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As I gently wake in the morning to the sun’s first subtle peek through my dark bamboo shades, I turn onto my left side and a smile quickly overtakes the corners of my mouth. My senses are filled with my precious child, peacefully slumbering, and perhaps dreaming of a day filled with new discoveries and adventures. Moments such as these offer me a sense of contentment that all is perfect in the moment.

If only I had known that my heart would be captured by this amazing being that I brought into the world only three short years ago. If only I had known the passionate feelings that this tiny soul would inspire in me, welling up in my heart and permeating every inch of me.

This motherly devotion, this motherly love.

Devotion is defined as the ardent, often selfless, affection and dedication to a person or principle. This definition does not begin to describe the actual feelings that motherhood has inspired in me- and countless others.But as with everything, devotion may carry a darker side than the beauty of ardent, selfless love. The dharma of motherly devotion, not coupled with the devotion to self, will ultimately lead to the loss of one’s spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being. The mothers are not the only one who suffer. The children do as well.

As a mother, I have learned the value of one’s time. If I had only known the incredible commitment involved in nurturing a child before embarking on the journey of parenthood. Would I have spent more time in meditation and personal development, rather than reaching for the remote control and lazily yawning, rather bored with my existence? Would I have spent an extra hour at the bookstore, gratefully perusing the aisles, enjoying the aroma of the bookstore coffee shop, rather than running quickly in and out, and grabbing the book that I was looking for before heading to my next activity? It is not relevant at this point, but it does cross my mind occasionally.

I certainly wouldn’t trade this time in my life for anything, but sometimes I do feel wistful for the “get-up-and-go/do-as-I please” me who has clearly been put to rest. I tell people to treasure their time before children because it will never be the same.

I feel very fortunate to have adapted rather easily into my role of motherhood. There are some that I know who have had great difficulty accepting this drastic change in their lifestyle. I did not experience this process as a painful one, but I truly understand the overwhelming nature of parenthood itself and the sense of a loss of freedom.

I have known no greater joy in my life than when I am laughing in unison with my son, nurturing, loving, nourishing, cuddling, kissing boo-boo’s, sharing in joy’s, and wiping tears, bottoms, and noses. Yet there are moments when I sense my own resistance to motherhood. The sound of

my child’s call to “Mommy” is like nectar to my ears, sweet and filling; so when my ears suddenly begin to sting a bit, I know it is time for self-care.

Devotion-yes, devotion in absence of self-care-not advisable.

I know I may never again have the abundant free time I once did until my child becomes an adult; and that is perfectly okay with me. I also know that in order to be an effective parent, I must take sacred time for myself, even if for a fleeting moment each day.

Self-care can be a myriad of things: Yoga/exercise, meditation/quiet time, nutrition, personal and spiritual development, solitude, time with spouse or friends, hobbies, reading, going to a movie that is silly or feeds the soul, or just plain adult-centered fun. It becomes very challenging to fulfill these desires as a parent, especially in the first few years when the child’s needs are so intense. Even as children become more self-proficient, new situations arise that require different parenting skills and a staunch presence in the child‘s life. The holiday season that is upon us, also becomes especially trying as giving is on everyone’s minds and mothers are scrambling to create the perfect holiday for their families. But what about receiving?

The balance is difficult to juggle, but it is an integral part of being a parent. The airplane analogy to life states that if there is a need for oxygen on the flight, the adult must put a mask on first in order to be capable of assisting children and others. This is true, of course, in life as well. We must feed our souls in order to nurture our children’s souls. When I take that important time, even if for just a few minutes, to engage in activities that fill my “adult” needs, I come back refreshed and able to be fully present as a parent , open to the love that the devotion of motherhood brings.

Our children will have many teachers in their lives- the first are their parents or care-givers. They learn through so many different methods and senses. The not so obvious method is that of silent observation. They watch, they see, and they absorb habits and qualities that are prominent in their parents. Those qualities may someday prompt a, “Wow, they must have gotten that from me.” These are often qualities not realized until we see them in our children. An amazing coach of mine once told me, “If you take care of yourself, your son will know it’s okay to take care of himself.” What are your children learning from you? What can self-care bring to your devotion?

Devotion-yes, devotion seasoned with self-care-the most rewarding, amazing experience in my lifetime.May you all have a joyous, blessed, and devoted holiday season.

Copyright 2005~Deborah Shipley is a registered yoga teacher, publisher of a free monthly e-zine on issues of self-esteem, and an e-book author. http://www.TipsForInterpersonalSkills.com.

Vacations and trips are great family events, but how do you keep kids interested and busy during the down times? Have them keep journals of the trips and their impressions.

Writing Journals

Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent family vacation. Where there periods of time when you wished you kids would pay more attention to what was going on? Its natural for kids attention to wonder. In these days of the Internet and video games, the average child seems to have an attention span of about 30 seconds.

For many kids, the only way to truly get their attention on a family trip is to get them involved. The best method for doing this is to give them a journal and ask them to make daily entries. Keeping a journal will encourage kids to pay attention to the things around them. It also gives them something to during long rides in cars, on planes and so on as well as promotes good writing habits.

There are famous instances of people keeping journals throughout time. Of course, Anne Frank’s Diary is the best example. In her diary, Anne kept a running commentary of the two years her family spent hiding from the Nazis. While your family vacations will hopefully be

more lighthearted, keeping a journal will let you and your children reflect on past family vacations, particularly as the years pass. Nothing beats reading old journals at a family gathering and reliving the memories.

A good journal for kids will combine a number of characteristics. First, it should be compact. Second, it should have a case to protect it from rain, spills and just because kids will be kids. Third, the journal should contain blank areas for notes, doodles and so on. Finally, the journal should contain cue spaces to remind children to pay attention to certain things and write them down. Cues should include:

1. Who went on the trip,

2. Places visited and why they are important,

3. The most memorable experience each day,

4. New friends made and contact information for them,

5. Events occurring on each day, and

6. Impressions of things seen.

As time passes, the family vacations journals will remind your kids of past trips. Memories fade with time, even for kids. By keeping a journal, kids will open their eyes to things around them, enhancing your family vacation.

Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com – makers of travel journals. Writing journals are the perfect travel accessories. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com to read more travel articles and travelogues.

If your child has ADHD, talking to his teacher may be the most important thing you can do to help him function more effectively at school in spite of his ADHD, and maybe even because of the ADHD.

Most teachers want to help their students, and most teachers have had ADHD kids in their classes before, if they’ve been teaching long. In general, teachers want to understand ADHD and the ADHD child and in particular they want to understand your child, their student.

Your first step in talking to a teacher about your ADHD child should be to simply explain that your child has ADHD, that it ADHD is a common childhood illness, and that you and your child’s doctor are ready to provide any information the teacher requires about ADHD, including a list of books and web sites that discuss teaching the ADHD child.

Next, ask if your child is having any problems in the classroom or on the playground. If your ADHD child is having problems at school, find out what they are, whether they are likely related to ADHD,

and what you can do about them.

Your child’s teacher will need to know what ADHD medications your child is taking, even if he doesn’t take them at school. Also explain any other ADHD treatments your child is receiving, including therapy or special diet.

Finally, find out if your ADHD child can get any special services. If you are in a public school in the United States, the answer to this is yes, there are accomodations available for ADHD kids. Private schools or schools outside the U.S. will have different ADHD accomodations.

If you feel you haven’t gotten the results you hoped for by talking to your ADHD child’s teacher, or if the teacher feels there is more that can be done, you can also talk to a guidance counselor. These specialists may know more about ADHD than your average teacher and may be able to help.

Angie Dixon is a writer and ADHD mom of an ADHD son, Jack. For a free report on helping your ADHD son, see Angie’s site “That’s My Son!” at http://www.Raising-the-ADHD-boy.com

We are sending our children into a future filled with stress and conflict. Parents and teachers have the responsibility to model behaviors and teach skills that will enable our children to be productive, accepting, healthy, and above all, resilient.

1. Self-understanding and acceptance

Self-esteem is a realistic estimate of your own capabilities and worth. People with high self-esteem are productive, responsive, imaginative, and attentive to the needs of others. Encourage your children to develop their natural aptitudes and interests. Set them up for success. Empower them to be more responsible.

2. Adults’ understanding and acceptance

Give your children regular, focused, undivided attention. This, more than anything else, communicates your unconditional love.

3. Constructive thinking

We are what we think. Fill your language with statements that help your children see change in a positive way, to view adversity as manageable, to persist until they are successful, and to become more oriented to the needs of others. Prepare your children for the reality that others may not think or believe like they do. Teach your children to identify positive and negative feelings in themselves and others. Replacing destructive thinking with constructive thinking increases self-esteem and improves coping skills.

4. Good decision-making strategies

Making a good decision requires the ability to generate alternative solutions to a problem, predict consequences, view the problem from the perspective of others, and consider how to implement alternatives to reach a solution. Children as young as four or five can usually generate alternatives and predict consequences, but advanced decision making skills come later. Model good decision making for your children. Show children how characters in stories make decisions. Let your children make their own decisions whenever possible.

5. Stress-coping strategies

It’s not too early

to teach children physical relaxation exercises like breathing techniques, some forms of meditation, imagery, and muscle relaxation exercises. Help your children learn to recognize their own stress triggers and responses, and identify which relaxation methods work best for them. And help your kids laugh–read funny stories, watch age-appropriate comedies, and laugh at their jokes.

6. Good nutrition and exercise

Good nutrition optimizes the way your mind and body works. A well-functioning mind and healthy body increase our self-esteem and resiliency. Make aerobic exercise and recreation a family affair. If your children see you exercise, they are more likely to take it up themselves and develop a lifelong positive habit.

7. A sense of purpose and commitment to personal and social goals

Commitment to goals gives meaning and value to life, and a reason for existence. Children should have more than one goal, and their goals should be realistic. Teach them to be flexible in how they achieve their goals, and help them learn persistence when progress is slow.

8. Social skills and social supports

Healthy relationships build self-esteem and protect from the negative effects of stress. Help your children to build self-awareness skills and to see situations from another’s point of view. Teach them to positively manage conflict and disagreement.

Resilient children grow up to be adults who have a sense of control, a positive view of change, and an ability to find meaning and value in life. Now doesn’t that describe the kind of people you want to have running the world when you retire?

Art Turner is a writer, musician, and creator of Relaxation Emporium, where you can learn more about stress, stress management, and relaxation techniques. Visit http://www.relaxationemporium.com

My neighbours’ kid impressed me the other day.

I was busy painting the backyard fence, when their ten-yearold son came out with the vacuum cleaner. He opened thefront panel, removed the bag, and put it in the bin. Then hetook a replacement bag, fitted it, and went back indoors -probably to get on with the vacuum cleaning!

Fifteen minutes later he came out with a large plasticrubbish bag and put it in the bin too. The young kid was atease with his chores. He was his usual pleasant self andthere was no sign of moodiness or resentment.

Clearly his parents had taught their kids in a way which -I have to admit!- my wife and I didn’t teach ours.

When our family was growing we tended to do most of thechores ourselves. We were keen – well, my wife was keen! -to ensure that we shared the chores as a couple.

This approach backfired as the kids were growing. Sincethere was no clearly defined ‘chore chart’ and sincerequests for their help were only made occasionally, therewas a certain reluctance most of the time.

Even today there can be the odd dispute about who shouldwalk the dog – and loading the dishwasher, it seems, is oneof life’s mysteries revealed only to parents.

So here’s my advice:

Don’t do what we did!

Be like our neighbours and start them young. Bring them upto realise that if you live in a home, you contribute to thehome. If they grow into this routine, there’s unlikely to beresentment or ill-feeling – provided the chores areallocated fairly, of course.

What about parents whose older kids have got off lightly?

Well, you could continue to slave after your charges – butwhy not start a new regime?

One approach often suggested is that you appeal to theteenager’s sense of duty, highlighting their obligations tothemselves and others.

But psychologists tell us that approach is the LEAST likelyto work with teens.

It’s a fact of human nature that people tend to respond morewhen

there’s a clear benefit for themselves.

So why not stress the benefits of getting involved in thehousehold chores? Help them see it as an opportunity todevelop confidence and independence. When they go off tocollege or move into a flat or apartment, how are they goingto feel if they can’t cope?

How are they going to look in front of friends if they can’tcook, can’t wash and iron their clothes, and can’t tidy upafter themselves? If they learn these skills, they won’t bestranded!

If your kids are coming to household chores after years ofhaving things done for them, you may need to use a rewardsystem to help them over their inertia. No, not gold starsand trips to the zoo!

Rather, ‘Mow the lawn and you can have the car on Fridaynight,’ or, ‘Let’s see what you can do around the house andwe’ll review your allowance.’

And remember to show them HOW it’s done. You may want toconsider working with them the first few times, especiallyif it’s a task they’ve never attempted before.

This approach has worked well for my wife and I, who arelate-starters in the ‘chores for kids’ stakes.

Remember, if things are done out of a sense of ‘duty’,people tend to be ambivalent. On the one hand they may feelobliged to get on with it, but on the other they may resentit – and that builds up ill-feeling.

Use rewards by all means, but it’s better, I think, to helpour kids realise that doing the chores is part of theirdevelopment. That way they’re more likely to do themwillingly.

This may be a tad idealistic, but this approach, whenblended with an attractive reward, can lead to a well-deserved, easier life for hard-pressed parents.

Happy parenting!

Why do some parents and children succeed, while othersfail?Frank McGinty is an internationally published author andteacher. If you want to develop your parentingskills and encourage your kids to be all they can be, visit his web pages, http://www.frank-mcginty.com/peace-formula.html AND http://www.frank-mcginty.com/for-parents.html

A well proven fact states if you fire the imagination of children you also gain their attention – an essential ingredient towards efficient learning. A school in Nottingham in the UK has proven the point by adopting a central Harry Potter theme to lessons.

Maths has adopted a series of spells and codes to enthral and encourage. Science has included “Herbology” as a new theme, and teachers have been dressing up to set the scene.

It proves that education can be fun, and fun can be highly educational. By turning lessons into games much of the resistance to learning is removed and the results prove the effort to be well rewarded. Pupils at the Robert Mellors school in Nottingham have moved from the bottom 25 of schools in England in just three years.

A clear case of “Learning in Disguise”; Dona Chambers, the Headteacher said “They don’t realise we are ticking boxes in the National Curriculum during the games. It has had a phenomenal impact on the whole school. Because learning is so much fun, pupils want to be engaged”.

Supporting this form of fun activity is a large range of educational games used in school. They are now available for use at home to turn that boring homework session into a fun entertaining and imaginative approach to learning. And as the saying goes Practice makes perfect, or more appropriately in learning – Practice make Permanent.

Many parents ideally like to maintain a role in the schooling process but do not want to interfere in the teaching process. Developments in teaching techniques have benefited from advances in technology and the text

book of yesterday has been supplemented by the interactive DVD.

A whole range of educational games and educational toys have emerged over the last decade. Designed to tie in with the school curriculum by educationalists and ex teachers, the key is the element of fun they induce to learning. Children look forward to the games and suddenly learning takes on a hidden dimension. But perhaps the real key is the opportunity for parents to join in.

Learning retention is a combination of different inputs. The classroom environment steers children through the lesson presentation, demonstration and discussion activity, a process proven by the National Training Laboratory (NTL) to achieve 50 retention in learning. The key activity derived by the

NTL research is the practice function which a highest level in the retention

in learning. This activity is sometime difficult to achieve in class due to

lack of time or equipment or the spread of abilities in an average class. To

overcome this gap in the learning process inevitably the practice function is

transformed into homework exercises. This single activity is seen to be dull, boring and regarded by children, parents and teachers alike as a necessary chore. But there is an alternative.

The maths games referred to earlier are an ideal way for parents to play an

interactive role with their child at home. Playing educational games as a

form of homework generates the practice function which can be lacking in

school and according to the NTL achieves a massive 75% retention in learning.

You can take a look at an example of a maths games here http://www.keen2learn.co.uk/l/119/English_Games.php

Let’s be honest, none of us was prepared for parenthood. Parenting is by far the most complex and demanding job you’ll ever take on, without advanced qualifications. So it’s not surprising that so many of us feel under-confident in the role.

When I first became a father, a friend once asked me what I most wanted for my new baby. Without thinking, I blurted out “confidence”. It surprised me that this was the first gift I thought of, but now I’m not at all surprised. Because with confidence, not only is so much possible, but we have the capacity to enjoy life.

What I really want for my children is happiness. Confidence is merely a means to an end. I also want them to live good lives, in the sense of developing integrity, honour, a sense of justice.

The first few months of parenthood were a trial. I don’t think anything prepares us for the lack of sleep, the sheer energy required to keep up with the demands of this helpless little creature. I have three children now, all different personalities, and one of the changes I observed was that we became much more relaxed with babies two and three. We knew what we were doing, we could anticipate the next steps, we just weren’t as flummoxed as we had been with baby number one. And you know what? This was good for our children.

It’s also something I see in my hypnotherapy clients. If you’ve ever visited a therapist you may have been surprised to be asked about your siblings, and your ‘birth order’ – where you fit in the sequence of children. This is because group dynamics affect us all, and the dynamics of the family leave a lasting impression – an imprint, if we can call it that. A child’s birth order really does have

an impact on how they will develop, and perhaps the nervousness we feel with baby number one is part of this overall picture. Exposing family dynamics is often a helpful part of the process of helping people to understand just where some of their anxieties originated, and how irrelevant they are today.

So how do we develop confidence in children? The key is to provide opportunities for children to safely achieve. There is a debate rumbling under the surface of Western society regarding the teaching of competitive sports. Some commentators feel that it is essential to prepare children for a competitive life, whilst others take a more nurturing view, arguing that we should give all children the opportunity to become successful in something. Like many debates, this one is rarely exposed to public attention but continues by innuendo and half-truths, so that it becomes a battle between two competing clans rather than a shared venture to discover some useful truths.

All children can achieve. I have run projects with children as young as 7 years who proved themselves capable of mastering the most sophisticated professional audio recording equipment. I have worked with young teenagers who have not only composed and recorded professional-sounding songs, but also developed business plans which would shame many a professional in the field. Children are not limited by their age – if anything, it is adults who become limited by the changes induced by time. Of course children don’t have the same depth of knowledge and experience that we possess, but this is a blessing as well as a disadvantage.

So have the courage to let go a little, and sufficient confidence in yourself not to hold your kids back. Confident parents bring up confident children, and that is a gift to the whole family.

Jim Sullivan is a confidence coach.

http://confidence-self-esteem.com

You have been yearning for your baby to move about and spread cheer. Well, now you might want to reconsider that wish. Your baby is in his eighth month and has started crawling. His growing curiosity will lead him to explore every possible nook and corner.

Milestones in baby’s seventh month

Your eight month-old baby can sit all by herself, for longer periods. She can say ‘dada’ and ‘mama’, but not always to the right person! Her teeth are erupting and she likes to chew on objects. You can ease her discomfort by giving her cold teething rings to chew on.

She will probably try to reach the feeding bowl, wanting to feed herself. She will turn away her head firmly when she wants to eat no more! She will chatter with immense enthusiasm (though you seem to make no sense of it!). You are now a pro in interpreting your baby’s cues.

Destination mouth!

Your inquisitive eight month-old baby finds every object in his way exciting enough to be probed by his mouth! You might be even disgusted to see the range of objects that reach destination mouth. Be careful not to keep any poisonous or sharp objects within his reach.

Snack-time

In baby’s eighth month, you can give her some mashed foods (which are coarser) in addition to pureed foods. Feed her mashed potatoes, bananas, carrots, steamed apples or any vegetables. Avoid big chunks, seeds, corn, nuts, grapes and popcorn. They can cause choking. You don’t need to add salt or sugar to baby foods.

Catch your forty winks

How you pine for the luxury of a few hours of sleep (If you still believe that word exists in your dictionary, of course!). It is

crucial to develop and encourage your baby to sleep through the night, unless you want to turn into an irrevocable insomniac! Your eight month-old baby’s life has just turned so exciting that he will be restless and unwilling to go to bed. Decide an appropriate time and routine for your baby to go to sleep and stick to it! Make him sleep in his own bed every time and let him realize you will be gone until morning. Baby’s eighth month is the right time to try and make him more independent.

Pat-a-cake!

Did you observe your baby imitates everything you do? Move her hands gently to play pat-a-cake and try gestures. Peekaboo is an all-time favorite. Divert her attention to different sounds like a dog’s bark, running water, and name the source of the sound to her.

House in a mess?

With an eight month-old baby around, it is tough to keep your house sparkling clean. You might hate the clutter your baby makes, but do give him the pleasure of making a mess. The more he explores and handles, the more he learns. You can always clear up later at the end of the day, and use this occasion to teach him a lesson in tidiness.

Pamper your eight month-old baby and enjoy every precious moment of his growing up.

* About the author *

This article has been provided by ParentingSurvivalGuide.com.

Please visit our web site at http://www.ParentingSurvivalGuide.com to discover more articles.

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Ask parents what their biggest school year challenge is, and you’ll likely hear that it is the difficulty they face in getting their kids to do homework.  With so many other attractive ways for kids to spend their time, getting them to buckle down and complete that extra bit of schoolwork can be like pulling teeth.  As with any chore, though, there are strategies you can use to get it done and make it more fun.

1.  Make Time for Homework

Fitness gurus have known this for years: you are more likely to stick to an exercise regimen if you do it at the same time everyday and make it an inviolable part of your schedule.  The same goes for homework.  Don’t leave it up in the air as to when homework will be completed.  This only ensures that it won’t get completed until you have an extended argument with your child about it—usually one hour after bedtime.  Instead, sit down with your child and review your family schedule for the upcoming semester.  Decide where homework will fit in your daily schedule and make it non-negotiable.  It is always helpful to anchor homework time to some other regular activity.  Good choices are:  directly after school or right before or after dinner.  (Scheduling homework in the hour before bedtime is usually not a good practice since your child may be too sleepy to do a good job.)

It is also important to dedicate a set amount of time for homework.  This will discourage students from rushing through homework so that they can watch the latest Disney video.  What is a reasonable amount of time to spend on homework?  That varies with age.  Check with your child’s teacher.  It is generally accepted, though, that First and Second graders should spend about a half hour on homework each night while Third and Fourth graders might need to spend as much as an hour per night.

 

2.  Don’t Accept No for an Answer

A common refrain from students is “I finished my homework in school” or “The teacher didn’t assign us any homework today.”  It should not matter that they don’t have a specific assignment.  Homework is an extension of the learning that occurred that day in school, and what they learned that day can be extended in any number of ways.  Students can read silently during their allotted homework time, they can look up information in an encyclopedia to enhance what they are learning in Science or Social Studies, or they can look at flashcards, practice math facts, and test their spelling.  This is how to teach your child to be a self-directed learner.  You will be giving them a gift to get them in the habit of doing this now.  When they are in high school, having this extra study habit will bring them academic success.

3.  Establish a Partnership with Teachers

Early in the school year make an effort to get to know your child’s teacher.  Make an appointment to talk with the teacher in the first few weeks of school, so that you can express your desire to be a good partner in your child’s education.

She will appreciate it, and you will be one step closer to a smooth school year.  Find out what her homework policy is so that you know what to expect.  It is also helpful to know how high her standards are, so that you can ensure that your child’s homework is acceptable.

 

4.  Provide the Right Environment

Most people’s advice on homework is to set up a desk in your child’s room and make sure that they have a quiet and distraction-free work environment.  This sounds very reasonable, but few people seem to be able to follow this advice.  I know many students who instead do their homework on the living room floor, at the kitchen counter, or at the dining room table.  It seems that some people work best when they aren’t isolated from household activity.  If that is the case with your child, then provide a small traveling office for him so that he has all of the necessary items at hand and won’t waste time running around the house looking for a sharp pencil.  With all the supplies nearby, and distractions limited to the general background noise of family living, your student ought to be able to concentrate on homework. 

5.  Set a Good Example

“Do as I say not as I do” is no longer considered appropriate parental advice.  In order to instill the proper values in our children, we must model them.  If we expect our children to be conscientious, hard-working students, then that is what they must see in us.  Make an effort to show your child your work ethic by reading trade magazines and business books while they do their homework.  Take out a pencil and write notes as you read.  Investigate ideas fully.  If you read something interesting in the newspaper, look up information about it on the Internet.  Always be eager to learn something new.  Sign up for an adult education class, teach yourself to knit, or write that novel you’ve always dreamed of.  The more that you can show your child that learning is a lifelong adventure that requires their involvement, the more likely it is that homework will cease being a chore and start being an integral part of a life well-lived.

If you take the time to set up these parameters around homework, you’ll find that you waste less energy arguing over homework and making up for lost assignments.  You’ll have more time and energy for other pursuits, and so will your child.  What’s more, you’ll discover that the benefits of hassle free homework add up to more than just scheduling efficiency, they equal a better education.

Katie Basson is a parent, teacher, and creator of The BITs Kit Better Behavior Kit for Kids™.  Katie teaches seminars on behavior modification techniques, and assists parents through challenging behavioral and educational issues.  She serves on the Board of Directors of the YWCA and is an educational advisor to Zoesis, Inc., a children’s software company.  Katie’s expert advice has been sought for articles in The Boston Globe and Parents Magazine.  Sign up for her biweekly Parenting Solutions newsletter at www.bitskit.com.

IL Fitness Tips – diet plan, exercises, weight loss and gain muscles latest information.

Teenage drug abuse is running ramped in the United States and we need another Nancy Reagan type to get the kids to ‘just say no.’ We must do something as it seems that everywhere in the country the kids are doing the crystal meth. Many seem to get addicted and they are filling up our jails, rehabilitation centers and causing a real labor problem in this country.

The problem is so bad that many employers assume everyone who comes in to get a job has drug problem or they would already have a job, so it hurts the good kids too. Some parents having grown up in the sixties and seventies thing that well the kids are going to try it. Indeed, but this is not the same types of drugs they did, this is a whole new ball game, the stuff is more potent then cut cocaine and lasts longer once they take it.

This means that they are up sometimes for days and it literally starts destroying their bodies.

The health care costs alone in the future is a real problem as these kids if they do not get un-hooked will be having heart attacks by age 35 and someone is going to have to pay for all that. Currently if the 30% in some areas of kids using the drugs start having heart attacks or chronic illness issues at such a young age then it will bankrupt our health care system. So parents need to talk about this with their kids and if they have a problem with it, get them help or help them with their addiction. It affects us all and it is a serious issue, think on this.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

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