’t or won’t control their kids.
It’s an extreme measure. But if you’ve ever endured a long trip with misbehaving children and...
Graduation Sunday at Boys Town is one of my favorite days of the year.
On May 23, I watched with pride as 92 boys and girls walked across the stage to receive their high school diploma from Boys Town High School. It was an accomplishment many, including the graduates themselves, thought might never be possible.
Our graduates overcame enormous obstacles and times of self-doubt to proudly hold their diploma in their hands. Before coming to Boys Town, many had suffered terrible abuse and neglect. Most were failing or had fallen behind in school. Some let their lives be...
Another child lost his life to gun violence in Omaha last night.
That headline is far too familiar in cities across the country. These headlines aren’t just limited to inner-cities, thanks in large part to the alarming spread of gang activity.
What can you do to protect your child?
First, understand why kids join gangs. Research consistently shows that youth who join gangs feel like they don’t belong. Maybe they struggle in school or lack close friendships. Maybe they come home to an empty house and feel isolated and alone. For whatever reason, these kids...
The true measure of our success lies in the individual stories from children and families. See it In Their Own Words.
We ask all boys and girls to have faith – in themselves and in God.