Adventures in Parenting

This is our pet bunny Smokey.
When we tell her to come, she doesn’t come. When we tell her to jump, she doesn’t jump.
But when we dangle a carrot a front of her, she’ll go anywhere the carrot leads!
Dale Carnegie tells this story of of Ralph Waldo Emerson:
One day, Emerson and his son tried to get [...]

When I am shopping, I like to give a compliment to the clerks.
I look hard for something to give a sincere compliment. “That’s a nice necklace you have on” or “I like that color of nail polish on you.”
My ulterior motive is, if I am nice to them, they will give me better service!
Dale Carnegie’s [...]

What do we say to our children when they make an ugly face or cross their eyes?
“Your face and eyes are going to get stuck that way!”
In the same way, we can get into a habit of being negative and critical of our children that we get stuck that way.
Dale Carnegie writes this:
“Often parents are [...]

Have you read the classic How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie?
It’s been more than 10 years since I read it, and I am reading it again.

I am recommending this book for every parent.
The timeless principles in this book has made this a top seller since it was written in the 1930’s. [...]

A friend who doesn’t have kids said today, “I am going to make sure that when I have kids, it’ll be when I am ready and really want them.”
I thought I was ready when I was 29 and had my first child. Yet, being a parent so changed my life beyond what I could’ve imagined.
Do [...]

“And in a recent report, ACNielsen listed “Desperate Housewives” as the most-watched television show for 9- to 12-year-olds.”
Something is wrong here!
“Innocence Lost”…This is the kind of thing that just breaks my heart. Where are the parents? Where are those who are suppose to be the protector and nurturer of our next generation? Who is keeping [...]

If we were to count up volunteer hours in a community, I bet it would add to to an impressive amount.
Last Friday, I spent almost 4 hours at my daughter’s middle school selling food at their field day activities. There were more than a dozen of us parents helping out, some were there all day.
From [...]

As a parent, we are concern with who our children’s friends are, aren’t we? We know that their peers have a strong influence on the way our children will turn out.
What is the best way for a parent to see who your children hang out with and what they are like when they are with [...]

Male high school teachers have a very tough job. I especially feel for their wives.
When 17 and 18 year-old girls wear tank tops, tight clothes, and short shorts, do you think the men teachers, even the most moral ones, would notice? How can the wives of the teachers compete with these young beauties?
Recently at a [...]

If you have a 16-year-old, I bet you’ve grown more than a few white hairs worrying about your teenager getting his/her driver’s license. I know I have!
My son was in a car accident recently, thank God everyone was alright. It could’ve been worst. But it’s one of those phone calls you don’t want to [...]