Allowing Allowance Teaching Children Responsibility One Dollar at a Time Article Excerpt: When Danny Payne was a child, he would go to the store with his parents and find a toy he just had to have. Although many parents give in and fork over the cash to please their children, Payne's parents reminded him of the long list of chores posted on the fridge that would allow him to earn the money to buy the toy. "I can remember that mowing the lawn paid $1.25, which I'm sure violated child labor laws because our Midwest lawn was huge," said Payne, a California-based certified financial planner. After a week or two of mowing the lawn and checking off chores on that list, Payne began to value his earnings and decided that the toy he just had to have wasn't necessarily worth the money. Payne learned a valuable lesson about managing his finances and prioritizing his wants and needs.
Category: Newspaper Writing
Destination: Mom-Cation
A mom often spends her days tripping over action figures, soothing her infant's emerging teeth and defusing the tantrums of a toddler. Exhaustion sets in, and, with a little luck, she may get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. to bless her tired bones. The fast-paced life of a mother can run down even the most fit and healthy mom if she doesn't make time for herself. Ramani Durvasula, a Los Angeles-based family therapist and mother, notes that mothering has turned into a competitive sport in our society. The result is burnout and "suboptimal" mothering.
Finding the Perfect Mix for a Blended Family
Published April 2011: eHow Family & Relationships Finding the Perfect Mix for a Blended Family How to Achieve Harmony While Embracing Differences Article Excerpt: When Cherie and Steve Miller married 10 years ago, they knew it would be a challenge merging their existing families. Cherie had three sons, ages 12, 18 and 20, and Steve… Continue reading Finding the Perfect Mix for a Blended Family
The Hidden Veggie
The Hidden Veggie Stocking Up On a Healthy Lifestyle Article Excerpt: When her children were young, Antoinette Kuritz made sure they ate their veggies. In fact, she made sure they grew them, too. "We planted a huge garden, and they each had their own colander," said Kuritz, a California-based public relations specialist. "For each meal, they went outside and picked the veggie they wanted, picked how much they were prepared to eat, washed and drained it, and put it on their plates." For the Kuritz family, vegetables were a natural part of mealtime. However, in many households today, the closest thing to a veggie is a French fry. Adding much-needed nutrients to your kids' meals may be a challenge when high sugar, salt and fatty foods are conveniently within reach, but it's a necessity for maintaining their health. Before you'll have any success, though, you'll have to get to the root of the veggie stigma as a family.
Your Turn: Games to Foster Better Sibling Relationships
Your Turn: Games to Foster Better Sibling Relationships Create a Winning Match Through Play Article Excerpt: A squabble over toys or a disagreement about house rules may seem pretty typical between a brother and sister. However, when the arguing escalates and disrupts home life for the entire family, it may indicate that sibling rivalry is rearing its ugly head. According to New York-based Jane Greer, Ed.D., a nationally known marriage and family therapist and author of "What About Me? Stop Selfishness from Ruining Your Relationship," when children aren't taught to share, it results in severe sibling rivalry. Read the rest of the story at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Putting a Pet to Rest
Article Excerpt: When Jodi Caroland's daughter was 3, she yelped out a blood-curdling cry in the middle of the night. Caroland, a licensed professional counselor in Troy, Michigan, rushed to her daughter's bedside and found her hysterically crying over Smimmy, her goldfish, who was floating at the top of his bowl. Understanding Grief The loss of human life is often viewed as more traumatic than the loss of a pet. However, the loss of a pet can be just as devastating for its owners. "There is a difference in how other people perceive this loss, in particular those who do not understand the human-animal bond, and that may be difficult for the family who lost a pet," said Linda Lawrence, clinical instructor and veterinary social work services coordinator at Michigan State University in Lansing. Read the rest of the story at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Paying it Forward for Spring Break
Published March 2011: eHow Family & Relationships Paying it Forward for Spring Break Pitching in for a good cause teaches important lessons Article Excerpt: As a clinical counselor, Susan Fee listens daily as parents talk about wanting their children to be more appreciative, selfless, independent and caring. "I often ask, 'What opportunities are you giving… Continue reading Paying it Forward for Spring Break
Coping With Divorce: Cultivating Your Child’s Feelings
Published February 2011: eHow Family & Relationships Coping With Divorce: Cultivating Your Child's Feelings Creating a United Front When Separation Occurs Article Excerpt: Divorce is never easy for adults. The stress of separation, emotional turmoil and physical loss often takes its toll. The reality, though, is that while adults are learning to cope, children are… Continue reading Coping With Divorce: Cultivating Your Child’s Feelings
Playground Dilemma: The Balance at Play
Published February 2011: eHow Family & Relationships Playground Dilemma: The Balance at Play Parents Can Guide Children to Benefits from Both Wireless and Wired Activities Article Excerpt: As a tech-savvy parent, Barack Levin is exposed to computers every day. The Atlanta-area stay-at-home dad and author of "The Diaper Chronicles: A stay at home dad's quest… Continue reading Playground Dilemma: The Balance at Play
Helping Kids With Their First Crush
Published February 2011: eHow Family & Relationships Helping Kids With Their First Crush Picking Up the Pieces When They Fall Head Over Heels Article Excerpt: When Terrina Picarello was in the eighth grade, she fell hard for a boy. Her summer crush was doomed to end -- the boy went to a different school --… Continue reading Helping Kids With Their First Crush
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 