If I had a dime…

If someone gave me a dime for every time I’ve said the words “Didn’t I tell you not to do that?” I think I’d be pretty well to do by now. It doesn’t seem to matter what time of day it is, where we are, who I’m with. My kids are bound and determined to get in trouble. Last night, for example, I tell my 8 year old (again) that she can’t take drinks to her room. So she decides to sneak a cup of water in there from the bathroom sink. What happens? Naturally, she spills it INTO her computer. Lucky for her that’s one heck of a computer and it survived, but the monitor didn’t. I made her wait for a full 24 hours before I’d hook our back-up monitor into her computer. Some might say that 24 hours isn’t long enough, but for this kid it was.

Sometimes I wonder if they do it on purpose. I’ll tell the girls to stop rough housing, and the next thing you know we have a black eye or boo boo, scratch or bruise. Its all fun and games until someone loses an eye, I’ve told them a million times. They’re so focused on doing the opposite of what I say, I am almost afraid to tell them not to do anything! Maybe next time I’ll egg them on, and rather than encouraging them, it will make them finally listen and obey. At least they try to be sneaky about it and don’t just flat out disobey right in front of me, as if they weren’t scared of me. I know some parents with kids like that and it always drives me nutty.

Internet Dangers

Recently there has been a news story abut a young girl, only eleven, receiving death threats for posts she has made on the internet. This goes to show that even in an age where children seem to be miniature adults they are not. They still need monitoring in their day to day lives and protection from those who might physically or emotionally harm them. I am not blaming the parents for this young girl being threatened, that is on those cruel enough to do so. What I am saying is that maybe internet access shouldn’t be allowed or at least extremely limited to a child so young. After all the world wide web is a very dangerous place. There are perverts, cyber bullies and so many other that can do harm to a person who is just starting to find who they truly are in this world. Perhaps our society should take a step back to see if the internet might be doing more harm than good to our youth in this generation. The internet isn’t as safe as we’d all like it to be so maybe we should keep children off of it as much as possible, save for homework (supervision necessary) and get them outside playing, laughing, and being children for a change.

Perfect Parenting – family dispute resolution

It’s such a thing as a perfect parent? Maybe not, but in any case, otherwise, it is reasonable to assume that this is the perfect parent made all the mistakes we all do, and then learned the best parent. Resolve family conflicts is a good way to show how the perfect parent, someone.

Cardinal law Parenting

Again safe to assume that most parents make big mistakes before learning the best way forward in parenthood, Cardinal Law Parents must be informed. It often saves the family breaking up, and really gives children a solid foundation for their own lives. Cardinal parental right is that parents love. If they do, children will be in order. This is an old civilizations proved transition observation and time itself.

Family disputes

there is no way to characterize all types of family conflicts. The answer lies in the word used to describe children to order, which is the discipline. This word comes from the root word disciple and it is likely that parents expect their children to be like them, their followers. Family disputes are often focused on the rules of parents and children want to go against these rules. There are other reasons for family conflicts, of course, but most often the real reason lies in the rules and violated the rules.

Conflict resolution in family
parents, if correctly informed and sensitive to the needs and the psychological profile of children (and spouses), can be achieved following with a little effort:
• Analysis dispute
• Differences psychological state of each member of
• family stress levels that affect each family member
• Degree from outside (the family) influence (i.e. peer pressure) Objectives
• Goals(or lack of) for each family member armed with above information, the father trying to settle a family dispute can take steps to
• Soothing heat damaged ego tempered
• De-stress and relax under stress and pressure
• Provide a family member and sustainable solutions compromistic

In fact, there is not much a parent can do, except that it was and is a good example and role model for children and spouses of the following admire and respect. Anna Cardinal Law are parenting for you and your children for sensitivity and understanding of the Unlimited is committed to resolving or breaking. parents a perfect way or not. If for some reason a parent is the cause of the dispute, so that the parent has quickly become the solution.

Foster Parenting

Foster parenting is a very rewarding thing to do First of all and most importantly it gives a unfortunate child somewhere to go. That however is just the beginning. The benefits are endless for both the foster parent and the child. Even your own children if you have any can benefit. The children, just like any others, need love, kindness and attention. They’ve most likely been through a lot, but thankfully you have stepped up to the plate.
As a foster parent your duties are to take care of and protect the child until he or she is returned to their original home or a permanent adoptive home. This can take any where from a few months to a few years Along the way you will come to know and love each child that enters your home. The feeling most times will be mutual.
Remember, these kids have been through a lot so they need all the patience you have. If you do not have a lot of patience this is not a good idea. Take your time and think it through. If you have what it takes that’s great, you can change a child’s life and yours too in the process.

Good Parenting

Most parents want to be good parents because they know how it inculcates positive impact on children. The top reasons why parents want to become good parents is to help children grow to adults who can spread positive changes in the society. Active parenting can take many forms and use different methods. Parents must also realize that learning is not just for children. Instead, its a two-way process. Your child will learn from you exactly how you need to acquire better parenting skills to shape them into better individuals in life.

You have to learn to communicate with your children to help them identify and develop their strengths, and give a real sense of responsibility. You should learn discipline methods that help eliminate sibling rivalries and power struggles among children. The ultimate goal of working parents is to create cooperative and responsible children who feel good about themselves and have high self confidence and self-esteem.

Show genuine interest in the functioning of the child at home and at school. This could be achieved by attending school meetings where parents know the child’s functional performance and behavior at school. It is also important to always consult the teacher about the child’s progress and activities in the class . By showing interest in their lives, you will guarantee that your child is important to you, and you love him/her.

Parenting from the Heart

Parenting from the heart is a sacred and rewarding journey. You can establish a higher level of connection with your children through the celebration and exploration of your heart relationship. When our own spirit recognizes the internal glow of our children, we can utilize this bond for living a life of peace, love, and balance. These nine elements are meant to be the philosophical starting point for you to see all life with greater significance and begin to parent from the heart.

• Honor: Living a life of honor is to demonstrate truth, honesty, and integrity in your actions and beliefs. We often relate to the concept of honor when making a pledge to our country or taking a matrimonial vow, but do we consider honoring our soul’s path each and every day? Allow your choices and behavior to reflect the best parts of you and also take responsibility when your actions affect another. When living with great respect of every soul, you begin to see the world as an amazing opportunity to share love. Recognizing and honoring the light within others allows a closeness and reverence beyond typical experience and vastly benefits our families.

• Empathy: The ability to feel, sense, or relate to the experiences of another. Knowing what it is like to walk in their shoes or wear their hat, so to speak. Having understanding and compassion for the actions and behaviors of those we encounter infuses us with a deep sense of connectedness. We demonstrate a higher awareness when we leave harsh judgments behind and opt instead to empathize with others. Our children are better served when we can lovingly connect with their energy signature and try to see from their unique perspective. Allow your heart to lead the way to a life of sweet understanding.

• Altruism: The concept of altruism is living a life in benefit of the interests of others—being of service to society and the world without gain to the self. This is a foundation belief in a myriad of religions, such as Christianity, Buddhism, and Judaism. Think of altruism as being nice and kind to those around you without regard to a payoff for yourself. It is not being a servant to someone or under the influence of another’s control. Demonstrating this behavior to our children is the best way to nurture their internal sense of benevolence and generosity.

• Resonance: Our energetic connection to someone or something, when we are in harmony with another, tuned in to and affected by the same frequency, vibration, or wavelength. Respecting and nurturing our energetic connections is the next transcendental step in parenting. Being mindful of your own energy signature and sensitive to your child’s empowers a family to live a vibrant life in brilliant intuitive harmony. Imagine what your family will be able to do when you foster resonance in your home. There is no limit to what can be, as love knows no bounds.

• Trust: When we speak of trust, we are referring to reliance on a belief. Having faith and conviction in someone or something. When living a heart-centered life, you need to rely not only on yourself, but also in the amazing possibilities inherent in the Universe. We are stepping away from boundaries and allowing God’s grace to take a higher role in our lives. Know with certainty that whatever is occurring in your world from moment to moment is by Divine design. Trust your children and they will trust you.

• Gratitude: The emotion and energy we exude when in deep appreciation of the circumstances in our world. Long embraced as an essential virtue in philosophy and countless religions, thankfulness leads to a life of peace, health, and prosperity. Being grateful for the diverse experiences of living directly correlates to success in achievement, well-being, and social bonding. Regardless of your family’s challenges or blessings, instilling a sense of gratitude for the miracle of life itself raises your energetic vibration, fostering resonance in your hearts. Be grateful for what is and experience the wonder of Heaven on Earth.

• Love: The Divine Spirit is the manifestation and source of all love in the Universe, magnificently expressing itself in the smile of a child, a butterfly on the breeze, and the majesty of a mountain range. We each are creative expressions of love. Demonstrating, supporting, and celebrating love is the meaning and purpose of all life. It is a choice to allow our loving light to shine through our actions, intentions, and relationships. Do we choose to exude grace and to live a life of love? Allow the amazing creative force of love to transform your world from a fearful struggle to a heart-glowing, peaceful existence.

• Opportunity: Our chance to make use of the circumstances in our life. We often relate to this concept only in positive experiences, such as an offer of employment or being selected to receive a scholarship. It is, however, so much more. Our everyday conditions and occurrences, even situations we deem as negative, are opportunities for growth and enlightenment. We choose whether or not to take advantage of what comes before us, the old saying of making lemonade from sour lemons. The freedom and opportunity to expand our perceptions and live a new life of heart-based parenting is ours, if we choose to seize the day.

• Wellness: Making a commitment to wellness is crucial when integrating intuitive parenting techniques. We must have a healthy respect of our bodies, minds, and spirits, knowing our entire being is an instrument. Even if we live with chronic illness or disability, we are perfect and exactly as Spirit intended. You can embrace well-being by demonstrating proper care. Be mindful of what you eat, how you move, and the amount of rest you get. Take time to process your emotions and release any negativity trapped in your body. The beautiful temple of you will appreciate your devoted gesture. Loving care for your child is enhanced when you also nurture yourself.

We must realize the way we live our lives greatly affects everything around us, including our children. Comprehending our choices, behaviors, thoughts, emotions, actions, and habits all interweave to create our existence, our individual mosaic or tapestry. Our family life is only as healthy as the time, love, and intention we put toward it. You will reap the fantastic rewards of a heart connection with your child if you apply these concepts with dedication into your daily living. The choice to parent with your heart is yours.

Parenting Tips – How Moral Dilemmas Turn Kids into Independent Thinkers

Parenting Tips for Parents of Children K-6 grades:

Do your children choose well when faced with moral dilemmas? Would you like to prepare them to make good choices? Find out how to teach them to be make good decisions and build character too.

Recently my son, Brian, who is a young man now, asked, “Mom, remember how you always asked me when another kid was shamed, hurt, or bullied, ‘How would you feel if that happened to you?’”
“Yes. Why?” I asked.
“That really made me think,” he said.
Parents, that’s exactly what you want your kids to do – think!

Listen. I know child-rearing is difficult. I know the disappointment when your child makes poor choices, skips out on chores, or treats others badly.

During my years as a child counselor, I created ways for kids to think, discuss, and make ethical decisions. My goal was to help them become independent thinkers rather than crowd followers. Now you can help your kids become independent thinkers by discussing moral dilemmas.

Moral Dilemmas build these 3 qualities in kids:

Logical thinking
Respect toward others
Family values
Empathy, respect, and honesty can evolve from frequent dilemma discussions.

Consider discussing this moral dilemma with your kids:

You are supposed to be home by dark. It is almost dark. You and your friend are in the middle of an exciting video game. If you left right now, you’d barely get home in time. What will you do? Why?

Get your children to discuss this dilemma with you and with each other. Listen to their answers. Is their reasoning logical? Do they respect the parent’s guidance about coming home before dark? Are they developing family values? You’ll know whether your own code of ethics is sinking in. When kids discuss moral dilemmas, you help them grow into people of character.

Moral Dilemmas should include:

Problems in school
Problems at home
Problems with friends

Create and discuss ethical dilemmas before real life problems happen. Get your kids to think about others’ feelings. Get them to think logically. Get them to think right about wrong.

One more thing, when your kids discuss moral dilemmas, they’ll be thinking larger than themselves. They’ll be creating a code of ethics with solutions. Why not build character now? Use dilemma discussions today.

What Good Parenting Entails

“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings.” – Hodding Carter

All parents want their children to develop into well adjusted adults, respected as much for the integrity of their character as for their professional skills. This doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes years of patient guidance, consistent discipline and above all, an abundance of love that is tangible to the child even during the worst periods in their growing up – and believe me, there will be many of those, before you can sit back and say with relief, “My work is done”.

Many people equate an abundance of love with spoiling their child. I think that perhaps they have not understood what the term LOVE means, especially as it relates to a child. Let us start with what it is not:

1) Love is not over-indulging your child, giving in to every whim of his/hers because you feel guilty, tired, afraid you would lose your temper or scared that your kid may not love you.

2) Love is not harshly disciplining your children for every little broken rule in the mistaken belief that you are doing it for their good and if you don’t punish them often and hard, a life of turmoil and misery beckons.

3) Love is not protecting your kids from the natural heart aches that come with growing up – whether it is a friend’s betrayal, loss of a pet or loved one, not getting something deeply longed for.

4) Love is not using emotional blackmail at any time or for any reason in order to control them and get them to do what you want them to do.

Love that is most beneficial to children is one that focuses on them and accepts them for the unique individuals that they are. To be a truly loving parent, we need to learn to be a bit dispassionate about our kids. Even the most well meaning of parents tend to forget this. Unbiased love for your children helps you to focus on the child, rather than the fact that he/she belongs to you. You then learn to accept the possibilities and limitations of each of your children and to marvel at their individual potential. If there are no pre-conceived expectations, there is less pressure on the child and there are no feelings of disappointment in the parent. When children sense that they are not being measured against their siblings or friends, their confidence grows, there are less disciplinary issues and above all, they feel valued for themselves. Learning to love our kids this way is one of the hardest lessons in parenting; it being so natural to think in terms of “My Children” with the emphasis on “My” rather than on “Children”.

Good parenting is a skill honed through trial and error. Most parents are so concerned about being good parents that they tend to over compensate for their perceived inadequacies. They tend to overlook the fact that most kids prefer laughter, a home filled with warmth and understanding and parents whom they can trust and turn to in times of trouble rather than being inundated with designer clothes, shoes and toys. How often do we hear the complaint that kids now-a-days are too obsessed with material things. Perhaps it is time we, as parents, ask ourselves how much we have contributed to our children’s obsessions. A lot of people seem to have lost faith in their ability to be good parents, mistakenly thinking that they should always be infallible. What we must never lose sight of is that for the most part, we do get it right and that our love for our children will guide our parental instincts. Problems arise only when we do not learn from our mistakes. Children seem to have an infinite capacity to forgive their parents if they know or feel that their mothers and/or fathers are trying to do their very best for them.

Parents are only human – a fact that is often ignored by our kids and even more so, by ourselves. It is alright to get angry or depressed, irritated or to just want some time to yourself. What is not alright is to let these feelings affect your behaviour towards your children. How you handle your emotions is a good indicator of how your kids will manage theirs when they grow up. Rather than pretend that everything is fine, it would be better if you explained to your kids that you are upset about something and that you need sometime to work through the problem. Not only will the children be relieved that they are not the reason for your turmoil, they will probably try hard not to upset you further. Explaining the rationale for your actions to your children in terms they can understand teaches them empathy, alleviates their concerns that they are the cause of your distress and shows them how negative emotions should be handled.

Most parents have a hard time trying to decide whether or not they should shield their young children from the harsh facts of life. War, famine, death – these are constantly in the news. Closer to home it might be the prolonged illness or death of a close relative, friend, or even a pet, the break up of a close friendship, divorce, losing a job or home. There is no guarantee that life will always be smooth sailing and the sooner children are taught to face such situations with equanimity, the more resilient they will be when, as adults, they have their own misfortunes to face.

Parenting can be stressful, it is often under valued and unglamorous yet it can be and very often is uplifting and provides some of our most precious memories. If we remember to relax and enjoy our kids, love them for who they are, try to inculcate a strong personal value system from a very early age, revel in their accomplishments and be a constant source of support for them, we can be sure of doing a pretty good job. There is, of course, the added bonus of our own self improvement as we try to be more like the person we want our children to emulate.

Avoiding The Pains Of Parenting

The pains of parenting starts at the time of conception, for the mother, usually involving the father as well. The pain and discomfort will take its toll on the metamorphic changes the body endures throughout pregnancy. With back pain, body parts swelling like a blowfish, hemorrhoids, heartburn and many more undesirable ailments a mother must suffer through to sustain the blessing/or blessings she is carrying. After pregnancy you think the pain is finally over, right? Wrong.

Although, parenthood is one of life’s most rewarding and amazing challenges. The responsibility of raising a child and teaching them is time consuming, joyful, and very fulfilling. But if you are a parent you probably also understand that the early years of parenting can be filled with some body aches and pains as well. After my twins were born, I thought it was my imagination or lack of sleep. At the end of every day my body actually HURT.

As I researched some of my aches and pains, discovering what I was doing wrong and what I could do to finally resolve my sufferings. Mental and physical health are related to one another in a very incredible way. If your mental health is poor your body cannot excel beyond your poor actions and poor behavior. If your mental health is in good standing, your body reflects the care it receives. In turn, they are continuously feeding off of one another, resulting in a perpetual positive motion for optimal health.

During your daily parenting program, we’re not talking about colic or bumps requiring band-aids with a little TLC. We’re talking about YOUR aches and pains: back pain, neck pain, arm pain, headaches, and the list goes on. The good news is that there are a number of techniques and uses that can limit your exposure to these injuries.

The first thing that you must do is to get into the right mindset pertaining your health. Let’s face it, a new baby or toddler can totally control your life. Immediately your schedule begins to revolve around their needs and wants 24/7. They cry when they are hungry. They cry when they are wet. They need to be scurried off to the bathroom when you’re potty training or you’ll be cleaning the carpets, once again.

They require you to clean constantly so that they aren’t eating food off of the floor they threw there last night. They need to get to check-ups and play dates, outside adventures and story time at the local library. And of course you still have your life and your responsibilities to handle but they must accompany you everywhere like backup singers and often that song is a chorus of whines and cries.

Of course there are tremendous joys associated with these little ones too. Coming from that first smile melting your heart to the first steps you didn’t get on video to the first skinned knee, children can make you laugh or cry. But they no longer need to make your body ache. There are some important, effective, and simple ways that you can protect your mind and body even supposing you are going through the rigors of parenting an infant or toddler.

There is a series of reports “How To Avoid Parenting Pains” they go over some of the biomechanics and certain simple tasks such as sleeping, putting kids into and taking them out of car seats, playing, feeding, proper way to breastfeed, how to hold and carry your child, etc. You will be surprised and relieved to know your kids don’t ever have to be a literal “pain in the neck”. You will also be amazed to discover how taking care of your body and mind will increase your parenting skills and experience. Because you are healthy and pain-free you will enjoy your child all that much more.

Even if parents sustain strains, stress and pains from caring for a child they can harbor a small degree of resentment toward the child without consciously realizing it. This is unfortunate since your poor body mechanics are not their fault. Kids don’t know that they are heavy, demanding, or just how much work goes into rendering their care.

Now is the time to not only care for your infant or toddler, but for your mind and body as well. Hopefully these tips have opened your mind and will enable you to have a rich and rewarding relationship you desire and deserve with your family without all of the headaches and other pains.

What is Your Parenting Style?

It’s no surprise that we inherit our parenting ideas and abilities from our own parents and caregivers. Even if you have decided to do “the opposite” of what your parents did, it still originates from what they did or did not do. Because our parenting styles are so ingrained in us, we rarely give it much thought, unless there is real stress in the family.

Before you go calling the Supernanny, take a few moments to discover your parenting style(s), and how they may or may not be the best approach for your kids. (Remember, you may have more than one style, depending on the situation.)

1. The Too-Busy Mom. The Too-Busy Mom is always on the go, rushing from work to the gym, to the grocery store, to baseball practice, to the dentist and to social events. Her schedule � and consequently her kids’ schedule � is jam packed with obligations and leaves little room for spontaneous fun or relaxation.

While the Too-Busy Mom is fantastic at exposing her kids to new experiences through classes, team participation and other activities, she may not make time to really connect with her family in simple ways.

2. The Overprotective Mom. The Overprotective Mom’s main focus is on her child’s physical, mental, spiritual, and sometimes social well-being. She is concerned about the possible negative outcomes of every situation; her “child proofing” goes way beyond infancy.

An Overprotective Mom is a champion for her kid’s health and safety, and is informed about the possible dangers her kids face in the real world. On the other hand, she may be preventing her children from experiencing life, teaching them to “play it safe” when life requires us to take a risk now and then.

3. The Best Friend. The Best Friend Mom has a hard time saying “no” to her kids. Either because she believes in their autonomy or because she wants to avoid confrontation, the Best Friend Mom prefers not to limit her children and avoids punishment at all costs.

While a Best Friend Mom is often able to create a haven at home, where children feel safe to be who they are and try new things, the lack of boundaries and consequences can actually stress children out and set them up for a lifetime of irresponsible behavior.

4. The Dictator. The Dictator Mom has the first and final say about anything and everything, and is never questioned or challenged. She knows what is best for her family, and will not hear an argument to the contrary.

While a Dictator Mom is confident in her parenting ability, values, and general decision making, her parenting style may make her children feel as though they do not have a voice in their own home.

5. The Overachiever. The Overachiever Mom runs her family like a business, complete with to-do lists, calendars, and detailed instructions for basic activities. Her goal is success for all members of her family, and she gives up a lot to make it happen.

The Overachiever Mom is organized, and helps to keep her family running smoothly. However, her goals for the children may not be in line with their own aspirations, and so her children may feel stuck on her path, or concerned they will let her down if they choose another.

There are positives and negatives about each parenting style, and there are times when we have to be the authority, have an eye on our kid’s futures, be the confidante, protect them from danger, and schedule activities for them.

But what we really need to recognize is how our parenting style may be affecting each of our children. What might work for one child may not be effective for another. One child may thrive under your style, while another may react negatively to what you bring as a parent.

No matter what your parenting style is, just being aware of it will help you to be a better parent

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