Mom Tip Monday: Encouragement Part 2

January 24, 2011

Last week I started a three-part series on encouraging our kids, using techniques aimed at their developmental stages. I started by talking about how to encourage children from birth to 6. This week I’ll continue the conversation with some insights into the psychological development of kids between the ages of 6 and 12 as well […]

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Bun in the Oven

January 20, 2011

I’ve not been highly responsive in the blogging department and I apologize. I’ve been a little preoccupied with my self pity, lust and future planning. Maybe I should explain myself. My visit to Phoenix was a little more productive than a simple rest and relax. It gave me some time to step back and think […]

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Mom Tip Monday: Encouragement Part 1

January 17, 2011

I’ve talked in the past about the pitfalls of praise. It can be empty and hollow, further degrading children’s self esteem by building in them a need to receive praise (external justification) in order to feel belonging or acceptance. Instead of praise, we can encourage our kids, helping them find their way and develop an […]

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Vacation, Gotta Get Away

January 15, 2011

In an attempt to find myself, or at least have a little time to process, reflect, relax and just be away from the madness that is my life at the moment, I made a run for the border by myself. OK, I didn’t quite make the border. I’m in Phoenix for the weekend with long-time […]

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Unemployment, New Feelings Defined

January 12, 2011

I have to be honest here. I’m not getting into this unemployment thing. Not that much. So far I’ve enjoyed a couple of Mondays when I have only one child for two hours. That seems to go really well because my workload is much less and I can focus on one person’s needs. Then Sweetness […]

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Mom Tip Monday: 10 Toddler Discipline Techniques

January 10, 2011

I talk a lot in my articles about discipline, and specifically positive discipline. That word, discipline, seems to carry some negative connotations. At least I know my first thought when hearing the word is of a child being scolded or spanked (the way my generation was “disciplined.”) Positive discipline is about being kind but firm, […]

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Cabana Boy Chronicles: Barney isn’t a Dinosaur

January 7, 2011

Cabana Boy Chronicles In a tip of the hat to my new title of “bored, frustrated housewife in search of a cabana boy,” I continue a new writing project, the Cabana Boy Chronicles. These could very well be stories completely contrived for your entertainment by a bored, frustrated housewife (who maybe wishes they were true). […]

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Unemployment Begins, Optimistically

January 4, 2011

Yesterday was my official first “work day” of unemployment. No nanny, no job, no idea what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised, but cautiously optimistic things will generally be this positive. The day started with me waking to Hubby’s alarm. I can’t remember the last time I slept through the night, unaided by chemistry of […]

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