Sleeping on the job. An air traffic controller is supposed to oversee and direct all the planes surrounding their airport. It’s a stressful and tiring job which results in fatigue, and sometimes unexpected naps. Well, parental fatigue is big, too. And it’s affecting our kids’ physical and emotional safety. We can’t fall asleep in the control tower of our children’s lives. Every time our children leave the...
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That’s a question children hear all the time. And we enjoy hearing their answers… a doctor, a teacher, a fireman, a ballerina. But what if the question was not about what they wanted to do for a living, but who they wanted to be as a person? Less about career, and more about character. Imagine your child answering, “I want to be a person of integrity… of wisdom… of courage and conviction. I want to be patient…...
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Well, actually the concept of “stranger” can be confusing to children, so instead, teach them to recognize unsafe situations. Warn against adults who might stop to ask for directions or help in finding a lost pet. Tell your children never to go anywhere with an adult who doesn’t know the family password. Teach your children that it’s OK to run away or cause a loud scene if they feel someone might be dangerous....
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The other day, my son tried on my reading glasses. “Wow!” he said, “I can see really good up close, but far away—it’s blurry.” That made me think … all children, whether they need glasses or not, are “near-sighted.” Like my son, they only see what’s up close… what’s happening today at school or tonight after dinner. Stuff in the distance —college, marriage, career—that’s more fuzzy and out of focus. Parents...
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Recently, I asked my son for his iPod so I could check out the songs he was listening to. I Googled the lyrics for the songs, and most were just fine. But I did find a couple that weren’t. I sat down with him and showed him the objectionable lyrics. While reading through the words, I think we were both a bit surprised at the coarse language, degradation of women and sexual content in the lyrics. After he...
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Most families don't have a plan for dealing with anger. They just continue on, hoping things will get better. When families don't resolve their anger, however, they just keep trying to start over. Trying again is helpful, but we each need to have a bigger plan if we want negative patterns or anger to change.
Five Steps toward an Anger-Management Plan
There are five essential steps in helping children deal...
Author Joe White suggests seven ways to motivate our children in whatever they do. First, have realistic expectations of your child. Not every child will make straight A’s or start on their sports team. Second, be a model of motivation. Your child needs to see you loving your work, exercising, and celebrating goals achieved. Third, make sure your child breaks a mental and physical “sweat.” Don’t over protect...
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