When Discipline Should Begin

From FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, Today, 22 Feb 2008 edition

By Dr James Dobson

When Discipline Should Begin

Let’s offer a word of advice today specifically for the parents of babies.

It comes in response to the question, “When should discipline of a child actually begin?”

Well, my answer my surprise you, but I think it should start as soon as possible after birth.

Now, obviously, I’m not talking about physical punishment or anything negative.

Some parents don’t agree, and they find themselves swatting a baby for wiggling

while being diapered. This is a terrible mistake. Other parents will shake a child violently

when they’re irritated by his persistent crying. Let me warn parents that shaking an infant

can cause serious neurological damage by slamming the brain against the skull. Do not risk

any kind of injury with a baby.

So what form of discipline is appropriate at that age?

The answer is: loving leadership.

Parents should have the courage to do what’s right for their babies,

even if the child resists it.

Dr Bill Slonecker, a Nashville pediatrician and a good friend, said that

new mothers will call him on the phone and they’ll say: “My six-month-old baby is crying

and he seems very hot.” The doctor asks if the child has a fever, to which mum replies; “I don’t know.

He won’t let me take his temperature.”

These mothers have already yielded their authority to their infants,

and some will never regain it. Good parenting and loving leadership go hand in hand, and both should begin

on day one.

Manners and Courtesies

From FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, Today, 21 Feb 2008 edition

By Dr James Dobson

 

Manners and Courtesies

 

Let’s talk today about teaching some fundamental principles of courtesy

and manners to our children.

 

It’s an interesting topic given the coarsening of society and the rudeness

that has become so common today.

 

That in itself is good reason for parents to teach their boys and girls

a more civil way to behave.

 

Maybe it is old fashioned, but I still think kids should be required to say

“please” and “thank you” around the house. This is jut one method

of reminding them that ours is not a gimme-gimme world and even though

their mothers are cooking for them, they need to show some gratitude in return.

 

But those attitudes don’t just happen automatically. Appreciation of this sort

must be taught and the instructional process should begin at home

with fundamental politeness to one another.

 

A related issue is how children speak to their elders. Does it seem to you

that children are far too familiar, too informal, with adults today?

 

Now I don’t suppose this informality is harmful, but there is still a place

for a certain respect in the manners of children. It puts their entire

pattern of behaviour on a higher plane.

No Kid Too Tough To Raise

From FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

By Dr James Dobson, Today, 20 Feb 2008 edition

 

No Kid Too Tough To Raise

 

We’ve been talking these last two days about a study of strong-willed

versus compliant kids from 35,000 families.

 

In short, what this investigation reveals is that a compliant child tends to be more at peace

with itself as well as with parents, teachers and peers; while a strong-willed child seems compelled

from within to fuss, fight, test, question, resist and challenge. It is difficult to know why.

Basic temperaments simply appear to be inherited.

 

But there are a couple of other things that mums and dads might find helpful.

 

First, raising an especially strong-willed child, or a household full of them, can be a very lonely job.

You may even begin to feel like yours is the only family that’s gone through such struggles.

Don’t believe it. In another study of 3,000 families, we found that 85 per cent had at least

one strong-willed child. this is parenthood. This is human nature.

 

Second, I hope you’ll resist the inclination to feel cheated or depressed by the responsibility

of raising a tough-minded kid. You’re not an exception or the butt of some cruel cosmic joke.

Yes, it is more difficult, but you can do it. All it takes is a consistent application

of love and discipline for about 18 years.

More About Children's Temperaments

From FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

By Dr James Dobson, Today, 19 Feb 2008 edition

 

More About Children's Temperaments

 

We were talking last time about very strong-willed children versus those with

compliant temperaments, and I shared four findings from a study.

Today, I want to cite a few more conclusions.

 

We wanted to know what parents could expect from strong-willed children

when they reach the teen years. The study showed that 74 per cent of the children

who were tough to handle when they were pre-schoolers went on to rebel significantly

during adolescence.

 

However, strong-willed children showed a rapid decrease in rebellious behaviour

in young adulthood. Their antagonism dropped almost immediately in the early 20s

and then trailed off even more thereafter. A few are still angry into their 20s and early 30s,

but most have lost their fire by that point. Not only does their rebellion eventually run its course,

but 85 per cent of strong-willed individuals tend to return to the values taught by their parents

when they reach adulthood.

 

That should be encouraging to parents who are on the battlefield today.

Strong-willed vs Compliant Kids

Strong-willed vs Compliant Kids

 

From FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

By Dr James Dobson, Today, 18 Feb 2008 edition

 

We’ve talked about the inborn temperaments of children, which can range

from compliant to strong-willed, from sweet to spitfire.

 

But what else do we know about these very different children? How do they fare

as they get older and what do parents need to know to raise them properly?

We now have some answers.

 

More than 35,000 parents participated in a study I conducted on temperaments.

Let me share four of the conclusions.

 

First, there are nearly three times as many strong-willed children as compliant ones.

And almost every family with children has at least one.

 

Second, there is a slight tendency for males to have tougher temperaments and for females

to be more compliant, but this can be, and often is, reversed.

 

Third, most parents recognise strong-willed children very early. One-third can tell at birth,

two-thirds know by the first birthday and 92 per cent are certain by the third birthday.

Parents of compliant children know it even earlier.

 

Fourth, the temperaments of children tend to reflect those of their parents,

although there are many exceptions. Strong-willed parent are more likely

to produce tough-minded children and vice-versa.

On Being Busy

Busy? It’s just a great escape

By Anna Thomas

Lifted from My Paper, 22 Feb 2008 edition

 

I began writing this essay on the assumption that “business” was the noun form of busy.

 

It was triggered by a former classmate who alleged that I was accumulating several

new friends and not sparing time to maintain old friendships.

 

To him, I almost said the dreaded words – “I’m busy” – before I remembered my promise

never to say them. I have decided that those are the rudest words in the English language.

 

Claiming that I am bus implies that I am capable of utilising time, but that time

is reserved for issues mote important than the person I am speaking with.

 

It is equivalent to saying that the other person is not my priority.

 

Now, this works very well in a taut business relationship where I am itching

to put the other person down, step on her and thus climb a few inches higher.

 

That, of course, is the state of global business as we have shaped it.

 

“The world is moving so fast these days that the one who says it can’t be done

is generally interrupted by someone doing it,” said Harry Emerson Fosdick, an American clergyman.

 

Every professional, entrepreneur and labourer knows that too.

 

Thus, they hurtle from deadline to deadline, barely making it home in time for dinner

if someone has cooked it.

 

The cataclysm occurs when those words reach home.

 

I found myself saying them to my daughter one morning while I was preparing

the family breakfast and packing everyone’s lunch.

 

She was trying to tell me how she and her friends had started laughing the previous day

over a triviality but they couldn’t stop laughing all afternoon.

 

She had not found time to talk to me the previous evening as I chased her through her bath,

tea and homework. We also had guests.

 

She was still laughing at it the next morning but not having prepared for the day,

I was frazzled and told her: “I’m busy. Can’t you just eat your breakfast and get ready?”

 

The laughter died out and her lips tightened. That evening, I asked her how her day had been.

She shrugged her shoulders and sighed, ‘It was okay.”

 

That shrug said I had blown my chance.

 

The ancient Latin poet Ovid said, “You who seek an end of love, love will yield to business:

be busy and you will be safe.”

 

In other words, if you are too lazy for the demands of love, of giving to another person,

you can avoid them by being busy. Love will give up on you and you are saved plenty of exertion.

Busyness as the great escape?

 

Bertrand Russell suggested more liberal arts education and leisure for a contented life.

 

He also suggested a four-hour week, but that was 1932. Saying it now is blasphemy.

 

Seventy-six years later, people are concerned about the lack of balance in their lives,

but seem powerless to do much about it.

 

To those who protest that they are only busy doing useful stuff, I quote Tagore: He who is too busy

doing good finds no time to be good.

 

That reminds me. I don’t have time to write more as I’m busy. I apologise for my rudeness.

 

The writer is a mother of two. She is also a freelance editor who sneaks out to see Hindi movies

when her two children are not home. Her favourite essay is Russell’s In Praise of Idleness,

or at least its title.

Messages from God...

Need directions?

 

My Way is the Highway.

 

Big Bang theory? You’ve got to be kidding!

 

Follow Me.

 

I love you, and you, and you, and you…

 

That “love thy neighbor” thing, I meant it.

 

Tell the kids I love them.

 

Don’t make me come down there.

 

Let’s meet at my house Sunday before the game.

 

Loved the wedding. Invite me to the marriage.

 

Keep using my Name in vain, I’ll make rush hour longer.

 

Will the road you are on get you to my place?

 

Have you read my #1 seller? There will be a test.

 

We need to talk.

 

What part of “Thou Shalt Not” didn’t you understand?

 

C’mon over and bring the kids.

               

Have you read my #1 seller? There will be a test.

 

Do you have any idea where you are going?

 

You think it’s hot here?

Pictures... to Marvel at... and be Inspired...

The bridge (or should it be called tunnel) goes under water
to allow movement of ships . In order for ships to pass,
this bridge is half under the water. You drive down
in the water and then come out on the other side.
Truly a marvelous piece of engineering! This bridge
is between Sweden and Denmark.
Picture taken from the side of Sweden.

Manitoba Home Security

Thirsty!

Huhh!

Huhhh!

Don't we all want to do this some day?

God IS bigger than the boogie man!


Come and fix the printer jam please?
Call Minnie; Mickey is in trouble.

He's not dead but he's sure stuck!? They do end up
getting him out and letting him loose for those of you
that are mouse lovers. How'd you like to get to work and find this problem?

Be calm, quiet, tranquil.

Bloom as often as you can.

Stay close to your family.

Explore the world around you.

Enjoy the relaxing rhythm of waves.

Watch the moon rise.

Spread your wings and take off on your own.

Then enjoy the comfort of coming home again.

When Graphics Artists Get Bored 2

When Graphics Artists Get Bored 1