Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Talking to Kids ABout War

A few days ago, my 8 year old daughter asked my wife “What state is Iraq?” My wife explained that Iraq is not a state, but another country. This led to a number of other questions: “Why are they fighting?” “Why is Saddam Hussein bad?” And finally, in a very round-about way, she came to the real question: “Are we safe?” Unless you live in a . . .

Let's Read! The Benefits of Reading to Your Children

Parents, when you help your children learn to read, you help them open the door to a big, exciting world. As a parent, you can begin an endless learning chain like this: You read to your children, they develop a love of stories and poems, they want to read on their own, they practice reading, and finally, they read for their own information or pleasure. When children become readers, their world. . .

So, The Thing Is... We Reap What We Sow

So, the thing is… we reap what we sow.A few weeks ago, my daughters and I planted some seeds. It was a fun project to do together because it involved digging in the dirt and talking about how plants grow, plus the sun was warm on our faces. It was a perfect day. I wouldn’t have been very surprised if the seeds hadn’t sprouted at all, since projects like this one make Jane very enthusiastic,. . .

Call Me Your Majesty

Please, Just Call Me Your MajestyI was feeling used, abused, and unappreciated. I had just finished shoveling two feet of snow off of our driveway, building two snow forts for the kids, moping the puddles of melted snow off of our floors, feeding the dogs, picking up sopping clothing and doing two loads of laundry. It was now time to make breakfast for the troops! As I walked into the kitche. . .

Six Steps to Raising Financially Responsible Teens

In today’s money-driven society, teens are constantly bombarded by magazines, television ads, and peer pressure which make them feel less than ideal if they do not wear the latest clothing style and drive a “cool” car. Briefly visit your local mall and you will observe multitudes of young people who shop as if credit cards have no maximum spending limit. With all this push for extravagance, is . . .

Just Say Know

Throw it away. Grab another one. Doesn’t get much better than that. Quick, easy, cheap and convenient. At first anyway. Maybe you are wondering what I am rambling on about. I’m talking about a product that’s very high in demand by the general public, it is so popular, that average hard working folks spend gazillions of dollars a year just to use it. What I don’t understand is why? Why do har. . .

4 Tips for Taking Great Baby Pictures - Even If You're No...

When my daughter Layla was born I had a hard time putting the camera down. And apparently I wasn't the only one. The cashier at the photo developing shop told me that new parents comprised a fairly sizable chunk of their business. We can't help it! Babies are such beautiful creatures that you want to capture every new movement and every fleeting smile that comes along. (Even if that smile is at. . .

The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask…

The question I have for you drives right to the heart of the matter. It could alter that tired, haggard feeling you have at the end of a day or weekend. It could alter the life of your children for the better and the life of their future partner. More than that, it could even alter your community, because once I’ve told you the question and you’ve seen how powerful it is you’ll want to share it. . .

The Courage to Be a Loving Parent

Most of us really don’t like it when someone is angry at us. We don’t like it when people go into resistance to helping us when we need help, instead of caring about us. We don’t like it when people withdraw from us, disconnecting from us and shutting us out. We don’t like it when people make demands on us and do not respect our right or need to say no. Many of us will do almost anything to avo. . .

Work at Home Jobs and the Internet

People with work at home jobs should use the Internet to maximize their businesses. The first necessary Internet tool is a website. You can market and sell just about any product or service via a website.How do you get a website? There are sites that provide website hosting services. They may be free or not. With a free host, you usually have to let them place advertisements on your site; you d. . .

Homebased Network Marketing Mlm

Homebased Network Marketing Mlm has three qualities: control of time and money, continual salary, and steady growth which multiplies. By trying to control your time, you can reap from your downline's efforts.A downline is a group of people you recruit to sell your product, and you get a percentage of their sales. With residual income from the downline, you can get more free time for yourself. Y. . .

Scorpio's Child

Scorpios get a lot of bad press. They're vindictive, mean, and obsessed with sex. That's not really fair. Scorpio rules the house of sharing. They are the stewards of sharing money, resources, love, and yes sharing each other's bodies. It is their deepest most spiritual need to be completely connected, loved, and sharing from the depth of their soul. It's from this place that they are so easily. . .

Help! My Kids are Overweight!

Identify the Problem and Find a Solution to your Child’s Weight Gain.If you have recently found yourself fretting over your child’s waistline, you are not alone. The youth of today are fatter than ever before, and parents are starting to panic. Why are our kids so big, and what should we do about it? Childhood obesity has been described as an epidemic. It puts our children’s health at risk, ma. . .

Healing Anger and Violence in Our Society

I have counseled individuals, couples, families and business partners for the past 35 years and authored eight published books. All this experience has resulted in the development of a profound six-step healing process, called Inner Bonding, which anyone can learn and use throughout the day (FREE course available - see resource box). The violence in Littleton, Colorado sparked many discussions . . .

If I Hurt You, Then I'm Sorry

This statement has stopped many a war in my house. My oldest two children are two years apart in age and would fight about everything and nothing when they were little. One would anger the other and then deny that it ever happened. One would accidentally harm the other during play and not want to accept responsibility for the other's anger. Seldom did a day pass by that one of them wasn't s. . .

Making the Holidays More Meaningful

Have the holidays become too commercial for you? Are you feeling empty and unfulfilled during this time of the year? This year by making some simple changes you and your children can truly make the holidays more meaningful.Teach gratitude during the holidays:Gratitude should not only be for the material presents but for the little blessings in their lives. Begin to have your children tell you e. . .

What You Should Know About Scholarships

When it's time to go to college, the word "scholarship" is confusing for both students and parents. We automatically think about student loans, FAFSA, tuition and fees, EFC, grants, and work study. But what we don't realize is that knowing more about the scholarship process could save us thousands of dollars when trying to cover the cost of our kids' education.Scholarships are "free money" gi. . .

Mommy...Daddy...is there really a Santa Claus?

Is there really a Santa Claus? Any parent who hasn't been faced with this question most likely will at some point. But how do you answer this? No one wants to crush a child's dreams of Santa and holiday magic.Some kids, like me, are crushed at school when they hear from a classmate that they found all their presents under their parents' bed, thus, proving there really is no Santa. Then, reasoni. . .

Children, Entitlement and God

“Setting the alarm on Sunday mornings is inhuman…..God should know that!” Those were my adolescent thoughts every weekend when my parents forced me to church. “I can get more out of my headphones and the Beatles.” It was this way as far back as I can remember. Early Sunday school, then later Bible studies, liturgies in another language, all culminating in a weekly teen rebellion against God an. . .

Attitudes-Based Learning

The greatest discovery of my generation (about 1900) is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.William James'Sow a thought, reap an action.Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.'Attitudes-Based Learning (or ABL, for short) is a program initiated in the year 2000 to inculcate positive attitudes and charact. . .

Start Growing Healthy Children Before Getting Pregnant

When I was in my early 20’s, I read Adele Davis’s book, “Let’s Eat Right To Keep fit.” I learned from her that “you are what you eat.” I also learned that our babies are what we eat while we are pregnant, and then are what they eat once they are born. If you nurse your babies, then they continue to be what you eat as long as you are nursing them. My bible during my first pregnancy over 38 years. . .

Someone Stole My Book

At a recent library presentation, a woman stole our book. Not the copyright, not the story, but a single copy of our children's book. Another person might view this as a compliment. The book has enough value for someone to steal it, but I disagree. I don't believe it's a compliment, nor do I view this action as a crime, but instead, I think it's a testament to this woman's character. Sadly, she. . .

Words of Wisdom for Single Parents

The cost of being a parent and raising a child in todays world is constantly increasing. The risk of your child becoming involved in problem behaviour is also greater. Parents must work together as a team to ensure the brightest future for their children. But what if there is no team. No other person to rely upon. This is what millions of single parents deal with everyday. But it is not only th. . .

Keeping Baby Safe: your most important role as a parent

Saying Thanks, But No Thanks to Used Safety EquipmentOnce your beautiful bundle of joy arrives, the work of raising your child really begins. The biggest job you have as a parent is keeping your baby safe. Yet, it is impossible to watch over your children twenty-four hours a day. Thankfully, there are many safety products available to keep them from getting hurt. These products include safety g. . .

Caretaking Parents, Entitled Kids

Demanding children – children who have entitlement issues – seem to be common these days. Like the obnoxious child, Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory, who was constantly demanding that her father get her whatever she wanted (“I want an Umpa Lumpa! Get it for me NOW!”), we hear many children today uttering the fairly constant refrain, “I want ….! Give it to me! Get it for me, . . .

The Challenges of Single Parenting

Having worked with parents for the last 35 years and written books on parenting and relationships, I’ve discovered that one of the greatest challenges for us as parents is to be loving role-models for our children, showing our children through our behavior how to take personal responsibility for their own feelings and needs. Our children need to learn from our role-modeling how to nurture them. . .

Awesome Dad's Top Ten Ways To Be The Foundation of Your F...

Part of the responsibility of being a father is to establish a strong foundation for the family. Just like a building foundation, much of this work goes unseen and rarely gets acknowledged, yet the strength and integrity of the entire structure relies on it. The following intentions, although not always perfectly fulfilled, give us guidance in our mission. Grounded in RealityWhile my children m. . .

Top Ten Ways Working Moms Can Take Care of Themselves

1. Get enough sleep.This means making sure the kids go to bed early enough so you can. Have an evening routine that is calming for everyone.2. Eat well. Yes you know it. Most of you don’t do it. It is just as easy to grab a piece of fruit as a basket of fries. You and your kids will feel better if you eat three good meals a day. Do the shopping, planning and cooking together. This give. . .

Stuffed Toys that are Suitable and Safe.

Adorable stuffed dogs are a favorite gift for dog lovers. Learn what to look for and what to Avoid.Although it's hard to say when the first stuffed dogs appeared, I would guess that it was soon after dogs were domesticated. We do know that as long as there have been children, there have been dolls, rattles, miniature weapons, and hand-made animals. Anthropologists have found evidence of toys da. . .

How Parents Can Win the Battle To Keep Your Child Safe Fr...

When we think of Holiday shopping, we think of all the glowing lights at our area malls and the various eye-catching decorations in shopping centers. Along with distractions with our ‘to do’ list in our heads, we get preoccupied with carrying bags and scoping out gifts. But with all the whirlwinds of diversions, we cannot put our guard down with who is scoping out our own children. To help with. . .

Top Ten Reasons to Hold Family Meetings

1. Make stronger connections among individuals and, therefore, creates a closer family. In this very busy world, designating this time every week is one way to ensure that family members stay connected with one another. Relationships are living things, and must be nurtured. Family meetings are about nourishing our relationships with the most important people in our lives. Form the habit of conn. . .

Relaxation Couldn't Be Simpler

Many people use their sofa and TV to help them 'switch off and relax'. In reality, television programs can suspend you n stress for yours, with depressing or thrilling storylines, violence and madness!True relaxation is achieved when all tensions and thoughts are eliminated. Inside, you are calm, peaceful, yet alert and focused. You are in control and feel the strength of just 'being'. The good. . .

Minimize Stress in Your Life

Use these simple tips to minimize stress in your day to day living.Lower your expectations and you will suffer less disappointment. Try seeing everything as already perfect and accept things as they are, then you can strive less and relax more.Learn to say NO. Next time someone asks you to do something, before the word ‘yes’ slips out, pause, say you can’t give an answer just yet – you’ll get b. . .

Maybe This Christmas Will Be Different.....

Have you always dreamed of a Norman Rockwell Christmas - where everyone is singing Christmas carols and there is joy in the house? Alas, your Christmas memories are often filled with Uncle Joe getting drunk and your parents ending up in a fight. By the end of Christmas day family members are mad and no one is talking to one another.Christmas can be very difficult if you grew up in a dysfunction. . .

Parenting Yourself When You Have Small Children

There’s no doubt about it - parenting small children takes a lot of time. So much time that it’s very easy to forget about your child within. Yet you cannot be a really good parent while forgetting about your own feelings, needs and well-being. Haven’t you noticed that if you do not take care of yourself by having enough time for yourself you are much more irritable with your mate and children?. . .

Parents - Who’s Looking Out For You?

I couldn’t stop thinking about Marcy after my phone session with her. I was really worried about her. “Marcy, “ I had said in our session, “Your voice sounds drained of energy and your life force feels really low. What’s going on?”“I just have no time for myself at all. It seems like between work and driving my kids to all their activities, there’s nothing left. I’m feeling really discouraged -. . .

Parents - What Kind of Role Model Are You?

Are you being the person you want your children to be?Many parents today really try to be better parents than their parents were. They attempt to be there for their children - to listen to them, support them, spend time with them, as well as hold and nurture them. Their children grow up feeling loved and valued by these loving parents, yet often these same children struggle as adults in many ar. . .

How Well Do You Know Your Child?

Do you think you really know your child? I don't mean know what he/she likes and doesn't like, but to know him/her well enough to understand his/her challenges, to appreciate his/her strengths and weaknesses and to help him/her develop his talents. Knowing your child can help increase their chance for success in the future and improve your relationship. As parents, we are constantly looking for. . .

When Your Baby Arrives

Welcoming a newborn baby into the family is always a joyful occasion especially for first-time parents. The nine months of waiting has finally come to an end. How heart-warming it is to hear that first cry. Your baby has arrived!When it’s time to bring your newborn baby home, the excitement continues from the hospital to your home. Relatives and friends come over to adore your newborn. What an . . .

10 Reasons Why People Don't Buy From You

1. You don't make people feel safe when they order. Remind people that they are ordering through a secure server. Tell them you won't sell their e-mail address and all their information will be kept confidential. 2. You don't make your ad copy attractive. Your ad lists features instead of benefits. The headline does not attract at your target audience. You don't list any testimonials or guarant. . .

College Savings Reward Plans - Making Them Work for You

You are probably well aware that college costs are soaring and that the need for parents to build college savings has never been greater. You may also be aware of various loyalty reward programs (such as Upromise and BabyMint) that pledge to help build your college savings by paying back a small percentage of the amount you spend using their credit card and/or buying certain products. Companies. . .

Temporary Internet Files - the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

A little bit of time invested into learning about internet security can go a long way in preventing mishaps on your computer. Temporary internet files are not something we should be afraid of, but we should certainly be careful in how much we trust them and how we deal with them.Temporary internet files are image, text, and formatting files that are stored on your hard drive by the websites tha. . .

The Three Sure-Fire Ways to Teach Your Child About Safety

We understand that for your child to be truly “Kid Safe” that they must understand and use two types of self defense. Physical, which gives them the tools needed to keep them safe. And mental self defense, which empowers them with the awareness and common sense to keep them safe. This article is geared toward educating parents on helping your child with the mental self defense to better make th. . .

Chinese Pregnancy

Traditionally in China, when once people got married, they would immediately get ready for having a baby. That is why symbolic things such as dolls or lotus seeds would be put on the beds of the newly weds on their wedding day so as to bring in the meaning of having a baby as soon as possible.When once a married woman becomes pregnant, things for the baby will start to be prepared. Prams, cot, . . .

Baby’s First Year – What to Expect

You've been anxiously waiting for the arrival of your new-born baby for the last 9 months. Watching your new baby grow and change is one of the most exciting times in your lifelife - and truly makes one aware of the miracle that life is! As a new Mom, you are probably wondering about many things: how will he react to his new surroundings? when will she sleep for more than 2 hours? what can I ex. . .

Delete Cookies: New-Age Diet or Common Sense Internet Sec...

No, this article isn’t about some new, lose-20-pounds-in-a-week, certified-by-some-tan-Southern-California-doctor diet. It’s about cookies on your computer - what they are, why they are there, and what to do about them. Computer cookies actually have quite a bit in common with their baked counterparts - some are good, some are bad, and they have expiration dates. Cookies are small text files th. . .

Why A Father is Not A Dad

It can be said that any man who procreates is a father, whether present in that child’s life or not. While this is technically true, it really takes a man to be a dad! There is nothing more insulting than a cavalier man thinking he has every right in the world to see the child he helped to create, but was never there for him or her. It is as if he or she is obligated to him like that of a debt.. . .

Protecting Your Child’s Innocence

We love our children and we want them to be safe – safe from people who could harm them and destroy their innocence. At the same time we don’t want to scare them and perhaps create timidity or nightmares. How can we protect them without harming them?Obviously, we need to educate our children regarding the fact that there are people who want to do them harm. We need to teach them not to speak to. . .

Parenting Starts Before Pregnancy

While it may seem farfetched to some people, many of my clients remember what they felt and experienced while still in the womb. Comments such as these are not unusual:“I knew even before I was born that my mother didn’t want me.”“I could feel my mother’s fear and anxiety even before I was born.”Parenting does not start once the child is born. Good parenting starts even before getting pregnant.. . .

We All Wish That Our Children have Good Virtues, but... A...

We all wish that our children should not smoke or drink, should not speak lies, should not steal, should not have a violent nature, etc... but are we setting a good example ourselves?Just yesterday, I was at a friend's place and his daughter came running up to us with her school calendar and asked him to put a remark for being absent for school. They had been to a close relative's wedding and m. . .