Latest Posts
"Dr Laura....I know I should stop yelling, but I can't. And I can't imagine getting my kids to listen if I don't yell at them...Can you move in with me for a week?!” - Cheralynn
Like
Cheralynn, most parents think they "should" stop yelling, but they don't
believe there's another way to get their child's attention. After all,
it's our job to teach them, and how else can we get them to listen? It’s
not like yelling hurts them; they barely listen, they roll their eyes.
Of course they know we love them, even if we yell. Right? READ POST
"The moment one commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred...Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now." - Goethe READ POST
"At this time of year, when the sun is most hidden, the holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the rays of hope and light. Indeed, the physical darkness of this time of year can be a metaphor for the darkness that often envelopes us ... when the world sometimes feels dark and cold. At such times, we yearn for the sun, and the light and warmth that it provides. Often, it is through simple and unrecognized miracles that we are able to feel the warmth of hope and light." -- Rabbi Rafael Goldstein READ POST
"Believing in the true spirit of my December holiday, I commit myself to:
Remember those people who truly need my gifts
Express my love in more direct ways than gifts
Examine my holiday activities in the light of my deepest values
Be a peacemaker within my circle of family and friends
Rededicate myself to my spiritual growth."
- Jo Robinson & Jean Coppock Staeheli
"Love is what's in the room with you if you stop opening presents and listen." -- Bobby, age 7
If you have a deep faith and keep the rituals of your religious
tradition, then you’ve probably given a lot of thought to your child’s
spiritual development and have your holiday religious plans all mapped
out.
If, on the other hand, you wonder how to put what you believe into
words and aren’t sure what spiritual beliefs you want to pass on to your
kids, this post is for you. READ POST
"Television advertisements for toys and games often exploit children's underlying needs and desires. Many commercials show a child playing with a game or toy with her parents. The message is clear to young children: Ask for this product and your mother and father will pay attention to you. It is an offer they cannot resist." -- Lawrence Kutner READ POST
"My memories of Christmas as a
child are of stress. My mother wanted everything to be perfect and got
so worked up trying to do it all that it made the rest of the family
crazy. I remember my dad comforting me when I was about 8 years old, I was
crying and said “I hate Christmas” and he said “I do, too, honey. We
just have to get through it.”
So for my kids I try to be relaxed
and fun. We make ornaments for friends and family in December and give
them out as we see people — gets us into the giving without thought of
receiving. We take time to see the lights around town, to decorate and
appreciate our tree. We talk about the other festivals of lights and
remember that feasting and gifts are to make the darkest, coldest time
of year merry. We celebrate the return of the sun. We relax and play
and laugh and appreciate each other.” -- Amy READ POST
"It's
especially important during the holidays to remember that aiming for a
PERFECT holiday is actually a bad goal. Not only is perfection
impossible and striving for it adds stress, but honestly, the holidays
families remember most fondly are those when the dog ate the cake, or
everybody got the flu on Thanksgiving. Play it loose, have a sense of
humor..." -- Meg Cox
If you live in the US,
you're already bracing yourself for Thanksgiving Thursday. (If you
don't, I hope this post will start you thinking about your December
holiday.)
Are you trying to figure out how to get everything
done this week? Or how to go beyond mere gluttony to add some meaning
and gratitude in between courses? I'm the first to trumpet the benefit
to our kids -- and ourselves -- of rituals, and of learning the habit of
gratitude. And you'll find plenty of ideas on the Aha! Parenting
website to add meaning and Aha! moments to your family's Thanksgiving.
But
my plea to you this week is to remember that perfection is not
attainable, and striving for that magazine-spread holiday will only
stress you out and make you yell at your kids. Luckily, perfection isn't necessary for you and your family to have a perfectly wonderful Thanksgiving. READ POST
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