With many families still struggling and even those who are not, this is an appropriate time of year to teach an attitude of gratitude.  It may be easy for kids to focus on what they don’t have or won’t get, especially compared to those of their peers. Regardless of a families’ financial situation it is helpful  to use the holidays as a time to teach family values. Any gift, whether big or small, can come from the heart keeping the recipient in mind. So what values are important to you and…

Continue

Life Values and Bipolar Limitations…

Continue

Over the past month, my 13-year-old daughter and I played the Facebook Game A Better World. This game emphasizes positive values within the social online community. Furthermore, A Better World promotes doing “good in both the real and virtual worlds, encourages compassion for others, and invites people to… Continue

Continue

You unknowingly spend 15 minutes spiking and gelling hair, cuffing jeans just right, and making sure his shirt is stainless.



"There." Finally through. A masterpiece if I do say so myself. He sure is a cutie...I wonder if he could model....Hmm, might have to check....



"MOM! Are you going LIKE THAT??"



SNAP! It's back to reality.



Holy Smokes it's time to go!! We are going to be late! (and you are NOT presentable).



So you rush off, throw your… Continue

http://www.comfortandjoysblog.com/2011/04/may-day-teaching-joy-of-giving-without.html

 

After a long cold winter, traces of spring and the promises of sunshine and warmer weather are just beginning to be realized.  Along with the arrival of spring…

Continue

A professor once asked the students of her marriage preparation course, "What are the most important values you are looking for in a spouse?" The lists were long: sense of humour, intelligence, faith, steady job, good family, similar interests, education, sense of adventure, loyalty, stability... The professor then asked, "What one of those values is your top priority?" Without much pause, students responded: sense of humour, intelligence, faith, steady job, good family, similar interests,… Continue

For as long as I can remember, every year as my birthday quickly approaches I jot down a list of goals for the upcoming 365 days. It helps me reflect on my accomplishments the year before and focus on (and look forward to) what's next.



This past August, the goals I wrote in my diary were:



1. Blog! Find something that interests me. (And who cares if it interests others--lay off the pressure to please others!)



I'm happy to say that this blogging thing has been a… Continue

To kick off 2010, I downloaded the Gratitude Journal iPhone app. The aim is to log in 5 things every day for which I am grateful. I did well with it as I worked through my PPD. I even added a photograph to each entry (these were almost always of Jax). The app invites you to rate your day, which was helpful for me because it gave me the opportunity to think about my day in terms of "Ok, how bad…

Continue

Ahh, Memories...



Childhood is a period of our lives that is filled with no responsibilities, no worries, favorite TV shows, playing outside until dark and well, every kid has to have toys.



I kind of dread going to Toys R' Us with Gabriella. It's a love/hate thing because I… Continue

I am an

atheist. When I am asked for my religious views, I answer "none", since

atheism is not a religion. I offer my thoughts and support in the face

of tragedy, and of course my practical help, but no prayers, since I

don't pray and wouldn't lie about something like that. A couple of weeks

ago, I officially joined the ranks of the ever-growing number of

atheists in Germany, consisting partly of those who… Continue