Mi Choza De Nipa

By Dr James Dobson If you have checked out the parenting section of a bookstore lately, you’ve probably noticed hundreds of authors who want to tell you how to raise your children . Have you ever wondered if they really know more than you do? As a psychologist , I believe parents can learn from the specialists. But there is one thing a book will never provide, and that is one-on-one support from mums and dads who are going through the same thing. Our grandparents took it for granted that friends and family would always be there to help. But things have changed since then. These days, the best piece of advice I can give a new parent is: “Yes, read those books, but don’t stop there. Contact your local support group, hospital or family service centre and ask about parenting support groups .” You might find the encouragement and information our forefathers derived from large and loving families. Beyond that, I recommend that you go with your own instincts. You know more than...

By Dr Bill Maier For all the tasks that life puts on our plate, there is one area where none of us can afford to fail. Between being busy with work and many of life’s other activities, it is amazing anything gets done well. But there is one area of life that stands heads above the rest in importance: Raising kids to be healthy, happy, and well adjusted. It is the most critical thing we will ever do. Parenting is serious business . The stakes are unbelievably high, and the cost of failure is immense. We are raising the leaders of the next generation, and what we do with that responsibility will echo into history. The world is filled with good counsellors who are ready with great advice and resources. So, when you feel confused and challenged by the job of parenting, don’t be afraid to ask for help. From TODAY, Voices - Monday, 17-May-2010 -----

By Dr James Dobson Take all the problems associated with parenting and multiply them by two. Now you have some idea of what I call the single-parent blues : Having twice the problems, with half the resources to deal with them. How do the blues get started? Often, it’s with the single parents themselves. Unwittingly, those parents will pass on their own stress points to their kids. Take, for example, the issue of self-esteem . Children in single-parent homes are more likely to fight and compete with one another for love and acceptance. Why? Because the parent is struggling with these very feelings themselves and has only a limited amount to share with the children. Bitterness is another transferable commodity. If a parent feels resentment over the death of a spouse or has anger against a departing husband or wife, the children will often display feelings of anger and bitterness that they can’t explain. A harsh attitude by the remaining parent can deeply wound children who ma...

Image via Wikipedia From Dr James Dobson We've spoken on several occasions about parents who couldn't care less about their children but today I want to address those at the other end of the continuum, referring to mothers and fathers for whom the kids are the only important thing in life. They can't spare the time for recreational, romantic or restful activities because to do so would make them feel guilty. Now, I don't question the motives behind this commitment to children but super- parenting can cause several serious problems. First, it may lead in some cases to overprotection , permissiveness and prolonged dependency. Second, it can lead to a state of emotional and physical exhaustion known as parental burnout . Then the entire family suffers, particularly the children for whom the effort was invested in the first place. Third, super-parenting can also be destructive to a marriage, especially when only one parent is so inclined. Moderation is the key to a healt...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr Bill Maier It doesn't take new parents long to discover that kids like to make their own decisions. They always have strong ideas about when they should eat, sleep or play. And that's a good thing. Parents would worry about them if they didn't show signs of individuality. Kids need to learn to think for themselves and make their own decisions. The downside is kids don't always make the best decisions. Sometimes they choose to obey; other times they choose to rebel. Primary schoolers don't always do their homework , and teens don't always obey their curfew . That's why parenting by trying to control doesn't work. Instead of forcing them to obey, we need to instill in them a desire to be obedient. And that's done through developing a loving, caring relationship from the earliest age. From TODAY, Voices – Thursday, 30-Jul-2009 Related articles by Zemanta Parenting???? (parenting-success.com) How to Handle Conflicts between...

By Dr James Dobson Have you ever thought about how long it takes to raise a human being and get him or her ready for independent living ? It takes us 20 years or more to try to produce a son or daughter who can earn a living and stay out of trouble and make normal adult decisions. Seriously, we probably won’t find many shortcuts, for the simple reason that there aren’t any. Let’s face it: This child-rearing task is the most long-term project we will ever attempt. And like any other long-term task, the important thing is not to give up, but to persevere, and reach the joy of the finish line. Why have I chosen to offer this advice today? Because there are many voices out there telling parents to give up; to bail out; to think only of themselves. And there will be many discouraging moments along the way. But as the father of two grown kids, I can tell you that the childhood years pass ever so quickly; yet the rewards of doing that parenting job properly will last for a lifetime. From ...