Musings on “Life Is Not Fair” & Sarah Palin
September 4, 2008 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Communication, Controversial Parenting Styles, Disciplining Children, Emotional Development, Values & Ethics
Politics aside, as I learn more about Sarah Palin, John McCain’s vice presidential running mate, some deep parenting questions surface within my heart. Governor Palin is a mother of five children. Trig, the four-month-old baby has been diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome. At seventeen years of age, Bristol, her eldest daughter, is expecting a baby this [...]
The Happiness Link
July 21, 2008 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Communication, Parenting Teenagers, Values & Ethics
One of the greatest fallacies of our time is the mistaken social rule that “happiness means being comfortable”. When was the last time that you saw modern-day movie where the hero or heroine was happy to be in an impoverished and uncomfortable state? Advertisers play upon this unspoken rule by convincing us that pain need [...]
Mood Numbers
July 10, 2008 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Communication, Emotional Development, Self Esteem
What Mood Number Are You In? Here’s how “mood-numbers” got started: The plumber called earlier to say that he’d be here six hours ago, he hasn’t shown up, and the main bathroom and laundry facilities are still out of order. I am annoyed and frustrated. (To put it mildly.) My son brings chips into a [...]
Reflections on a Fallen Tree
June 13, 2008 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Communication, Emotional Development, Problem Solving
A huge maple tree came crashing down across the street from my home. The rainstorm disappeared just as suddenly as it had made its debut, and the entire neighborhood gathered around the horizontal tree. The massive tree blocked the entire street; thankfully no people, vehicles, or homes were in its path. That afternoon saw none [...]
Hunger for Touch
April 7, 2008 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Communication, Controversial Parenting Styles, Parenting Teenagers, Parenting Toddlers, Values & Ethics
Perhaps the most effective way to determine the value of an idea is to determine the negative effects that occur when that concept is missing. Let’s examine the power of human touch regarding children and the accompanying effects that can result from insufficient physical contact. Recent research in neuroscience has shown that loving touch is [...]
Are You Spoiling Your Kid?
April 1, 2008 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Communication, Controversial Parenting Styles, Emotional Development, Parenting Toddlers, Values & Ethics
From the very first infant feeding to college tuition, parents are constantly giving to their children. Some parents give more, and others less; yet we all wonder at some point, “Am I spoiling my daughter?” or, “Is buying this item for my son truly a good idea?” Is there a guide or checklist that can [...]
How To Make Bedtime Go Smoothly!
March 27, 2008 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Communication, Problem Solving, Values & Ethics
No other time of the day in our child’s life is as emotionally charged as bedtime! Bedtime can be considered a significant ‘trunk’ of your child’s ‘tree’- from where many other ‘branches’ – or issues – emerge. Well-rested children will perform better scholastically, be in a happier frame of mind, and generally more cooperative than [...]
Preventing Sexual Abuse
February 28, 2008 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Communication, Controversial Parenting Styles, Parenting Toddlers
Last week I was privileged to attend a lecture on the subject of preventing sexual abuse among children by Dr. D. Pelcovitz, professor of education and psychology at Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education in New York. There is a theory among overprotective parents that the ideal way of ensuring our children’s safety is to [...]
Yell at Your Kids in the Afteroon… but Not in the Mornings!
January 15, 2008 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Communication, Emotional Development, Problem Solving, Values & Ethics, Words of Inspiration!
Yell at your kids in the afternoon, but… … NOT in the mornings! This week, we are going to incorporate a new habit into our lives. The purpose of this particular habit is to make our children’s living more pleasant and to give them the emotional tools that they need to develop and maintain healthy [...]
Progress, not Perfection
November 15, 2007 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Communication, Controversial Parenting Styles, Emotional Development, Values & Ethics
Progress, not Perfection Yesterday I noticed a bumper sticker in my dentist’s parking lot which read, “Progress, not perfection.” Hundreds of examples of how to apply that motto to childrearing rushed through my head as I made my way past that shiny sedan. Although most of those ideas flew right out of my brain by [...]
Pursuit of Comfort
November 8, 2007 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Communication, Controversial Parenting Styles, Disciplining Children, Emotional Development, Values & Ethics
One of the greatest fallacies of our time is the mistaken social rule that “happiness means being comfortable”. When was the last time that you saw modern-day movie where the hero or heroine was happy to be in an impoverished and uncomfortable state? Advertisers play upon this unspoken rule by convincing us that pain need [...]
You Can’t Teach It If You Don’t Know It!
October 25, 2007 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Communication, Controversial Parenting Styles, Motivating Children, Words of Inspiration!
If you were asked to deliver a lecture about marine biology in thirty minutes, would you be able to give a terrific speech? Probably not. And neither would I. How about if the subject was antique marble collecting? Or ancient Chinese weaving techniques? The point is: We cannot teach that which we do not know. [...]
