Gifts that Last
As the gift-giving season rolls around, is it possible to get through the holidays without buying the latest “As Seen on TV” item or risk getting trampled by the locals at the nearest department store? It is. And the truth is that if you focus that same effort into giving sentimental gifts, both you and the receiver will recognize how much more valuable a gift from the heart can be. The process of pulling such a project together often brings as much pleasure to the gift-giver as it does to...
Read MoreUnqualified to be a Parent
I read recently the following quote by Tom Peters: “There is no such thing as a minor lapse in integrity.” The same is true for parenting. Being a parent is not something that you clock in and do only during your waking hours. It is much more of the person you are; day in and day out. Not only does it take over your waking hours, but permeates your sleeping hours as well. Parenting rules your work week as well as your weekends; your lazy days and busy days. It...
Read MoreA Parent’s Prayer for their Teens
Dear God, I need to talk to you for a minute about these kids you gave me. First of all, let me make this clear. I adore them. They amaze me, million different times throughout each day. They are clearly your creation and not my own. And for this, I am thankful. I could have never come up with something this wonderful, even if you had asked me to write out what I had in mind on paper before they were born. But, I want you to know that I am scared. The world looks to me, as their parent, to...
Read MoreSelf Esteem and Your Teen
I have yet to figure out exactly when it happens. There is an unidentified moment that a child goes from enjoying life and exploring the world to becoming overtly aware of what others think. It does not happen gradually. It is more of a before and after type of transition; like crossing an imaginary line into a new dimension, with no way to go back. Some seem to handle it gracefully. Some embrace it and use it to their advantage. Some seem as if they have been preparing for this moment their...
Read MoreBeware of the Compliant Child
As a mother, we are intensely thankful for our compliant child. Usually the most serious of our brood, he or she is the rule follower, seeking to help us keep everyone else in line. Long before we suspect that she has done anything wrong, she comes to us with head hanging low, admitting her shortcomings and outlining her plan for an acceptable punishment. A compliant child is a blessing to any mother who often wonders if we are getting through to our children. But as the compliant child grows...
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