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ParentingParenting

Gingrich bets on unconventional primary strategy
Back from the political dead, Newt Gingrich has momentum on his side just a month before the first voting in the GOP nomination fight. But he has never fully rebuilt his organization after almost his entire team quit in June. And his fundraising is questionable at best.
12/02/2011 7:18 PM
Squirmy toddler? There's an app for that
About 40 percent of 2- to 4-year-olds have used a smartphone, tablet or video iPod, according to a new study.
10/26/2011 12:46 PM
A Time and a Place for Us
Raising a family is a demanding job. As parents, we sometimes feel guilty for wishing we had some time to ourselves. The truth is we are better parents when we manage to carve out some grown-up time for us. You are probably thinking, “Oh sure, I’ll have my time between the 2 A.M. and the 6 A.M. feeding!” Certainly, when our children are very young, our time is pretty much consumed. As baby begins to sleep longer between feedings, however, we can begin to help him adjust to a schedule that is fairly consistent. Self-care is not something to feel guilty about, it is something that is essential to being on top of your game as a parent. As parents you will need to take the time to work out a schedule that works for each of you. Coordinating the tasks makes the 1001 things that must be done more manageable.
09/15/2009 8:10 PM
Listening With Love
Several years ago during “coffee hour” at our church, I observed a number of young children milling around among the adults. I noticed that a number of the children were about knee-high and I mused at what it must be like to wander around in a world of kneecaps. The adults were engaged in conversation and occasionally one of the youngsters would pull on a parent’s dress or pants to get their attention. In watching, I thought about how often, as a parent, I became so preoccupied that I failed to really listen to my children. Our children need to know that they are worthy of our time. One of the best ways we can let them know this is by being present in the moment. What does being present in the moment mean? It means that our attention is focused on the now. To be present to another means that we are giving our attention to their needs. In being present the listener is attempting to see through the eyes of the other and listening with the ear of the heart. Being present means the welfare of the other person takes priority for the moment.
08/31/2009 4:09 PM
"Whistle While You Work"
Remember the seven dwarfs in “Snow White” singing “Hi ho, hi ho, its off to work we go?” and the song “Whistle While You Work?” Teaching children to be responsible for their things needs to be taught at an early age. Being a helper can be taught as early as eighteen months to two years of age. Before a toddler pulls out everything in the toy box, he can be taught to first put some things away. This makes the job more manageable and is an appropriate place to teach the “first, then rule.” Because the idea of putting things back before getting more out is a little hard for a two year old to understand. It may be easier, if the things that are picked up are placed in a different container, such as a plastic laundry basket for later dumping back into the toy box. That way, he can go to the toy box and see what else is there. Parents can make a game of it by singing a “clean up song” as things are picked up. If you don’t know a song, just make one up to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” or some other children’s song. Songs are a great way to help children connect ideas, because they can be quickly learned and repeated.
08/17/2009 6:50 PM
Committment - Part 2
When we are committed to something, don’t we first need to have a clear sense of what outcome we are working toward? Most of us are “methodists,” meaning that we have our methods or ways of doing things. Generally speaking, we figure out what works and stick to that formula. The thing about parenting, however, is that what works for one child may not work for another….and what worked today may not work tomorrow.
08/10/2009 6:54 PM