Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

The 21st Century Parent

John was a 43 year-old sales manager at a large company. He’s married and has 3 children, ages 7, 9, and 12. His wife works part-time as a nursing assistant, and they both do as much as they can to parent their children well. John has developed serious doubts about his ability to be an effective parent in the last couple of years. All of his kids are involved in after school activities, and his. . .

Parents: Give Gifts That Will Keep On Giving

Many well meaning parents will buy gifts this season for their kids and teens that may be on one of the hot toy lists but lack true play value. Many toys that are hyped by media and word of mouth do not provide the type of play activity that can lead to healthy growth and development. New research shows that appropriate play stimulates brain development. Play should be active, child directed an. . .

Finding Answers to Underachievement

Finding answers to a child's underachievement is often a difficult and complex process. Let intuition be your guide, knowing when and how to ask the right questions. Here are 7 steps to get you started:1. Narrow the Problem. By the time a family member or teacher steps in to help an underachieving child, it may be months or years since problems may have first appeared. It can be extremely diffi. . .

What Does James Bond Do on Christmas?

Judging from his past actions of helping people in distress and rescuing the world when it's on the brink of destruction, the answer is easy if you think about it. Here's a hint. When he leaves the casino at the beginning of 'Dr. No' he casually tips the doorman. Yes, he's free with his money. He's also free with his compliments as he tips the craps dealers in 'Diamond's Are Forever', saying, '. . .

Giving Great Gift: How To Think The Thought That Counts.

Here it is in a nutshell: it’s the thought that counts because it’s the thought itself that is actually the gift. The material expression of that thought is what you wrap up in brightly colored paper and shiny ribbons. But if the gift inside does not clearly reveal The Thought, it may be splashy or clever or impressive – but it will never be truly great. What, then, in our quest to give great g. . .

Pay Off Debt Now: 5 Steps To Getting Your Finances In Order

In our world of dizzying change, nothing is more true than the time honored statement that circumstances always change. No where is this more true than with financial issues. Have you ever borrowed money, or charged up the VISA card at Christmas, all the while telling yourself that you would pay everything off with a coming tax refund or bonus? Sound familiar. And then what happens when the bon. . .

Are There Any Safe Alternatives to E-mail?

When e-mail first became popular in the 1990s, it was viewed as nothing short of wonderful. There was no need to go to the post office, no need to purchase paper or stamps, and no waiting days for a reply. People could easily and quickly send written messages to anyone else with an e-mail address. Life was good. Then, abuses by commercial entities began to creep in and ruin the fun. These spoil. . .

17 Ways to Determine if a Beanie Baby is Counterfeit

You should always buy Ty Beanie Babies from reputable dealers or from sellers who you know how to contact. These dealers and sellers should also have many references and/or feedback from other people they have done business with. Most counterfeit Beanie Babies are easy to spot if you know what to look for. If you don't know what to look for then you will probably have a hard time telling most c. . .

Say "I Love You" For Valentine's Day

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about the perfect gift for the one you love. Whether you are looking for something special on a tight budget or would simply like to add something special to another gift, there's no better way to express your love than by saying it in a variety of languages.Find a nice jar and cut different colored paper into heart-shaped. . .

The Talking Stick

Have you ever heard of a Talking Stick? I hadn't until two days ago when my husband presented me with one! “Okay…” I thought, “Is this supposed to be some joke about me talking too much or what?” But then he continued his presentation saying, “Honey, I know that sometimes you think I'm not listening to you. I have to admit, sometimes you're right. But you are. . .

Rediscovering Love and Intimacy

Wendy started counseling with me because Terence, her husband of 14 years, had just expressed to her that he wanted to end their relationship. Wendy, terrified of being alone, was panicked. Within a few minutes of speaking with her in a phone session, I understood exactly the underlying cause of their relationship problems.Wendy, coming from a family where she experienced much neglect, had a de. . .

How to Reorganize Your Divorce Life for Happiness?

Do your dreams, hopes and ambitions shattered by your own divorce? Do you feel completely worn out of your desire to go on with your life? Do you feel you have no more purpose or inspiration for life's achievements?You must not let yourself think along these lines. Be positive. Divorce is said to be emotionally painful and recovery from it is terribly hard, but it should not be taken as an end. . .

What Divorce Parenting Practices is Best Appropriate for ...

It is being said that how bad or how well children go through the divorce depends on how the situation is handled. And believe me when I tell you that there is an appropriate divorce parenting practices for children of any age for them to be healthy, happy and successful despite you're divorce. It simple means that divorced parents can raise healthy, happy and successful children. Here, in thi. . .

What Divorce Parenting Practices is Best Appropriate for ...

How do you spare your preschoolers for the negative effects of divorce? How do you promote your preschooler's healthy growth and development? The answer is appropriate divorce parenting practices. The next question is what appropriate divorce parenting practices for preschooler really means? Let's keep things simple. All you need to know is learn how divorce affect your children. Knowing how pr. . .

The Artful Dog Shopper

I am a dog lover by nature. I have just always loved the little four legged fur balls.Another thing I have always loved is animal art. It could be photographs, paintings, statues or even dog cartoons.I don't really know why I like them, but I do. I've noticed there are a lot of other animal art lovers out there too. It seems to be a natural connection.People with children often have a ton of pi. . .

Mommy Needs Her Sleep

Bringing a new baby home from the hospital is a beautiful experience, but it can also be filled with a multitude of anxieties and frustrations. One of the major sources of anxiety is figuring out how you can get your baby sleeping through the night. When will your baby be sleeping through the night and how long will it take? When are you going to finally get the rest that you so badly need? Wel. . .

Jewish Dating: It Pays to Date Like-Minded People

Searching for the perfect mate can be one of life's greatest challenges. After all, forever is a long time. You want to make the right decision. Dating itself can be really trying. It can be hard to find the right people. What if they don't share the same values and beliefs that you do? How do you handle that and when? Wouldn't it be easier to know ahead of time that they are Jewish, just like . . .

Is Dog Obedience School for You?

Are you thinking about dog obedience school? Do you know what to expect out of it? Do you know what it costs or where to find a good school?If not, let me help take out some of the mystery of finding one to make sure you and your dog get the best experience you can.If you have searched the web in this topic, you probably found some sites that are basically search engines within search engines, . . .

What Do You Truly Value Most?

Believe it or not, values are in the core of all of us. These underrated rankings tell more about us than we could ever imagine. Yet, many of us overlook this extremely important portion of our lives. Why do we? Because so many of us get caught up in the race of life and flying ahead of others becomes more important. If becoming a better person everyday is important to you, (and it should be) y. . .

Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs

Dog owners, who recognize the early signs and symptoms of illness or pain in their dogs, will not only relieve their loved one’s suffering but may also be able to save themselves an expensive trip to the veterinarian. Not only is it important to recognize these signs early to relieve pain and suffering, but it is much more effective to treat an illness when it is detected early.The dog owner sh. . .

Family Life or How to buy Tableware

For someone who appreciated the finer things in life,who wants everything to be just right, the luxury and elegance of Spode and MInton is for you.They have something for every stylish dining occasion,whethere formal or relaxed, with friends and family.If you want your home to be beautiful make sure to add a value to this one with beautiful Spode and Minton Porcelain Sets. Timeless-Elegant.Supe. . .

We All Need A Father Figure To Lean On

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Life which is soon past, only what’s done with love will last.' When I think of the ultimate father figure I think of the extraordinary paternal love and devotion of the Biblical King David for his son Absalom even when his son turned against him and attempted to kill him. As eloquently expressed by King David, when he wept over the death of his son, “Absalom, my dear son, oh. . .

Nothing Beats Family.

I stepped into my hotel room to a pleasant surprise. Lots of room surrounded an inviting king-size bed, flanked by overstuffed armchairs that rested against sliding glass doors that opened onto a private patio. A small dining table sat next to a kitchenette with a separate sink, refrigerator and coffee machine. “Wow,” I thought to myself. “Nice place.” I love hotels—from the Holiday Inn Ex. . .

Safe Relationship Spaces

I have been counseling individuals, couples, families and business partners for the past 35 years and have numerous published books on the subject of relationships and relationship communication. Most of the couples I work with, even those in deep trouble when starting counseling with me, resolve their difficulties because they learn to create safe relationship spaces through a process called I. . .

Online Shopping: 10 Tips To Help You Do Online Shopping S...

Some of the reasons why most people are shopping online are: they can buy anything at anytime because Internet shopping is available 24 hours, all the time. You can shop from the convenience of your home. You can avoid traffic and crowding at the malls. Online shopping is one of the best ways to locate hard-to-find items not available in your local stores.Whatever you buy can be delivered b. . .

Flea Control

Fleas can be a real problem if you have a pet in your home. We learned from our vet that the best way to control fleas is to treat both your home and your pet simultaneously. Last summer, we added a new pet to our family - our cat, Ally. She was a sweet, shorthaired, stray kitten that we picked up from a neighbor's house. Ally had one problem though - fleas. She was completely infested with the. . .

The Wedding Party

In ancient times, brides were thought to be particularly vulnerable to evil spirits, so in order to protect the bride, her friends were richly dressed in costumes similar to the bride's and acted as decoys to confuse the evil spirits.It was once common for the bride and groom, as well as their friends, to walk to the church on the morning of the wedding. Afraid that a spurned suitor would try t. . .

Wedding Cake

The wedding cake is one of the most important features of your reception. In fact, it is the centerpiece of your reception. You should begin shopping for a baker 6-8 months before the wedding. If you plan on having your reception catered, ask your caterer if they will bake your wedding cake. However, you do not have to choose the caterer to bake your cake. You can also buy cakes from commercial. . .

How To Save Money By Testing For Feline UTI Yourself

Do you want to save money, anxiety for your kitty, and unnecessary trips to your vet? Would you like to know if your cat is developing crystals in her urine that could lead to a feline UTI? It's easy to do with this check-at-home method.If your kitty has been previously diagnosed with a feline UTI, there's a chance it could re-occur. Since it's impossible to see the crystals in your cat's urine. . .

Resistance to Celebrating

Some people really love celebrations – birthdays, anniversaries, holidays – while other people seem to dislike them. Derek will tell you that he could go through life very nicely without celebrations. To Derek, celebrations are a bother, a nuisance. They are meaningless and commercialized, created by big business to make money. Derek does not want to fall into the trap of being like everyone el. . .

What 3 Greatest Gift You Can Give To Your Children by Co-...

A successful divorce is one in which the parents divorce each other but do not require the child to divorce one of the parents, either as a result of parental conflict or by one parent not being available to the child. It is a well-established fact that a child experiencing the dissolution of the family structure will do better if the parents are able to get along and reduce trauma in an alread. . .

Should I Feed My Dog BARF?

BARF stands for Bones and Raw Food. It is a diet for dogs that has received a lot of attention over the past few years, but should you feed it to your dogs?The BARF feeding regimen actually consists of throwing a raw carcass (usually chicken) to your dog and letting him eat it bones and all. The thinking behind this concept is that dogs used to eat raw food like this for thousands of years in t. . .

The Privilege of Resolving Relationship Conflict

In a phone session I had with Shelly and Stan, a couple who have been together for six years, they described to me a conflict they had the day before. Stan had become irritated with Shelly and Shelly had responded to his irritation by withdrawing. This was a typical dynamic between them, and the distance would often continue for days until they finally talked about it or until the charged energ. . .

Chinese Marriage

In ancient China, a man could have as many concubines as possible after the first wife. It was possible that the youngest concubine would be a teenager while the husband could be an ancient old man. Poor families sold their young daughters to rich families just because they could get some money from the rich family and also get rid of a useless female in the family.Since 1950, the Chinese gover. . .

Colts’ Stadium Short On Horse Sense

The predominant discussion in the Indianapolis media over the proposed $500 million Colts stadium is how to fund it, not over the wisdom and propriety of taxpayers going into debt to build it.Apparently the leaders of both major political parties in Indiana have signed off on the concept, including a poor building design, and are content to confine their discussion to who’s picking up the tab.C. . .

Help! The Kids Are Taking Over

Once upon a time, I harbored a quaint notion of child development. In the my imaginary world, children eventually transmogrified into those horror-movie monsters called teenagers. They would overrun the house for a few years, scorching and pillaging along the way...but leaving no lasting damage that a new mortgage and a five-year Caribbean cruise couldn't fix. They would then transmogrify in. . .

Getting Started

We are going to get started by giving you the know how to accomplish the task of training your dog. A trained dog is a happy dog. There is no need for smacking, yelling, punishing or anything negative like that. If you know how to do it right, your dog will not do anything that will make you want to react in such harsh ways. Keep this in mind when training your pet, no matter what, your dog wan. . .

Secret Signal That Tells You Your Dog Is Ready And Eager ...

No one knows your dog better than you, and as such you will find your dog has ways of telling you, it’s time to play. This can occur by him bringing you the collar you use while training or he may run back and forth to the front dog around training time. Different times of the day and evening, We find it’s best to Practice commands at different times of the day and evening as your dog gets bett. . .

Obedience Training Benefits Everyone

A well behaved, obedience trained dog is a pleasure to own because he can go virtually anywhere without being a risk or nuisance to others. And don't we all want a dog who exhibits appropriate behavior in a crowd, good manners when we have guests in our home, is reliable around children, and who doesn't threaten other dogs or passers-by? Note: Never ever move forward to the next level with out . . .

Trout Species – Brook Trout

Brook Trout: Frequently gullible, yet extremely tasty, Brook Trout are wonderful trout to fish for - especially since they frequently inhabit the most beautiful stream settings in the U.S. The Brook Trout was originally found in the Midwest and along the East Coast. It is sort of the Eastern counterpart to the Western Cutthroat trout – with its range extending all the way from Canada down to th. . .

Divorce and Children: Things To Consider When You're Stay...

All children are different and respond differently to divorce. Depending on the characteristics of the children - age, emotional maturity, happiness, resiliency to trauma - the easier or more difficult it will be for children to weather a divorce. As a parent, you should know your children better than anyone...use your best judgment with your children during considering divorce. This 'divorce a. . .

Playing Baby Computer Games – The New Parent-Child Tradit...

Imagine cuddling up with your small child to look at a picture book together that is interactive, musical, responsive and talks to you?This is the experience that people are having who are engaged in that relatively new pastime – playing computer games with babies.JumpStart’s Knowledge Adventure calls it “lapware”, Kiddies Games’ logo is “Hop on the lap and tap”, and Sesame Street’s “Baby and M. . .

Small Children, Languages and Myths

Our children are growing up bilingual in the French part of Canada – Québec. “That’s fine”, says everyone. “Even though they’ll probably start speaking later because they’re learning two languages at once, they’ll catch up.”Well actually, this well-entrenched idea that bilingual children are slower to acquire language, is actually a myth! We were surprised and delighted to learn that research i. . .

Traditional VS Modern Anniversary Gifts

Most people are familiar with the traditional materials list that good etiquette requires us use as a guide when selecting a gift to commemorate a wedding anniversary. If you are like most people, you might find it a bit challenging to convert the materials on the list into an acceptable gift idea. There may be more choices available to you than you realize. Do you know that an updated “modern”. . .

Divorced Parent: Do You Alienate Your Child from the Othe...

I have seen some divorce parents consciously distance their children from the other parent? Such actions may only be justified when there is a genuine concern about the children's emotional or physical safety when with the other parent. But in the absence of past domestic violence, drug or alcohol abuse, physical, sexual, or emotional child abuse, alienating children from the other parent will. . .

What Divorce Parenting Practices is Best Appropriate for ...

Toddlers, toddlers, toddlers! Very young, seems don't understand what is happening yet their development may be affected by parental divorce. During the first three years of life, children grow quickly and become mobile, learn language, begin to understand how the world works, and form social relationship. With parental divorce, threat to child's full development will always be present.But her. . .

Introduction to Dog House Training

One of the greatest things in the world is a loving relationship between a person and their dog. It’s no accident that dogs are known as ‘mans best friend.’ The relationship of a dog and his owner is a wonderful thing to be a part of and behold. Choosing a dog is a very important decision. Not only does a dog have to be the breed that you find interesting or attractive, but also there are a few. . .

Why Train Your Dog?

One of the questions that may come to mind right now is why, why should I train my dog? What are the benefits to my dog and me? I will address that question below. Obedience training is one of the most important aspects of raising a dog. In fact, a well-trained dog is by far a happier dog! Why? Because the fact is a trained dog requires fewer restrictions. The more reliable the dog, the more fr. . .

Some Tips for a Well-Behaved Dog

Train your dog early. Start training your puppy early on. While old dogs can be taught new tricks, what's learned earliest, is often learned quickest and easiest. Moreover, the older the dog, the more bad habits will likely need to be "un-learned". When it comes to raising and training a dog, an ounce of problem prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure! Train your dog gently and humanely w. . .

General Overview About Trout Senses

When fly fishing for trout, it is of crucial importance to understand their senses. Trout are fish, after all, and make different use of their senses than we do. Understanding these senses can greatly increase the prospects of a successful fly fishing trip. Many anglers make the common mistake of thinking trout are not very smart. As far as hatchery born fish are concerned, this is mostly corre. . .