Tag: kid

A life devoid of discipline is a life of chaos. However, many of us are afraid of using that word "discipline," because we think it translates into "punishment" or that "disciplined" means turning little children away from the fantasy and wonder of childhood and into little robots.

Fearless parents know discipline is the fine art of doing things you don’t want to do when you don’t want to do them. Discipline is why a college student will pass up a night of partying to study for a chemistry exam.

One of the biggest fears that parents deal with this time of year is that their back-to-school child will once again prove to be nothing more than average. Average in math, average in reading, average in science, average in language. Just hopelessly, utterly, completely average.

So average it can’t be explained away by a medical condition like ADD or ADHD or dyslexia or OCD or emotional disturbance. They don’t have a condition a doctor can cure, a pill can change or that society will comfort them for. Their child has reached their full potential and their full potential is average.

Our two dogs—what my wife and me considered our first "children"—graduated to the dog park in the sky.

Ivy, a 16-year-old blue Merle Australian shepherd, and Hunter, a 14-year-old black chow shepherd mix, lived long, relatively healthy lives. However, in the end, we felt we had to assist them along their journey allowing them to leave with dignity and not suffer unduly.

Both Ivy and Hunter were adopted after an early life of abuse. Ivy sprung back very well after she adjusted to her new family.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends Americans consume three cups of leafy greens weekly or about half a cup each day.  These vegetables thrive in the cold of winter, making now the perfect time to start getting more greens into your diet.  Leafy greens are packed with nutrients including Vitamins A, C and K; folate, calcium and iron while providing a good source of fiber.

With that said, here are some common greens that can be found in your grocery store to help get you started with the recipes below.

When you first find out that your child has been involved in a cyberbullying incident as the perpetrator, your emotions can be overwhelming. You might feel shock, denial, embarrassment and anger towards your child, and though these feelings are normal, they need to be put to the side, as your first responsibility as a parent is helping your child learn from their mistake. You will be successful at doing just that by holding your child accountable for their actions and making sure they understand the consequences to those actions.

Parents get bombarded fairly early on regarding the importance of having their child academically ready. A young child is barely out of diapers when reality hits parents on how to help them succeed academically. Suddenly the cart in the leading toy store is filled with educational toys that teach letters, numbers, reading, colors, shapes and whatever the newest, greatest way to get our children a "leg up" academically.

We are a society that strongly values intelligence and that is usually viewed in terms of grades and achievement scores.

Have you noticed all the journalistic space dedicated to the "dilemma" of getting little Junior to eat his veggies? I can’t quite relate to a crisis of this magnitude, especially pertaining to a 40-pound child. My five boys have always been expected to eat what’s set before them. But in today’s touchy-feely, politically correct culture, sometimes common sense gets thrown right out the window. Parents find themselves confused about very simple matters. So, what to do about your picky eater? Let’s be discerning in an age of preschooler-pleasing parents. Here are seven tips to get your child on the right path to a healthy future.