Have you ever been so adamant about your opinion being the only right one? Have your kids? It is a trait common to all of us and one that can be dangerous. Being “right” comes in handy if you’re on a debate team. But if this isn’t managed in everyday living, it can contribute to inflated egos, offensive opinions, and frequent arguments with those who dare to differ. And what if you’re actually wrong? Being called out on errors and forced to swallow pride is not fun for anyone. I know, I’ve been there!
There is an opportunity here for parents and kids alike.
This thought provoking poem serves as a tool in reminding us that while we may be right, others can also be. Read more… »
Many parents seeking sleep for their toddlers (and themselves) want to know, “what do I do about my child’s nighttime fears?” One mother who recently posed this question said she didn’t want to put a band- aid on her toddler’s fears but actually wanted him to have coping strategies. What a smart mom! Read more… »
We’re just days away from Valentine’s Day. If I see one more Pajama-gram commercial, I might just heave. Retailers have us believing that the day is solely about gift giving instead of the deeper meaning of love. Are marketing messages telling adults and kids that love comes more from a store and less from the heart? Sure, love can be expressed with a gift but does it have to be a material one?
With the exception of a card, the Valentine rule in our household is “no store bought gifts”. Dare to spend twice the usual price on flowers, and you’ll spend a night in the doghouse! Our celebration of St. Valentine’s legacy includes an extra special home cooked meal and participation in a mandatory roundtable discussion which includes sharing three characteristic we value in each other. The teen rolls his eyes but when it’s his turn to revel in what is said about his positive characteristics, a “thank you” is on the tongue and family love is in the air!
So, this week’s blog ends with a simple question. What non material traditions do you use to convey love in your family? C’mon, share the love!
This week’s blog post can be found by clicking the link below. Published in Khabar Magazine, the post is a critical essay that is my response to the over sensationalized debate of Tiger Mom Amy Chua’s extreme parenting style.
As we all plan our Superbowl party guest list and menu, the Packers and Steelers camps are preparing their players to win the big game. Exactly what does this preparation entail? Here’s an insider’s view from Superbowl Coach Tony Dungy, on how esteemed quarterback Peyton Manning prepares. The short video is great inspiration for adults and kids alike on the power of preparation.
The State of the Union address is scheduled for Tuesday January 25th and if you haven’t already heard, a new, “never been done before” idea is buzzing about it. Proposed by Senator Mark Udall, the idea is to blur party lines and promote unity by asking Independent, Democrat, and Republican members to sit amongst each other. As you know, the traditional format of being divided by “the aisle” represents division of ideas and often support. Will this idea be adopted and will it work to ease party tensions? Moreover, what does it have to with parenting?
Okay… I realize it is a loose connection, but the “sit together” idea reminded me of a discussion on a long lost parenting forum. One mother asked how she could keep her three school aged daughters from fighting with each other when separating them wasn’t an option. Another mother answered brilliantly and I only wish I knew her name so I could thank her personally for the idea. She said she managed her own children’s skirmishes by making them sit in a circle and hold hands for 10 minutes. They weren’t allowed to talk so they made mean faces at each other until inevitably, they burst out laughing. Problem solved… at least temporarily.
Well, while this idea is fun for kids, I’m not sure we can make our political leaders discover unity by holding hands, though it could be helpful start to keep animosity at bay. What say you dear reader? Did your parents use techniques to help you get along with your siblings? If you’re a parent what strategies do you use with your own kids? We’d love to hear your stories!
It seems almost diabolical that Girl Scouts sell their cookies right after The New Year. Isn’t that when I’m wholeheartedly pursuing a New Year’s Resolution to lose weight gained from Holiday indulgences? It’s just not fair to be faced with mouth-watering Thin Mints that don’t make my waistline thin! Are Thin Mints my weakness? Hmm, let’s just say I’m supporting a good cause! That cause is a $700 million cookie selling fundraiser which the Girl Scout website dubs as “the largest girl-led business in the country”.
Wait a minute. The key words here are “girl-led”. This doesn’t explain the office emails that parents send stating “see me today to buy Girl Scout cookies”, or the mother who whipped out her checkbook to write a $300 check fulfilling the troop leaders suggested quota. If selling cookies is supposed to be “girl-led”, can someone please tell me why so many parents are outright selling the cookies for their daughters? This scenario is on my top 10 list of parenting blunders. Here’s why. Read more… »
As it goes this time of year, marketing wizards bombard us with noisy ads about smoking cessation, diets, exercise equipment, healthy living, and or anything else that might influence our New Year resolutions, and allow their company to rake in big bucks.
So I ask, are you the type of person who makes a resolution? Did you know that most resolutions are broken in about two weeks? Read more… »
With Christmas this month, I fondly remember my favorite inspiration from Jesus. “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” Imagine the nobility of those words. Think deeply for a moment, could you or anyone you know do this at a time when you are being persecuted?
I chuckle as the first thing I think about are dogs. They are experts at forgiving us with their perpetually wagging tails, and we in turn forgive them. Read more… »
Tis the Season of gift giving and I have a magnificent idea for you to consider gifting to everyone on your list.
Kiva is a micro-loan organization whose mission is to “alleviate poverty around the world”. The way they work is by allowing people like us to lend a maximum of $25.00 to any entrepreneur of our choice. Yes, we actually get to choose the person from anywhere in the world. We can read their bio and find out how they plan to use the loan. If their concept resonates with our value system, we can lend. If not, we just search for someone else. There is no shortage of dedicated individuals who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work hard for their success. No hand out seeking, moochers here! Once the entrepreneur has successfully reached their goal, they pay us back in full. When the funds are replenished in our Kiva account, we can lend again to a new entrepreneur. Imagine the repeated good karma we can create with one simple deposit of $25.00!
You can find Kiva at http://www.kiva.org/. At the top of the page is a link for gifts. You can email or print out gift certificates for anyone during the Holiday season or at any time of year.
Well since I’m a parenting coach, and an advocate for kids, I’ve got to relate this to both. I believe that parents who give their kids a Kiva micro-loan are creating a great opportunity in which they can teach their kids about lending, charity, and personal responsibility. What’s more is that our loans to entrepreneurs around the world create stronger individuals who might be parents too. In most cases, a parent’s business success will afford better care and education for their children. When we help a parent to strand strong, we are helping their kids take their parents example in standing strong. Like I said, a Kiva gift certificate is truly a gift that keeps on giving.
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Have you ever been so adamant about your opinion being the only right one? Have your kids? It is a trait common to all of us and one that can be dangerous. Being “right” comes in handy if you’re on a debate team. But if this isn’t managed in everyday living, it can contribute to inflated egos, offensive opinions, and frequent arguments with those who dare to differ. And what if you’re actually wrong? Being called out on errors and forced to swallow pride is not fun for anyone. I know, I’ve been there!
