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 [...]
We Are More Than Beautiful!
March 11, 2008 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Controversial Parenting Styles, Emotional Development, Parenting Teenagers, Self Esteem, Values & Ethics, Words of Inspiration!
Blog Book Tour We Are More Than Beautiful 46 Real Teens Speak Out about Beauty, Happiness, Love and Life by Woody Winfree The new book, We Are More Than Beautiful for teen girls is the latest addition to the work of the I Am Beautiful Project, an initiative committed to producing creative and educational works [...]
Values Versus Pop Culture
February 12, 2008 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Controversial Parenting Styles, Values & Ethics, Words of Inspiration!
No matter where you live and how sheltered you keep your family, Western values are infiltrating our households. How do you prevent American values (i.e. that beauty, wealth, and power are the keys to happiness and success) from taking hold in your children’s mind? What is an effective manner to convey that religious and family [...]
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 [...]
Driving Without Fuel
January 10, 2008 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Controversial Parenting Styles, Emotional Development, Values & Ethics, Words of Inspiration!
Here’s a question for you: Would you attempt a cross-country drive without a single gallon of gas in your car’s tank? At the risk of stating the obvious, nobody in their right mind would try to take a trip in a vehicle that lacks fuel! Then, why, OH WHY, do so many of us attempt [...]
Don’t Worry!
December 19, 2007 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Values & Ethics, Words of Inspiration!
It was one of those dull, gray Monday mornings earlier this week when I was sitting in my doctor’s office being administered a medication via IV for several hours. Unfortunately, I had neglected to find a good book to accompany me on this boring morning in a cold, geriatric environment. Therefore, I had a lot [...]
Parents – 12 Holiday Tips For Balance, Harmony, and Joy
December 12, 2007 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Emotional Development, Values & Ethics, Words of Inspiration!
This time of year, we look forward to the excitement and fun of the holiday season: Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the New Year are all occasions to rejoice and celebrate with family and friends. With the holidays, though, comes more than the usual amount of juggling, multitasking, planning, making, going, doing … the to-do [...]
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 [...]
“Who wants to be an emotional millionaire?”
September 24, 2007 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Communication, Emotional Development, Self Esteem, Values & Ethics
Happy. Sad. Most youngsters can recognize these feelings from a very early age. However, what about the myriad of other feelings that pop up within our hearts? Anger. Loneliness. Excitement. Jealousy. Worry. Disappointment. Anticipation The ability to express and recognize our emotions has a tremendous impact on our lives. Our ability to communicate with others [...]
Juggling!
September 12, 2007 by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Problem Solving, Values & Ethics, Words of Inspiration!
Every busy parent knows that life is a continuous juggling act in the midst of a three-ring-circus. Trust me, I have three little boys, each of whom manages to demand, perform, and behave in excess of a Barnum and Bailey show! Every day you pack enough sandwiches and cook sufficient food to feed small third-world-country. [...]
