Mi Choza De Nipa: 08/30/2009

Friday, September 04, 2009

Sibling Rivalry

By Dr Bill Maier

"Tommy, stop hitting your sister!" "Jamie, tell your brother you're sorry!" My, my, you'd think two kids who came from the same womb could get along.

Sibling rivalry is a frustrating issue, and it's not always clear how to best handle it.

Most parents deal with it by separating the kids, maybe sending each of them to their rooms.

But doesn't that just teach them to walk away from their problems? There's a solution you might not have considered.

When kids can't get along, what they need is a lesson in cooperation. So why not discipline them by making them complete a task together?

Try giving them just one rake and one trash bag and having them clean a small section of the yard. It'll take a cooperative effort to get the job done.

Separating kids when they fight doesn't solve the problem; it just puts it off. What kids need is a lesson in working together.

From TODAY, Voices – Friday, 14-Aug-2009

Pick-up Days

Image via Wikipedia

By Dr Bill Maier

Are you tired of watching your kids clean their rooms with a shovel? Getting some kids to clean their rooms is like asking the sun to rise in the West!

They can be straight-A students, but their bedrooms look like a war zone! Some parents throw their hands up and say: "Well, it's their room, and if they want to live that way, so be it."

But I'm not sure that's the best approach.

A clean room is often a sign of respect for self and others. And every child should be held to a certain level of neatness, even if it's just "acceptable".

One good approach is to set clear rules regarding cleanliness. You might post a memo on the fridge that every Tuesday and Saturday are "Pick-up days" and nobody eats dinner until their rooms are in order; then stick to it.

Most kids won't be as concerned about corners as you are, so don't demand perfection. As long as they dig out the shovel and make a serious effort on a regular basis!

From TODAY, Voices – Thursday, 13-Aug-2009

Money Affair

Image via Wikipedia

By Dr Bill Maier

Are you cheating on your spouse? It doesn't take an affair to be unfaithful to your mate.

Today there's a new kind of cheating going on and it involves a love affair with Eddie Bauer, or Callaway golf. More than ever, people are lying to their spouses about how much they spend.

In fact, a new survey showed this is the most common form of deceit in marriages, affecting nearly half of all couples.

Hiding how much we spend on clothes or golf clubs does more than just leave the cheque book short; it creates a basic lack of trust in the relationship. And every marriage needs trust at its foundation in order to stand.

So, what's the solution? First, if you've been cheating, come clean with your spouse. Then commit to complete honesty in the future.

Do whatever it takes to stay financially faithful and to rebuild the trust you may have lost.

From TODAY, Voices – Wednesday, 12-Aug-2009

Healthy Body Image

Image via Wikipedia

By Dr Bill Maier

How does your primary school daughter feel about the way she looks? More importantly, how should she feel?

One writer tells of a conversation he had with an eight-year-old girl.

She told him her hips were too big, and that she was planning to go on a diet. "I want to look just like Britney Spears," the young girl said.

Even young kids these days are concerned about body image.

The ultra-thin models we see on television have become the standard by which they compare themselves. And who could possibly measure up?

If you want to help your child develop a healthy body image, begin by voicing a healthy image of your own body. Research shows that parents who talk negatively about the way they look tend to have kids who do the same.

Also, compliment them regularly, concentrating on their character instead of their physical appearance.

Love and accept yourself and your child, and they'll learn to love and accept themselves as well.

From TODAY, Voices – Tuesday, 11-Aug-2009