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Bamboo Baby
“Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” (Chinese proverb) The first step of lasting growth is to change your thinking about growth itself. Making small changes and being gentle with yourself in the process is your best bet to achieving the kind of difference you’re hoping to make. “Instant results” […]
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Room to Grow
“When they were very small I suppose I thought someday they would become who they were because of what I’d done. Now I suspect they simply grew into their true selves because they demanded in a thousand ways that I back off and let them be.” (Anna Quindlen) Our children are amazing creatures. From the […]
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End Game
“If your children look up to you, you’ve made a success of life’s biggest job.” (Author unknown) We all want our children to respect us. The difficulty is this: you can’t MAKE someone feel respect towards you. In fact, the more you try to force that respect, the smaller you become in their eyes. And […]
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Hooray For The Strong Willed Child
“Children in a family are like flowers in a bouquet: there’s always one determined to face in an opposite direction from the way the arranger desires.” (Marcelene Cox) When people tell me that they have a “strong-willed” child, I tell them, “Welcome to the club – and congratulations!” Children with strong wills are nothing to […]
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Ah, The Power of Pause
“The greatest remedy for anger is delay.” (Seneca) We would all be in better shape if we could manage to remember the words of this wise philosopher. The next time you feel your blood beginning to boil, take a step away from the situation, breathe deeply, and wait just a minute before reacting. By simply […]
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There are Stupid Questions
“He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever. ” (Chinese proverb) The only stupid questions are the ones we don’t ask. We weren’t given a manual when we left the hospitals with our babies, yet most of us feel inadequate when we need a […]
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Petty Parent
“You are no bigger than the things that annoy you. ” (Jerry Bundsen) Whenever I am tempted to think highly of myself, my parenting, or even my own growth, I think of this quote. It’s hard to put yourself on a pedestal when you find yourself extremely annoyed by your children, your spouse, or the woman […]
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Find Your Funny Bone
“The wit makes fun of other persons; the satirist makes fun of the world; the humorist makes fun of himself. ” (James Thurber) Thurber alludes to a truth about human nature: It is easy to make fun of others, but it is more productive to make fun of yourself. I actually learned this lesson from […]
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When Mr. Sandman Meets Mr. Salesman
“Anyone who thinks the art of conversation is dead ought to tell a child to go to bed. ” (Robert Gallagher) There is something especially pernicious about bedtime issues. The kids are tired (although they sure as heck won’t admit to it), you’re tired (and you certainly have trouble hiding it), and like oil and […]
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The 30 Year Old Baby
“If you want a baby, have a new one. Don’t baby the old one.” (Jessamyn West) One of the ironies in life is that often, when we operate out of doubt and fear, we drive ourselves to the very outcomes we are seeking to avoid. A thirty year old baby isn’t cute by anyone’s standards, […]