Hearts pounding with excitement, we paddled our canoes back and forth across the inlet, casting our fishing lines into the most pristine waters in America.

We were in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a million acres of unspoiled waterways in Minnesota along the Canadian border. Bald eagles graced the sky. The water was so pure we drank it straight from the lake. The wilderness was so remote we saw no one for days.

These days, having more than two children can unleash a tsunami of ire from family, friends and total strangers. "Breeders" has entered our vocabulary as a derisive term for those who have more than one or two kids.

"We believe that children who've been taught to serve God and work hard will grow up to benefit society, to be contributors. Twenty years from now we hope and pray that they will be the teachers, nurses, computer programmers, missionaries, mothers and fathers that our world

If you could enlist one person to help you raise your kids, who would it be? A super nanny? A parenting coach? How about an expert child psychologist?

OK, we can't introduce you to a super nanny or help you find a parenting coach - but in this series of articles, we can introduce you to expert child psychologist Dr. Kevin Leman, who has more than four decades of experience helping parents raise their kids.

Dr. Leman is the author of numerous

Chances are you remember the rumblings in the news about the American Psychological Association and their groundbreaking discovery that the proliferation of sexualized images of girls and young women in advertising, merchandising, and media is harmful to girls' self-image and healthy development. When I heard it on the news, I stared at my TV in total disbelief and mumbled, "Nah! Ya think?" The study took aim at everything from sexually salacious ads to the tarted-up Bratz dolls popular with young girls.

I'll state again that the instincts that will be discussed here are not universally true but generally true. In the majority of the cases, you'll find that these God given instincts exert a particular force on our nature and thus the family.

With that being said, the family, in the context of this article, is that of a man, a woman, and their children. This is the family that I believe God ordained, and the particular instincts that we are created with have a symbiotic impact on each of these three elements. Things will obviously be more confused

Sibling conflict is as old as Cain and Abel, as legendary as Cinderella and her stepsisters and can be as deadly as the daughters of King Lear. Parents should know the battles are inevitable and must prepare their kids to defuse potentially ugly situations. And there will be times when parents must come to a child's defense and say, "We are family, and we will not say anything that doesn't build up one another. We will respect each other."

Use these tips for encouraging kindness

Parents, I want to share some information with you about a new book by my friend and colleague Glenn Williams entitled, Talking Smack. I thought I'd add a few thoughts on this important topic. Not only is Glenn a psychologist and writer, he is also a substance abuse expert who offers solid advice on how to talk to your kids honestly and openly about drugs. Based upon years of training, Glenn can help you steer your youth toward making healthy decisions when temptation and peer pressure come knocking.

It's possible you may feel as if you've

Raising great children while simultaneously building a great marriage can be a huge challenge. It's very possible to bring up great kids yet see your marriage suffer in the process. Or, you may have a wonderful marriage but your kids are holy terrors. How do you succeed at parenting and marriage at the same time?

One way is to remember that a successful marriage and family is tied into the idea of honor. Always honor each other. And always encourage your children to honor your spouse.

You're a parent raising kids. You need the Best Family Advice you can get. We understand.

Keeping your marriage healthy?

Finding time for yourself?

Being a part of a loving and providing family is a blessing. Blended families are more common than ever, which is why it's important to fully understand the dynamic that may result before entering into one. Successfully blending two families takes patience and a commitment to each individual, but can be very rewarding for both parents and children. Whether you're considering remarriage or are already involved in one, clarifying the issues surrounding a blended family will help make the transition easier…