Father Boes' Blog

When I was in school, there was a boy in my class named Gary. Gary didn’t spend a lot of time in the classroom.

He talked back to teachers and was known to throw books across a room. He was labeled a “trouble maker” and “stupid” and spent nearly every day in suspension. Gary didn’t graduate with our class.

None of us took the time to figure out why Gary acted out. No one seemed to take notice of his stained sweatshirt or his habit of borrowing a pencil and a piece of paper for every class. Maybe if we had, we would have realized that his...

More death. More suffering. This time in a theatre in Colorado. 

As I watched video of children fleeing from the theatre where the gunman opened fire, I said a prayer to God. I asked Him to give strength to those children’s parents so they could help their kids deal with this tragedy and its aftermath. 

All too often it seems I find myself referring parents to an article written by Dr. Dan Daly, who runs all our youth care programs at Boys Town. Dr. Daly is an expert on the topic of helping parents guide and comfort their children through times of crisis. Here...

Nothing screams summer like the Fourth of July. Hot dogs sizzling on the grill. Kids happily chasing lighting bugs at dusk. Family and friends coming together to celebrate the freedom we enjoy in this great country.

At Boys Town, our Independence Day celebration is all about community. Families with picnic baskets spread out blankets on the cool grass, sharing a fun day with neighbors and friends before settling into “their” spot to watch the  fireworks. As everyone lifts their eyes to the sky, you can see the big smiles on their faces by the light of the bright...

While taking a walk, I saw a father and son playing catch. Dad was patiently showing the child how to throw and catch a ball. They both let out a joyful yell when the little boy caught a lob from his father, celebrating the accomplishment together.

Parents are so much more than just playmates and providers for their children. They teach skills and responsibilities, slay the imaginary monsters under the bed, teach them how to pray and offer comforting words in the wake of heartbreak. They provide the guidance growing children need to become healthy, productive members of society....