Harvest Life Gracefully: Communication by Jane Jonas
Being able to communicate in a positive way is needed, when you harvest life gracefully.
As most of you know I am a survivor of abuse. Abuse has caused me not to trust. The abuse caused negative thinking. When someone said or did something that I did not like, I would think that they were out to get me.
In order for me to calm the fear of "they are out to get me" I needed to learn to express to the person how I felt about what they had said or done, and then I ask for clarification of what was meant by it. I soon realize most people were amazed that I interpreted the words or actions as I did. Then I would realize that my fear was groundless. But how would I know if I didn't express myself? This is a way to build trust.
Lets us remember to ask our higher power for the courage to ask for clarification instead of sitting in our fear. Sitting in fear is not the way to harvest life gracefully.
Showing posts with label life gracefully. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life gracefully. Show all posts
Monday, August 9, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully: Setting Boundaries
Some of us had the misfortune not to be cared for and nurtured as children, often resulting in being taken advantage of as adults.. Because we have been abandoned, neglected, or violated by people who were supposed to care for us, we have problems with being clear-sighted when its' safe to trust others. Therefore, we often allow others to walk over us, we respond by being a people pleaser so we will be liked. To harvest life gracefully we need help learning to set boundaries to protect us from people who might take advantage of our vulnerability. We need to look for spiritual minded people who will help us to draw healthy boundaries in our life.
Harvest Life Gracefully update:
My dear followers of Harvest Life Gracefully blog,
I have decided that I will be changing what I will be posting. Instead of posting articles. I will be posting about positive living in my own words.
I believe that no matter what we are facing in life, be it, if it's healing from abuse, being a parent, dealing with relationships or whatever it may be, we first need to evaluate,examine and then improve if needed our attitudes,and perceptions about the situations that we are facing. In other words I will be posting food for your thoughts. Please feel free to comment on anything that I post or if you have your own food for thoughts, please do share them. They will be totally welcomed as we all need encouragement in order to harvest life gracefully.
I hope you all will like my new format.
Jane Jonas
I have decided that I will be changing what I will be posting. Instead of posting articles. I will be posting about positive living in my own words.
I believe that no matter what we are facing in life, be it, if it's healing from abuse, being a parent, dealing with relationships or whatever it may be, we first need to evaluate,examine and then improve if needed our attitudes,and perceptions about the situations that we are facing. In other words I will be posting food for your thoughts. Please feel free to comment on anything that I post or if you have your own food for thoughts, please do share them. They will be totally welcomed as we all need encouragement in order to harvest life gracefully.
I hope you all will like my new format.
Jane Jonas
Friday, June 4, 2010
Owning a Amber Alert GPS 2G device is a way to Harvest Life Gracefully
Owing a Amber Alert GPS 2G device is a ideal way to Harvest Life Gracefully
Amber Alert GPS 2G is a wonderful child tracking device for any parent to have. The device was lauched on August 24, 2009. Read the Press Release,below that gives you information about this ideal device for all parents.
August 24, 2009 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Amber Alert GPS Launches Child Tracking Device and Gives Inaugural Commitment to Kids Award to the Utah Amber Alert Plan
SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amber Alert GPS today launched the Amber Alert GPS 2G, a child tracking device enabling parents to always know where their children are. In conjunction with the launch Amber Alert GPS founder and CEO Russ Thornton presented the inaugural Amber Alert GPS Commitment to Kids Award to the Utah Amber Alert Plan for their efforts to work collaboratively with other state and federal organizations to create a cohesive system and their overall commitment to the safety of children.
“With more than 800,000 children under the age of 18 missing annually, we recognized the role we could play in helping reduce that number significantly just by educating parents and providing a product with comprehensive, yet easy-to-use features”
As part of the presentation, Amber Alert GPS formally introduced its latest product, Amber Alert GPS 2G, a new child safety product aimed at keeping kids safe by allowing parents to know where they are at all times. U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, demonstrated to the attendees the simplicity and efficiency of the Amber Alert GPS 2G by locating his twin grandsons by texting “WHERE” to the device.
Amber Alert GPS 2G gives parents the ability to limit their children’s boundaries by creating a safe zone, create a “bread crumbing” trail of their route through a series of alerts, an alert that notifies parents when their child reaches their destination, voice monitoring, and even the ability to monitor the speed of a vehicle your child is riding in. Children also have a button they can activate to alert the parent they need help. All of the features are easy to use and all activity can be controlled through a cell phone.
“With more than 800,000 children under the age of 18 missing annually, we recognized the role we could play in helping reduce that number significantly just by educating parents and providing a product with comprehensive, yet easy-to-use features,” said Thornton. “We see Amber Alert GPS as an integral part of the way we can enhance the current systems in place to ensure children are safe and parents have peace of mind.”
Amber Alert GPS 2G was created by Thornton after his 3-year-old son went missing at an amusement park for 45 minutes. The experience inspired him to develop a product that would not only prevent such incidents from happening, but provide a quick resolution in the event a child did go missing.
Continued Thornton, “The fear and agony of losing your child, even for a brief amount of time, is an experience we hope to help eliminate for other families. If our efforts result in saving just one child, we will have done our job.”
Amber Alert GPS 2G is a wonderful child tracking device for any parent to have. The device was lauched on August 24, 2009. Read the Press Release,below that gives you information about this ideal device for all parents.
August 24, 2009 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Amber Alert GPS Launches Child Tracking Device and Gives Inaugural Commitment to Kids Award to the Utah Amber Alert Plan
SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amber Alert GPS today launched the Amber Alert GPS 2G, a child tracking device enabling parents to always know where their children are. In conjunction with the launch Amber Alert GPS founder and CEO Russ Thornton presented the inaugural Amber Alert GPS Commitment to Kids Award to the Utah Amber Alert Plan for their efforts to work collaboratively with other state and federal organizations to create a cohesive system and their overall commitment to the safety of children.
“With more than 800,000 children under the age of 18 missing annually, we recognized the role we could play in helping reduce that number significantly just by educating parents and providing a product with comprehensive, yet easy-to-use features”
As part of the presentation, Amber Alert GPS formally introduced its latest product, Amber Alert GPS 2G, a new child safety product aimed at keeping kids safe by allowing parents to know where they are at all times. U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, demonstrated to the attendees the simplicity and efficiency of the Amber Alert GPS 2G by locating his twin grandsons by texting “WHERE” to the device.
Amber Alert GPS 2G gives parents the ability to limit their children’s boundaries by creating a safe zone, create a “bread crumbing” trail of their route through a series of alerts, an alert that notifies parents when their child reaches their destination, voice monitoring, and even the ability to monitor the speed of a vehicle your child is riding in. Children also have a button they can activate to alert the parent they need help. All of the features are easy to use and all activity can be controlled through a cell phone.
“With more than 800,000 children under the age of 18 missing annually, we recognized the role we could play in helping reduce that number significantly just by educating parents and providing a product with comprehensive, yet easy-to-use features,” said Thornton. “We see Amber Alert GPS as an integral part of the way we can enhance the current systems in place to ensure children are safe and parents have peace of mind.”
Amber Alert GPS 2G was created by Thornton after his 3-year-old son went missing at an amusement park for 45 minutes. The experience inspired him to develop a product that would not only prevent such incidents from happening, but provide a quick resolution in the event a child did go missing.
Continued Thornton, “The fear and agony of losing your child, even for a brief amount of time, is an experience we hope to help eliminate for other families. If our efforts result in saving just one child, we will have done our job.”
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
To harvest life gracefully is knowing the signs of abusive parents
Knowing what the signs are of abusive parents is another way to harvest life gracefully. We all need to be concern about child abuse and not be afraid to take a stand against it. One way of doing this is to be able to recognize signs of abusive parents.
Abusive Parents
Living with abusive parents can have long time psychological effects on children. Hence, knowing about abusive parents is important to help children in your neighborhood or class who suffer from abuse from their parents. This article will give you some valuable information on abusive parents.
Abusive Parents
Child abuse is a definitely a serious issue and more so when it is done by the parents themselves. Though most people will not believe that parents can abuse their own children, it is a problem that is faced by many young children irrespective to class, race, gender and country. Most people think that child abuse by parents is only physical, however, this is totally untrue. Rather, there are various types of abuse that children can suffer from the parents.
Parental abuse can be emotional, physical and sometimes even sexual. However, the most common and severe parental abuse is when they neglect their children physically as well as emotionally. Exposure to such kind of abuse can cause serious distress in children as the people who are supposed to love and take care of them while in distress are the ones who are actually hurting them. As abusive and neglectful parents can cause severe physical, mental and emotional damage to the children and hamper their normal development, it is important to recognize and take care of children who are being abused by their parents. Hence, let us take a look at abusive parents facts and the effects they can have on children.
Abusive Parents: Causes
One of the common reason for parents to become abusive towards their kids is that they themselves have experienced it during their childhood. Many people do not even realize that they are abusing their children because such kind of behavior would be something that they would consider as normal. Some parents take aggression and violence as a way of controlling their children. Apart from this, parents who are suffering from certain kind of mental illness or personality disorder can also be abusive towards their children. Moreover, children with parents who have a drinking problem or substance abuse can also become victims of parental abuse as they may be neglected by their parents totally. Read more on dysfunctional family as a cause of difficult childhood.
Abusive Parents: Signs
As the abusers in this case are parents themselves, recognizing the signs of abuse can be a little difficult for an outsider. Moreover, children who are victims of the abuse may not come up with the issue because of the fear of getting hurt by their caregivers again. Nevertheless, there are some signs that one can look for, if they suspect that a child is undergoing abuse by his/her parents. Read more on types of child abuse.
Signs of Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is surely the one that can be recognized easily. Physical abuse like hitting, pinching, beating, shaking, burning, etc. are often used by parents as ways of punishing their children for some wrongdoing. They think that it is the best way of disciplining their children. However, this causes the development of fear in children towards their parents. Children who are being physically abused by their parents can be seen with unexplained and frequent injuries like cuts, bruises and welts. They may shy away from touch or may seem to be afraid of going home.
Signs of Emotional Abuse
Little children need love and attention from their parents during their growing up years to feel secured. This should be done not just by buying them gifts, but also by hugging and kissing them. Also, kids like to be appreciated for their achievements by their parents, even if it is small one. However, when this does not happen and the child is humiliated at every step by the parents by calling her a stupid or a fool, the kid can be said to be a victim of emotional child abuse. Such parents may call the child worthless and constantly compare her negatively with other children. Emotionally abusive parents may punish their child by yelling and threatening her or may be by ignoring her completely.
Children who are exposed to domestic violence i.e. if one of the parents is abusing the other, the child can be called a victim of emotional violence. Children who are emotionally abused by their parents are usually fearful, anxious and withdrawn. They may not show any kind of attachment towards their parents or caregiver. They may exhibit extreme behaviors i.e. some kids may behave like adults, while others may show infantile behavior like throwing temper tantrums, rocking, thumb sucking, etc.
Signs of Child Neglect
Parental neglect is said to be one of the most difficult type of abuse to detect as well as to define. Neglect can be defined as a situation where the parents completely ignore the children, both physically as well as emotionally. Such parents may not bother to fulfill their children's basic needs like proper food, clothing, etc. They may leave their children unsupervised at home or at places where the children are not safe. Some of the warning signs that people can observe in a child who is neglected by his parents are filthy and ill fitting clothes, untreated physical injuries and health problems, etc.
Signs of Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse of children is not uncommon, though hardly spoken of. In most cases, the culprit is a close friend or relative and in certain cases, parents themselves. Though people think that only girls become victims of sexual abuse, this is actually quite untrue. Rather, even little boys can become victims of sexual abuse. Children who are abused sexually are usually filled with shame and guilt and are likely to blame themselves for the happenings. Some of the signs that a sexually abused kid may show include difficulty in sitting or walking, making efforts for avoiding a person, showing knowledge about sexual acts, etc. Know more about signs of child molestation.
Abusive Parents: Effect on Children
Growing up in an environment where their physical, emotional and mental needs are not fulfilled does have a strong negative impact on the minds of children. Though the scars left by physical violence will not last for a long time, the emotional scars etched on their minds are permanent and can damage their life as adults. Read more on the psychological effects of child abuse.
* Children who have suffered abuse from their parents usually find it difficult to form and maintain long lasting relationships as adults. As the emotional needs like trust, security, reliability, etc. are not fulfilled in the relationship with the parents, the children are not able to form good and healthy relationships because they do not understand that these are the basic things that are required to maintain a loving relationship.
* Living with abusive parents can hamper the self esteem of children as parents constantly telling them that they are stupid and worthless for a long time, may make them that it is actually true. As adults, they may not be ready to take up challenges like higher studies, better job, etc. because they may consider themselves as incapable of such achievements.
* The emotional damage caused by sexual abuse, especially by their parents will be most severe. They may live with the feeling of shame and stigma throughout their adult life. Sometimes, this may lead to the occurrence of severe mental as well as psychological problems in the person.
* Children of abusive parents may have difficulty in expressing as well as for controlling their emotions. They are also likely to get addicted to alcohol or drugs, just to relieve the painful thoughts caused by parental abuse.
You may like to read more on:
* Child Abuse Facts for Parents
* Child Abuse Statistics
I hope you have understood the dangerous effects that abusive parents can have on the psyche of children. Hence, if you suspect a kid in your neighborhood or may be in your family undergoing abuse from his/her parents, it is important to make certain efforts to save the child from the damages caused by it. Children who are abused by their parents can be helped with proper treatment and therapy. Though most people ignore such things due to the fear of interfering in other people's lives, you must remember that a step made by you can make a huge difference in the life of an innocent child.
By Deepa Kartha
Abusive Parents
Living with abusive parents can have long time psychological effects on children. Hence, knowing about abusive parents is important to help children in your neighborhood or class who suffer from abuse from their parents. This article will give you some valuable information on abusive parents.
Abusive Parents
Child abuse is a definitely a serious issue and more so when it is done by the parents themselves. Though most people will not believe that parents can abuse their own children, it is a problem that is faced by many young children irrespective to class, race, gender and country. Most people think that child abuse by parents is only physical, however, this is totally untrue. Rather, there are various types of abuse that children can suffer from the parents.
Parental abuse can be emotional, physical and sometimes even sexual. However, the most common and severe parental abuse is when they neglect their children physically as well as emotionally. Exposure to such kind of abuse can cause serious distress in children as the people who are supposed to love and take care of them while in distress are the ones who are actually hurting them. As abusive and neglectful parents can cause severe physical, mental and emotional damage to the children and hamper their normal development, it is important to recognize and take care of children who are being abused by their parents. Hence, let us take a look at abusive parents facts and the effects they can have on children.
Abusive Parents: Causes
One of the common reason for parents to become abusive towards their kids is that they themselves have experienced it during their childhood. Many people do not even realize that they are abusing their children because such kind of behavior would be something that they would consider as normal. Some parents take aggression and violence as a way of controlling their children. Apart from this, parents who are suffering from certain kind of mental illness or personality disorder can also be abusive towards their children. Moreover, children with parents who have a drinking problem or substance abuse can also become victims of parental abuse as they may be neglected by their parents totally. Read more on dysfunctional family as a cause of difficult childhood.
Abusive Parents: Signs
As the abusers in this case are parents themselves, recognizing the signs of abuse can be a little difficult for an outsider. Moreover, children who are victims of the abuse may not come up with the issue because of the fear of getting hurt by their caregivers again. Nevertheless, there are some signs that one can look for, if they suspect that a child is undergoing abuse by his/her parents. Read more on types of child abuse.
Signs of Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is surely the one that can be recognized easily. Physical abuse like hitting, pinching, beating, shaking, burning, etc. are often used by parents as ways of punishing their children for some wrongdoing. They think that it is the best way of disciplining their children. However, this causes the development of fear in children towards their parents. Children who are being physically abused by their parents can be seen with unexplained and frequent injuries like cuts, bruises and welts. They may shy away from touch or may seem to be afraid of going home.
Signs of Emotional Abuse
Little children need love and attention from their parents during their growing up years to feel secured. This should be done not just by buying them gifts, but also by hugging and kissing them. Also, kids like to be appreciated for their achievements by their parents, even if it is small one. However, when this does not happen and the child is humiliated at every step by the parents by calling her a stupid or a fool, the kid can be said to be a victim of emotional child abuse. Such parents may call the child worthless and constantly compare her negatively with other children. Emotionally abusive parents may punish their child by yelling and threatening her or may be by ignoring her completely.
Children who are exposed to domestic violence i.e. if one of the parents is abusing the other, the child can be called a victim of emotional violence. Children who are emotionally abused by their parents are usually fearful, anxious and withdrawn. They may not show any kind of attachment towards their parents or caregiver. They may exhibit extreme behaviors i.e. some kids may behave like adults, while others may show infantile behavior like throwing temper tantrums, rocking, thumb sucking, etc.
Signs of Child Neglect
Parental neglect is said to be one of the most difficult type of abuse to detect as well as to define. Neglect can be defined as a situation where the parents completely ignore the children, both physically as well as emotionally. Such parents may not bother to fulfill their children's basic needs like proper food, clothing, etc. They may leave their children unsupervised at home or at places where the children are not safe. Some of the warning signs that people can observe in a child who is neglected by his parents are filthy and ill fitting clothes, untreated physical injuries and health problems, etc.
Signs of Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse of children is not uncommon, though hardly spoken of. In most cases, the culprit is a close friend or relative and in certain cases, parents themselves. Though people think that only girls become victims of sexual abuse, this is actually quite untrue. Rather, even little boys can become victims of sexual abuse. Children who are abused sexually are usually filled with shame and guilt and are likely to blame themselves for the happenings. Some of the signs that a sexually abused kid may show include difficulty in sitting or walking, making efforts for avoiding a person, showing knowledge about sexual acts, etc. Know more about signs of child molestation.
Abusive Parents: Effect on Children
Growing up in an environment where their physical, emotional and mental needs are not fulfilled does have a strong negative impact on the minds of children. Though the scars left by physical violence will not last for a long time, the emotional scars etched on their minds are permanent and can damage their life as adults. Read more on the psychological effects of child abuse.
* Children who have suffered abuse from their parents usually find it difficult to form and maintain long lasting relationships as adults. As the emotional needs like trust, security, reliability, etc. are not fulfilled in the relationship with the parents, the children are not able to form good and healthy relationships because they do not understand that these are the basic things that are required to maintain a loving relationship.
* Living with abusive parents can hamper the self esteem of children as parents constantly telling them that they are stupid and worthless for a long time, may make them that it is actually true. As adults, they may not be ready to take up challenges like higher studies, better job, etc. because they may consider themselves as incapable of such achievements.
* The emotional damage caused by sexual abuse, especially by their parents will be most severe. They may live with the feeling of shame and stigma throughout their adult life. Sometimes, this may lead to the occurrence of severe mental as well as psychological problems in the person.
* Children of abusive parents may have difficulty in expressing as well as for controlling their emotions. They are also likely to get addicted to alcohol or drugs, just to relieve the painful thoughts caused by parental abuse.
You may like to read more on:
* Child Abuse Facts for Parents
* Child Abuse Statistics
I hope you have understood the dangerous effects that abusive parents can have on the psyche of children. Hence, if you suspect a kid in your neighborhood or may be in your family undergoing abuse from his/her parents, it is important to make certain efforts to save the child from the damages caused by it. Children who are abused by their parents can be helped with proper treatment and therapy. Though most people ignore such things due to the fear of interfering in other people's lives, you must remember that a step made by you can make a huge difference in the life of an innocent child.
By Deepa Kartha
Monday, May 31, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully parenting with love and logic
Harvest life gracefully- parenting with love and logic, I recommend this book to read. It makes so much sense!
Make Your Kids Responsible for Their Actions
Do You Only Care About Your Kids' "Image"?
By Jim Fay
A joke hit the Internet recently. The problem is that it is not a joke. It's a serious concern to all those who work with today's youth. A high school staff met to design the perfect recording for their telepjavascript:void(0)hone answering machine. The staff looked at several possibilities and finally agreed on the following:
To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1
To make excuses for why your child did not do his work - Press 2
To complain about what we do - Press 3
To swear at staff members – Press 4
To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5
If you want us to raise your child - Press 6
If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone - Press 7
To request another teacher for the third time this year - Press 8
To complain about bus transportation - Press 9
To demand that your child get a higher grade - Press 0
If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable/responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, and homework, and that it's not the teacher's fault for your child's lack of effort, hang up and have a great day.
I have consulted in many schools and know how overloaded teachers are today. I have witnessed the fact that teachers don’t have enough spare time during the day to eat or go to the bathroom, let alone to do all the things society asks of them. This being true, why do you suppose a staff would spend its time fantasizing about this kind of thing?
Sad to say, the teachers are recognizing a national epidemic. It's the "Jet-Powered Turbo-Attack Helicopter Parent Model" epidemic. It rears its ugly head in all communities, but is especially excessive and out of control in the more affluent communities where parents have the financial resources and power to intimidate schools and community agencies.
If this is not you, just read on for the enjoyment.
Many of today's parents are obsessed with the desire to create a perfect image for their kids. This perfect image, or perfect life, is one in which their kids never have to face struggle, inconvenience, discomfort, or disappointment. It is a life in which the child can be launched into adulthood with the best of credentials. These kids look great on paper. Their high school and college diplomas show high grades even if they were not earned. They lead a life where their mistakes are swept under the table. I have often heard these parents say, "It's a competitive world out there and I want my kids to have every advantage. What they do when they are young should not hold them back later."
These parents, in their zeal to protect their young, swoop down like jet-powered, attack helicopters on any person or agency who might hold their children accountable for their actions. Armed with verbal smart bombs, they are quick to blast away at anyone who sets high standards for behavior, morality, or achievement.
Declaring their child a victim is a favorite tactical maneuver designed to send school personnel diving into the trenches for protection. Teachers and school administrators become worn down by this constant barrage. As they give in to parental demands that their children not be held accountable, standards are eroded and teachers gradually think, "What's the use?"
It is horribly disappointing to watch kids learn to blame others for their lack of success instead of becoming people who reach goals through effort and determination.
All this has caused me to look back thirty years ago to the time when we first wrote about Helicopter Parents. I now realize that those parents were relatively harmless compared to the modern-day version. I daily hear about the "turbo jet-powered models" designed for deadly attack. Some of these parents are not satisfied with protection, but even prefer to destroy the infrastructure of the very agencies that are dedicated to helping their children grow into educated, moral human beings.
Now you tell me. Is it possible for children who have never had to stand on their own two feet, never had to be responsible for their own actions, or never had to face and solve the smaller problems of childhood, to have the tools to face the rigors of adult life in America? We all know the answer to that.
Can the young adult who gets that perfect job perform well enough to keep that job if his grades from school were the result of teacher intimidation instead of vigorous study? The company who hires this person won't be easily intimidated by parental pressure in the face of substandard performance.
A perfect image and perfect school transcript are poor substitutes for character and the attitude that achievement comes through struggle and perseverance.
I have worked with many parents who have fallen into this trap. They all love their children. They all want the best for them. They talk about how they don't want their kids to struggle like they did. They are prone to rush to blame others for any lack of achievement on their children's part. These parents are willing to hold others responsible for their children's actions. However, they are often willing to change their parenting style once they see the crippling effects of this parenting style. Many of these parents have said to me, "I now realize that even if I succeed in creating a perfect life for my kid, there is little chance that he/she can maintain it without my help."
YOUR CHILD CAN RISE TO THE TOP
One very astute father once said to me, "Jim, I've got it. There is a huge group of trophy kids growing up today who won’t have the character and resilience to compete in the labor market. If my kid grows up knowing how to get what he wants through struggle and character, he will be the one with the true advantage. He will stand head and shoulders above the others because he has the tools to create his own perfect life. Now that I have learned that I can discipline my child without losing his love, I have the courage to abandon my old crippling parenting style. The Love and Logic approach to raising my kid will give all of us the tools it takes to make this happen."
Jim Fay is president and cofounder of the Love and Logic Institute in Golden, CO, and coauthor of the best-selling book, Parenting with Love and Logic. For more information about Love and Logic parenting and teaching techniques, call 800-33/8-4065.
Make Your Kids Responsible for Their Actions
Do You Only Care About Your Kids' "Image"?
By Jim Fay
A joke hit the Internet recently. The problem is that it is not a joke. It's a serious concern to all those who work with today's youth. A high school staff met to design the perfect recording for their telepjavascript:void(0)hone answering machine. The staff looked at several possibilities and finally agreed on the following:
To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1
To make excuses for why your child did not do his work - Press 2
To complain about what we do - Press 3
To swear at staff members – Press 4
To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5
If you want us to raise your child - Press 6
If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone - Press 7
To request another teacher for the third time this year - Press 8
To complain about bus transportation - Press 9
To demand that your child get a higher grade - Press 0
If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable/responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, and homework, and that it's not the teacher's fault for your child's lack of effort, hang up and have a great day.
I have consulted in many schools and know how overloaded teachers are today. I have witnessed the fact that teachers don’t have enough spare time during the day to eat or go to the bathroom, let alone to do all the things society asks of them. This being true, why do you suppose a staff would spend its time fantasizing about this kind of thing?
Sad to say, the teachers are recognizing a national epidemic. It's the "Jet-Powered Turbo-Attack Helicopter Parent Model" epidemic. It rears its ugly head in all communities, but is especially excessive and out of control in the more affluent communities where parents have the financial resources and power to intimidate schools and community agencies.
If this is not you, just read on for the enjoyment.
Many of today's parents are obsessed with the desire to create a perfect image for their kids. This perfect image, or perfect life, is one in which their kids never have to face struggle, inconvenience, discomfort, or disappointment. It is a life in which the child can be launched into adulthood with the best of credentials. These kids look great on paper. Their high school and college diplomas show high grades even if they were not earned. They lead a life where their mistakes are swept under the table. I have often heard these parents say, "It's a competitive world out there and I want my kids to have every advantage. What they do when they are young should not hold them back later."
These parents, in their zeal to protect their young, swoop down like jet-powered, attack helicopters on any person or agency who might hold their children accountable for their actions. Armed with verbal smart bombs, they are quick to blast away at anyone who sets high standards for behavior, morality, or achievement.
Declaring their child a victim is a favorite tactical maneuver designed to send school personnel diving into the trenches for protection. Teachers and school administrators become worn down by this constant barrage. As they give in to parental demands that their children not be held accountable, standards are eroded and teachers gradually think, "What's the use?"
It is horribly disappointing to watch kids learn to blame others for their lack of success instead of becoming people who reach goals through effort and determination.
All this has caused me to look back thirty years ago to the time when we first wrote about Helicopter Parents. I now realize that those parents were relatively harmless compared to the modern-day version. I daily hear about the "turbo jet-powered models" designed for deadly attack. Some of these parents are not satisfied with protection, but even prefer to destroy the infrastructure of the very agencies that are dedicated to helping their children grow into educated, moral human beings.
Now you tell me. Is it possible for children who have never had to stand on their own two feet, never had to be responsible for their own actions, or never had to face and solve the smaller problems of childhood, to have the tools to face the rigors of adult life in America? We all know the answer to that.
Can the young adult who gets that perfect job perform well enough to keep that job if his grades from school were the result of teacher intimidation instead of vigorous study? The company who hires this person won't be easily intimidated by parental pressure in the face of substandard performance.
A perfect image and perfect school transcript are poor substitutes for character and the attitude that achievement comes through struggle and perseverance.
I have worked with many parents who have fallen into this trap. They all love their children. They all want the best for them. They talk about how they don't want their kids to struggle like they did. They are prone to rush to blame others for any lack of achievement on their children's part. These parents are willing to hold others responsible for their children's actions. However, they are often willing to change their parenting style once they see the crippling effects of this parenting style. Many of these parents have said to me, "I now realize that even if I succeed in creating a perfect life for my kid, there is little chance that he/she can maintain it without my help."
YOUR CHILD CAN RISE TO THE TOP
One very astute father once said to me, "Jim, I've got it. There is a huge group of trophy kids growing up today who won’t have the character and resilience to compete in the labor market. If my kid grows up knowing how to get what he wants through struggle and character, he will be the one with the true advantage. He will stand head and shoulders above the others because he has the tools to create his own perfect life. Now that I have learned that I can discipline my child without losing his love, I have the courage to abandon my old crippling parenting style. The Love and Logic approach to raising my kid will give all of us the tools it takes to make this happen."
Jim Fay is president and cofounder of the Love and Logic Institute in Golden, CO, and coauthor of the best-selling book, Parenting with Love and Logic. For more information about Love and Logic parenting and teaching techniques, call 800-33/8-4065.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully by keeping your children safe
Harvest life gracefully by keeping your children safe. This article gives you excellent advice on how to keep your children safe.
This article is from Time.com By Jessica Reaves.
How to Keep Your Child Safe
It's every parent's worst nightmare: A child is snatched from the playground in broad daylight never to be seen or heard from again. And it feels like it's happening all the time. But while it may seem like we are in the midst of a kidnapping epidemic, the truth is much less scary. According to data from the U.S. Justice Department and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), kidnappings are on the decline.
Each year, between 200 and 300 kids are taken in "stereotypical" kidnappings (i.e. grabbed from their homes or playgrounds and then murdered or held for ransom), and 50 to 150 are murdered. Officials expect this year's total number to dip to near 100, hopefully dragging down the murder rate accordingly. And despite what you might reasonably think after hearing the terrible stories of Elizabeth Smart (who was returned safely home more than nine months after her abduction) and Samantha Runnion, the specter of kidnapping by strangers should not be parents' primary concern; parents themselves perpetrate more than 98 percent of all kidnappings, according to the DOJ. While about 700,000 missing children reports were filed in 2001, only a tiny percentage of those cases were non-family abductions. And here's one piece of positive news: 94 percent of kidnapped children are returned to their parents.
But even as the number of kidnappings declines, and the statistical probability of kidnapping grows smaller, parents continue to be understandably anxious. How can I protect my child? How can I make sure that my child is alert without scaring him too much?
When a stranger approaches
Ernie Allen, president of the NCMEC, understands and applauds the impulse to educate our children, and urges parents to be alert without giving in to fear. He admits it's a tough line to walk. "We need to be prepared, to think about every eventuality, but we don't want to dwell on the worst that could happen," he says. "We don't want to terrify our kids or leave ourselves paralyzed with fear." Here, Allen offers some suggestions for parents.
Know where your kids are, especially young children.
Don't let them go out alone; there is safety in numbers.
Know who they're with.
Speak openly with them about their safety.
Practice what you talk about; go over scenarios and ask your kids what they would do.
We need to empower our children, says Allen. "We need to rethink what we've told our kids over the years." "Don't take candy from strangers" is good advice. But in the vast majority of non-family abductions, perpetrators don't fit kids' idea of a "stranger" — they're not necessarily scary or creepy.
The NCMEC has a "No, Go, Tell" plan for kids, which goes like this:
Kids have the right to say no. If a grown-up comes to a child asking for help looking for a puppy or for directions, the child should get a trusted adult to help instead.
Kids don't have to be polite. We put a huge premium on making sure our kids are polite to a fault, especially to adults, and that translates into: "do what the man says."
Communicate. If a child feels frightened, they should be encouraged to talk with a trusted person: mom, dad, counselor or teacher. The message for parents? Listen to your kids.
Here are a few facts about non-family abductors: They tend to be male, and, despite the "dirty old man" tag, most are younger than 35 and of average or above average intelligence. In an overwhelming number of cases, their motives are sexual. Most are not true strangers to the children they take; they target one child and seek their confidence, often by developing a casual relationship with them.
All in the family
Beyond the terrifying sketch-artist renderings of anonymous kidnappers, there is the grim reality of family abductors, who make up the vast majority of kidnapping offenders.
If you're dealing with a messy custody battle, or you fear a member of your family may be planning to abduct your child, Allen emphasizes that there are things you can do:
Keep the lines of communication open and establish an atmosphere in your home that encourages kids to talk to you about what's going on in their lives.
Teach your children your telephone number and area code, teach them how to contact you or close friends.
Tell them you love them and that you always want to see them, no matter what anybody else tells them.
Most family-member abductions happen only after the offender has talked about taking a child, so it's important, says Allen, to pay attention to what you consider threats.
If you identify a family member who talks about taking a child, collect and keep pertinent information (social security numbers, credit cards, etc.) about them on hand.
Address the legal issues: have a valid custody order, don't just assume anything.
And finally, one last piece of advice for all parents, courtesy of the NCMEC: Take lots of pictures of your kids. Photos work when it comes to finding children, says Allen, and it's very important for families to have recent, full-face photos of their children, as well as accurate information about their hair color, weight, height and any distinguishing physical characteristics. Parents may also want to keep dental and medical records on hand in a safe place. This can speed up the process, and this is a situation where every hour counts. Seventy-four percent of abducted children who are murdered are killed within the first three hours of their kidnapping.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,321889,00.html#ixzz0pBj6a3iT
This article is from Time.com By Jessica Reaves.
How to Keep Your Child Safe
It's every parent's worst nightmare: A child is snatched from the playground in broad daylight never to be seen or heard from again. And it feels like it's happening all the time. But while it may seem like we are in the midst of a kidnapping epidemic, the truth is much less scary. According to data from the U.S. Justice Department and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), kidnappings are on the decline.
Each year, between 200 and 300 kids are taken in "stereotypical" kidnappings (i.e. grabbed from their homes or playgrounds and then murdered or held for ransom), and 50 to 150 are murdered. Officials expect this year's total number to dip to near 100, hopefully dragging down the murder rate accordingly. And despite what you might reasonably think after hearing the terrible stories of Elizabeth Smart (who was returned safely home more than nine months after her abduction) and Samantha Runnion, the specter of kidnapping by strangers should not be parents' primary concern; parents themselves perpetrate more than 98 percent of all kidnappings, according to the DOJ. While about 700,000 missing children reports were filed in 2001, only a tiny percentage of those cases were non-family abductions. And here's one piece of positive news: 94 percent of kidnapped children are returned to their parents.
But even as the number of kidnappings declines, and the statistical probability of kidnapping grows smaller, parents continue to be understandably anxious. How can I protect my child? How can I make sure that my child is alert without scaring him too much?
When a stranger approaches
Ernie Allen, president of the NCMEC, understands and applauds the impulse to educate our children, and urges parents to be alert without giving in to fear. He admits it's a tough line to walk. "We need to be prepared, to think about every eventuality, but we don't want to dwell on the worst that could happen," he says. "We don't want to terrify our kids or leave ourselves paralyzed with fear." Here, Allen offers some suggestions for parents.
Know where your kids are, especially young children.
Don't let them go out alone; there is safety in numbers.
Know who they're with.
Speak openly with them about their safety.
Practice what you talk about; go over scenarios and ask your kids what they would do.
We need to empower our children, says Allen. "We need to rethink what we've told our kids over the years." "Don't take candy from strangers" is good advice. But in the vast majority of non-family abductions, perpetrators don't fit kids' idea of a "stranger" — they're not necessarily scary or creepy.
The NCMEC has a "No, Go, Tell" plan for kids, which goes like this:
Kids have the right to say no. If a grown-up comes to a child asking for help looking for a puppy or for directions, the child should get a trusted adult to help instead.
Kids don't have to be polite. We put a huge premium on making sure our kids are polite to a fault, especially to adults, and that translates into: "do what the man says."
Communicate. If a child feels frightened, they should be encouraged to talk with a trusted person: mom, dad, counselor or teacher. The message for parents? Listen to your kids.
Here are a few facts about non-family abductors: They tend to be male, and, despite the "dirty old man" tag, most are younger than 35 and of average or above average intelligence. In an overwhelming number of cases, their motives are sexual. Most are not true strangers to the children they take; they target one child and seek their confidence, often by developing a casual relationship with them.
All in the family
Beyond the terrifying sketch-artist renderings of anonymous kidnappers, there is the grim reality of family abductors, who make up the vast majority of kidnapping offenders.
If you're dealing with a messy custody battle, or you fear a member of your family may be planning to abduct your child, Allen emphasizes that there are things you can do:
Keep the lines of communication open and establish an atmosphere in your home that encourages kids to talk to you about what's going on in their lives.
Teach your children your telephone number and area code, teach them how to contact you or close friends.
Tell them you love them and that you always want to see them, no matter what anybody else tells them.
Most family-member abductions happen only after the offender has talked about taking a child, so it's important, says Allen, to pay attention to what you consider threats.
If you identify a family member who talks about taking a child, collect and keep pertinent information (social security numbers, credit cards, etc.) about them on hand.
Address the legal issues: have a valid custody order, don't just assume anything.
And finally, one last piece of advice for all parents, courtesy of the NCMEC: Take lots of pictures of your kids. Photos work when it comes to finding children, says Allen, and it's very important for families to have recent, full-face photos of their children, as well as accurate information about their hair color, weight, height and any distinguishing physical characteristics. Parents may also want to keep dental and medical records on hand in a safe place. This can speed up the process, and this is a situation where every hour counts. Seventy-four percent of abducted children who are murdered are killed within the first three hours of their kidnapping.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,321889,00.html#ixzz0pBj6a3iT
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully understanding sexual abuse
Harvest Life Gracefully, watching this video will give you a better understanding of childhood sexual abuse. It describe exactly what a child feels, and why it is so difficult for them to tell.
The speaker in this video is a survivor of sexual abuse and does a very good job in telling what a child goes through. I recommend this video to anyone that knows of a survivor or has experience child hood sexual abuse. Very Helpful! I recommend these books for help and support.
Excellent reading.
The speaker in this video is a survivor of sexual abuse and does a very good job in telling what a child goes through. I recommend this video to anyone that knows of a survivor or has experience child hood sexual abuse. Very Helpful! I recommend these books for help and support.
Excellent reading.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully Blog Talk Radio about positive parenting
Harvest Life Gracefully by listening to Blog Talk Radio on the principals on positive parenting.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully, positive parenting tips
Harvest Life Gracefully, some tips for positive parenting
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tips for Positive Parenting
May 20, 2010 by Leslie Leyland Fields for Beliefnet
Many parents today feel overwhelmed with feelings of inadequacy and guilt. I am convinced that many of our struggles come from believing that it is our job to be perfect parents. But we don't need to get caught up in false beliefs that cause stress and worry. Read the eight truths about parenting that will free you to be a more positive parent.
Leslie Leyland Fields is a mother of six and author of "Parenting Is Your Highest Calling, and Eight Other Myths That Trap Us in Worry and Guilt" (Waterbrook). She lives in Kodiak, Alaska.
1. You May Not Feel Loving Every Minute
Before we have children, we believe we’ll always love them unconditionally. But it’s not too many years after they arrive that the I-love-you/you-love-me-back arrangement is gone. In the hard times, we can easily jump to the wrong conclusion: I don’t feel loving toward my child, therefore I must not love my child.
The question is not, “Am I feeling loving toward my child?” but “Am I being loving toward my child?” If we’re supporting, encouraging, and disciplining our kids--if we're committed to their highest good--we are loving them. Don't worry about fluctuating feelings.
2. We Don't Need to Obsess Over Success
Increasingly, parents seem to measure their success by the achievements of their children. But this current obsession is leading to all kinds of excesses, including overscheduling and overprotection. We need to let go of our obsession with success, both for our sakes and our children’s. Our children need breathing room, unstructured play time, and the ability to make mistakes and learn from them. Most of all, we need to value and love our children not for their achievements, but simply for who they are.
3. Our Kids Have Their Own Purpose
Before we became parents, many of us believed that children would bring us happiness, fulfillment, as well as tons of fun! We soon discover that these moments do arrive, but along with them come many moments of, well, not so much fun. All parents feel surprised at how much work parenting is. But in many ways we receive more than we give. Children teach us how little we know—the beginning of real wisdom. Children expand our hearts. They free us from our self-focus and open us to the needs and love of others. Children don’t exist to fulfill us. Ultimately, they are here to find their own purpose and to contribute to the world in some way.
4. There's No Parenting Formula
While there are many helpful parenting books out there, some offer formulaic models based on behavior modification, obedience training, and rigid discipline. The underlying assumptions: we should be in control of our children at all times, and children shouldn’t mess up our lives. Raising children is inherently messy, thrilling, and unpredictable. Parenting "experts" and "one size fits all" parenting formulas cannot raise our children for us. We raise our children. Our children are too complex, creative, and unique to be raised by recipes or formulas.
5. We Don't Have to Buy Them Happiness
We often think the best measurement of our parenting skill is how happy our children are. Toward this goal, we put TVs in our kids’ rooms, go into debt for lavish birthday parties and vacations, and fix the foods our children clamor for instead of what they need. Our job as parents is not to make our children happy, but to help them become good people—compassionate, honest, responsible, hard-working. When a 10-year-old already obsessed with video games asks for an iPod, or a 16-year-old wants us to buy him a car, we may need to say no. The 10-year-old needs to gain some maturity and discipline; the 16-year-old could earn the money for a car. Our job is to help our children distinguish between their short-term happiness and the long-term good of their character.
6. Is Not Our Only Calling
Yes, we are called to love our families, but also to love our neighbors. When we focus exclusively on our children, we risk turning them into idols. Our children can grow up oblivious to others’ needs and the needs of the planet, believing they are the center of the universe. Enjoy your family and cultivate times of togetherness, but also enlarge your children’s scope. Take them with you as you volunteer. They’ll gain an outward, compassionate focus that can enable them to become generous citizens and good parents themselves someday
7. We Can Be Less Anxious
“I just want my kids to be safe.” How many times have I said this and heard other parents say the same? Of course we want our kids to be in safe cars, schools, and homes. But this desire for safety can spiral out of control, fed by fear, and lead to what some are already calling “the anxious generation.” Too much caution will cripple our children with fear and limit their enjoyment and effectiveness in life. As parents, we need to practice safety, but we also need to practice trust and faith. Kids need challenges and adventures to stretch their abilities and give them self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and courage—attributes every successful adult needs.
8. We Don't Need to Be Perfect
Many of us live with the realities of divorce, single-parenting, blended families, teen pregnancy, and many other less-than-perfect circumstances. We often feel like failures, and worry about our children’s security and success and their own future families. But there is no perfect family. Families throughout history were often marked by imperfection, yet the children from those families still accomplished much. With attentive parenting, we can help turn adversity into strength. For instance, I travel often to teach and speak. While our family is apart, my kids have learned to cook and manage the house. Our own family limitations never limit our children’s faith or their possibilities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tips for Positive Parenting
May 20, 2010 by Leslie Leyland Fields for Beliefnet
Many parents today feel overwhelmed with feelings of inadequacy and guilt. I am convinced that many of our struggles come from believing that it is our job to be perfect parents. But we don't need to get caught up in false beliefs that cause stress and worry. Read the eight truths about parenting that will free you to be a more positive parent.
Leslie Leyland Fields is a mother of six and author of "Parenting Is Your Highest Calling, and Eight Other Myths That Trap Us in Worry and Guilt" (Waterbrook). She lives in Kodiak, Alaska.
1. You May Not Feel Loving Every Minute
Before we have children, we believe we’ll always love them unconditionally. But it’s not too many years after they arrive that the I-love-you/you-love-me-back arrangement is gone. In the hard times, we can easily jump to the wrong conclusion: I don’t feel loving toward my child, therefore I must not love my child.
The question is not, “Am I feeling loving toward my child?” but “Am I being loving toward my child?” If we’re supporting, encouraging, and disciplining our kids--if we're committed to their highest good--we are loving them. Don't worry about fluctuating feelings.
2. We Don't Need to Obsess Over Success
Increasingly, parents seem to measure their success by the achievements of their children. But this current obsession is leading to all kinds of excesses, including overscheduling and overprotection. We need to let go of our obsession with success, both for our sakes and our children’s. Our children need breathing room, unstructured play time, and the ability to make mistakes and learn from them. Most of all, we need to value and love our children not for their achievements, but simply for who they are.
3. Our Kids Have Their Own Purpose
Before we became parents, many of us believed that children would bring us happiness, fulfillment, as well as tons of fun! We soon discover that these moments do arrive, but along with them come many moments of, well, not so much fun. All parents feel surprised at how much work parenting is. But in many ways we receive more than we give. Children teach us how little we know—the beginning of real wisdom. Children expand our hearts. They free us from our self-focus and open us to the needs and love of others. Children don’t exist to fulfill us. Ultimately, they are here to find their own purpose and to contribute to the world in some way.
4. There's No Parenting Formula
While there are many helpful parenting books out there, some offer formulaic models based on behavior modification, obedience training, and rigid discipline. The underlying assumptions: we should be in control of our children at all times, and children shouldn’t mess up our lives. Raising children is inherently messy, thrilling, and unpredictable. Parenting "experts" and "one size fits all" parenting formulas cannot raise our children for us. We raise our children. Our children are too complex, creative, and unique to be raised by recipes or formulas.
5. We Don't Have to Buy Them Happiness
We often think the best measurement of our parenting skill is how happy our children are. Toward this goal, we put TVs in our kids’ rooms, go into debt for lavish birthday parties and vacations, and fix the foods our children clamor for instead of what they need. Our job as parents is not to make our children happy, but to help them become good people—compassionate, honest, responsible, hard-working. When a 10-year-old already obsessed with video games asks for an iPod, or a 16-year-old wants us to buy him a car, we may need to say no. The 10-year-old needs to gain some maturity and discipline; the 16-year-old could earn the money for a car. Our job is to help our children distinguish between their short-term happiness and the long-term good of their character.
6. Is Not Our Only Calling
Yes, we are called to love our families, but also to love our neighbors. When we focus exclusively on our children, we risk turning them into idols. Our children can grow up oblivious to others’ needs and the needs of the planet, believing they are the center of the universe. Enjoy your family and cultivate times of togetherness, but also enlarge your children’s scope. Take them with you as you volunteer. They’ll gain an outward, compassionate focus that can enable them to become generous citizens and good parents themselves someday
7. We Can Be Less Anxious
“I just want my kids to be safe.” How many times have I said this and heard other parents say the same? Of course we want our kids to be in safe cars, schools, and homes. But this desire for safety can spiral out of control, fed by fear, and lead to what some are already calling “the anxious generation.” Too much caution will cripple our children with fear and limit their enjoyment and effectiveness in life. As parents, we need to practice safety, but we also need to practice trust and faith. Kids need challenges and adventures to stretch their abilities and give them self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and courage—attributes every successful adult needs.
8. We Don't Need to Be Perfect
Many of us live with the realities of divorce, single-parenting, blended families, teen pregnancy, and many other less-than-perfect circumstances. We often feel like failures, and worry about our children’s security and success and their own future families. But there is no perfect family. Families throughout history were often marked by imperfection, yet the children from those families still accomplished much. With attentive parenting, we can help turn adversity into strength. For instance, I travel often to teach and speak. While our family is apart, my kids have learned to cook and manage the house. Our own family limitations never limit our children’s faith or their possibilities.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully how to relieve your stress video
Harvest Life Gracefully how to relieve your stress watch this video to find out
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully, accepting these tips for mental clarity
Harvest Life Gracefully accepting these tips for mental clarity.
How to Achieve Mental Clarity
Author: Christopher Lloyd Clarke
Of all the resources that you rely on to navigate your life, the one you take most for granted is also the one you use on the most. It's your mind.
Most people don't think of their mind as a "resource" but if you think about for just a moment you'll realize that it's true. Your mind is your greatest asset, and it's something that you rely on for just about everything you do.
Where would you be without your intelligence, imagination and creativity? How would you survive without your memory, your intuition or your ability to reason? You rely on these mental faculties every day of your life, so where does that leave you if your mind is unclear?
Where did my clarity go?
When you are born into this world, you begin life with a mind that is pure and untouched, like a blank canvas waiting to be coloured by experiences. As time goes by, you gradually develop the mental capabilities that you require in order to live a normal life. You develop your intelligence, creativity and memory, but at the same time you also build up a great deal of mental "junk". You may find yourself bound by more and more responsibilities. You accumulate memories, good and bad. You are bombarded with information via television and radio, and you are surrounded by the noise of industry and the hustle bustle of modern life. Is it any wonder that our mental clarity suffers?
Without mental clarity, it's easy to become stressed and confused, to lose touch with your purpose in life, and to become unhealthy or exhausted.
Most of us really never stop to question the way we live our lives. We just accept all the noise and drama and forget about the simple joy of living in the moment, freely, as we did when we were children.
So how do you reclaim clarity? How do you reclaim the simple inner peace that you had when you were young? How do you wipe the canvas of your mind clean without losing all the powerful mental faculties that you have developed throughout your life?
The first step towards improving mental clarity
There are a number of things you can do to gain mental clarity, but the first recommendation I'll make is that you learn how to meditate. Through meditation you will quickly learn to achieve mental stillness, and you'll dramatically increase your ability to concentrate. Can you think of a better method for improving mental clarity than taking command of you own mind in this way?
The practice of meditation not only clears away all of the repetitive thinking that circulates in your mind, it also strengthens your ability to stay focussed and clear during your normal daily life.
Meditation also stamps out the biggest enemy of a clear mind...stress.
If you've never meditated before, then meditation might be a bit unfamiliar to you. Perhaps you think of meditation as something that is reserved for Eastern mystics or Tibetan monks. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hundreds of millions of everyday people just like you use meditation to experience enhanced mental clarity and to improve their overall quality of life.
Think of meditation as "taking your mind to the gymnasium". In many respects, your mind is a muscle that you've never really trained. You've been feeding it information all your life, but like an untrained house pet, it may have become quite unruly and undisciplined.
Start by learning how to meditate. I guarantee you that meditation is easier than you might think, and that the results you will experience, especially in the long term, will astound you.
Further steps to achieve enhanced mental clarity
Meditation is your most powerful tool for improving mental clarity, but anything that improves your overall health and eliminate stress will also be hugely beneficial. Here are 7 more suggestions that will help:
1. Avoid taking drugs unless they are essential to your physical and/or mental health. 2. Limit your alcohol intake. 3. Exercise regularly. 4. Eat a healthy, well balanced diet. 5. Make sure you get enough sleep each night. 6. Spend some time in nature, away from the calamity of city living. 7. Avoid stressful situations whenever practical.
Even if you are only able to implement a few of these suggestions for improving mental clarity, you'll still be taking very positive steps forward.
Over to you...
When you reclaim your clarity of mind, you unleash all the mental faculties that you have developed during your life in a whole new way. It's like cleaning the windscreen of your car for the first time. All of a sudden, you can see clearly, you can see where you are going, and life becomes more of a pleasure cruise than a foggy drive.
And you know what? You don't necessarily have to change what you are doing with your life in order to experience this renewal. You don't have to change your occupation or relocate yourself in order to experience dramatic, positive change. When you learn how to clear your mind through meditation, the change takes place on the inside...within your mind itself.
But it's all up to you. No one else can do it for you, and there's no shortcut for improving mental clarity. However, if you are ready to invest a little bit of time and effort in the daily practice of meditation, I guarantee that you will not only experience dramatic changes in your mental clarity, you'll also find yourself feeling happier, younger, freer, and more relaxed than you have in a long time. There is every chance that in the near future you'll become another one of the millions of people around the world who wonder "how did I ever live without meditation?"
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/how-to-achieve-mental-clarity-2385825.html
About the AuthorMeditation really is one of the most powerful ways to experience inner peace and to improve your quality of life. For more information about guided meditation and to learn how to meditate for free, please visit The Guided Meditation Site.
How to Achieve Mental Clarity
Author: Christopher Lloyd Clarke
Of all the resources that you rely on to navigate your life, the one you take most for granted is also the one you use on the most. It's your mind.
Most people don't think of their mind as a "resource" but if you think about for just a moment you'll realize that it's true. Your mind is your greatest asset, and it's something that you rely on for just about everything you do.
Where would you be without your intelligence, imagination and creativity? How would you survive without your memory, your intuition or your ability to reason? You rely on these mental faculties every day of your life, so where does that leave you if your mind is unclear?
Where did my clarity go?
When you are born into this world, you begin life with a mind that is pure and untouched, like a blank canvas waiting to be coloured by experiences. As time goes by, you gradually develop the mental capabilities that you require in order to live a normal life. You develop your intelligence, creativity and memory, but at the same time you also build up a great deal of mental "junk". You may find yourself bound by more and more responsibilities. You accumulate memories, good and bad. You are bombarded with information via television and radio, and you are surrounded by the noise of industry and the hustle bustle of modern life. Is it any wonder that our mental clarity suffers?
Without mental clarity, it's easy to become stressed and confused, to lose touch with your purpose in life, and to become unhealthy or exhausted.
Most of us really never stop to question the way we live our lives. We just accept all the noise and drama and forget about the simple joy of living in the moment, freely, as we did when we were children.
So how do you reclaim clarity? How do you reclaim the simple inner peace that you had when you were young? How do you wipe the canvas of your mind clean without losing all the powerful mental faculties that you have developed throughout your life?
The first step towards improving mental clarity
There are a number of things you can do to gain mental clarity, but the first recommendation I'll make is that you learn how to meditate. Through meditation you will quickly learn to achieve mental stillness, and you'll dramatically increase your ability to concentrate. Can you think of a better method for improving mental clarity than taking command of you own mind in this way?
The practice of meditation not only clears away all of the repetitive thinking that circulates in your mind, it also strengthens your ability to stay focussed and clear during your normal daily life.
Meditation also stamps out the biggest enemy of a clear mind...stress.
If you've never meditated before, then meditation might be a bit unfamiliar to you. Perhaps you think of meditation as something that is reserved for Eastern mystics or Tibetan monks. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hundreds of millions of everyday people just like you use meditation to experience enhanced mental clarity and to improve their overall quality of life.
Think of meditation as "taking your mind to the gymnasium". In many respects, your mind is a muscle that you've never really trained. You've been feeding it information all your life, but like an untrained house pet, it may have become quite unruly and undisciplined.
Start by learning how to meditate. I guarantee you that meditation is easier than you might think, and that the results you will experience, especially in the long term, will astound you.
Further steps to achieve enhanced mental clarity
Meditation is your most powerful tool for improving mental clarity, but anything that improves your overall health and eliminate stress will also be hugely beneficial. Here are 7 more suggestions that will help:
1. Avoid taking drugs unless they are essential to your physical and/or mental health. 2. Limit your alcohol intake. 3. Exercise regularly. 4. Eat a healthy, well balanced diet. 5. Make sure you get enough sleep each night. 6. Spend some time in nature, away from the calamity of city living. 7. Avoid stressful situations whenever practical.
Even if you are only able to implement a few of these suggestions for improving mental clarity, you'll still be taking very positive steps forward.
Over to you...
When you reclaim your clarity of mind, you unleash all the mental faculties that you have developed during your life in a whole new way. It's like cleaning the windscreen of your car for the first time. All of a sudden, you can see clearly, you can see where you are going, and life becomes more of a pleasure cruise than a foggy drive.
And you know what? You don't necessarily have to change what you are doing with your life in order to experience this renewal. You don't have to change your occupation or relocate yourself in order to experience dramatic, positive change. When you learn how to clear your mind through meditation, the change takes place on the inside...within your mind itself.
But it's all up to you. No one else can do it for you, and there's no shortcut for improving mental clarity. However, if you are ready to invest a little bit of time and effort in the daily practice of meditation, I guarantee that you will not only experience dramatic changes in your mental clarity, you'll also find yourself feeling happier, younger, freer, and more relaxed than you have in a long time. There is every chance that in the near future you'll become another one of the millions of people around the world who wonder "how did I ever live without meditation?"
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/how-to-achieve-mental-clarity-2385825.html
About the AuthorMeditation really is one of the most powerful ways to experience inner peace and to improve your quality of life. For more information about guided meditation and to learn how to meditate for free, please visit The Guided Meditation Site.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully when you need Encouragement
Harvest Life Gracefully- Listen to this song of encouragement "Hold On"
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully when dealing with defiance in teenagers
Harvest Life Gracefully when dealing with defiance in teenagers. Here is an article with 5 simple steps by Jamie Sullivan
Defiance is a common behavior in most teenagers, worse in some. Typically, when kids reach the teenage years, they are trying to establish independence. While being independent is a good thing, defiance is not. If you find you have a teen who continually acts out, challenging your authority, the following five steps will help. While a number of steps in dealing with a defiant teen are available, we have provided you with the ones in which we feel the strongest.
1. Choose your Battles - You need to understand that teenagers are going to act out from time to time. This type of behavior is a part of the growing process, similar to a baby bird trying its wings. Expect that throughout the teen years, you are going to be faced with numerous challenges, some major and some minor. If you choose your battles wisely, you are not constantly harping on your child about something but only the really, important things. This does not mean you have to accept back talk but know when to battle and when not to battle. Allow your child a little breathing room to experiment without going over the line.
2. Understand your Child - Of all these steps for dealing with a defiant teen, this one is extra important. It could be that your child is being defiant for a reason. For instance, he or she may be having trouble with another student or teacher at school, perhaps someone has said or done something inappropriately and your child does not know how to handle the situation. Instead of talking about it, the problem manifests in the form of defiance. Therefore, before you assume your teen is simply being difficult, make sure you know what is going on in his/her life.
3. Yes and No - Set the rules with your child, saying yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no - then sticking with the decision. Often, children will be defiant simply because they know they can get away with it. As the parent, you have to set some firm rules and keep to them!
4. Guidance - All teenagers need guidance. Without it, they are like fish out of the water, flopping around hoping they do okay. With a defiant teen, you cannot impose strict rules all at once, but if you add guidance in gradually and identify penalties, you will find your teen is more apt to adjust. Keep in mind that defiance in the form of hostile behavior is a desperate cry for help stemming from deep-seeded problems. Your child might be the victim of bullying or be considering some type of self-harm. With guidance, you are taking a huge load off the child that inside, is appreciated.
5. Activities - Of our final steps for dealing with a defiant teen, get your teenager involved with activities, with or without the family. Boredom is a common problem during teenage years so give him/her something to do. This could be through a program at school or an independent activity to include martial arts, dance, baseball, etc.
Did you know a lot of parents nowadays have difficulties in dealing with their defiant teenagers? You don't need to be among one of them when you know how to deal with your defiant teenagers using these tried and tested techniques. Find out about them here. http://www.ManageYourChild.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Sullivan
Defiance is a common behavior in most teenagers, worse in some. Typically, when kids reach the teenage years, they are trying to establish independence. While being independent is a good thing, defiance is not. If you find you have a teen who continually acts out, challenging your authority, the following five steps will help. While a number of steps in dealing with a defiant teen are available, we have provided you with the ones in which we feel the strongest.
1. Choose your Battles - You need to understand that teenagers are going to act out from time to time. This type of behavior is a part of the growing process, similar to a baby bird trying its wings. Expect that throughout the teen years, you are going to be faced with numerous challenges, some major and some minor. If you choose your battles wisely, you are not constantly harping on your child about something but only the really, important things. This does not mean you have to accept back talk but know when to battle and when not to battle. Allow your child a little breathing room to experiment without going over the line.
2. Understand your Child - Of all these steps for dealing with a defiant teen, this one is extra important. It could be that your child is being defiant for a reason. For instance, he or she may be having trouble with another student or teacher at school, perhaps someone has said or done something inappropriately and your child does not know how to handle the situation. Instead of talking about it, the problem manifests in the form of defiance. Therefore, before you assume your teen is simply being difficult, make sure you know what is going on in his/her life.
3. Yes and No - Set the rules with your child, saying yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no - then sticking with the decision. Often, children will be defiant simply because they know they can get away with it. As the parent, you have to set some firm rules and keep to them!
4. Guidance - All teenagers need guidance. Without it, they are like fish out of the water, flopping around hoping they do okay. With a defiant teen, you cannot impose strict rules all at once, but if you add guidance in gradually and identify penalties, you will find your teen is more apt to adjust. Keep in mind that defiance in the form of hostile behavior is a desperate cry for help stemming from deep-seeded problems. Your child might be the victim of bullying or be considering some type of self-harm. With guidance, you are taking a huge load off the child that inside, is appreciated.
5. Activities - Of our final steps for dealing with a defiant teen, get your teenager involved with activities, with or without the family. Boredom is a common problem during teenage years so give him/her something to do. This could be through a program at school or an independent activity to include martial arts, dance, baseball, etc.
Did you know a lot of parents nowadays have difficulties in dealing with their defiant teenagers? You don't need to be among one of them when you know how to deal with your defiant teenagers using these tried and tested techniques. Find out about them here. http://www.ManageYourChild.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Sullivan
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully- A dedication song for my Mom
Harvest Life Gracefully- Mother's Day
Yesterday was Mother's Day, I was not able to post this dedication song to my Mom yesterday because I was gone working all day at a group home, I'm a live-in weekend staff and had no access to a computer. I felt sad that I could not reach my Mom or my children could not reach me. But today I am able to, I am happy to dedicate this song to my Mom. I Love You Mom. Thanks for all that you have given me. I would not be who I am today if it wasn't for you.
Yesterday was Mother's Day, I was not able to post this dedication song to my Mom yesterday because I was gone working all day at a group home, I'm a live-in weekend staff and had no access to a computer. I felt sad that I could not reach my Mom or my children could not reach me. But today I am able to, I am happy to dedicate this song to my Mom. I Love You Mom. Thanks for all that you have given me. I would not be who I am today if it wasn't for you.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully- Feeling gratefull for Mothers
Harvest Life Gracefully by feeling grateful for mothers, They are a true example of love and strength and made from the image of the Higher Power. Sunday is Mother's Day and I will tell my mom on this day how much I love and appreciate her.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully- Positive Parenting- 25 WAYS TO TALK SO YOUR CHILDREN WILL LISTEN
Harvest Life Gracefully- Positve Parenting, learn 25 ways to talk so your children will listen. This is a helpful advice for any parent that struggles to get their child to listen.
Click on link below to read
25 WAYS TO TALK SO YOUR CHILDREN WILL LISTEN
Click on link below to read
25 WAYS TO TALK SO YOUR CHILDREN WILL LISTEN
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully- learning how a parents role can affect a child's behavior development
Harvest Life Gracefully by learning how a parents role affects a child's behavior development. Here is an article about this.
It's Important to Educate your Child from Early
Author: wawan
Parents have important role for their child behavior development. Children behavior is developed for how their parents taught/educated on their early age. If a child gets bad leader from their parents or from people surrounding/the environments he/she lives then child will become for what he saw the most and will copy them.
There for parents should be good role model in front of their child. A child is very fast to absorb all kind of things and behavior he/she sees, hear and learn because they couldn't separate the good and bad for what they absorb. For them is like an "informal education". Parents should realize to give their child good examples and became good leader/role model in the child daily life.
For an example, if parents use polite language for daily communication in front of their child; if the parents like to write, read or paint or exercise, automatically their child will copy those activities. These will become good "capital" for their child's future. You will be so proud of your child and realize that they got "the capital" from you as their role model and good leader for them. Do you agree?
Below are tips how to educate your child from early age, which you can do at home - daily:
1. Give your child good example and involve them actively in some activities. You can leader them to re-organize the toys every time they finished playing with it. Softly leader your child to start reading book along with you, as it will become good alternative for your child. Provide them with children book story with attractive and colorful illustrations. This will attract them to like reading and open their view as well as to bond the good relationship between your child and you as parents.
Teach them how to write and prove them with board or some parts of your house wall as a media for them to transfer their imagination and creativity into that media. You can see how creative and imaginative your child is.
2. You can softly and patiently exampling your child with discipline in time management. Child until 5 years old needs more time to rest/sleep compare to adult. A mother should teach their child when she/he can play and when she/he should rest/sleep. These will help the child to have strong immunity in health.
3. Always avoid your child from bad examples. Please don not argue, lie, in-discipliner, hits/fight, use strong language in front of your child. Please also guide your child when seeing television/movie and continuously advice your child from time to time. A child is very easy to copy what they seen.
4. Spare time with your children. These days, most of the parents are busy and lots of them are working yet it's important to spare time with your children hence to have parent-children interactive. This will show how much you love them and strong parents-children bonds. It's good for you and your children future.
So parents… good luck
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/it039s-important-to-educate-your-child-from-early-2261492.html
About the AuthorWAWAN - Ultimate Parenting Tool
It's Important to Educate your Child from Early
Author: wawan
Parents have important role for their child behavior development. Children behavior is developed for how their parents taught/educated on their early age. If a child gets bad leader from their parents or from people surrounding/the environments he/she lives then child will become for what he saw the most and will copy them.
There for parents should be good role model in front of their child. A child is very fast to absorb all kind of things and behavior he/she sees, hear and learn because they couldn't separate the good and bad for what they absorb. For them is like an "informal education". Parents should realize to give their child good examples and became good leader/role model in the child daily life.
For an example, if parents use polite language for daily communication in front of their child; if the parents like to write, read or paint or exercise, automatically their child will copy those activities. These will become good "capital" for their child's future. You will be so proud of your child and realize that they got "the capital" from you as their role model and good leader for them. Do you agree?
Below are tips how to educate your child from early age, which you can do at home - daily:
1. Give your child good example and involve them actively in some activities. You can leader them to re-organize the toys every time they finished playing with it. Softly leader your child to start reading book along with you, as it will become good alternative for your child. Provide them with children book story with attractive and colorful illustrations. This will attract them to like reading and open their view as well as to bond the good relationship between your child and you as parents.
Teach them how to write and prove them with board or some parts of your house wall as a media for them to transfer their imagination and creativity into that media. You can see how creative and imaginative your child is.
2. You can softly and patiently exampling your child with discipline in time management. Child until 5 years old needs more time to rest/sleep compare to adult. A mother should teach their child when she/he can play and when she/he should rest/sleep. These will help the child to have strong immunity in health.
3. Always avoid your child from bad examples. Please don not argue, lie, in-discipliner, hits/fight, use strong language in front of your child. Please also guide your child when seeing television/movie and continuously advice your child from time to time. A child is very easy to copy what they seen.
4. Spare time with your children. These days, most of the parents are busy and lots of them are working yet it's important to spare time with your children hence to have parent-children interactive. This will show how much you love them and strong parents-children bonds. It's good for you and your children future.
So parents… good luck
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/it039s-important-to-educate-your-child-from-early-2261492.html
About the AuthorWAWAN - Ultimate Parenting Tool
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully- Exclusive Videos - Former Child Star Todd Bridges - Oprah.com
Harvest Life Gracefully- Watch these clips about Todd Bridges, interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, about his struggles, after being sexual abused as a child and then not being believed by his father.
Exclusive Videos - Former Child Star Todd Bridges - Oprah.com
Exclusive Videos - Former Child Star Todd Bridges - Oprah.com
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