Loving Parenting - Again

     Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment, paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without any judgment.  It is a state of active/inactive attention to the present, without regard to the future or the past.  Mindfulness is described as the ability to be fully present, aware of where you are, what you are doing, while not being overly reactive or overwhelmed by what is going on around you.      Mindfulness can help reduce stress, improve mental well-being, and enhance focus and self-awareness. Practicing  mindfulness has been found to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms and increase feelings of well-being.        Mindfulness is a basic concept used by many therapists. Many schools are implementing mindfulness exercises and activities in order to improve mood, improve focus, and increase empathy and cooperation in the classroom and general social interaction within the ...

  Choosing a daycare for your child can be a difficult decision; the last thing you want to do is place them in a facility that is going to ultimately be detrimental to their development and happiness. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to distinguish a "good" facility from a bad one. Before making a final verdict, there are a few key pieces of info you should know.        An important starting point when investigating a facility, especially an institution that cares for a large number of children, is to find out if it is licensed. If so, you know the key providers (often the directors) have completed a minimum amount of training in early childhood development, education and/or care, often in a secondary institution. It is good to discover what training and experience the teachers and aides are required to possess before being hired, as these are the people who will often have the most hands on contact with the children on a daily basis. These individuals shou...

 I wish I could claim this how I respond each time one of my children make a mistake, but sadly I can't.  Like many parents I know there are too many times I react before I think.  There are times when words of frustration and blame precede recognizing they may have already tried to remedy the mistake in some way or I am looking at the wrong mistake.  For instance I walk into the kitchen and see soaking wet towels wadded up in the sink with food poured over them.   My reaction is to ask who created the mess with the wet towels and left it for me to clean up.  A few minutes later I am holding a crying child.  She didn't mean to make another mess.  She used the towels to clean up the spilled milk and then rinsed them in the sink and left them there because they were still wet.  She didn't know her sister was going to throw her left over cereal on top of them.    Thank goodness I know how to say I'm sorry.  Thankfully I can w...

I don't know about you, but my five-year-old and I do not always agree on what is fun, how often it should happen or how long it should last.   I can't help but wonder how many other parents  encounter this difference of opinion with one of their children.    Not having an overabundance of money or time, I tend to lean toward time together that is short and inexpensive.  Not understanding cost or time she tend to lean toward activities that are longer and involve an entrance fee. Since I work most of the day, and have to come home to clean and cook, I tend to look for things we can do quietly together at home.  She spends most of her time in school so when she comes home she wants to go somewhere or do something that uses up her pent-up energy.  Business hours of the places she wants to go also limit my ability to meet her immediate wishes for having fun. A few weeks ago I spent some money (OK, more than I should have) on some Christmas craft...

Many years ago my grandfather had a small card in his library with the following words of wisdom.  The advice is as appropriate today as it was when I was growing up.  Love never fails. CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy. If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence. If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate. If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice. If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself. If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world. Dorothy Law Nolte (1963*) ...