Some thoughts came to me today as I am getting sentimental about my children growing up and out. I look back to the time when they were babies, and wish I held them just a little more, complained a little less about waking up at night, and took more time to relax and enjoy them [...]
One of the impressions I want to leave with my children is that the home is a place of fun and laughter. I want them know that family life is enjoyable, not just tolerable.
There is enough bad news in the world that we don’t need our home to also be full of solemnness. Isn’t it [...]
What do you remember about your parent’s home when you were growing up? Was it a warm and loving place to come home to? Was there laughter? Did you enjoy being with your family?
Do you remember kind and loving words said to you by your parents? Or was there negativity and criticism, shouting and fighting?
I [...]
I am a substitute teacher, and I think teachers have the hardest job in the world! To be surrounded by 20-30 little kids all day and trying to keep them on task is stressful to say the least. I substitute occasionally, and that’s about all I can handle!
And when it comes to being a parent, [...]
Are you like me who just doesn’t seem to have enough time for everything?
With the busy, busy, busy lifestyle of most families today, are you feeling pressured to be productive? I always feel that I should be getting things done, check an item off the list.
But do you consider spending time playing with your kids [...]
I had lunch with my 85-year-old dad today. It’s a treat for him to get the $5 Subway deal because he would not normally go there by himself. We split a chicken breast footlong on honey oat whole wheat. It came out to $4.99 with the “young man’s discount”, as the cashier phrased it.
Growing [...]
(Disclaimer for this post: This is addressed to married couples, not for single parents. If you are a single parent, I want you to know this is not meant to make you feel guilty. It’s written to encourage couples to build a good marriage.)
I admit, I am a better mom than I am a wife.
I [...]
The flowers shops are packed on Mother’s Day; the phone lines are overloaded on Mother’s Day.
Father’s Day? It doesn’t set any records.
Dads are usually not the sentimental type, they are not the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. But of course, they would love some attention too, on Father’s Day.
Here are a few suggestions on [...]
Are you surviving TV Turn-Off Week so far?
Whether or not you are committing to having no TV this week, having plenty of family time is what I would like to encourage. Fun family time is one of the primary ways to convey your values to your children, affirm your love for each other, and supply [...]
As my children are older, I realize that much of our time together is merely “parallel” together. We are in the same room at the same time… each on our own laptops – I’m blogging, of course, my kids are doing homework, or updating their Facebook.
While I think it’s a good thing for us to [...]
I love to read. I just finished reading a book that my sister recommended, Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah, a true story of her life.
Adeline was born in the 30’s and grew up in an affluent family in China. Â As the youngest of five, their mother died after giving birth to Adeline. Carrying the [...]
We parents talk too much.
I suppose it comes naturally to us to talk too much.Â
When we tell our kids “NO” to having a cookie right before dinner and they begin to whine, we feel compelled to explain to them why they can’t have a cookie. When they continue to whine, we escalate our volume and explain [...]
I hope you had a chance to share a few special moments with your love ones.
Here are 14 things I love to do with my family:
1. Watching Mary Poppins while enjoying brownies with ice cream.
2. Playing video games together.
3. A stroll together after dinner under a clear night sky.
4. Staying up late playing a board [...]
The problem with New Year resolutions is that the year is too long. We lose steam after the initial enthusiasm to go the 12-month distance.
However, making New Year resolutions is a good thing. New and renewed commitments keep us from merely drifting with the tide.
So I suggest making bite-sized MONTHLY resolutions. Make one resolve a [...]
“Would you want to come home to yourself?”
That question changed my life.
Would I want to come home to hear myself nagging at me?
Would I want to come home to be criticized by me?
Would I want to come home to negativity, pestering, and meanness?
If I don’t want to come home to me, why would my children [...]
Can you imagine not being busy for the holidays? It’s almost sacrilegious.
But this year, I am determined to take it easy.
1. Easy gifts. I am giving everyone Kiva gift cards. It’s good for me and good for the world.
2. Easy decorations. Hang up strands of of lights, everywhere, indoor and out. Lights always give [...]
In Southern California, we are really feeling “winter” fast approaching…with high of 83 degrees today.
For the rest of those in the Northern Hemisphere, here is an inexpensive cool item to get for the holidays.
Set up and clean up is easy.
This makes a great family night for the holidays. Make a crockpot of chili, [...]
I recently came across the story of Bill Havens. The name is not a familiar one, but he is a hero to me.
In 1924, Bill was set to go to the Olympic games in Paris to compete in the newly added sport canoeing. He was in fact favored to win the gold for the United [...]
On a rare occasion when I was cleaning up yesterday, I found a card written by my son in 2003. He was 15 years old at the time.
I was overwhelmed with gratitude as I read his words, written to Mom and Dad: “Thank you for always being there for me, being people I can trust, [...]
Today, my 19-year-old daughter Audrey is out with her little sister Amy for the day, to celebrate the little one’s 13th birthday.
As a present, Audrey is taking Amy to lunch, shopping at the mall, and then dinner. This present comes with $30 cash for Amy to spend at the mall!
Now that Audrey has a part-time [...]
I haven’t had time to post the last few days – Summer vacation started!
Are your kids home for the summer like mine are? Do you find yourself out of routine, off schedule, and seem to get nothing done?
And it’s ok! It’s ok to do things differently; it’s ok to have no routine; it’s ok to [...]
“I feel left out when you guys talk. I don’t know what you are talking about.”
As the third and youngest child, my daughter is 6 years behind our second child and 7 1/2 years behind her older brother. At the dinner table, we would be talking about getting ready for college when she is [...]
On Sunday morning we woke up early to make breakfast before church. I was cooking up some turkey sausages, my son was grilling blueberry pancakes next to me, my husband was dicing apples to put into our brown sugar oatmeal, and the girls were setting up the table. We sat down to a leisurely Sunday [...]
Today’s article is written by Peter Aldin, founder of Great Circle Life Coaching. For over a decade, he has provided coaching, workshops and training that assist people to sharpen their personal and professional relationships and communication. Peter and his family live and work in Melbourne. I love his light-hearted (and helpful) look at fatherhood [...]
Kids don’t know anything about the economy nor do they care. They could care less about unemployment, recession, or foreclosures.
But kids should be very concern about the economy. Do they know that it has a great impact on their personal lives? Their family vacation, their college fund, the amount of Christmas gifts they get, and [...]
This is the second article in the series on Discipline.
Honestly, no one likes to be disciplined, isn’t that right? Whether you are an adult being disciplined by the law or by your boss, or you are a child disciplined by a teacher or by a parent, it’s definitely no fun.
We parents recognize that the computer is a great tool and we want our children to use the computer.
But at the same time we are fearful for our children when they do use the computer!
My son is one of those that would have taken apart the radio and rebuilt a better one if he was [...]
Would you like to give gifts that you don’t have to wrap? In fact, it doesn’t even cost you any money and it’s very meaningful! What can be better than that?
Here they are:
1. Give a compliment. The cashier has been on her feet all day, and everyone in the long line is probably mad [...]
Are you getting overwhelmed by the busyness of the holidays? Take it easy on yourself and keep things simple yet meaningful. Cindy Leung, a mother of 2, shares a few simple ideas for creating great memories for your family.
What do you hope your children will be like when they grow up? We want them to have a good education, be financially secure, settle down and have a good family, right?
Have you thought about wanting your children to be compassionate people?
Merriam-Webster defines compassion as “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to [...]
