Sounds simple right, but not always easy to do. Michelle emphasizes many of the basics and reminds us of the critical role we play in our children’s lives, the development of who they are and will become,   more...and their ultimate success not only in school but in life. And she comes at this from the unique vantage point of an experienced school counselor who has observed and worked with children in one of their primary settings – school.

Michelle begins by reaffirming for us that as parents, we are the most powerful influence in our child’s life. This is a responsibility that cannot be taken lightly and it’s important that we recognize that it does take a considerable amount of time and energy – as it should. For many of us in today’s world, with the hectic pace, multiple jobs, commuting, endless activities and commitments, just making time is a big responsibility but it is absolutely critical. Our children see the world through our eyes, at least for a time, and so we have the opportunity to help them experience a world in which they learn how to trust, feel safe, secure and good about themselves and others – in general optimistic about life and the possibilities it holds for them.

Michelle emphasizes the importance of inculcating trust in your child at a young age. By being present with them, both physically and emotionally, being consistent with our own behavior, by being available to them when they require help, comfort or safety and by giving them validation through positive feedback and recognition, they learn to trust that others around them can be relied on and can be sought out for help when they need it.

We are their introduction to the world, so by instilling confidence in them, by being in good relationships with them, we give them the skills and confidence to reach out to others and be in healthy relationships. Without that foundation of trust, kids learn early on that they world is an uncaring and unsafe place, they don’t seek the support of others such as teachers that could support them in reaching their goals, and they have more difficulty in forming friendships and intimate relationships as they get older.

Another key area that Michelle touches on in her first Lesson is the importance of parents remembering that they are the parents, and that the children are the children. In a day when divorce and separation are so prevalent, not to mention parents who work long hours and don’t have as much time with their children as they would like, we are also seeing an upswing in parental guilt and overcompensation, resulting in great numbers of parents relinquishing their parental roles in lieu of having more of a friend role with their children. This creates a great deal of confusion and a sense of being lost for children as the adults are no longer in charge and are often taking their cues from the children. Although the child may appear to like this arrangement for what it can offer them in the short term, below the surface, they are needing and craving the structure and the reassurance that someone else is in charge, taking care of things and making sure they are safe. Allowing our children to be the children, requires us to set the limits, expectations, boundaries, and consequences, all of which convey to them a sense of security and takes the pressure off of them for being emotionally mature beyond their years.

I think for many families today who are either separated, divorced, remarried and blended or even just going through a tough time at home for any number of reasons, it is important that we remind ourselves continuously that our children are not mature enough to handle adult problems. To the extent we can, we need to find ways of shielding them from the issues that we can shield them from. It is not unusual for parents who are going through a particularly tough time, to lean on or confide in their child when it would be more appropriate to find another adult, friend or counselor w  less

The Holiday season is nearly here and for many it's a mixed blessing--Holiday Stress mixed with Holiday Cheer.

Who isn't charmed with sparkling store displays, excited children, and all the delicious cookies   more...and candies everywhere? And a major highlight is arranging relaxed quality time with family and friends at Holiday dinners and parties. There are high expectations and a variety of pressures to ensure happy celebrations.  less

The Holiday season is nearly here and for many it's a mixed blessing--Holiday Stress mixed with Holiday Cheer.
Who isn't charmed with glittering store displays, eager children, and all the tempting cookies   more...and candies everywhere? And a major highlight is arranging relaxed quality time with family and friends at Holiday dinners and parties. There are high expectations and multiple pressures to guarantee joyful celebrations.  less

It’s a well-documented fact that kids who eat dinner regularly with their families feel more attached, do better in school and are less likely to be involved in drugs, alcohol, and other dangerous behaviors.   more...But in today’s fast-paced, taxing, crazy world, there seems to be little time for getting together and connecting with family, and in blended families with transitioning kids and jam-packed schedules, it’s even more difficult. We have the illusion of unity with our ever present cell phones, text messaging and email, but there’s no replacement for face to face, gadget-free interaction with family members all in one place.
One simple solution is to schedule regular family dinners. There are many excellent reasons to make the family dinner part of your routine as often as possible.  less

Father's Day, June 15, is almost here.

It's a unique time when millions of dads are treated like kings and honored by their kids with gifts of love, respect and admiration.

There's no denying the importance   more...of a father in a child's life, and today there are many different descriptors for dads; step dad, divorced dad, single dad, Mr Mom dad, gay dad.

What they have in common is an indelible impression on their children's lives in terms of increased self-confidence, a strong sense of well-being, self-control, and success in school.

It's true that a small percentage of deadbeat dads ruin the reputation of the majority, we only wish these absent dads could be present for their kids.

But on top of that over 90% of dads believe that being a dad is one of the most important roles a man can have. While celebrating Father's Day, we offer some insight into two of the most common blended family dads: the step dad and the divorced dad.  less

Blended Family News presents an LIVE teleconference interview of Kris & Bruce Jenner on 5/15/08. A few subscribers to the StepHeroes Newsletter were distraught that we would interview a couple whose   more...children are "less than exemplary". Our feeling is that if the Jenners have beaten the odds against having a successful 2nd marriage for 17 years, they must be doing SOMETHING right.  less

As discussed in the previous article, blended families, along with all families, will sooner or later feel the negative impact of the Wall Street meltdown. Many blended families are feeling the personal   more...anguish of financial strain, powerlessness and generalized stress as the repercussions ramifications ripple through our economy.
Again, we’re not in a position to offer a bailout plan for our blended families, but here we offer some additional strategies to help you take action and feel more in control of your destiny as this economic fiasco plays itself out.  less

this was 4 years ago, dont act this way towards my mom anymore, i grew up. rlshow.tv or rubbercakeshop.com for more

9/11 Families want the Evidence to be Presented at Trial!

http://www.worldwideinsurancecenter.com Get free instant online health insurance rate quotes for the cheapest health insurance for families. The best health insurance companies to stop being uninsured

The opening titles to the animated children's show "Sylvanian Families".

Tamara Rosenleaf reminds us what it is all about. She shares the pain that those of us without family and friends in the military will never know. Sometimes we forget that the numbers are real people.   more...Mona and Tamara don't forget; their loved ones are in Iraq.  less

An in teresting video of coffee beans fermenting to get rid of the final stuff before they are sorted. This is the way that <a href="http://www.coffeecaffeine.com/">Gourmet Coffee, Jamaican   more...Blue Mountain Coffee</a> is made. One of the many steps in getting beans ready for roasting.  less

An in teresting video of coffee berries being pulped to get rid of the fruit and reveal the bean, this is how <a href="http://www.coffeecaffeine.com/">Gourmet Coffee, Jamaican Blue Mountain   more...Coffee</a> is made. One of the many steps in getting beans ready for roasting.  less

Great Video of <a href="http://www.coffeecaffeine.com/">Gourmet Coffee, Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee</a> being sorted to get rid of the nasty beans leaving only the top quality   more...beans behind. Look at how fast this lady goes through the beans at the Jamaican Mavis Bank Coffee Factory. Skilled hands doing skilled work.  less

Great Video of <a href="http://www.coffeecaffeine.com/">Gourmet Coffee, Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee</a> being dryed at the factory after being floated and then pulped to remove   more...the fruit.  less

Great Video of gourmet coffee being roasted, made into flavored coffee and packaged.

http://www.EndChildHungerAZ.org Strategy Goal: Increase Arizona state-wide SNAP participation rate to 90%New Federal Food Stamp Program SNAP Helping Arizona Families through Arizona Food Banks.   more...It can be tough to get the help your family needs. Arizona Self Help is a free and easy way to find out if your family can get help from 25 different health and human services programs. This website provides convenient, one-stop access to: The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) is providing this pre-screening tool to help you find out if you or others might be eligible to receive SNAP benefits. This tool is not an application for SNAP. But the tool can help you make an informed decision as to whether you or others should apply at your local SNAP office. It can also guess how much you will get. But only your local SNAP office can tell you for sure.http://endchildhungeraz.org/the-strategies/snap/ Donate at http://www.Change.org/EndChildHungerAZPutting Healthy Food within ReachUSDA's Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services today announced the advent of a new era in nutrition assistance at USDA. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the new name of the Food Stamp Program, as a result of the recently enacted Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246), also known as the Farm Bill. The new name, effective October 1, 2008 more accurately reflects the Program's mission to provide food assistance and nutrition education to assist participants as they move to a healthier lifestyle and self-sufficiency."The national name change and implementation of the Farm Bill provisions strengthens the ability to more effectively put healthy food within reach by increasing access to all who are eligible. This is a great opportunity to showcase this effective and efficient modern nutrition program and make clear to all that SNAP puts healthy food on table in AZ.  less

Nine families in Dallas have a lot to be thankful for this year - including their new homes. On Friday, November 21, Whirlpool brand, Habitat for Humanity International, and Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity   more...officially dedicated new homes built with nine Habitat partner families as part of the third annual Whirlpool® Building Blocks community build.

To view Multimedia News Release go to http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/whirlpool/36022/  less

View a video discussion on the advantages of genetic engineering and other genetic engineering pros with farm families and experts from around the world.

This is a song Neil Young wrote to honor the lives of all troops fighting the war on terror. It is on the Living With War album. My uncle served in Vietnam when I was a 9-10 year old. We were very close   more...to him. He would come home on leave and tell us horror stories about what he had seen and experienced over there. He was 19-20 at the time. Every time he would go back we feared he wouldn't come home. When he called me and told me he was finally home for good my 10 year old heart lept for joy. That was one of my happiest childhood memories. My story has a happy ending. My heart goes out to all people who have lost loved ones in all wars. May they always be remembered with honor.  less

The Galich Family enjoys a Sunday Lunch at Sneaky Pets's in Lewisville Texas on April 5, 2008.

We know it blends but can we purify the nasty out of raw salmon

071212 - Genie zuo - Visit disadvantaged families