We Adviced a New Mum How to Cope With a New Baby and the New Role of Motherhood

“How do I cope as a new mum”…..we gave one mum advice how to settle at home with a new baby and fit into the new role of becoming a first time mum.

Rebecca age 19 sent home from hospital at 5pm, sent home again at 8pm, not in labour. 12am slept on couch at a relatives with her, 1.15pm ouch that hurts. Toilet help I want to push.15 mins later amublance on the way no time to get to hospital this time, ready for new baby coming.

“How do I cope as a new mum”Said Rebecca my daughter. She gave birth to Elizabeth Christmas 2005, I delivered her on my brothers living room carpet with the help of the 999 lady at one end of a phone and a newly qualified ambulance driver who had never delivered a baby before sitting at the side of me on the carpet..Towels but didnt have time or even know what they were for as the 999 lady at one end of the phone gave me instructions what to do 10 mins later 6lb 60z Elizabeth entered the world. with 2 nursery nurses around her and a care assistant brother you would think one of us would know what to do but we were in such a state of shock we didnt know what was happening until it was too late..…

Well Rebecca I replied, For some mums with no family it can be very daunting but with support from your midwife in the first few days and continued support from your health visitor a new mum can get through it.Rebecca lived next door to me.Even after being a nursery nurse for over 20 years I was not prepared for her problems she would encounter but gave her support anyway in the few weeks that lay a head.

She planned to breast feed which she struggled with in the first couple of weeks and gave up and put Elizabeth onto a bottle. She looked tired and worn out as she was used to sleeping quite early in the evening. She wasn’t prepared for the many hours of waking up to feed her in the night, the frequent crying of her newborn and the everyday tasks of housework. thus she started to neglect herself. She would forget meals for herself. Not wash or dress. Leave soiled nappies everywhere plus she had a baby that needed feeding every 2 hours by evening she was exhausted..So I helped her to get into a routine…

Some of you may be wondering how can you get into a routine when you are so tired of looking after a baby that hardly sleeps and wants a feed every couple of hours or so. Well here are some tips you may find useful if you are to become a firs time mum or a new mum after having a break for a few years.If you are a mum without a family for support make use of your health visitor once you have been discharged from the midwife, they can put you into contact with other mums and support groups etc which can be very beneficial for both advice and socially..A routine means nothing more than being consistent with when you feed and put your baby to bed. Some parents prefer a fairly strict routine throughout the day with all naps taken in the cot at the same time. Other parents prefer to be out and about during the day, but stick to a regular pattern of bath, feed and bed at the same time in the evening. What sort of routine you go for is up to you, but the key is to be consistent, particularly in the hour or so before they go to bed for the night. Take a nap when you can after your baby is born you’ll probably find it will be some time before you get a decent night’s sleep. Lack of sleep can make you feel bad-tempered and anxious, so you should make every effort to sleep when your baby does during the day., but it may help to restrict visitors in the first few weeks and to try not to worry too much about the housework. If you have older children then enlist the help of a family member or trusted friend to take care of them. Some babies cry more than others, and coping with continual crying, or ‘colic’ can be exhausting. If you’ve gone through all the usual checks – hunger, tiredness, too cold, not well, needs changing – and can’t find a reason for it, the only thing to do is to comfort your baby.Plus talk to your health visitor Good luck with your new baby -

Sheila at Cheeky Chums www.cheekychumsonline.co.uk

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/we-adviced-a-new-mum-how-to-cope-with-a-new-baby-and-the-new-role-of-motherhood-615604.html

Spending time with your family

The more positive time you spend with your family, the more likely your family is going to work well, and the less likely your kids are to have problems. Below is a list of activities and things you can do to maximise your time together as a family.

Have breakfast together: Instead of running out the door with toast in hand, try and sit down together in the morning. It will be a great start to the day.

Make chores a team effort: Chores can be fun – and quicker – if you do them all together. You would be surprised at the conversation that can arise during cleaning.

Fun bedtime routine: Do something that works for you and your children. Both of you will then look forward to it.

Book one night a week with your family: One night a week arrange to do something as a family. It will go into the memory books!!!

Play games together: Doesn’t even need an explanation.

Plan holiday’s together: This works especially well as your kids are getting older – they might even want to come.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/parenting-spending-time-with-your-family-620864.html

How To Create A Budget The Right Way

by BENJAMIN EHINGER

With gas prices causing every single item out there to have a higher price tag it is important for all of us to understand how to create a budget the right way. You need to be able to put together a budget for any situation so that you know you can get through tough times that might be ahead with the economic predictions that are out there. Here are some helpful tips to set up your budget.
First, spend a full month writing down each and every penny you spend. At the end of the month total everything up and categorize it. This will give you a good picture as to where your money is going. You can use this as a guideline to make cut backs in areas that you don't need to be spending as much in and you will also have a very solid estimate as to what everything costs you in a months time.
Next, make sure you save each month for license fees, christmas spending, and other expenses that might not be monthly. By saving for these each month you will not have to worry about coming up with extra money when they come around. Plus it is not much when you break it down. If your license fees are $120 a year, then you just need to budget for $10 a month. That should be pretty easy.
Last, make sure you leave yourself some entertainment money so you can have a reward for following your budget. This could be used to take your family or wife out or just for something you want if you are not married and don't have children. You have to be realistic and give yourself enough to have the fun you know you are going to want to have, but don't take up a large portion of your budget with your entertainment.
Use these tips along with your own common sense to set yourself up a budget to follow. You should also include saving each month and a category for unexpected expenses so when that car repair comes around you are prepared for it. Now you have some of the secretes to how to create a budget the right way.

Storytelling Will Never Be the Same - Tips & Benefits to Reading to Your Child

By Mark Ludwig
There are many obvious and some less obvious benefits to reading to your child. Start early and experience the following:
Closeness with Your Child. Perhaps the most important benefit is the time you will spend together. Sitting on your lap, your child will have a sense of security. Interacting together with the story creates closeness with your child.
Preparedness for School. When we read, think about all the language and vocabulary our children are being exposed to PRIOR to starting kindergarten. The single biggest indicator for academic success in kindergarten is the number of vocabulary words a child enters with. In other words, it is not what they learn during the year, it's what they already know as they start kindergarten. There is a direct correlation between success and vocabulary. The greater the vocabulary, the greater the success.
How should I read to my child? Books should be held so that your child can see the words and the pictures. Point to the story as you read it so your child knows that words are read from left to right. Make your voice interesting and read short, simple sentences. Read nursery rhymes so that your child learns that some words sound the same, that talking has a steady beat, and that words are fun. Change your tone of voice, use low and high pitch, use squeaking sounds, whistles and other mouth noises. Stories with "noises" work especially well like "roar" and "buzz", "meow", etc.
Interact with Your Nursery Decor. Stories that incorporate the room decor work best. This allows you to further interact with the story as the pages come to life on the walls of their room. Involve your child in the reading. Have them point to the characters. If you décor incorporates the books, point to them on the wall as well.
Start Early Reading to Your Child. The U.S. Department of Education recommends beginning to read to your baby when he or she is six months old. According to a 2003 report, "Hearing words over and over helps babies become familiar with them. Reading to your baby is one of the best ways to help he or she learn."

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Ludwig

Disaster Gifts For Kids - The 6 Biggest Mistakes When Choosing Kids' Toys

By Remo Phillips

The following rules should be followed for choosing gifts for kids that are not your own. To those of you with kids these ideas will appear obvious. But just think, there are people in the world without small children, people who do not dedicate a section of their brains to scanning the ground for choking hazards as they walk through a room. These people may need help, and we here at the Toy Report feel it is our duty to help educate them.
Avoid Magnet Toys
Magnet Toys are fun for kids of all ages, but are one of the most dangerous swallowing hazards out there. Swallow one magnet and they will likely pass right through so to speak. Swallow two magnets and they can attach from different sections in the intestines and cause major life threatening problems. You do NOT want to be the Aunt that caused little Jimmy to need major stomach surgery.
Avoid Pop Culture Characters
This may seem less obvious to many, but unless you know that a child already loves a kids pop culture icon, do not buy them Dora, Diego, Spiderman, Barbie, Pokemon, or similar items as a birthday gift. They can spark a pop culture frenzy that some parents may prefer to avoid. It's akin to smoking cigarettes, far easier to never start than it is to stop once you are addicted. Mommy and Daddy may never be able to get through the supermarket again without tantrums for whatever Dora branded junk food is on the shelves.
Avoid Noisy Electronics That Can Not Be Powered OFF
Last year our twins were given a pair of electronic drum sticks for a birthday present. The first problem was that there was one pair of sticks given to two boys who happen to share the same birthday through no fault of their own, but that's covered in another article. They had lots of different buttons that played different drum noises when someone whacked the sticks on something. They also had the astounding quality of not having any method to power them off. They were on 100% of the time and could only be disabled by removing two screws to get at the batteries. The also had the added bonus of going off whenever a car drove by or a plane went overhead or someone sneezed near them. The friends who gifted them to us are now forever known as the "Annoying Drum Stick Givers". You do not want to be those people. If you buy any electronic devices that make noise, make sure they have an off switch and volume control.
Avoid Small Parts
Kids love to play with tiny toys sized for tiny fingers. We know many 6 year old girls that LOVE Polly Pockets, and many 5 year old boys that love Lego Sets (And vice versa). But their 1 year old sibling is going to eat them and we all know nothing good can come of it. The same rules apply to a 4 year old, but for different reasons. They may not eat the toys, but they are not old enough to understand picking up after themselves yet. You'll doom their parents to endless cleanup time. Leave the choice up to the parents if they want to clean up 50 tiny parts after the kids go to bed and get them something larger.
Avoid Obvious Danger
Avoid Pogo Sticks, avoid Baseball bats, avoid Roller Skates, avoid BB Guns, avoid Alien Slime and Silly Putty (which ruins hair and carpets), avoid Rubber Band Shooters, etc. Most of these come from experience, trust us. You don't want to be remembered as the Aunt who broke Bobby's arm, shot Billy's eye out, or ruined Katie's long curly hair on Christmas morning.
Avoid the High End of an Age Range
Stay with the capabilities and interests of the child's age. Don't give a baby toy to an toddler, or a toddler toy to a six year old. For example, the Wooden Chomp and Clack Alligator Push Toy is the single most perfect gift for any 1 year old. The age range says 1 to 4, but it's likely less than exciting to a 4 year old.
In the end, a small amount of forethought into choosing a kids gift can make all the difference in the world. Do not just grab the first thing you see on the toy store shelf and you will ensure a happy child and parent on that special occasion.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Remo_Phillips

Words of Wisdom For New Parents - The Art & Science of Raising a Child

By Colleen Langenfeld

So you are a new parent? Congratulations! Welcoming a new child into a family is an exciting, thrilling time. It can be scary, too, of course. And rightly so. No where else in life will you experience the rollercoaster of life more than in the game of parenting. I know because I have four children and have been parenting for more than two decades. What words of wisdom for new parents can I offer you? Well, if I was to start all over with my kids, I'd want to know that there is an art and a science to the skill of raising a child.
The Art of Parenting.
This is the heart of your parenting. You love your child. You want the very best for him. You envision years of happy times together. This is all good! The feelings and desires you have for your family will motivate you when times get tough. And you can be certain, times will get tough. It's simply the nature of the beast.
You can establish strong heart bonds with your child by intentionally cultivating the relationship with her. Starting as a baby, spend time with your little one. As one who has been there, done that, I can assure you there is no substitute for time spent with your child.
Get to know this new human. Figure out her personality, her quirks, her talents, her frustrations. This will do several things for both of you as your child grows.
* Allow you to be the person she trusts. Your tender knowledge of her will prove your trustworthiness to her time and time again. She will know you are the person she can come to, anytime, with anything. This will be invaluable all through her young life, and especially as she travels through the teen years.
* Give you knowledge that will help you guide her through the pitfalls she must traverse. Instead of wringing your hands and worrying, you will be in a much better position to take positive action as necessary. Remember, you cannot control your child, but you do have tremendous influence over her as her parent.
* Cause you to deepen your love for your child. Whenever you deepen a relationship, the result is a tighter bond. Yes, I'll admit this is why you will hurt at times over your child. But deepening your love for your family is what will enable you to make the necessary sacrifices to care for them in the ways they will need.
No one said parenting is easy. But it can be extremely rewarding.
The Science of Parenting.
This is the head or thinking side of your parenting. This is where you apply all the skills you use in other areas of your life to improve yourself as a parent.
For example, you probably had some sort of education to be trained in your current job or career. Perhaps it took you years to learn your career skills. Perhaps it was simply a matter of on-the-job training. Whatever it was, you knew there was a learning curve involved. You may have continuing education requirements for your career, as well.
Thoughtful wisdom in parenting dictates there is also a learning curve. This is definitely an on-the-job type of training, but you needn't feel overwhelmed. Parenting is the most popular career field on the planet. There is no shortage of books, seminars, classes, and mentors available to you concerning this topic.
Like any career, you'll need to do a little research to determine which voices to listen to. I recommend making a list of all the parents you know who are raising their children in ways in which you respect. These are the voices to begin to listen to.
Be flexible in your parenting. What works in one season of your family's life may not work as well in another. And what works beautifully with one child may fail miserably with another child. As you maneuver through the science of parenting, let your heart (art) be your guide. I am a firm believer that no one knows a child the way that child's parent does. As you listen to other parents and learn through parenting resources, listen with your heart. Will this material work in my family? Could I adapt it to work more specifically for my family's situation? Feel free to try parenting ideas and make adjustments over time. Very few ideas will work the first time, but many ideas will be invaluable over the long haul.
The last bit of wisdom for new parents I'd like to offer is this: give yourself a break. If you are loving your child and working to learn what you can about the parenting game, you are probably doing a wonderful job. Kids are flexible and can stand up to most of our mistakes. Have a humble and grateful heart and be determined to do whatever you need to do as a parent and you'll do great.

Colleen Langenfeld has been parenting for over 27 years and helps other moms enjoy mothering more at http://www.paintedgold.com - Visit her website and grab more words of wisdom for new parents today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colleen_Langenfeld

Overstimulating Afterschool Activities

It’s back to school and your child will soon come rushing through the door back energetically waving a piece of crumpled paper in his hand and announcing that he wants to take up Judo and Guitar and drop Chess. You wonder, Why this sudden miraculous interest in Judo? After a little clever questioning your child accidentally lets slip that his friend is taking up Judo this year.

Yep, parents, it’s time put your skates on, grease your elbows and sign up your kids to several hours a week of educational activity that is real fun. But get in there now, places are limited and if you miss the boat you’ll have to wait another academic year before your child can join!

As you examine the list of options facing you, you may feel confused and a little lost. There are so many different activities to choose from, the options are endless: judo, foreign languages, chess, football, guitar, drama . . . and the list goes on! Perhaps with careful planning you can squeeze in several after-school activities for your child and keep him well and truly busy all year round. No time for being glued to the television, or endlessly swapping messages with cyber friends . . . hum, but no room for just plain being a kid either.

Naturally, most of us want only what’s best for our kids; but is too much activity actually doing our kids more harm than good?

Spanish Pschycologist Laura Ortiz states that above all you have to take time to understand your child’s likes and dislikes. “It’s key to distinguish between a child who doesn’t want to join an activity due to shyness or perhaps out of laziness or that he is simply happy with his own company. Children need to make some of their own decisions and to feel in control of some aspects of their life. It can be detrimental to a child to force an activity on them that you wish them to do. Just listen to your child, talk to your child. It is clear they need limits but it is also clear they need oportunities.”

A US study carried out involving eighty health professionals, sixty parents and one hundred children concluded that exposing them too early to extra-curricular activities is not such a good idea. In fact too much, too soon, can lead, according to André Brooks, to stress disorders in some children. So how do we know when we are overstimulating our children?

Well, perhaps we need to ask ourselves some of these questions:

? Do we find ourselves dashing from one activity to another? Overscheduling can also affect family life as a whole leading to less time to spend on other aspects of life with your family.

? Does your child cope well at home with “time off”? Is your child able to get involved in a hobby or game at home? Too much activity may in fact create a child who doesn’t know what to do when he or she is not involved in a planned activity.

? Do we base our decisions on what is right for our child, or what is right for us? Many parents feel the need to give their children all the opportunities that they never had as kids, and with the world as it is today the feeling is ever present that your kids will be left behind or “miss out” if they don’t participate in a multitude of activities.

William Doherty, professor in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota, states that “children need to be children”. “They need time to be in control of themselves and time without adult direction”.

That’s not to say that after-school activities are bad for kids, quite the contrary; given the right balance, activities provide an excellent equilibrium and provide your child with the tools to become more socially capable whilst developing a creative outlet for a particular interest.

Even so, it’s important to set a limit. It is essential to understand that children have the most fun when they pursue their own interests – so make time to listen to your child and understand where his interests lie. In this way you can be selective and narrow down your choice to an activity that he will thoroughly enjoy and perhaps even pursue for many years to come.

It’s important too to recognise that some children don’t want to be involved in any after-school activities – they enjoy simply being by themselves. It’s important not to urge your child too much to get out and be involved, because it may just make him miserable and more reluctant to enjoy any other activity you steer him towards. In short, keep suggesting possibilities without forcing the issue.

Whether or not you are involved in any activity, follow the wise words of Christopher Morley:

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/childhood-education-articles/overstimulating-afterschool-activities-594951.html
About the Author:
I live in Madrid with my son. I moved here 6 years ago from London. A few months ago, in my spare time, I set up an English online guide to visiting Madrid or Living in Madrid with kids called www.kidsinmadrid.comI run a Maths academy for kids in Madrid and I also teach English.http://www.kidsinmadrid.com The family-friendly guide to Madrid

Seven Important Facts You May Want To Know About Saving For College

by: Robert Walsh

Major Corporations want to be able to hire college graduates. The average college graduate makes approximately 70% more than the average high school graduate in his working career. The cost of college is increasing faster than the inflation rate. Dollar wise, the cost of college increases at more than $1,000 per year. If you are able to SAVE $480 per month with an interest rate of 3.5% in a College Fund from the time your child is born to the time you send him/her off to college at age 18, you will have paid for 4 years at a public college or university ($145,000) with today’s projection. With an average of 40% savings of monthly shopping costs for food and household goods, you can save an extra $226 per month to invest in a college-savings-plan. Scholarships and grants are available for families based on yearly incomes of $65,000 or less. Saving-and-paying for college may not be as difficult as you think. Save-money with everyday-shopping is the smart-way to save-for-college. Generally, the more you hear about the high rising costs for a college education today, the cost factor becomes more frightening every year for the average American family. As with anything that is frightening we try to avoid it. We hide from it. We may even want to bury our heads in the sand, and hope that it just goes away. Or it paralyzes us into non-action. No matter what one’s response to fear is…as loving parents you will have to face the challenge head on one day… and the earlier the better. Facing a fear head on, even as children, is ultimately how we all conquer our fears. So let’s journey together, it’s easier than doing it by one’s self…there’s safety in numbers. And you may become a lot safer with these numbers to plan, save, and pay for a college education for your son or daughter. "SHOP-SMART SHOPPING-TIPS SAVE MONEY" will be our slogan. Let's start with some guidelines or rules. The guideline or RULE #1 is very simple: NEVER PAY FULL PRICE for anything you buy. With a little bit of effort you will be surprised how much you can SAVE before you go out shopping. According to a new poll conducted by the consumer Reports National Research Center for “ShopSmart” magazine, (women) shoppers who use coupons and store loyalty cards save over 10% a year on groceries…estimated to be the equivalent of $678 a year with an average weekly shopping trip of $116.00. Actually, YOU CAN DO A LOT BETTER THAN TEN PERCENT! The women in the survey used their coupons occasionally, and they did not necessarily use all of them. This leads to RULE #2 - ALWAYS SIGN UP FOR STORE-LOYALTY CARDS. Don’t miss out on a sale. Sign up at all the local grocery stores in your area, and it’s FREE. Each week different stores have different items on sale. For example, if you have a loyalty card for store A, but not store B; and your brand of coffee or laundry detergent goes on Sale at store B, you will miss the SALE. And you pay FULL PRICE at store A because there was no Sale on your coffee or laundry detergent there this week. BE SMART….SHOP SMART makes the loyalty cards work for you. BE LOYAL TO YOURSELF and SAVE MONEY! RULE #3 - TO OPTIMIZE YOUR SAVINGS- ALWAYS USE COUPONS. Coupons are easy to obtain. Check your Sunday Newspaper first, go online, and check the store sale ads both in the mail and in the store. Rule #4 - ALWAYS STOCK UP, and BUY IN BULK WHAT IS ON SALE when it is a highly used item or high ticket item like coffee or laundry detergent. For example, your brand of coffee which is regularly priced as $10.99 for a large can (34 oz. or more) goes on sale for $5.99 for the shopper with the store loyalty card. That’s a savings of $5.00. Add one .50 cents-off manufacturer’s coupon. Now you just have saved 50%. (Hint: Keep an eye open for the coupon dispensers that hang off the shelves in the grocery store. If it offers a coupon for an item you use, take 3-4 of them, and save them until the product goes on sale prior to the coupon’s expiration date.) Back to the coffee example… let’s say, you have four coupons for your brand of coffee. You purchase four cans of coffee and stock up at this price… and WHAM you just SAVED $22.00 for a 50% SAVINGS….much better than the average 10% that survey suggested. Even if you go out to the store just for the coffee that’s on SALE….YOU MADE A GREAT DEAL! To keep your savings at a 50% level leads to Rule #5 - TAKE ADVANTAGE of BUY 1 GET 1 FREE OFFERS, especially on products your family uses on a regular basis. Again, buy in Bulk. Rule #6 - BE FLEXIBLE with your shopping list when you see something on SALE:an item might not be on your shopping list this week; but you see that it’s on SALE, and you buy it. Now, there won’t be a need to put it on your shopping list for the next two or three weeks, and you SAVED. Rule #7: ALWAYS ASK FOR A RAIN CHECK FOR A SALE ITEM that the store has run out of. This way you will be guaranteed not to miss out on the SALE ITEM. Rain checks can be good for one month or one year, depending on the store policy. (Hint: On the rain check ask for maximum amount of the item possible for a multiple purchase in the future.) These Shop-Smart shopping-tips will help you save-money with your everyday-shopping. Another area to look for to SAVE MONEY is with your kidswear. You can SAVE BIG when you buy Kids clothing at half-off prices whether for your infant, toddler, or teenager. You can save up to half-off on top-quality designer kidswear. Think of how many more dollars YOU CAN SAVE and add to YOUR CHILD’S college savings plan. Each year, how much do you spend on clothing for your kids? Do the math…how much is the 50% off savings worth to you and your CHILD’S FUTURE COLLEGE EDUCATION….year after year. Don’t allow your education dollars educate someone else’s child. As a loving parent your responsibility is to your child first, and foremost. These are just some of the possible ways to save half-off with your grocery shopping and your children’s clothing purchases that will begin to make college a reality for your child. Use these SHOP-SMART SHOPPING-TIPS to SAVE MONEY. Once you see how much money you save for your child’s education…set a goal….plan-save-and-pay for college with your monthly savings. The survey indicated saving 10 percent on your grocery shopping would generate savings of $678 per year. My challenge to each of you is to average SAVINGS of 40% on your purchases. If you can do that…. you will realize savings up to $2,712 a year, or $226 per month; and that’s just on your groceries alone. Saving-and-paying for College may not be as difficult as you think once you start using the SHOP-SMART SHOPPING-TIPS for all your purchases. Automatically-save money-for-college each time you FOLLOW THE RULES. They represent Free-Money-for-College you didn’t know you even had. It is our goal at http://robertwalshkidsclothing.com to provide hope to every family who has the dream of sending their child(ren) to college. Continue to deposit MONEY in your Free-College-Money Reward Program each time you order top-quality designer kidswear for your child(ren) whatever their age…infant…toddler…teen or any age in-between. Remember Rule #1: NEVER PAY FULL PRICE.

How to Listen to Your Teenager without Appearing to Have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

By V. Michael Santoro, M. Ed.

In one of the Family Circus cartoon strips, the little girl looks up at her father, who is reading the newspaper, and says, "Daddy, you have to listen with your eyes as well as your ears." That statement says almost all there is to say about listening. Being a good listener means focusing attention on the message and reviewing the important information.Listening can be considered an art, as well as a skill, and like other skills, it requires that you exhibit some discipline to be effective. However, in today's world where multitasking is considered essential to surviving in the workplace, it is not uncommon to be talking on the phone while we are reading mail or sending e-mail, and simultaneously conducting hand signals with a co-worker who needs your input about something important.However, when it comes to communicating with your teenagers, you have to separate yourself from this multitasking communications style, and learn how to focus 100 percent of your time on her when she needs to talk to you. If you do not, she will perceive this distracted behavior as a lack of interest in her.Thus, during your conversations with your teen, you must ignore your own needs, demonstrate patience, and pay attention to her. Hearing becomes listening only when you pay attention to what is being said, and can contribute to the conversation.So how good are your listening skills?Answer the following "yes or no" statements honestly:1. I make assumptions about my teens feelings and thoughts2. I bring up past issues during current disagreements 3. I interrupt my teenager's conversation4. I respond to a complaint with a complaint5. I respond to my teen with phrases like, "That's ridiculous."If you answered "yes" to any of these statements, then there is some room for improvement in your listening skills.What to doUse the following guidelines to help improve your listening skills:1. Maintain eye contact with your teen during conversations. Good eye contact allows you to keep focused and involved in the conversation.2. Be interested and attentive. Your teen will sense whether you are interested or not by the way you reply or not reply to her.3. Focus on "what" your teen is saying and not "how" she is saying it. If she is upset, for example, she may be exhibiting body language that may be distracting.4. Listen patiently and avoid getting emotionally involved in the conversation. If you do so, you will tend to hear what you want to hear, as opposed to what is really being said. Your goal is to remain objective and open-minded during your discussions.5. Avoid cutting your teenager off while she is speaking. This will show her that you respect her right to have an opinion, as well as to freely express it.6. Avoid distractions or trying to multitask during your conversations. This may be okay at work, however your teen may perceive that you have a terminal case of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). :)ExerciseIt may be helpful to have a practice conversation with your teenager rather than wait to try and be a better listener when she comes to you with a "real world" problem. Inform her that she is really important to you, and that you want to be a better listener. Then tell her that you need her help.Referring to the above guidelines, have her tell you about her day while you demonstrate your listening skills. Then ask her how you did and what you could have done better. Remember not to get defensive and conclude by thanking her for her help. Doing this on a regular basis will not only improve your overall listening skills, but also will make your teenager want to talk to you.About the author:This article is an excerpt from the book "Realizing the Power of Love," How a father and teenage daughter became best friends...and how you can too!
By V. Michael Santoro, M. Ed and Jennifer S. Santoro.
For more information visit their Web site at http://www.dads-daughters.com/Circulated by Article Emporium

How To Select The Right Baby Gate.

By Kelly A. Smith

Three Steps to Selecting The Right Baby Gate:

There is no perfect baby safety gate for all situations; There are several factors to take into account when purchasing a baby gate:1) Where is it going? If it is going at the top of a stairway, you will want to look for a hardware mounted (screwed into the wall) gate, never use a pressure mounted gate at the top of the stairs*. If the gate will be used to block off a room, or prevent a child from climbing up the stairs, you may be able to choose from hardware mounted and pressure mounted gates.2) What size is the opening where the gate will go? You will need to measure the opening where your gate will go, both width of the opening, and height of the opening. Child safety gates all have specific dimensions that they will fit. You need to find a gate that will securely fit in your space. An extension kit may be necessary with some gates to fit larger areas.3) Are there any special circumstances in the space that you need the baby gate to go? If you have a banister, molding, hollow wall, or wrought iron railing, you may need the use of a gate installation kit to create a proper mounting surface. Kits are also available to mount a baby gate to banisters without creating holes.Using these three factors can help you make an informed decision on proper baby gates for your space. Please remember that most gates are appropriate for ages between 6 months and 3 years of age. This may be more or less for certain gates and manufacturers. As a rule of thumb, if the top of the baby gate is at or below a child's shoulder height, it is time to discontinue use of the gate.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mounting a baby gate to spaces with hollow walls, wrought iron railings, banisters & moldings/baseboards:Gate installation kits are needed in almost all gate installations where the gate is not being mounted in a wood framed door opening. They help create a mountable surface for gates in spaces that have moldings, banisters, hollow walls, and wrought iron railings. Most gate installation kits are appropriate for hardware mounted and pressure mounted safety gates. Kits are also available to create a solid mounting surface on banisters, with no holes! About the

author:Kelly Smith is the owner and professional babyproofer for Totsafe, http://www.totsafe.comwhich provides parents and caregivers with childproofing products and baby safety information. Circulated by Article Emporium

Be Patience While Teaching Your Kids

Children are inquisitive by nature. When they are younger, it's usually because they want to better understand something. When they are older, it's because they want to better understand why you think something is important and why they should also feel the same way. Regardless of their age, it's imperative that when setting forth the rules and expectations in your home, your child understands there is no room for questioning the rules you set forth and the consequences of breaking the rules. Younger children usually do not understand a lengthy explanation of why it's important that they be home from their friend's home at a certain time or why they aren't allowed to play ball in the house. But the one thing they do strive to do most of the time is to make their parents proud and happy. So when a young child asks "Why?" or "Why not?" when they are told they can't play with something or someone or why they have to obey a rule you've set forth, simply explain to them that "because it makes me happy when you follow the house rules and do what I have asked of you." You should avoid using the term, "Because I said so," as that only adds to the child's frustration and confusion.
Older children, adolescents and teenagers alike will probably require more from your explanation. When they question "Why?" or "Why not?" it's best to directly, honestly and clearly state your reasoning. "I asked you to be home by 10 p.m. because we have to be at the dentist's office first thing in the morning for your check-up and we can't be late." It is also a great opportunity for you to reiterate the consequences of breaking the rule. "If you are not home by 10 p.m., you'll be grounded from going to your friend's house for a week." Be consistent, be firm, and be clear. Though your child may challenge you by asking your reasoning why a rule has been put in place, it also shows their growth as an individual thinker. So try not to get angry or frustrated when they do so; realize it's their way of understanding their world around them.
By: Jerald Shapiro
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Visit the Free Tips Online website to learn about babysitting tips and potty training tips.

Is Daycare The Right Option For Your Child?

Many parents consider placing their child in daycare when both parents are working and child care is needed. Daycare seems the logical choice but is it right for your child? There are many factors to take into consideration before deciding to place your child in daycare. Of course you would need to check into the available providers in your area and visit those that interest you before making a decision. But even if you think you've found the perfect nursery your child may not be ready.You know your child better than anyone else and you should at least have an idea of how easily your child will adapt to a daycare setting. Answer the following questions honestly.
Does your child cry even when you leave him/her with a grandparent or other family member?Does your child refuse to share or does he/she act out physically toward other children?Does your child adapt easily to other people and environments?If you cannot leave your child in the care of a family member that he/she is very familiar with without an ensuing battle the chances are that the child will react even more intensely in the daycare environment. Some children go through a longer and stronger period of parental attachment than others. Placing them in nursery can be stressful on both the child and the daycare provider.If your child has difficulty interacting with other children in such a manner that he/she may act aggressively toward other children then daytime care may not be the best choice. It may be best to hire a sitter or have a friend or relative care for the child while you're at work. Set up playdates for your child when you can supervise and give the children your undivided attention. This should help your child learn concepts such as sharing and interacting with other children.If your child readily adapts to other children and situations he or she may feel right at home at daycare and fit in perfectly. Some children adjust well while others need more time. Children develop in their own way and in their own time. What is right for one child may not be right for another. You will need to decide if it is right for your child or if a sitter would be the better option at least for the time being. Children are constantly growing and changing on all levels. Before you know it your child might be ready to adjust to daytime care quicker than you think.

By: Simone Butler
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Simone writes for a parenting guide site, where you can find a list of nurseries countrywide.

Discipline - Be Clear, Be Firm, Be Consistent

by: Helen Williams
Children learn best by being given clear, firm and consistent direction from parents who are clear, firm and consistent in their approach. How to Discipline Children by Being Clear: Firstly find and maintain clarity within yourself and then follow through on simple, clear instructions. Clarify for your self what being clear means. It is about being plain, obvious, and understandable in a clear, short sentence that explains exactly what you mean. It isn't about maybe this or maybe that. Often parents have no idea that they chop and change their minds within minutes. To become clear about your own patterns of behavior, observe yourself and ask for your partner's help in this. "We are going to tidy up your toys in five minutes", is clear and direct. Follow this with, "Please help me tidy up your toys now" and it means just that. Be firm with yourself about this. It doesn't mean soon, or later, but now. I have seen parents give out this simple instruction, then become distracted themselves by a television program, conversation or magazine. What their children observe is parents saying one thing and doing another and this gives a much distorted message. Multiplied over many times each day, is it any wonder that children cease to follow simple instructions? How to Discipline Children by Being Firm: Firstly find and maintain firmness for yourself and then follow through with firm clear directions in a firm, clear tone. Clarify for your self what being firm means. To be firm is to be certain, definite, and determined. It is also being loving, kind and calm. It means saying no and meaning no, or saying yes and meaning yes and sticking to it. It's about now being now. How often does your no become perhaps, later, maybe giving in, next time, soon, or alright then? This is a very common fault in how to discipline children and again it leads to numerous mixed messages for children. Resolve within yourself and with your partner's help to ascertain how often you are both easily swayed into changing your decisions. Are you allowing your children to manipulate you? Imagine how simple your life will become when you are clear and firm within yourself. It is every child's right to KNOW they can trust their parent's boundaries. So firstly, become firm with your own boundaries and then apply this to your parenting discipline. "It is bedtime, (bath time, meal time) in five minutes" is a clear direction. Now follow through on this. Giving the direction in a calm, clear, firm tone of voice helps your children to understand that you mean what you say. Being firm is about being in control of both yourself and the situation. How to Discipline Children by Being Consistent: Firstly find and maintain consistency for yourself and then follow through with a firm, clear, consistent approach. Clarify for yourself what being consistent means. To be consistent is to be reliable, dependable and constant. These words immediately convey comfort don't they? Let's look at the opposite of being consistent. Contradictory, unpredictable, changeable. That's definitely lacking in comfort and safety. So how do you want to be seen by your children? To begin with it can seem quite time consuming to concentrate on clear, firm, consistent guidelines. Be aware that this is very true. It takes concentrated effort and time to change old habits to new ones, but if you maintain consistency, you will be very surprised how quickly new patterns of behavior are formed. Parenting Discipline In Summary: With parenting discipline we are teaching our children how to have self control, self discipline and to become self reliant, so they are able to make good choices for themselves. The only way children can learn to do this is by being given the opportunities for this learning. This means not over protecting them, or doing everything for them, but maximizing their opportunities to learn through personal experience and observation, even when this means making mistakes. Can you see the opportunities here to change some of your own patterns of behavior into superior ones? Clear, firm, consistent parenting is quality parenting. You learn to trust your own responses and your children are surrounded by your loving constancy. This is the recipe for creating a happy, well adjusted family.
About The Author

Helen Williams Editor Consistent Parenting Advice.com http://www.consistent-parenting-advice.com

3 Strategies to Teach Your Children How to Problem Solve

by : Matt Hellstrom

Dr. James Lehman's assertion is that kids don't know how to problem-solve, and that's why they act out in inappropriate ways. It's a coping mechanism they've developed to force someone else to solve the problem at hand for them. What he does with The Total Transformation Program is help us parents give our kiddos the tools they need to solve their problems. The tools that promote responsibility taking and accountability.
Here are three of these techniques that can give you a firm idea of how simplistic and realistic these tools are in turning things around and quickly.
Make direct statements. Tell them what you want , firmly and clearly, then walk away. Don't be afraid of appearing powerless. You've made your child accountable for his actions, and to him that's powerful.
Disconnect. Stop communication with the child if they're being abusive or disrespectful. Make it a power vacuum, and you'll be amazed how fast things change. This is one that we've started using and I can't believe how good it works. Communication should not resume until the child takes responsibility for their behavior.
Make the consequences task-oriented and time-limited. Use, as often as possible, consequences that are directly connected to the problem behavior, e.g. "you cannot use the phone until you finish your homework tonight". Remember your child cannot be punished into acceptable behavior. They should be short term, not a prison term.
Lastly, don't hold your breath! Their problem-solving skills will develop. However, change and gratitude don't come overnight. Later on, blame will be replaced with thanks, but it might be a while in coming.
A few good reminders - Don't let what the child says or does in response to your actions change your way of handling the problems. Consistency is a huge benefit in parenting. And don't be too hard on yourself if you slip up. Remember this is also retraining a lot of our parenting behaviors too. One thing is for sure, you will get another chance to practice these techniques!
These tips are part of a guaranteed, simple program designed to stop your child's out-of-control, defiant behavior RIGHT NOW! Read a review of The Total Transformation today, and take the first step to getting control of your house back. You can also learn more effective parenting skills from Matt and Julie's parenting journey blog. This blog contains lots of useful (and some useless) tidbits that they've discovered in the last 15 years of parenting in the trenches with 5 adopted kids.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Hellstrom

Steps You Need to Take to Protect Your Children From Online Predators

By Gregg Hall

Stories of cyber creeps are plenty. Every now and then we come across incidents where questionable people have lured children in to divulging sensitive information to unknown people, of meeting perverts online and getting violated, the list could go on. As a parent, you are surely worried about the acquaintances your children make online. A nameless and faceless cyber world can pose serious threat to those who do not tread on its turf cautiously. If you are complacent, chances are that you will end up in trouble in the cyber world let alone the inexperienced teenagers or your ten year old!

Education is power! Tell your children why it is important to be cautious in the internet. Share with them stories and published guidelines on how to behave in the cyber world. Ask them never to divulge sensitive information like social security numbers, telephone numbers, contact address, etc. to unknown people.

Teach them. Teach them how to behave in the cyber world. Tell them what to do and what not to. Tell them how to talk and what to do in order to avoid unwanted attention. Ask them to follow internet etiquette diligently - this could mean the difference between security and total violation of safety.

Guide them. Sit with them and guide them how to access internet - the messages and language that may lead to questionable situations. Show them the websites that they should stay away from and why. Help them understand the best way to enjoy internet without compromising security and peace of mind.

Prevent them. Often teaching and guidance may not go all the way. In such a situation, use prevention.

• Bar the websites that you think may lead to unwanted situations. Most internet service providers give parental control options. Allow only certain websites and define the websites that you do not want your children to visit. Various anti-virus software also provide the option of blocking websites that may have adult content or are hosted in insecure web locations. Make full use of those features.

• Give them internet time only for a specific period and during specific hours of the day. Do not let them access the internet all the time. Do not share the password for internet connection

• Do not share passwords for areas in your computer that are protected for confidential reasons. Kids do not need to know that. In fact if need be prevent access to all those areas in your computer.

Observe them. Although no child would like their parents sneaking behind their backs, but initially it is a good idea to keep an eye on the websites that your children are regularly visiting. See if there is any website that you think may cause trouble. Discuss with them your concern. Children often understand if they are treated like adults.

Teach your children to enjoy the fruits of technological advances responsibly. As long as you are in a safe and secured environment, you will enjoy your online experience more. Treading on tough, murky areas is neither comfortable nor desirable.

Gregg Hall is an author living on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Now that you know a little more about computer security be sure that you get quality computer accessories by going to http://www.nsearch.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

8 Benefits Of Home Schooling. But What About The Disadvantages?

Nic Haffner Published 12/5/2006 Children Unrated

Home Schooling - Benefits And Disadvantages
There are more than one reason why more and more parents choose home schooling instead of the traditional schools; the benefit of home schooling is when your child is able to succeed in life and you know you had a little bit to do with those achievements.
Home schooling is legal in the United States, even if there have been and still are many controversies on the issue of whether or not the child is benefiting from this procedure; this issue if still being debated and even a banning of this practice may be applied if enough evidence is found that children do not actually benefit from it.
8 Benefits of Home Schooling
Some of the most common reasons why parents are taking up home schooling:
1 Provide overall safety of the child at all times
2 Mentally or physically challenged children who cannot attend normal school anyway and parents for whatever reason refuse to send them to special designed schools, will normally benefit from home schooling.
3 The benefit of parents having direct supervision on what the child is studying first hand.
4 Home schooling means teaching and leaning experience for both parent and their child every day
5 For single parents who works at home it might be beneficial and convenient to take up the child's education as well.
6 An issue which many parents value, is the results for which the parent or parents are directly to praise or blame.
7 Keeping up the bonding between parent and child that some parents lose when the child goes away to school
8 The greatest benefit of home schooling, which almost every parent will agree with, is the achievements of one's child. When you see that your efforts and teaching have finally paid off and your child can receive its home schooling curriculum.
3 Disadvantages Of Home Schooling
While the benefit of home schooling may seem too good to be true and worth the trouble there are also a few disadvantages to take in consideration:
1Parents may overdo the teacher's role by either being too strict or by being too lenient
2 The child missing on interacting with kids his or her own age. This is probably one of the main disadvantages of home schooling
3 Parents may lack sufficient skills like academic knowledge or teaching ability
Some parents are convinced of the benefits and chosen home schooling for their children and family. They will have to do the best they can and trust that they will reap the benefit of home schooling in the end. Parents and other interested people that are not so convinced yet, but are still debating about it, must make sure to take all angles in consideration before making the choice. The benefit of home schooling that you are hoping for may turn out to be something else thant what you thought in the end. There is a chance that this might be something negative both for you and your child. So gather all information you can on the topic and don't make up your mind before you are sure this is something for your children and family.

Nic Haffner is a web publisher who likes to give his readers Home Schooling and related Info. Check out http://www.home-schooling-20.com for more detailed information.

Teaching Good Manners to your Teens

John David Published 08/23/2007 Children Unrated

Manners instruction is always together from the other things, a parent or primary caregiver is obliged to do to elevate a steadfast, independent kid. It?s not a kind of add-on that is concentrate to after the learning and the soccer, dance and piano lessons are done. Instead, teaching and representation of good manners are essential to daily family life.
Most important ideas we are using behind the good manners we use these days: tradition, consideration, and common sense. Tradition is the practice of doing certain things like shaking hands and tipping hats.
Consideration is the most significant thought behind all good manners. Almost always, being thoughtful is being well-mannered. Consideration is just thinking concerning the way the other person feels. Being vulgar to someone is bad manners, not because any one says so, but because it causes upset feelings. Nearly all good manners have in component of common sense. If you are standing in the rear of a jam-packed elevator, it's neither reasonable -nor good manners-to try approaching your way to the front so you can come out first from the crowed.
Good manners will help your kid, flourish in social situations.Whether your kid has a severe concern or is just uninterested and tired, you can help it understand that crying and earsplitting will not assist its circumstances. By become conscious that if you treat your kid as if you were speaking to a mature, using simpler wording and examples they can narrate to of course, your kid will older sooner and respect others silence and quite.
The rules enclosed individual conduct at home, at school, at play, in the road, at the table and general politeness. School rules accentuate that kids should respect teachers, other students and school belongings. Corrupt, untruthfulness and spinelessness were disheartened at school and play.
Manners are much more than just proverb please and thank you. It?s a way of showing gentleness and kindness. Whether we like it or not, people will judge our children on how they hold themselves. It?s much easier to teach good manners while our kids are young than it is to break bad habits when they are older. Voltaire said, ?We cannot always necessitate; but we can always speak kindly
Manners and respect are always together. Children begin increasing respect for others by first mounting it for their parents. Children should be taught to behave in mannerly ways toward their parents. That means kids should not be permitted to call their parents by their first names, to interrupt adult conversations except in crisis, or to throw crabbiness when they don't get their way. We might even go so far as to commend that children be trained to react to all adults, including their parents.

About Author: - John David is an expert author of http://www.troubledteensparents.com/

How Can Our History Change Their Future?

Sterling Ashby Published 01/29/2008 Children Unrated

History gets a bad rap in school. Many of us have memories of history class being taught by rote memorization of facts and dates and names with little or no application to our daily lives. No wonder its considered boring and dull. Anytime we are expected to simply recite and repeat bare data for the sole purpose of passing a test, that information is unlikely to have any lasting change or effect on our lives. In order to use the valuable lessons that history can teach us, it needs to be presented to children (and adults!) in a way that brings it alive and connects to our present day way of life.

How Can History Make a Difference?

History has many valuable lessons for us that can spur us on to greater achievement and accomplishments, but only if we can find a way to teach it to our children in a way that will get them excited and revved up. If a child is taught that the great discoveries and milestones in our history shaped our culture and our world, and that these discoveries were made by ordinary people JUST LIKE THEM, they can be inspired to go and achieve huge milestones and accomplishments of their own.

However, if, as parents, teachers, mentors or role models, we did not have a passion for history ourselves, it becomes nearly impossible to stir up an excitement for it in our children. We have become so accustomed to our world that we take for granted the amazing discoveries and accomplishments of the ordinary people who became extra-ordinary by using and building upon what has already been learned by others. By finding ways to get our children excited about the value of historical information and lessons, we can inspire them to see possibilities for their own future. We need to show our children that history is NOT simply a recitation of the events of the past, but a proving ground for the greatest challenges and accomplishments of the future. We can learn from those who have gone before us and use that knowledge to shape the events that will carry us into the ?history? of the next generation.

Historians have long known and espoused the need to apply the wisdom of the past to the problems of the present in order to change the future. Frederick Jackson Turner, one of the two most influential American historians of the early 20th century, once said, ?Each age tries to form its own conception of the past. Each age writes the history of the past anew with reference to the conditions uppermost in its own time.? Because we can more readily relate to the world in which we live than we can to a distant past, we view our history from a perspective that is based on today.

How Can The World Change?

So, how might the world change if we could find a way to instill a love of history into our children when they are in elementary school? If children in third, fourth, fifth grade were able to really connect with some of the ordinary people in history who accomplished extraordinary things, what would they go on to accomplish in their own lives? Here are a few ideas of what could happen:

● If a child learns the history of Marie Curie what might that lead to? When Marie Curie and her husband Pierre discovered radium, it eventually led to an effective treatment for many types of cancer. Their work and subsequently Madame Curie's own death from aplastic anemia, almost certainly from overexposure to radiation, also led to the discovery that too much radioactive exposure is fatal. We now live in a world where nuclear radiation is a global threat. If a child can learn about chemistry and Marie Curie, then she can learn how to counteract any bio-terrorism or nuclear attack and save millions from certain death and devastation.

● If a child learns the story of George Washington Carver or the history of agriculture, she will learn that the introduction of agriculture was instrumental in civilizations being able to evolve from hunter-gatherers who were constantly on the move in order to feed themselves to becoming more stable and settle in one place. Furthermore, developments in agriculture, allowed individuals and families to produce enough food to feed the entire community, freeing up others to perform other tasks that led to further growth and expansion. They will learn that innovations in agriculture changed the entire economic dynamic of the American south as reliance on cotton was lessened. By learning about crop rotation and hybridization, then she will grow up knowing that there are new techniques and hybrids waiting to be developed and she may finally find a way to feed the starving children of the world.

● If a child learns about the reality of the Holocaust and the murder of six million Jews, as well as millions of other Europeans who were determined to be less than desirable by Adolf Hitler and his Nazi followers and their rampage of hatred across Europe, he can become the political statesman that finds a way to end the genocide that still takes place in this world in many places such as Darfur and Rwanda. The fact that genocide still takes place in our world after the unthinkable horrors of the Holocaust is a tragic outcome of what happens when we refuse to learn from history. But it will be a child who has found a passion for history who becomes the individual who finally finds a way to end this kind of calamity and prevent it from being allowed to continue or begin again.

● If a little boy learns about the search for insulin to treat diabetes and discovers that the first insulin was extracted from dogs, he can use the tenacity that was involved to cure Parkinson's disease or spinal cord injuries. By learning about the trials and errors of scientists of the past, especially when times were primitive and tools were crude, that child will learn that there are no boundaries to what we might learn or find or create? In 25 years time, there could be a cure for AIDS, diabetes and cancer. How would our world change if we could find the cures to such devastation?/

● If a child is taught the mathematical genius of men like Johannes Kepler and Isaac Newton, he can learn that mathematical equations are the basis of all space travel and as he learns about how to apply that knowledge, together with the historical knowledge of astronomy, he could work with other scientists and chemists and discover how to recreate the Earth's atmosphere on another planet or moon and the real possibility of a space community/colony can happen.

● If a child learns the history of the civil rights movement, in a way that shows and creates empathy for the very real feelings of the people that lived and still do live with such terrible injustice and intolerance, cruelty and ignorance, she can learn to find ways to end the rest of the racism in America. The lives of leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. are taught in history classes, but usually not to the depth that can create real change. If a child could be shown the creation of prejudice by a class-based society when he is seven, eight or nine years old, before he has been exposed to a lifetime of bigotry, he could readily accept the faulty thinking involved and prevent it from passing on to his generation.

● If a child learns the truth of wars like Vietnam he could learn that war really doesn't solve a thing. Although we salve our egos with noble causes like ending Communism, ending slavery, ending terroristic rule, most wars are caused by power, hatred, and greed. If a child learns that these are really the reasons that thousands and thousands of soldiers and civilians die, he might learn to live a life free of these crippling, deadly emotions. If all of our children in third, fourth and fifth grade could learn to live without a need for power, a hatred of others and a greed that drives him to do unthinkable things, how might that change our world in 25 years?

Robert Kennedy once said, ?Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total; of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.? We cannot change our history, nor should we want to. We can learn from it, grow from it and become better because of it. The history of this next generation is waiting to be written?.Equip them with the skills to make it a memorable one.