Tweet “American Idle” – no, I didn’t misspell it. “Idle,” as in — not active or in use; avoiding work; lazy; without purpose; or possibly — average American teenager. So, what are you going to do about it? Your child is only 13; he or she can’t legally get a job. Are you going to teach your child the value of hard work or leave him under the curse of idleness? Maybe you don’t think it is that important; in that case you child is screwed. Let’s just assume you know work is important. So, how are you going to impart this life lesson to your child? First of all, if you are starting this process when he or she is 13, get ready for some serious work of your own. A 13-year-old … Read entire article »

Tweet Substance abuse is a wide reaching problem that can devastate an entire family. Most guidelines on treating family addiction problems are geared towards parents who need to help a child. However, sometimes the parent is the one with the problem. This can be a more complex issue to deal with. Fortunately, children are not powerless in helping their parents get the help they need. Here are some tips to help you get your parent to receive treatment for their substance abuse problem. Be Open to the Warning Signs Many people have a difficult time realizing when their grown parents are struggling with a substance abuse problem. The warning signs are similar to those of a child who has a problem. However, there are a couple of key differences that may make it difficult … Read entire article »

Tweet The Healing Power of Touch in Helping Your Child Deal With Trauma Children who have experienced trauma may show signs of anxiety and depression. This is completely normal. It is important to remember that while the trauma affects the child, the stress it puts on the caretaker and the disruption that it brings to their lives has the most impact. Here’s what you should know. Signs of Trauma Some common signs include clinging, crying, separation anxiety, loss of appetite, loss of sleep and whining. They may show many challenging behaviors as well, such as hitting and kicking, wanting a bottle after they have been weaned, withdrawal from others and bed wetting. They could also be very subtle, such as a change in favorite activities. How Parents Can Help Parents can help with the negative effects through the power of touch. This is because children recover better when they have a supportive environment. The need to see that their parents are care about and love them will give them … Read entire article »

Tweet National Scrapbook Day is on 5th May, 2012. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU? Well, you could ignore it and just go about your business doing the same thing you do everyday OR You could have some fun by taking part in MyMemories fun games, super scraps and of course some SUPER FUN giveaways!! They are having a combined celebration: National Scrapbooking Day + Cinco de Mayo = CINCO de SCRAPO!! WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO? Check out the MyMemories Blog this Wednesday for a VERY fun Challenge Check out the MyMemories Facebook page on Friday, Saturday and Sunday if you want those freebies If you are interested in getting a copy of the MyMemories scrapbook software, use this code to get a $10 discount. The code also gets you a $10 gift voucher that you can use at their scrapbook store. MY … Read entire article »