Family Sundries-Parenting | Marriage | Kids&Teens

10 Ways to reading fun

2010-12-26T20:06:00.000-08:00

can learn to read an exciting adventure for some children. It seems that everyone is excited by the teacher of the child, mom and dad and grandmother and wait until your child learn to read. All pressures and expectations of the adults can certainly curb their enthusiasm for the child. This excitement can lead to the loss of a child who loses the desire to read. If we as parents opportunities to be found reading fun and joy, our children will be more willing to sit and read a book together.

Here are some ideas to do to in order to read can be fun for your child.

Popcorn Reading
It is a fun way for children to be able to say, they know to read and the words that are frustrating to convey. When reading a book together, and everyone takes turns reading out loud. When he reads, the word says, Äúpopcorn, AU is to read it to time for others.

Buddy Reading
Bind the player with an old companion Äúreading, AU and have them read a book aloud together. We've all had times where an explanation of something more significant from one of our colleagues or brother. This gives children the opportunity to practice reading without the watchful eyes of adults may cause nervousness.

Highlight the sky
Take an old book with a highlighter pen and your child to every word on a page he / she read to highlight. After knows all the words your child, are highlighted on the page, take a moment and ask you to observe your child and see how many words he can read. It is quite a confidence booster.

Flashlight Reading
Before your child is tired at the end of the day, take some time to read in the darkroom. Bring a flashlight and read the paperback edition. this particular boy.

Secret place
What child has not a fort at one time or another built? If you help do not already have a box in the house or outside in the yard, your child to create one. Is that a flow of solid, strong disadvantages plated outside, a tree house, or even a bed frame strong. (Make sure both fit ... to be let as soon as you get in a position to even useful!) Make you sit down to read your child's favorite book, and read on.

Reading Corner
Bodies Äúreading corner somewhere AU in your home. Let your child a part of the decoration and collecting the right place to another primitive. Add some bean bags or pillows, perhaps a favorite poster on the wall or even a few family photos.

Take a break and just read your child sometimes
No need for explanation.

Image Detective
After reading your child a book and see all the pictures and tell you what he thinks will happen in history. Read the story and see how it was.

Pop-up word
Choose a word that the child has a particularly difficult period and if the child says the word, both standing. This will help him remember the word, because an action assigned. This works particularly well with kinesthetic students. (A child who wants to move all the time and feel like to touch and and more.)

Star History
Have you ever had a personalized book, the story is printed the name of the child in the story? This is a great way to forward your reluctant readers about a book. In this type of books, the name of the son and his friends are printed with the story that the child protagonist of his book of his own making! How is it motivation? You must read the book to know what kind of adventure, he / she will run!

To learn more about the history of personalized books, click on the link below.

Sometimes you do just plain fun to read is a little imagination and a change of scenery.

Sending Your Child to Private School When You Move

2008-10-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

Author: Lorne MacInnes

Moving can be a difficult transition for many children. Among the many challenges children face when moving, changing schools mid-way through the year can be stressful. The curriculum has already begun, they've already gotten into a routine for the year, made friends, gotten to know their teachers and have settled down.

Uprooting your children mid-way through the year will be difficult at best and traumatizing at worst. They'll be faced with the challenge of meeting new friends and fitting into an already established routine. Not only can this cause adjustment problems at school, but it could also cause undue stress at home. Kids who are stressed out tend to do worse in school both academically and socially than kids who are under little or no stress.

Instead of having your kids switch schools midway through the year, if you know you're going to be moving ahead of time, enroll them in a nearby private school at the beginning of the year. September is a time of transition for everyone, not just the new students. Everyone is faced with new classes, new teachers, new classmates and new routines. At the beginning of the school year, no matter how long they've been at the same school, everyone is adjusting to the new situation. By sending your child to private school, they'll be there while everyone is adjusting and will be part of the adjustment process.

It's difficult enough to be the new student in school, but by planning ahead a little and sending your child to a private school you can ease the transition period. Many new students start at the beginning of the year so it's likely that there will be other new students in the same boat. The teachers are new as well so there will be a natural period of everyone getting to know each other. Your children will have a natural window for making friends not only with other new students but also with returning students before everyone re-establishes their social groups and routines for the year.

By enrolling your child into a private school, when you do move there will be one less change to have to worry about. Throughout the process of uprooting your child from his home, his neighborhood friends and his routine, at least he will have the stability of staying at the same school. Having the consistency of the same school, friends, teachers and school routine will ease the transition for your child. Not everything will be uprooted and changed; it's important to keep as many aspects of your child's life as consistent as possible.

So, if you know you're going to be moving within the same area sometime during the school year, but not within the same school district, plan ahead. Something as simple as enrolling your child in a private school at the beginning of the year can make a huge difference in the adjustment period for your child when you move.

About the Author:
Lorne MacInnes is a managing partner of Ferguson Moving & Storage, one of the oldest Vancouver moving companies, and an industry expert in the moving and relocation sector in North America.

The New Mom's 5-minute Daily Guide to De-stressing

2008-10-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

Author: Salena Kulkarni

A barrage of activities at home can make you feel a little wound up. Add to that the occasional discussions and issues between you and your partner, and you may find yourself in need of an outlet.

A daily journal is just what you need to jot down your thoughts and innermost feelings about things that transpired during the day. While the traditional way is to write on pages of a ruled notebook in a chronological order, you may also consider starting a personal blog, which is simply an electronic journal in the Internet. Tech savvy moms experience a lot of joy and relief from unleashing their creativity as they design and maintain their entries online.

If personal security is your concern, then you may choose to create a blog under a pen name that no one but you can recognize. The blog site, Blogspot, recently introduced a feature that blocks unauthorized users from viewing a blog's contents without the prior consent of the blog owner. Whatever floats your boat should be fine for as long as you remember the following guidelines for effective journal-keeping:

Regularity

All you need is at least five minutes of your time everyday. It is the same amount of time it takes you to wash your face and brush your teeth. Five minutes is shorter than the time it will take you to catch up with friends on the phone. But the therapeutic benefits of keeping a journal are tremendous. Think of it as your sounding board or your shrink at home minus the hourly charges.

Express your feelings

While you may not help writing down a major event of the day, it is more effective to express your thoughts and feelings about it rather than to dwell on the details of the day. When you write down how you feel, you tap into your innermost self and release what's inside.

Reflect on those feelings

Most of life's valuable lessons are not learned in the classroom but in deep reflection over experiences. Examine the causes of your happy, sad or angry reactions. Processing your feelings may lead you to a better understanding of yourself. Knowing what makes you tick is the key to avoiding negative triggers or seeking out productive activities.

Attitude of gratitude

Finding that silver lining behind every cloud keeps your hopes up and your spirits from sinking into depression. Your silver lining everyday can come in finding something to be thankful for. It need not be a major thing for you to appreciate it. Counting your blessings everyday promotes positive feelings as you begin to realize that your life is not as miserable as it may seem.

Keeping a journal can be a powerful but simple tool for promoting emotional wellness. To reap its benefits try to make it a habit for at least 40 days. After the 40th day, you will discover how your outlook may have gradually improved or how things may have resolved by themselves over time. All it takes is as little as 5 minutes everyday.

About the Author:

Salena Kulkarni is the creator of the 'Secrets of Extraordinary New Moms' program, which helps new moms feel energized, get back in shape, eliminate emotional overwhelm, and experience fulfillment in 30 days or less! Visit www.NewMommyMentor.com to get your FREE audio now.

Organizing Without Going Physical And Emotionally Bankrupt

2008-08-20T22:56:00.001-07:00

by: Marilyn Bohn

A few years ago on a Monday night I was giving my 10 year old daughter instructions on cleaning her room. I was pointing out the clothes and nick nacks that needed to be put away, where to put them and how to organize the room. I was going a mile a minute just picturing the progress she would make with my expert advice when she said to me "MOM, ISN'T THERE A TUESDAY?"

That brought me up short. I didn't know what she meant until I stopped to think what she was saying. When we get an idea that we are going to organize and everything will be perfect right now, —remember the saying: "Rome wasn't built in a day"—we don't need to get everything de-cluttered and organized in one day.

It is an important step in organizing anything, a room, a closet, a desk, an office, shelves, attic, or garage, or other places we realize it is important that first comes chaos during the organizing process. When looking at the project it may feel overwhelming but realizing physically things will purposefully be undone and many times emotionally we will be undone and there will be chaos, but when focusing on the goal we can be sure it will all be organized and something better will have been accomplished. It shows something new is being created in your life. Remember the Phoenix was burnt to ashes? Out of the ashes it was reborn.

When doing many ordinary tasks first comes chaos. For Example: Take clothes shopping for instance. By searching through racks and stacks of clothes, discarding many and trying on others; we eventually find what we want and then purchase them. Once home it is necessary to sort through the bags and separate the clothes in piles according to the person they were intended for. These will then be taken to their rooms to be put away. The shopping experience went from chaos to organization.

For people who sew or quilt first comes organized chaos. There is the process of selecting the fabric among a plethora of bolts of fabric, finding the right pattern, gathering the necessary supplies, cutting the fabric into pieces, then sewing it all back together to make a beautiful quilt. This beautiful work of art started in creative chaos.

When students are studying for a test it first starts with chaos. There are books to read, notes to refer back to, study groups to attend and organizing of thoughts. Then comes the test and it all comes together.

By taking things one step at a time we will accomplish what we want to accomplished and be organized with the least amount of stress. Remembering that first comes chaos both physically and emotionally but out of this will rise calm, peace and a sense of accomplishment.

When tackling a room, a box, the kitchen cupboards, or the closet that will hardly close just remember there IS a Tuesday and by starting with one thing at a time, realizing out of chaos comes beauty organizing will be a rewarding and less stressful.

About The Author
Marilyn Bohn's Bio

Marilyn is a creative organizer who has been organizing for over 20 years. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and is working towards becoming a Certified Professional Organizer. Professionally she has been organizing homes and offices for over two years. She holds a bachelors degree in Social Work. She has reared five daughters and currently lives in Utah.

Go to her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find free organizing tips, interesting blogs and more helpful articles on organizing.

Babywearing - One Mom's Experience With Being Hands Free and Heart Full

2008-07-21T17:21:00.000-07:00

by: Heather Ledeboer

When I became a mom, something magical happened. An inner strength and desire to protect, love and nurture rose up within me. Desires, dreams and fears awakened in my heart that once lay dormant. I felt fit for the task and excited for the adventure of motherhood that stretched out ahead me. When my relatives went home and my husband returned to work I believe I handled the change exceptionally well. That is until our fridge containing a few leftovers and several bottles of breast milk finally forced us to venture out of the house to the grocery store. Until this point, I really felt that I was pulling off my new mommy role quite well. However, I had no idea that my little 5 pound 10 oz hunk of love could require so much extra effort for something as simple as a run to the store. Between loading and unloading the car seat, diaper bag, stroller, and to-do list I felt as though I may as well have been charting territory in a foreign land. After I returned home from that first adventure, I boldly decided that running errands alone with my baby was just too much work. The thought of pulling my Cadillac stroller and heavy car seat in and out of my car for another excursion was simply more than I could bear. Later that week, a lady at church breezed past my son and I, holding her new baby in a sling. Both she and her baby looked happy, content and close. In that moment, I knew I had to have one. I had just discovered my ticket to freedom.

Love At First Sight

I loved my first baby carrier so much that I started buying and trying other types of carriers to see how they compared. Each one seemed to offer something slightly unique and different that I loved. I was amazed at how many types, styles and variations were available. It was like a secret world opening up for me. I started learning that babywearing offered many benefits to the child including crying less, learning more, and increased IQ! I found out that babies that are “worn” also have been shown to exhibit reduced colic and spit-up with increased cardiac output and improved circulation. Not to mention the benefits for me! I could nurse with the carrier, shop without a bulky stroller and I was hands free and able to get things done around the house!

Taking it to the next level

As my collection of baby carriers grew, so did my knowledge of how to use them and the pros and cons of each style. If my son was just fussy and needing to be close on and off throughout the day or if I was making a quick run into the store I loved my pouch style slings such as the New Native Baby Carrier or The Peanut Shell. The simple tube design was quick to slip on over my arm and head to my shoulder. The way it hung on my body looked much like sash. I loved how easy it was to wear it like this throughout the day. It did not feel bulky or in the way and whenever I wanted to wear my son, I could slip him into the pouch in a matter of seconds--it was so easy to use. For days when I really needed to get work done around the house or for longer shopping trips, I often reached for my wrap style carriers. Wrap carriers, such as a Moby wrap or Moby D, are a specially designed strip of fabric. The long, (often stretchy) fabric is cleverly wrapped around your torso, over your shoulders, around your torso again and then secured at your waist with a knot or a d-ring. I found the wrap carriers to have a slight initial learning curve.

However, the clearly marked instructions quickly eased my mind and after my first few attempts I was a believer. Because their straps go over both shoulders and securely wrapped around me and my baby, he felt very close. I felt very comfortable, secure and ready to move. For long durations of wear, the wrap carriers became my staple. Finally, if I was visiting friends or family that wanted to share in the fun of baby wearing, I brought along my adjustable slings such as a Maya Wrap or Rockin Baby Sling. These adjustable carriers were very similar to the pouch style in the way that they hung from one shoulder to the opposite hip like a sash. However, they had an extra tail of fabric looped though a d-ring positioned by your shoulder. Although I did not enjoy the extra bulk created by this fabric tail when I was using the sling alone, it certainly allowed for an easy, adjustable, customized fit for all body types when I was sharing it with others. These adjustable carriers (as well as the wrap carriers) are also an economical choice for parents to share with each other rather than buying two separate sizes since they are a one size fits all option.

They each have a place in my heart

All of the carriers could be used from birth to 35 pounds and each offered a variety of carrying positions. So when I need a carrier, my question was not necessarily which carrier to use, but rather what need to fill. Each carrier was my favorite in its own special way. I feel that other moms can benefit from my experience when looking for their own ideal baby carrier. After all, just as no two mamas are alike, neither are their preferences for baby carriers. I compiled a sling comparison chart comparing a wide variety of baby carriers side by side under factors such as “reduces back strain”, “easy on, easy off”, and “discreet nursing”. Thankfully, with the myriad of choices available, and the right kind of helpful information, any mom is bound to find the baby carrier that is perfect for times when the arms give out but her heart just won't let go. Equipped with the right carrier, she can join me and venture out of her home to chart new territory in a foreign land with her hands free to record her findings for future generations.

About The Author
Heather Ledeboer is the owner of Mom 4 Life, http://mom4life.com , a website that offers bella bands, moby baby wraps, maya baby wraps and other practical gifts for mothers and babies.

source : http://www.articlecity.com/articles/parenting/article_1693.shtml

Difficult People: Harassing Neighbors

2008-07-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

by: Dr. Mark Lauderdale

“My neighbors are harassing me. How do you deal with difficult people like these?”

I’ve been asked this question SEVERAL times now, so I thought I’d write an article on the topic.

The word “harassment” is a very broad term. For different people it can mean anything from neighbors who are verbally abusive and deflating your tires to people who are just plain nosey.

It’s a little like saying, “My dog is misbehaving”. You wouldn’t start right away by working on your dog’s “misbehavior” in general. You’d want to focus on the SPECIFIC forms of misbehavior that are causing a problem, such as jumping up on people, or barking too much, etc…

So, the first thing to do is to identify the specific type of harassing behavior that is causing the problem.

For the sake of discussion let’s say that your neighbors are frequently rude or disrespectful to you and your family. They use a "hit and run” form of verbal abuse.

The next thing to do is… talk to them? (I can already hear you saying, “I tried that and it didn’t work!”) Let me clear about this… NO!

The next thing to do has NOTHING to do with talking to them.

In fact, jumping into action too quickly is often where people go wrong right off the bat. It’s almost guaranteed that you will DO or SAY the wrong things, which just make things WORSE.

No, the next thing to do is IMAGINE… more specifically, to visualize the way you’d like things to be with your neighbor instead of the way things are. In other words, set your goal and visualize it.

You might want to turn them into friends or you might want to have infrequent but respectful interactions. That’s ok. Just be very clear about your goal – as long as it’s constructive.

So, let’s say that you don’t want to move away from the neighborhood and that what you REALLY want is for your neighbors to talk in a respectful way to you and your family.

Now, since THIS is what you really want, you should make a conscious decision that everything you say or do from now on will move things toward this outcome… and furthermore, that everything THEY say or do ALSO becomes an opportunity for you to take things closer to that outcome.

After you’ve imagined what a positive outcome might look like, you should then eliminate your anger, frustration and stress about the situation and feel calm, strong and confident about creating a positive change.

You can’t produce a positive outcome if you’re sitting on negative, angry or hostile feelings.

To shift your emotional state into strength and confidence, you can use the Wellspring Method at http://www.shrinkinabox.com/difficult-people/creating-change.htm which I created to help you successfully deal with difficult people and situations like this.

Armed with a feeling of confidence and determination to produce a positive outcome with the difficult person, start imagining what would happen if you were to meet with your neighbor… play out ANY scenarios that come into your mind.

There is not just ONE RIGHT WAY. You know your situation far better than I do and how your particular neighbor is likely to respond.

You might start off by paying them a visit and saying, “I noticed that you seemed unhappy about something when we last spoke, so I thought I’d come over and find out what it is that’s bugging you…”

It’s quite possible that they may not believe you and you may just get another rude response. But, you can persist… “Clearly something was bothering you and I’d really like to know what it is so that we can address the problem.”

You want to persist and be genuinely concerned and curious, so that your neighbor actually starts to feel that you are interested in what their issue is. Persist until you REALLY understand why they are feeling the way they are… even if their concern is based on misinformation or an immature way of seeing things.

Once you understand what their concern is (no matter how rudely they expressed it), you can then start to think of a solution that could address that concern. Of course, if you are addressing their genuine concern, then they will also become more receptive to a friendlier relationship without the disrespectful language.

If there is really no underlying issue that is bothering them, or at least none that they will divulge to you, and they persist with rude language, you can take the approach of paying them a visit each and every time a rude episode occurs… each time approaching them with the same calm and genuine curiosity about what it is that is bugging them.

The more rude they are, the more concerned and curious you can be. Of course, you would need to be able to do this calmly and confidently because pushing your buttons and getting you to react is what they are TRYING to do!

If you continue with repeated discussions over an extended period of time, never retaliating or getting drawn into an argument and always pursuing the issues in great detail, the act of being disrespectful towards you will start to become a bit of a nuisance to your neighbor who will think twice about being rude next time.

He’ll know that hurling another negative comment your way is just going to result in yet another long drawn out discussion in which the things that are bugging him will be put under the microscope for examination.

There are only two outcomes… Either your neighbor will eventually reveal what is really bugging him or her, which you can then address through some kind of win-win solution, or, they will change their tune and avoid being rude in order to avoid another discussion with you.

Learn more about dealing with difficult people and problem situations at: http://www.shrinkinabox.com/difficult-people/

About The Author

Mark Lauderdale MD FRCPC is a psychiatrist and author of “Secrets of Dealing with Difficult People” http://www.shrinkinabox.com/difficult-people/ which provides expert ideas, insights and tools for dealing with all types of difficult people confidently and effectively.

Source : http://www.articlecity.com/articles/family/article_2741.shtml

The Importance of Play

2008-07-10T03:27:00.000-07:00

The Importance of Play
by: Judy Hansen

For children, play is naturally enjoyable. And since it is their active engagement in things that interest them, play should be child-led, or at least child-inspired, for it to remain relevant and meaningful to them. Children at play are happily lost in themselves; they are in their own realm of wonder, exploration, and adventure, pulling parents in at times with a frequent “Let’s play, mom!” as an open invitation into that world.

As early as infancy, children immerse themselves in play activities with the purpose of making sense of the world around them. Play gives children the opportunity to learn and experience things themselves, which is vital for their development. Although peek-a-boo games seem pointless to adults, tots are awed by the surprise that awaits them as they see the suddenly emerging faces of people they love.

(Stages of Play)

During toddlerhood, children experience a motor-growth spurt that equips them to solitarily fiddle with anything they can get their hands on – be it a construction toy or the box from where it came.

Toddlers also love breaking into song, wiggling and jiggling to tunes, and imitating finger plays they are commonly exposed to.

Preschoolers begin extending their play to involve others, whether they bring others in at any stage of their game or they plan their game and its players’ way ahead. Their physical and motor skills allow them to widen their lay arena, from dramatic play to table games to outdoor pursuits.

School-age children start appreciating organized play – such as innovated songs and rhymes, games with rules, relays and other physical activities, sports and projects that they can accomplish over a certain time frame.

Play Perks:

Why the big fuss about playing? Play benefits the child in ways that might be a tad difficult for adults to imagine.

1. Play brings pure and utter joy.

A toddler who jumps into an empty box and runs around the house ‘driving a car’ shows the sheer happiness that play brings him or her. When children are asked what they did in school and they answer ‘play,’ it is a clear sign that these kids remember a feeling of genuine joy that is captured in this four-letter word.

2. Play fosters socio-emotional learning.

What does a ten-month-old baby who shrieks at the sight of her stuffed toy have in common with a ten-year-old boy who plays basketball with his friends? They both deal with their confidence as they choose to embark on their play activities. At the same time, they are displaying their independence in the decisions that they make. These two children are also internalizing social rules in their respective play situations: the baby waits patiently for her stuffed toy to appear, while the school-age child has to contend with an impending loss in a ball game.

3. Play hones physical and motor development.

Play often involves the use of the senses, the body, and the extremities. When children play, they exercise their bodies for physical strength, fluidity of movement, balance and coordination.

Perceptual-motor ability, or the capacity to coordinate what you perceive with how you move, is an essential skill that preschoolers need to develop. A three-year-old who is engrossed in digging, scooping, and pouring sand into a container must match his or her perception of the space in front of him or her with actual hand movements, so that he or she can successfully fulfill the motor activity.

4. Play facilitates cognitive learning.

Play is vital to the intellectual development of a child. We live in a symbolic world in which people need to decode words, actions, and numbers.

For young children, symbols do not naturally mean anything because they are just arbitrary representations of actual objects. The role of play is for the child to understand better cognitive concepts in ways that are enjoyable, real, concrete, and meaningful to them. For instance, through play, a child is able to comprehend that the equation 3 + 2 = 5 means ‘putting together’ his toy cars by lining them up in his makeshift parking lot. When he combines 2 triangles to make a square during block play, or writes down his score is a bowling game, the child is displaying what he knows about shapes and numbers.

Through play, the child is constructing his or her worldview by constantly working and reworking his understanding of concepts.

5. Play enhances language development.

Toddlers who are still grappling with words need to be immersed in oral language so they can imitate what they hear. They benefit from songs and rhymes that provide the basis for understanding how language works.

When these tots are playing with toys, adults model to them how language is used to label objects or describe an event. At play, preschoolers use language to interact, communicate ideas, and likewise learn from dialogues with more mature members of society.

6. Play encourages creativity.

Barney the dinosaur was right about using imagination to make things happen. A lump of Play-Doh suddenly turns into spaghetti with meat sauce and cheese; a small towel transforms into a cape that completes a superhero’s wardrobe; and a tin can serves as a drum that accompanies an aspiring rock artist. Play opens an entire avenue for children to express themselves, show what they know and how they feel, and to create their own masterpieces.

7. Play provides bonding opportunities.

Play is an important factor in child development. It provides for interaction, experimentation, and moral development. Here are some ways by which parents can encourage and support their children’s playtime.

- Let your child be the player-leader. Let children initiate their activity, set their own theme, choose the parameters where the play will take place. Play becomes a venue for children to express their feelings and be in control.

- Help them help themselves. When your 5-year-old asks for help, say, figuring out how to piece a puzzle together, stop yourself from coming to her rescue and first ask your child questions that allow him or her to help himself or herself. Say, “Where do you think this piece should go?” Afterward, commend his or her success.

- Play attention. Once you make a commitment to play with your child, watch for the following signals: Does he or she want you to actively play a part in the activity? Does he or she need encouragement? Is he or she tired or hungry? Does he or she need to take a break?

- Have a play plan. If you seem to have little time for playing with your child, consider using self-care chores to have fun with him or her. Also, get support from other people in your household, like older siblings, household help, or the child’s grandparents, so that they understand why play is important and how they should continue to encourage it.

About The Author
Judy Hansen is a web administrator of http://www.child-central.com

She is also a mother of 2 girls and a preschool teacher with Child's Minder School House.

Family relationship strained – repair it with care!

2008-06-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

By Kirthy Shetty

Is enough care being taken by family members, where in both the husband and wife are career oriented. Kids don’t have enough of knowledge about their own culture, ethnicity and how diverse it is from others. Their lifestyle varies in comparison to the rest of them. You find more and more strained family relationship too.

Kids are often left at daycare center while older ones spend the whole day at school. They sometimes do not even have enough time to talk about their individual lives let alone spend a day of fun together.
But building good relationships with one’s children does not really have to be spent the whole day.

How can things improve?

Small tips for you. Even short conversation, small gestures of love and affection, kissing or caressing the little ones, or your spouse can make a lot of difference in your life. Little things that you do everyday whether they be for an hour or for just a few minutes are enough especially when done with sincerity and commitment to strengthening and building the bonds that you have with your spouse and children if any. Take time for one another by going on dates with your spouse or having family outings. It's amazing what a picnic can do for a family. You don’t do the talking all the time; lend a patient ear to your partner or kids too. Listen what he/she have to say about their office or school. Have dinner together or saying prayers together can build a strong solidarity.

Parents with mobile phones for instance can keep track of their older children through mobile phones. Messages left in a family bulletin board or posted on the refrigerator are also great ways of maintaining your presence in your child’s life. Help them in whatever small way you can, probably a presentation or some project. Gifting them something once a while shows that you care for them.

Another effective way in building family relationships is finding a common ground and making compromises not only on your schedules but also on your various interests. It is a good idea to take turns going to your favorite places when out on a family trip. Take their opinion on where they would want to go, rather than forcing up on your choice on them.

About the author:
Kirthy Shetty, expert author, Platinum status
http://directory.mooter.com/australia/culture_and_society/lifestyle

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

8 Tips to Keeping your Kitchen Organized

2008-06-02T17:42:00.000-07:00

by: Marilyn Bohn

As I went out to feed the birds today I sunk up to my knees in snow as I made my way to the bird feeder. And more snow is expected for the end of this week. I know this kind of weather makes some people have cabin fever. Do you get cabin fever?

I was working with a woman who said her therapist told her to get organizing. He told her even if you don't do any more than move one can to the other side of the shelf you have done something and that is a good thing.

In my jargon as a professional organizer of homes I would say doing this is taking baby steps. If you are having cabin fever and want to get outside but can't because of the weather and it is too early for Spring cleaning here are 8 tips on organizing your home.

Let's start with the kitchen:

Pantry or food shelves: Put like items together, soups in one place, and canned vegetables in another and canned fruits all together, pasta in one place—you get the idea. Everything has its place so when you need it you will save time and easily be able to see what you have. (It just might scream 'take out' pizza night.) If you haven't done this for awhile it is a good idea to make sure the cans or bottles are still good by checking expiration dates and check to see it is bulging. If it is, it is definitely spoiled and you need to get rid of it.

Snacks: Place them in a basket at a convenient level to grab and go. Or if you have family members that you don't want to get into them, hide them.

Lids: Do you have plastic or glass bowls used for storing left-overs? If the lids are always all over the place, put them in a basket by themselves which makes it easy to match to the bowl and eliminates hunting for the matches. If you keep the lids on the container that takes up a lot of space in your cupboard.

Dishes: Do you have enough room for all you have? Get metal stacking shelves that can double the amount of space in your cupboards. They come in many sizes and there are corner ones as well as straight ones that are adjustable. It is a good time to determine if you like or need all the dishes you have. If you see you never use some as you don't like them or you have too many for your needs or space; then donate to a charity.

Silverware drawer: Place the silverware in a container made for that purpose. Larger serving pieces can be placed next to it. Does your container slide back and forth as you open the drawer? A simple solution is to use sticky Velcro on the underside of the container—works great for bathroom drawers too where containers tend to want to slide about.

Pans: Place the ones you use most frequently toward the front of your shelf (if you hang them you have no problem with finding the right size when you need it). If you have pans with a finish that can be chipped or scratched paper plates between the pans prevents this from happening.

If you have medicines in the cupboards check their expiration dates and make sure little children can't get into them.

Have vases become squatters under your sink? If they belong in a different place, move them to their home.

Kitchens are often the hub of the home so a well organized one makes everyone happy. While you are waiting for Spring, or if you live where it is already Spring check out those cupboards, take an inventory and Get Organized now.

Souce : http://www.articlecity.com/articles/family/article_2735.shtml

Choosing the best carpet repair professional

2008-05-29T17:40:00.000-07:00

By Younus Md

Most homeowners wait until their entire carpet is dirty and unsightly before repairing or replacing the necessary elements of their floor.
Most homeowners wait until their entire carpet is dirty and unsightly before repairing or replacing the necessary elements of their floor. Carpet repairs can be costly if you wait too long, but hiring a professional to repair your carpet can actually save you time, money, and keep your carpets looking great. But not all Austin carpet repair professionals are the same and you'll need to make sure that the service you choose meets your needs.

Keep in mind that professional carpets repair is different than professional carpet cleaning. Professional carpet cleaning should be done once or twice a year where carpet repair is only necessary if your carpet has permanent stains or damage. This type of damage can include:

· Pet stains and odors
· Damage from pet claws or teeth
· Burns
· Melted wax or crayons
· Permanent dye and ink stains
· Holes or Snags

Before settling on an Austin carpet repair professional, you'll need to take into account the exact needs of your carpet. Since most carpet repair services offer free estimates or assessments, you may want to consider calling a few different companies before settling on a single one. Keep in mind that most of these carpet repair places also offer professional carpet cleaning services and will be able to tell you if your carpet can be cleaned rather than repaired.

A quality Austin carpet repair professional will assess and repair every level of your carpet, not just the top. Most stains and odors reach beyond the visible layers of your carpet all the way down to the padding and floor. This is especially true for pet stains and odors that are not responsive to conventional cleaning. Under these circumstances, your Austin carpet repair team needs to replace the damaged carpet as well as the padding underneath.

If the damage only goes as far as the top layer, you need to choose an Austin carpet repair team that can provide seamless repairs to your floor without having to replace the entire carpet. The best carpet repair teams can match your existing carpet and create seamless transitions between old and new carpeting.

Keep in mind that your carpet may need more than just patches and spot repairs. A quality Austin carpet repair professional will be able to tell you if your padding, tack strips, or thresholds need repairs or replacing. If you feel a shift in your carpet or notice bulges or wrinkles, you may want to consider having your carpet stretched while it's being repaired. Most quality service professionals can provide this service along with repairing damaged carpet.

If you have high quality Berber carpets, you'll need to be especially picky when it comes to an Austin carpet repair professional. Although Berber carpets are great for everyday use, a single snag can cause them to look worn and disheveled. An experienced Austin carpet repair service can actually reweave and repair your exiting Berber and help you find ways of preventing further snags or damage.

If you have water damage, you'll need to contact an Austin carpet repair professional immediately! Wet carpets and pads can harbor mold and mildew, causing dangerous living conditions for your family. Many Austin carpet repair services, like Kiwi Services, offer both professional Austin carpet repair and Austin Berber carper repair services. These types of companies can help you not only assess the damages, but provide total care to your entire carpet and home.

Source : http://www.articles-hub.com

Married and Cheating: You May Never Get This Back

2008-05-23T06:43:00.000-07:00

After countless denials even after being presented with the evidence, your spouse finally admits they have been cheating on you. Then come the mind games. You are the reason they went looking for love in all the wrong places. If only you had made the extra effort to understand their desires and needs. You inform them that you did make the extra effort and tried everything within your power to converse and keep the lines of communication open; the problem is they never reciprocated.

Then sooner or later they reach for one of the oldest tricks in the marriage infidelity book. Whether the affair happened a year, a month or one hour ago, the cheating spouse now resorts to the hurt victim routine. "Okay it happened, it's over. How long are you going to hold it against me? Can't we just forget it and move on? You know how I feel about you."

Their maybe a different variation on these quotes and the time frame may even extend to years since the extramarital affair took place but what that statement makes crystal clear is they still don't get it.

Number one it's hard to forget about cheating on a spouse when it is without a doubt the definitive act of betrayal in a relationship. The hurt cuts deep and no matter how tough many of us play it, we cannot just cut our emotions on and off like some kind of switch. While it is true that you may (and should) move past the betrayal and even forgive your spouse and build a stronger relationship, you are not ever going to forget it. A cheating spouse that does not accept this is not dealing with reality.

But the main reason countless relationships come to an end or are never the same after an extramarital affair becomes known is that the bond holding marriages together has been destroyed. Trust.

The early part of a relationship usually has plenty of romance, fun and excitement. As two people grow more intimate, it is only natural that trust take its rightful place within the relationship. Trying to build a life together without it is next to impossible. But having it taken away from you because of someone's thoughtlessness and selfishness is excruciating.

Of course it is not just the physical. That is where way too many a cheating spouse starts and ends their reasoning process. They really do not get the fact that every investment the both of you made into the relationship has been wiped out. Losing the time, energy and financial is part of the equation but more than anything material, it is the emotional and spiritual investment which are the real casualties. How do you get them back? Sure a very good marriage counselor or clergy can help you through the process but you know they cannot restore what was never in their power to give.

Forgiving an extramarital affair takes a lot of strength and courage which many of us may have but are not willing to utilize. That's understandable since there is aura of finality to cheating on a spouse. Yet even if you can bring yourself to forgive wholeheartedly and work like crazy to continue the relationship, there will always be nagging questions that will pop up from time to time. Breaking a trust will do that.

By Daryl Campbell
Source : http://www.free-articles-zone.com/article/144626

Best Interests of the Child

2008-05-13T03:29:00.000-07:00

The parent’s desires and claims are secondary when determining the “best interest of the child.” Furthermore, the parent’s wishes are only important in so much as these wishes answer the question of what would serve the best interests of the child. The Texas Family code provides that “the best interest of the child shall always be the primary consideration of the court in determining the issues of conservatorship and possession of and access to the child.” Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367 (Tex. 1976) decided by the Texas Supreme Court 32 years ago, lists a set of factors that the courts have considered when determining the best interest of a child. A non-exhaustive summary of these factors include: the desires of the child; the emotional and physical needs of the child now and in the future; the emotional and physical danger to the child now and in the future; the parental abilities of the individuals seeking custody; the programs available to assist these individuals to promote the best interest of the child; the plans for the child by these individuals; the stability of the home; the acts or omissions of the parent which may indicate that the existing parent child relationship is not a proper one; and any excuse for the acts or omissions of the parent

The list I have provided in this blog is not complete and there are other factors considered in the determination of what is in the best interest of the child. As you noticed the desires and claims of the parents is not one of the factors on this list.

Expert witnesses or lay witnesses may be called to substantiate or to provide evidence that these factors do or do not exist, but it is well established that judges and jurors are the sole judges of credibility of the witnesses and the weight to give their testimony. I believe extra emphasis needs to be placed on the role of the judges and jurors in determining what weight to give the evidence.

Child custody issues can be extremely emotional and divisive! The more divisive the situation, the more expensive the suit affecting the parent-child relationship is going to be. If the parties agree can come to an agreement on their child custody issues, they have more control over the outcome of the suit, subject to the approval of a judge. On the other hand, going to trial, they put their lives and the lives of their children into the hands of the trier of fact, be it a judge or a jury!

Author: Stella Janci Rani
Source : http://www.articlesbase.com

Did you See It Before the Wedding?

2008-05-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

by: Len Stauffenger

Most of us grew up with parents. During our growing up years, we formed a lot of ideas of what a perfect relationship would be like by watching what our parents did, and in particular, what our parents did not do that we wish they had. We knew what perfect parents would be like. We would be those perfect parents. We had an idea of a perfect marriage. We would have a perfect marriage. We spent upwards of 25 years working to create our perfect life. Some of us achieved that. Some of us enjoyed it for a while. And then some of us got slammed by divorce.

Things didn't turn out quite the way we had envisioned. The little details that we didn't even know existed turned out to be so important in our perfect scheme of things. He could be totally handsome, once one of our main must-haves. She could be a total fox, another imperative. But when we married him or her, there were just so many things we did not take into consideration: their annoying little habits, their mystifying flaws. Our perfect schemes glossed over these little details.

And after the divorce hits us, we have to ask ourselves: Was I aware of this in her or him before we married?Be honest enough to see if you were like this. You probably were a wonderful wife and excelled in that part but maybe your mate simply couldn't see it and thus, couldn't be complimentary about it. And you're thinking, how was I responsible for our divorce? My question to you would be, "Whatever flaws your ex had, was there any sign of them before you got married? Or before you had children? Was there anything you consciously or unconsciously ignored or blinded yourself to?" Your responsibility may be nothing more than the fact that you knew he was selfish but you married him anyway. Sometimes, very simple decisions or the failure to make a decision can cause very harsh consequences. Unfortunately, this is the way the world works. It can happen again, so aren't you better off understanding that your subtle decision to ignore his faults had a profound impact on your life? If you understand that, if you take responsibility for that piece of it, then you won't make that mistake again.

This is a lesson that applies to everything that makes you unhappy in your life, whether it's your boss, your lover or your children. Don't do what everyone else does which is to blame the other person or the situation. In lieu of blaming, ask yourself what your position was in all of this? How am I causing this or contributing to this. Please try to focus on the fact that this is not about who's wrong; it's really more about consequences.

When you get this, it's a wonderful tool for your life because it allows you to solve your problems. This isn't about fault; it's really more about self-discovery. The more you know about yourself and the reasons for your actions and your motivation, the more satisfying and fulfilling your life becomes because you're no longer operating on automatic pilot.

Can you be responsible about the role you played. Because, if you are responsible about how you contributed, it will touch other spaces in your life, and even better, you can share with your kids how easily true responsibility benefits them. And don't they deserve your very best? Who knows? You might be helping them to create the perfect relationship leading to the perfect marriage and becoming the perfect parent you thought you would be.

source : http://www.articlecity.com

Easy Photo Sharing Helps With Fundraising

2008-05-06T01:32:00.000-07:00

by: Matt Smolsky

The Internet has really made a huge difference in how fast you can get the word out about anything and everything. That’s a wonderful thing, and one area where easy photo sharing really comes in handy is with fundraising.

As long as you have an email list that people have opted in to (given you their permission to mail), there are so many different, creative ways you can tell folks about an event. If you’ve never considered easy photo sharing as a way to spread the word, here are a few tips on how you can.

Slide shows. If you’re having a silent auction, easy photo sharing is a great way to spread the word about the items you are auctioning off. First, take photos of the items you are auctioning off, especially the ones that photograph well.

Then, go to one of the easy photo sharing websites on the Internet and upload your photos. It’s simple and the best easy photo sharing sites have tutorials. Once you have your photos uploaded, use their tools to create a slide show of the items you have for auction.

Once you have your slideshow prepared, simply use your email list to invite people to review the items for sale at your silent auction. You can ask that people on your list forward the email to their friends and relatives. This will generate some talk about your event, and get people excited about the items you have for sale.

Photo albums. If your child is active in sports, be sure to take a season’s worth of digital images of all the games, some of the practices, and social events the team holds. Then, upload your photos to an easy photo sharing site.

You can also have the kids on the team take their own digital photos, and have them sent to you. This will help make the album more personal. Once you’re photos are uploaded, use the site to create an online photo album. Creating an online album at an easy photo sharing site won’t take more than a couple of hours of your time. It can include all the fun times from the past season. Be sure to feature all the team members in the album with their own special photo.

Once you have the album created, you can send an announcement to the team telling them the album is for sale. Encourage the people on the list to let grandparents, aunts and uncles and other relatives know that the album is for sale. This will help spread the word and bring sales in from non-team members.

Have orders placed through you, and charge slightly more than what the album costs through the easy photo sharing site – this will be the profit for the team. Be sure to include shipping charges in your price, and be sure to ask for and receive prepayment. Place the orders and have the items shipped directly to the person who ordered the album. That way, you’re involvement and work is simplified.

A little imagination, combined with an easy photo sharing site, can go a long way to generating income for your fundraiser!

Article source : http://www.articlecity.com

Make Your Beach Wedding Reception Unique

2008-04-21T18:04:00.000-07:00

By: Mohdamir Hasan

A beach wedding reception is an creative way to celebrate your wedding day, so use your imagination when it comes to the food, beach favors, and wedding attire.

Most brides wear a more casual wedding dress, and choose to have their hair down or informally styled for the ceremony and reception. You can tie in the wedding colors and floral arrangements with one dominant flower that repeats itself throughout the decor. For example, a bold pink orchid will tie together your wedding dress with the decor if you wear one in your hair or place one single stem in a decorated vase on each white tablecloth.

Vary the time of day for a twist on the beach wedding reception. The majority of beach weddings take place at sunset, but what about sunrise? Serve pastries, coffee, and fresh juices to guests. Have tables decorated with light blue, green or pink accents, and put up beach umbrellas to shade guests in the height of the morning sunshine.

How far you want to go with beach theme wedding decorations and favors is up to you. Some couples opt to keep their ceremony very elegant, with subtle wedding decorations, such as fresh flowers or torches in the sand. Others have fun with the beach theme, and have starfish and seahorse candleholders on the tables, or give flip-flop key chains as beach wedding favors. Remember that there are no rules when it comes to your beach wedding reception, so choose what makes you happy!

The food at a beach wedding reception can also range from a sit down dinner to a lunch buffets. If you're looking for a budget-friendly option, have a wedding lunch with hamburgers, cold salads, and fruit. Cut costs by serving soda or punch as drinks, rather than having a full bar. However, if you prefer a more glamorous beach wedding, a candlelit meal with fresh seafood and other gourmet dishes may be a better fit.

Wear whatever you are comfortable in. If you want to attend your beach wedding reception in a tank top and shorts, go for it! Or, check out some of the shorter wedding gowns that are in style right now, which are perfect for a day at the beach. Whatever you decide on for your beach wedding style, let your personality shine through to make your reception unique.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

How to Keep Your Marriage Strong While Running a Small Business

2008-04-21T02:25:00.000-07:00

How to Keep Your Marriage Strong While Running a Small Business

By: Heather Ledeboer

If you are in business for yourself chances are good that you enjoy what you do, at least we hope that you do because after all, you got yourself into it. If you are married, chances are good that you love your spouse; at least we hope that you do, again—you got yourself into it. So what happens when you try to mix two loves—your business and your marriage—can they survive?

I believe the answer to be a resounding, yet qualified, YES. However, to effectively get to the "yes" there are going to be two "knows" you will have to be willing to hear first:

Know your spouse. People are about as varied as the businesses that cater to them. What type of person are you married to? Do they enjoy business as much as you do? Do they enjoy talking with you about your business? Do they support you and get excited to hear about your goals and visions in the area of business? If the answer is yes, this road will likely be much smoother because they will be willing to walk down it with you and perhaps even help pave the way for you. I am blessed to have a husband that not only enjoys the subject of business but has had a few of them himself and is happy to discuss the topic with me at great lengths. Not everyone is like this, if my husband didn’t enjoy discussing business, I would have to be willing to find another source of support for this area and focus on the areas that he is equipped to help me with without expecting him to give more than he is able.

Know yourself. Are you able to be sensitive to the needs of your spouse and perspective to their feelings even when you are wrapped up in your work? Will you notice if they are starting to feel neglected and unappreciated? Do you notice when they put in extra effort to help you meet a deadline? This past weekend my husband helped me from 9:00-12:00AM organizing my inventory. This was a selfless act of love on his part. I am blessed that we both love to organize but my passion and drive to do this was my business, whereas his drive was his desire to show me love. Looking back, I can see that although I told him thank you and was really thankful for his help, I likely didn’t express this nearly as clearly as I should have. The night we were working was very cold as was the shop we were working in. It was wonderful to have him out there with me rather than to be working alone. It made my job not only faster but much more enjoyable. He could have been choosing to do any one of a number of things but choosing to help me meant a lot. Later I made a point to tell him how much it meant to me.

Ok on to our "Yes’s":

Say Yes to Communication. Be willing to discuss your business and how you both feel about it and do this regularly. Be honest and upfront and encourage your spouse to do the same. Don’t assume that just because they were excited about your business when you started that their enthusiasm will not waiver down the road. The beauty of a good marriage is they way you can give and take support when needed and hopefully you are able to be strong for each other at the times needed most in your business. Say Yes to Time Together. If you have kids you likely know how helpful it can be to enjoy a date night with your spouse alone. You both need time away from your business as well. Decide together what activities you can enjoy together that doesn’t involve your business. Plan how often you would like to enjoy these activities together and make a point to do it. Say Yes to Saying "No". Part of being a successful business owner is knowing when to delegate. This can often be one of the hardest steps to take early on as we all know that no one can run your business as good as you can. The same can also be true of your marriage however as no one can be as good of a spouse to your mate as you can. You can always find another employee if the first one doesn’t work out. The same cannot be said of your spouse so be smart enough to recognize when you begin to need help from others to run your business successfully and do it!

I believe that business owners have the chance to dip into the best of both worlds: business and pleasure; they simply need to do so knowing how those steps affect those they love. Keep an open mind and tuned ear toward your most important "business partner" and you will both find the success to be sweeter than imagined because it is shared.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com