Search Results for: blog helping children with making decisions

Is Your Conscience Helping or Hurting Your Parenting?

I have to admit that sometimes in the world of parenting my conscience can be a bit help—it spurs me on to do the right thing and helps guide me in making decent decisions on behalf of my children. Other times, however, my conscience can eat me alive! Oh, that guilt that tends to come from someplace outside myself and settles in to make me feel horrible! There are definitely times when my conscience is more of a bother than a help… For example, I have become rather sensitive to the Green Police and every time I consider throwing away … Continue reading →

They Have to Learn To Make Decisions

Sometimes I think that life really is just a series of choices and decisions. I don’t want to minimize things and I’m always willing to entertain discussions about fate and such–but I do believe that our children need to learn how to make decisions–from the smallest of choicest to the big problems that will need to be solved. As parents, we can help them to learn how to face up to all these choices and make the best decisions possible at any given time… When our children are tiny, we make decisions for them. We decide when they should go … Continue reading →

October: Adoption Blog Month in Review

In the adoption blogs for October you’ll find several series: one series on research on “how adopted children turn out” and the genes-vs.-environment question, one on giving back and how adoption makes the world seem a bit smaller, and one on single parent adoption. Media reviews included a workbook helping parents imagine what an inter-country move might be like for their child and think through related decisions. I also reviewed a wonderful resource for parents who think their child may have been exposed to alcohol prenatally. Another review was of an incredible story of an Ethiopian woman who runs two … Continue reading →

Helping Your Child Find Joy

There is a myth that childhood is an entirely carefree and happy time. While some children do seem to be more in tune with the pleasures of life, there are plenty of worries and stressors that affect the every day life of the average child. Our children do feel the pressures to perform well, be popular, and do the right thing. We may also be encouraging additional pressure for them to figure out what they want to be and get the good grades and accolades to ensure a successful future. But, our jobs as parents isn’t just to help them … Continue reading →

Using SODAS To Help Your Children Make Decisions

Having to make the right decisions is a problem our kids are faced with every day. And although we would love to be there to make all the decisions for our kids, they have to learn to make decisions on their own. We can, however, teach our kids how to make the right decisions by using a method known as SODAS. In , Common Sense Parenting, authors Raymond Burke and Ronald Herron explain how this method works. SODAS stands for Situation, Options, Disadvantages, Advantages and Solution . It can be used by kids (and adults) of all ages to solve … Continue reading →

Parents Share Stories of Choosing Schools for Their Kids

How do you go about figuring out what the best school for your child is? It is a decision that many parents can struggle with. Parents of kids who have special needs have additional criteria to use when choosing a school for their child. NPR released an episode of “Tell Me More” on August 21, 2012. The episode is titled “Choosing The Right School for Special Needs”. In this episode, Guest host Viviana Hurtado talks with three moms, each of whom have children with special needs. They talk about the challenges they faced while helping their kids do well in … Continue reading →

Deciding to Make Major Life Changes

I have known many single parents who in the first months and years after a divorce or death of a partner/spouse, the goal was to get life to a “normal” state. They had enough crisis and upheaval to “last a lifetime” or so they thought and they were striving to get things tamed down, predictable and manageable. Inevitably, however, we all end up facing change again and again and the time will come when it is time to make a big decision regarding whether or not to make another major life change. This can be a challenging situation for anyone, … Continue reading →

What is Dependent Personality Disorder? (1)

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We are all dependent on each other to a certain extent to survive. We need contact with other like souls for our mental health, and when we are ill we often need a helping hand to get us back on our feet. But what about a person who is constantly reliant on opinions, advice and help from others simply to get through the day? Lori suffers from anxiety and occasional panic attacks, but the root cause of these problems is her excessive need for approval, and her submissive and clinging behavior. The latter is driven by her fear of separation … Continue reading →

Why are Dads not as Involved as Moms?

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One noticeable trend that I have seen since teaching and working in education is that there is a major shortage of father participation. When it comes to volunteering for field trip chaperones, volunteering for classroom helpers, and writing teacher notes, moms seem to be at the top of the list. So what is it about a child’s education that seems to turn fathers off from taking control? I have several ideas. First, work comes into play. There are many more stay at home moms than dads. Some dads would love to participate but simply cannot. They work so that their … Continue reading →

Being Afraid to Make a Decision

One of the results of going through a crisis or a major life transition (something big like a divorce, separation or death) is that we can get immobilized and afraid to make decisions. As single parents, we may feel like we have made poor decisions in the past and how one earth can we trust ourselves to make decent ones now? Especially now?! In reality, making decisions and choices is what can get us OUT of that feeling of immobilized fear. Confidence and self-esteem come from taking charge of our own lives and that means making decisions. This lesson is … Continue reading →