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What Are You Modeling?

This morning I heard an interview on the car radio about modeling. Not the catwalk, skinny almost to the point of anorexia, type modeling but the model parents set for children. The subject under discussion was the use or misuse of alcohol and how children pick up on what they see modeled in the home. At the moment the Australian government is running a series of ads about the effects on children of what they see modeled in the home. If Dad or Mom have always got a beer in their hands, the children tend to follow suit. In Australia … Continue reading →

What Are You Modeling Today?

One of my daughters is a big fan of the reality show “America’s Next Top Model.” I, myself, cannot understand the appeal of the program, but the other day while she was watching it, I realized that one of my “issues” with the reality television programs is that I feel as though they model such horrible human behavior. As much as I wish that my children were not exposed to such self-absorbed, selfish, immature, and irresponsible behaviors (to say the very least), I cannot always control that. All that I can control is my own behaviors and hope that I … Continue reading →

Are You A “Green” Machine?

Did you read how our family is celebrating Earth Day 2007 today? It may not seem like much (I’ll be the first to admit, I am no “green” machine), but I believe simple steps are important ones. If you’re looking to take some serious measures to “green” up your home I would recommend clicking here. However, if you are simply looking for a few ways to help protect our planet on a daily basis you may consider these ideas: · Sign up for Greendimes. Greendimes is an organization that works to cut down on junk mail. (Did you know it … Continue reading →

Remodeling: Creating A Peaceful Retreat

This blog is inspired by Beth’s blog: “Is noise driving you mad?” In it she wrote about noise being a source of stress and tension. I happen to agree and wondered what I could do to reduce the noise factor in my own home (besides donning earplugs when my 2-year-old screams at octaves that make dogs sit up and take notice). Enter: Soundproofing. It may seem a bit extreme, but research has found that soundproofing techniques are becoming more popular in today’s homes, especially as an increasing amount of homeowners transform their basements into music studios, media rooms, or children’s … Continue reading →

Tips to Help Your Child re-Handle a Violent Conflict

Nonviolent Conflict Solving is necessary if we choose to instill peaceful values into our children. Given the degree of anger and violence in society, children may need to know, as early as possible, how to handle disagreements with each other without letting their anger get out of control, and without using violence. As they develop physically and cognitively, children can be helped to use the conflict-solving methods that worked for them in their early childhood days to problem solve around the more complicated problems that appear in adolescence. We’re not violent so why should we teach this to our children? … Continue reading →

Our First Casting Call

Today, Dylan and I tried something new. A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine told me about an open casting call which was going to be held in a city about an hour away from where we live. I went online to look at the information about the casting call and decided that I was going to bring Dylan and Blake to it on one of the three dates that it was being held. I had been looking for an “excuse” to go to the city to do some shopping, and that seemed like a good one. The … Continue reading →

Be a Model

‘Children need models not critics.’ These were the words I saw recently outside a school. They struck me as very true. Today we hear a lot from some older people about the younger generation and how they are not as well behaved, obedient, compliant, well mannered, or respectful as previous generations. Can I suggest that maybe there is a reason for that? It is far easier to criticize than it is to model a lifestyle. Instead of being critics maybe what is needed is modeling a positive loving marriage. What young people to see is cooperation, courtesy, kindness, respect for … Continue reading →

Women’s History at Disney

In recent years more credit and accolades have gone to those behind the birth of animation, through the many acknowledgments (including a 2005 documentary) to Disney’s famous “Nine Old Men,” the main animators responsible for Disney’s golden age. But these Nine Old Men were backed by more than their mostly-male animation department. For the glory years of Disney’s early animation, from the first cartoon shorts to the feature films leading up to World War II, the department in charge of all the inking and painting of the drawings was staffed almost exclusively by women. In honor of Women’s History Month, … Continue reading →

Confessions of a Foodie Mom—Week 5

“I had to have some to calm myself down,” my nine-year-old sobbed. “They [her brother and sister] are eating my very favorite candy in front of me on purpose and it’s going to be TWO YEARS before my braces come off and I can have it again. So I had to take some cookies to calm myself down.” Whoa. It’s not that the statement is shocking. My friends and I have commiserated with each other over our tendency to eat under stress, when alone, or otherwise emotional. It’s even become a pop culture joke—witness all the T-shirts and coffee mugs … Continue reading →

The End of Freedom?

How often when someone had announced their impending marriage or engagement have you heard comments like: ‘That’s the end of your freedom now?’ Or, ‘another one bites the dust’. Or ‘now you’re hooked. There’s no escape.’ A young married woman recently said to me how sick and tired she was of hearing such comments, not only from friends but also from older people. Why do people feel the need to make these negative comments about marriage? With attitudes like this, no wonder our marriages are in trouble. Instead of making negative comments we need to help young people and older … Continue reading →