We’ve all been there – more things to do than we can handle and not enough time to get them done.   It seems at times that the demands on parents are overwhelming  – phone ringing, kids needing attention,  dog barking, dinner to be made and you are expected to remain calm while everything around you is anything […]

Traditions are part of the fabirc of our lives, the thread that weaves throughout from generation to generation.  They can be anything that carries with it the remembrance of generations past –  stories, recipes, objects, quilts, religious symbals  – and continues to be carried on for future generations to come.  It is how we honor past generations by keeping their struggles and successes alive in our minds and hearts.   Recreating  a favorite […]

One of life’s great lessons is that friends add a richness to our lives.  Some people are happy with just a few good friends, others feel that you can never have too many. An outstanding quality to have when making new friends is to accept someone just for who he is.   However, people tend to prejudge someone because […]

Have you ever walked into a room full of strangers and felt a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach?  For an outgoing person the situation doesn’t pose a problem at all.  For a shy person, entering a room of strangers is a terrifying experience.   Overcoming shyness can occur as one matures and comes to terms with the fear that […]

Life seems to be a constant race against the clock trying to get everything done  that will keep your family running smoothly.  At the end of the day do you wish you had taken  a little more time  to talk with your child – to find out how his/her day went, how did he do on a test,  did he spell […]

Children, with their amazing ability to notice everything around them, see the world with curiosity and innocence.  They want to know all there is to know as they listen, watch and absorb the endless information that comes their way daily.    It is intriguing to watch a child grasp the concept of how a computer works that  adults still […]

Every child needs the love and approval of their parents whatever their age is.   When a parent withholds showing approval or affection a child learns to live without that very important aspect of their lives, but they never stop needing it.  Those who are denied approval, love and affection as a child, don’t know how to show it to their children and instead […]

A disagreement can be described as a simple difference of opinion or  major  all out arguement.  Whether voices are raised to make a point or quietly talked about over a cup of coffee, the end result is what really matters.  A good disagreement is one that  ends with no hard feelings toward the other with integrities intact.  A successful disagreement […]

Teaching your children right from wrong is an on-going part of parenting.    Teaching them to take responsibility for their actions is  a challenge and trying to do both at the same time can sometimes lead to playing the blame game.  Getting a child to admit that he/she is  responsible for a problem is a difficult job to tackle and should […]

For many, winning is everything.  Children today are learning that philosophy at a very young age.   Competition does keep you on your toes and winning is a great feeling but, how do you teach your child to handle losing?   There is a lot of excitment at the thought of winning, you might get so close to winning but someone on the team […]