FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

 

From TODAY, Voices

Thursday, 12-February-2009

 

By Dr Bill Maier

 

Sometimes the best approach to solving a problem is to think outside the box. And what better skill to teach our kids?

 

There’s a difference between being artistic and being creative.

 

Creativity is about solving problems by looking at things from a different perspective.

 

It’s a matter of learning to consider multiple solutions, and thinking through a number of outcomes. Instead of simply saying something won’t work, a creative person will usually try to figure out a way to make it work.

 

And creativity isn’t something you have to be born with – it’s a skill, just like math or reading.

 

And it’s something every child can learn.

 

When your kids are ready to give up on a project, teach them to look at it from a different angle.

 

Say to them: “What would happen if we tried it this way?” Then, if that does not work, help them try something else.

 

The key is to think outside the box and to teach your kids to do the same.

 

While We Are Here... We'll Do Our Part

As expected, there are those who immediately reacted, and replied to the notion of aiding only the stayers.

The whats and whys?
Read on...

From TODAY, Voices
Thursday, 12-February-2009

A Hit of Humility

Stories like this are hard to come by these days, especially that they actually happened, and not simply stories fabricated in the mind.

I would love to tell, but I reserve the honor to you to find out.
Read on...

From TODAY, Voices
Thursday, 12-February-2009

Reward the remnant?

"Help those who are deserving..."

This is now the cry. And while one advocates fair employment, not simply retaining workers who are locals, and dispatching foreigners without a cause - these are extremes, another is saying that the Jobs Credit scheme should be directed to those who choose, or have made up their mind to stay in SG, come hell or high water.

These are the people who should be assisted, he says. To some degree, I would seem to be siding with this idea. On the contrary, while still here, you are already driving away those who have no intention of staying, and giving them more reason to go.

What's your take?
Read on...

From TODAY, Voices
Wednesday, 11-February-2009

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

 

From TODAY, Voices

Wednesday, 11-February-2009

 

By Dr Bill Maier

 

My wife and I never knew we needed so much parenting advice until we had a baby. The minute our first child was born, the advice-givers started coming out of the woodwork!

 

If you’ve got a baby, I’m guessing you know what I mean. From nursing to napping, it seems like friends, relatives and even strangers never run short of parenting advice.

 

I try to remember that most of these people are well-meaning. Many have raised their own kids, and genuinely care about us and our new baby. Sometimes, we run across people who are simply know-it-alls and love to point out mistakes – but we just take it in stride. Our response to those folk is “Thanks for the advice ... we’ll certainly take it into consideration.”

 

If you’ve found yourself overwhelmed by all the “helpful advice” from friends and family members, don’t let it get you down.

 

Be happy that people care – just be selective about the advice you take.

 

Heart Attack, Now A Woman Killer

It comes differently, and is felt differently, by women, that is.

It is not an emotion, but it would be so emotional.

And the symptoms are quite different from what is known to be the norm.

Women, beware!

From TODAY, Health
Tuesday, 10-February-2009

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

 

From TODAY, Voices

Tuesday, 10-February-2009

 

By Dr James Dobson

 

How do you handle a rebellious teenager?

 

I recently received an email from a frustrated mother of two teenage girls. Her daughters were angry that they couldn’t attend some of their friends’ parties.

 

The mother was aware that there would be crude dancing and drinking going on at those parties, so she refused to let her girls go, making them even more rebellious.

 

I encouraged her to stick to her guns, but maybe change her approach. Kids respond much better to rules when they understand the reasons and the spirit behind them. I encouraged her to say something like: “You know how much I love you, and how horrible it would be to see you get hurt or get into trouble.

 

“You’re a good person, and a lot of the things that go on at these parties that are immoral and dangerous. Let’s think of something better to do instead.”

 

Kids need guidelines, but they also need to know how much we care.

 

What Would Google Do?

If you are looking into internet as a tool to rake in some money, and have been wondering how to do that, this book may help you a bit, if not huge. I've come across some books, one of which is Secrets of Internet Millionaires, and they offer very practical tips and guides, and at every part, to "do it", rather than just knowing it, here is another that may boost your morale equally, as it would your knowledge.

What Would Google Do?
> discussed not only Google, but other relevant items as well.

Read this short article. You may end up buying the book, and later on, having an extra income. Who knows? But it would require action from you. It requires putting that knowledge to work, then the money will come...

Beware Computer-obsessed Kids

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

 

From TODAY, Voices

Monday, 09-February-2009

 

By Dr Bill Maier

 

Are your kids spending several hours each day on the Internet or playing video games?

 

It may be time to pull the plug.

 

Millions of kids are spending a good part of their days glued to a video screen. And a lot of the games they’re playing aren’t that healthy.

 

The latest craze is Internet games, where kids compete against players around the world.

 

Thousands of kids have become obsessed with them.

 

This is a concern, since one-in-five kids report being solicited on-line for sex, and one out of three admit that they’ve seen pornographic websites, even if by accident.

 

As parents, we need to be aware of our kids’ Internet and videogame habits. This can’t be stressed enough.

 

If your child is spending too much time online or playing video games, step in and do something about it.

 

Monitor the time they spend, and stick to your guns when they protest. Remind them that there’s a whole world outside just waiting to be explored.

 

Basic Supply and Demand, Or Is It?

From TODAY, Voices
Weekend Ed, 07/08-February-2009

To stop prostitution, should we go only after the clients, or should we go after the whores? Which comes first, the demand, or the supply? So to stop prostitution, which do you go after? The chicken, or the egg?

Or why go after prostitution only?

Why bother at all trying to find cure for AIDS? Why did we ever legalize homosexuality? Is this question driving too much on the extreme? So when do we say allowed? Or not allowed?

I'll stop my digression here. Let the article drive its point. Read on.

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

 

From TODAY, Voices

Friday, 06-February-2009

 

By Dr James Dobson

 

When a married couple disagrees about something, should they have a showdown or should they just say, “ah, well, let it go”?

 

I heard about one couple celebrating their silver wedding anniversary. The family and friends had gathered for cake and punch, and somebody said: “Tell us how you two have gotten along so well all this time.”

 

The husband said, with a straight face: “Well, when we got married way back there, we promised each other we’d never have a fight. No matter what came up, we’d just talk. And if one or the other began to get hot, then they’d just go take a walk around the block to cool off. Well, it’s worked. And all our married life, we’ve never had a fight. But I’ve had pneumonia 47 times.”

 

I can’t vouch for the total accuracy of that story, and in fact, I’m not even sure I agree with the goal of never fighting.

 

There is a place for confrontation in marriage. But the key is to learn how to fight properly. It’s always destructive to attack the self-esteem of a partner; hurling insults and harsh words when angry.

 

But there is a place for conflict that focuses exclusively on the issue that separates a husband and wife. This approach is highly recommended in long-term marriages, and it even beats a brisk walk around the park. 

 

LOVING WHOLEHEARTEDLY

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

 

From TODAY, Voices

Thursday, 05-February-2009

 

By Dr James Dobson

 

The very best gift we can give our families is what has sometimes been called “wholehearted love”.

 

Two friends of mine, Gary Smalley and Dr. John Trent, have written a wonderful book called The Two Sides of Love. They point out that love has two parts: a hard side and a soft side – and most of us favour one or the other. People who lean to the hard side tend to be tough, firm, critical and confrontational when a wrong has been committed. They are good problem solvers, but they can be tough on people who deal with them. Those of us who lean toward the soft side are sympathetic, sensitive and forgiving. They care deeply about people, but they have a hard time confronting a problem.

 

Smalley and Trent make the important point that relationships need both sides of love. The best thing we can do for our spouse and children is recognise our tendencies and strive for balance. If we’re too far over into the hard side, we need to learn sensitivity and compassion. If the soft side comes easy to us, perhaps we should learn how to lovingly confront.

 

We should make the decision to love wholeheartedly. By understanding and modifying what we were born with, we can bond together better and increase our intimacy with one another.