Confession...in our social ineptitude (we're old enough to wear it like a badge, now!), Brock and I just about gave up on Facebook and Twitter. Neither one of us quite 'get' it. In person, we've finally come into our own when we can look you in the eye and read all the social signals...but on Social Media, it's just hard. No matter the place - Facebook, Twitter, a forum, or heaven help us Google Plus...I always feel like I'm back in 9th grade trying to get the high school seniors to talk to me! Nonetheless, Brock and I have set an early New Year's resolution. And we're giving Facebook … [Read more...]
Social Media…the New Place to Be Awkward
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Inattention to Feelings
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Have you ever met a person who has no capacity for empathy? I have a friend that absolutely cannot understand how others can have a different opinion that she does. I don't like crafts. I'm telling you, she absolutely thinks I am brain deficient because I don't enjoy cutting out little tiny color coordinated pieces of paper for a scrapbook. Truth is, many of our children are like my friend, making them appear insensitive, stubborn, or even dense. One of my boys, in particular, has little capacity for feeling. We've tried to foster a bit of sensitivity in him in several ways. First of all, … [Read more...]
Encouraging an ADHD Child
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Let's face it. ADHD can be discouraging. Even though they're wonderful, our children often end up feeling less than perfect. They march to a different drummer, their problems often overshadow their successes, and their sense of overwhelm often eclipses the simple joys of life. How do you encourage your ADHD child, and help her to develop and maintain a positive self image? Share in the comments below. Homework can be one of the most discouraging times for our kids. Find out how to "Wake Up from the Homework Nightmare". … [Read more...]
Teaching a Child to Ask for Forgiveness
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One of the hardest things for any of us to do is to say, "I'm sorry." It is interesting to me that dogs can convey remorse without words, but humans often can't find the words to smooth over a problem that they created. Kids have a terrible time admitting they did wrong; for most adults, it's even harder. One skill that we need to teach our children is how to ask for forgiveness. Here's my formula: Admit wrongdoing. Don't make a child say "I'm sorry." If she's not sorry, you're compounding her transgression by making her lie. An insincere, 'Sorry', doesn't make anyone feel better, … [Read more...]
The Power (and Peril) of Praise
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A longtime friend and subscriber forwarded an article to me recently entitled, "How Not to Talk to Your Kids - The Inverse Power of Praise". In a nutshell, the article states that in order to be truly effective, praise needs to be specific - and true. I recommend that you read the article, which cites research which sort of blows holes into some of the long standing beliefs we have about the way we build self-esteem. That's why we praise our kids. "You're so smart...clever...interesting...beautiful..." I do it. You do it. But is it truly helpful? Could it even be counter-productive? The … [Read more...]
