Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Cups
It's often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That's because skipping your morning meal can lead to a dip in blood sugar that may cause cravings for unhealthy, refined foods. This cycle can lead to overeating and, thus, may impede your weight-loss efforts. Instead, start your day with this nutritious, mouthwatering meal. Not only will it keep you satisfied and stabilize your blood sugar, research shows that a morning meal can improve energy as well as work and school performance. This tasty recipe will be sure to get you going in the morning.
Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Cups
Description
These egg "muffins" make a hearty breakfast that can be eaten on the run. Make them ahead and warm them for a fast breakfast treat.
Makes 6 cups
Ingredients
4 ounces turkey sausage or crumbled turkey bacon
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/4 onion, chopped
5 large eggs
1 can (12 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded, reduced-fat cheddar cheese
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 6-cup nonstick muffin pan with cooking spray, or line with paper baking cups.
In a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, pepper, and onion for 5 minutes or until the sausage is no longer pink. Spoon the mixture into a bowl and cool slightly. Stir in the eggs and mushrooms. Evenly divide the mixture among the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle with the cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes or until the egg is set.
Recipe reprinted with permission from The South Beach Diet Cookbook.
Source: www.southbeachdiet.com
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
2009 Teleconference Schedule
You asked... Now They're Here!
Teleconferences 2009
With Dr. Lynne Kenney
Tuesdays at 11 am we're the Lunch Bunch
Learning What it Takes To Create Your Extraordinary Family
Join in, Chime in, Offer Ideas - "Cause Mom Knows Best"
January 2009 11 am-12 pm MT
6th Lead your life don’t be led by it
13th Building health and reducing stress with routines
20th Asserting your family values leads to effective discipline
27th Getting your children to do as expected
February 2009 11 am-12 pm MT
3rd Thriving with ADHD
10th Seek to understand before you intervene
17th The Thinker and The Caveman
24th School strategies for success
March 2009 11 am-12 pm MT
3rd Sensory interventions for today’s children
10th Parental Teamwork – RESPECT RULES
17th Collaborating with oppositional children
24th Managing anger and anxiety in children
Sign-up for Dr. Kenney’s Teleconferences at www.lynnekenney.com
$59.00 Per Month
Call-in Information will be sent via email upon registration
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Ideas for Good Health in the New Year with Carol Kenney
Ideas for Good Health in the New Year….See which might resonate with you…by Carol Kenney, respected nutritional coach, www.pathways4health.com.
Strategies to Work With the Natural Energy Rhythms of the Body.
Make time to eat a good breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day. A hearty breakfast following the 40/30/30 concept of 40% complex carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat can help to boost metabolism, stabilize blood sugar, and provide sustained energy for the brain. Studies confirm that people who eat breakfast have the least problem keeping a healthy weight.
Try to eat your main protein-based meal at noon, when digestive fire is at its peak. Avoid eating three hours before you retire at night. Digestive fire dwindles in the evening as the body naturally cools down to welcome sleep.
Allow for enough sleep. We all vary both in how much and when we sleep best around the 24-hour cycle of a day. Some people are Owls and love working into the late-night hours, while others are Larks and thrive on waking up early and retiring early. Whatever your pleasure, recall that a lack of sleep can throw off body chemistry, foster inflammation, and contribute to weight gain. Adequate sleep restores the immune system and is one of the best ways to ward off illness. Check in with yourself. “Enough” sleep varies with the individual, one’s type of work, and level of stress. One useful gauge: If you are craving caffeine and sweets to keep going throughout the day and often come down with colds, you are probably not getting enough sleep.
Try some regular aerobic exercise in the fresh air and sunshine (Yes, sunshine is good for your health!). Among its many benefits, aerobic exercise helps prevent inflammation. A 30-minute walk three times a week may be sufficient. If possible, try to exercise early in the day when the lungs are at their peak energy. If you exercise to lose or maintain weight, choose something you like since studies show that exercise that is not enjoyed creates stress and can be counterproductive, even exacerbating weight gain.
Strategies When Choosing Foods.
Try to buy local, fresh, whole foods…organic when possible. Think variety…rainbow colors, some raw and some cooked, some fermented. Foods are a system, uniquely balanced with nutrients and fiber for assimilation and nourishment. Our body converts foods into energy in a way that defies the explanations of science and the microscope.
Read food labels. Read for trans fats, for genetically modified (GMO) foods, and for the pseudonyms for sugar and artificial additives such as “evaporated cane juice” and MSG. Recent scientific studies suggest ties between GMOs and allergies, immune problems, and infertility; and between MSG (prevalent in processed, packaged, and fast foods) depression and childhood obesity.
Consume healthy fats and oils. Saturated fats such as organic butter from grass-fed animals and organic unrefined coconut oil are top choices for cooking, and quality cod liver oil4 and fish oil are good sources of omega-3 fats. Saturated fats are necessary for cell membranes, which are 50% saturated fat. Omega-3s are important for neurological function. Avoid trans fats, which are found in many processed and fast foods; they confuse the body and can foster chronic disease.
Let the way Nature packages food be a guide. Sugar is a classic example. To make one cup of refined white sugar requires 17 feet of sugar cane!!! In refining, we miss the cane’s natural fiber and micronutrients. How much sugar would we eat if we had to ingest it in this form? Or, how many walnuts might we consume if, instead of pouring from a package, we had to take the time to crack each one?
Think prevention of disease, not suppression of symptoms. Develop strategies to curb inflammation, the root of all chronic disease. From evolution and genetic selection, we as a people are prone to inflammation. The inflammatory response supported our survival before the discovery of modern antibiotics. While good strategies to try to curb our inflammatory nature are tied to lifestyle (getting enough sleep, moderate exercise, laughter, fresh air, sunshine and connection with others), they are also tied to diet. This means limiting sugar, refined flour, clear denatured vegetable oils, and meats from grain-fed animals. It also means bringing into good balance the consumption of omega-6 and omega-3 fats...
Try to limit processed and fast foods, and avoid cooking with clear vegetable oils. This can be a huge step toward creating in your diet a healthy 2:1 balance of omega-6:-3 oils. Omega-6 oils are inflammatory. They are hidden in processed, packaged, and fast foods, which is a major reason the typical American ratio is 20:1, rather than 2:1. The sensible way to bring the “-6:-3 ratio” into better balance and benefit from the omega-3s that you do consume is to limit your intake of omega-6 fats. Since omega-3s and -6s compete for the same digestive enzymes, consuming large amounts of omega-6s through processed and fast foods can negate the potential anti-inflammatory benefits of omega-3 oils, because omega-6s “crowd out” omega-3s.
To preserve the delicate brain, consume good fats and oils while you also try to avoid excitotoxins in foods and the excessive use of mobile phones. The protective lymph system does not extend its strong protective web to the head. Nature in Her design anticipated neither our modern technology nor additives in processed foods.
Eat foods attuned to the season and the season of your life. Tropical fruits, and summer foods like tomatoes, cucumbers, and salad greens are cooling and well-suited to warm climates. But in winter, hearty soups and meals built around warming chicken, turkey, and lamb, leeks, onions, parsnips, and winter squashes can preserve internal heat and support the body’s natural energy without undue strain and overwork. Rotating foods with the seasons supports this energy and can also help prevent allergies. In the later decades of life, foods and quantities that worked in earlier years may no longer. Our body gives such wonderful feedback. We need only to pay attention…
Be “bad” sometimes. It reminds us why it is generally best to be “good.” An 80/20 or 90/10 goal is good enough: if we aim for 80%-90% of our choices in the “healthy” zone (food, sleep, or whatever) we enjoy some “wiggle room.” Then, we just pay attention to how we feel. In all realms, our body will give us feedback. And, as Annemarie Colbin taught me, there is no need to feel guilty when we make a “bad” choice. After all, we have already paid the price by how we feel. In the meantime, what we have gained is valuable information. Happy eating and good health to you in 2009.
Strategies to Work With the Natural Energy Rhythms of the Body.
Make time to eat a good breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day. A hearty breakfast following the 40/30/30 concept of 40% complex carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat can help to boost metabolism, stabilize blood sugar, and provide sustained energy for the brain. Studies confirm that people who eat breakfast have the least problem keeping a healthy weight.
Try to eat your main protein-based meal at noon, when digestive fire is at its peak. Avoid eating three hours before you retire at night. Digestive fire dwindles in the evening as the body naturally cools down to welcome sleep.
Allow for enough sleep. We all vary both in how much and when we sleep best around the 24-hour cycle of a day. Some people are Owls and love working into the late-night hours, while others are Larks and thrive on waking up early and retiring early. Whatever your pleasure, recall that a lack of sleep can throw off body chemistry, foster inflammation, and contribute to weight gain. Adequate sleep restores the immune system and is one of the best ways to ward off illness. Check in with yourself. “Enough” sleep varies with the individual, one’s type of work, and level of stress. One useful gauge: If you are craving caffeine and sweets to keep going throughout the day and often come down with colds, you are probably not getting enough sleep.
Try some regular aerobic exercise in the fresh air and sunshine (Yes, sunshine is good for your health!). Among its many benefits, aerobic exercise helps prevent inflammation. A 30-minute walk three times a week may be sufficient. If possible, try to exercise early in the day when the lungs are at their peak energy. If you exercise to lose or maintain weight, choose something you like since studies show that exercise that is not enjoyed creates stress and can be counterproductive, even exacerbating weight gain.
Strategies When Choosing Foods.
Try to buy local, fresh, whole foods…organic when possible. Think variety…rainbow colors, some raw and some cooked, some fermented. Foods are a system, uniquely balanced with nutrients and fiber for assimilation and nourishment. Our body converts foods into energy in a way that defies the explanations of science and the microscope.
Read food labels. Read for trans fats, for genetically modified (GMO) foods, and for the pseudonyms for sugar and artificial additives such as “evaporated cane juice” and MSG. Recent scientific studies suggest ties between GMOs and allergies, immune problems, and infertility; and between MSG (prevalent in processed, packaged, and fast foods) depression and childhood obesity.
Consume healthy fats and oils. Saturated fats such as organic butter from grass-fed animals and organic unrefined coconut oil are top choices for cooking, and quality cod liver oil4 and fish oil are good sources of omega-3 fats. Saturated fats are necessary for cell membranes, which are 50% saturated fat. Omega-3s are important for neurological function. Avoid trans fats, which are found in many processed and fast foods; they confuse the body and can foster chronic disease.
Let the way Nature packages food be a guide. Sugar is a classic example. To make one cup of refined white sugar requires 17 feet of sugar cane!!! In refining, we miss the cane’s natural fiber and micronutrients. How much sugar would we eat if we had to ingest it in this form? Or, how many walnuts might we consume if, instead of pouring from a package, we had to take the time to crack each one?
Think prevention of disease, not suppression of symptoms. Develop strategies to curb inflammation, the root of all chronic disease. From evolution and genetic selection, we as a people are prone to inflammation. The inflammatory response supported our survival before the discovery of modern antibiotics. While good strategies to try to curb our inflammatory nature are tied to lifestyle (getting enough sleep, moderate exercise, laughter, fresh air, sunshine and connection with others), they are also tied to diet. This means limiting sugar, refined flour, clear denatured vegetable oils, and meats from grain-fed animals. It also means bringing into good balance the consumption of omega-6 and omega-3 fats...
Try to limit processed and fast foods, and avoid cooking with clear vegetable oils. This can be a huge step toward creating in your diet a healthy 2:1 balance of omega-6:-3 oils. Omega-6 oils are inflammatory. They are hidden in processed, packaged, and fast foods, which is a major reason the typical American ratio is 20:1, rather than 2:1. The sensible way to bring the “-6:-3 ratio” into better balance and benefit from the omega-3s that you do consume is to limit your intake of omega-6 fats. Since omega-3s and -6s compete for the same digestive enzymes, consuming large amounts of omega-6s through processed and fast foods can negate the potential anti-inflammatory benefits of omega-3 oils, because omega-6s “crowd out” omega-3s.
To preserve the delicate brain, consume good fats and oils while you also try to avoid excitotoxins in foods and the excessive use of mobile phones. The protective lymph system does not extend its strong protective web to the head. Nature in Her design anticipated neither our modern technology nor additives in processed foods.
Eat foods attuned to the season and the season of your life. Tropical fruits, and summer foods like tomatoes, cucumbers, and salad greens are cooling and well-suited to warm climates. But in winter, hearty soups and meals built around warming chicken, turkey, and lamb, leeks, onions, parsnips, and winter squashes can preserve internal heat and support the body’s natural energy without undue strain and overwork. Rotating foods with the seasons supports this energy and can also help prevent allergies. In the later decades of life, foods and quantities that worked in earlier years may no longer. Our body gives such wonderful feedback. We need only to pay attention…
Be “bad” sometimes. It reminds us why it is generally best to be “good.” An 80/20 or 90/10 goal is good enough: if we aim for 80%-90% of our choices in the “healthy” zone (food, sleep, or whatever) we enjoy some “wiggle room.” Then, we just pay attention to how we feel. In all realms, our body will give us feedback. And, as Annemarie Colbin taught me, there is no need to feel guilty when we make a “bad” choice. After all, we have already paid the price by how we feel. In the meantime, what we have gained is valuable information. Happy eating and good health to you in 2009.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Kids health habits lead to obesity and diabetes
Kids' Worst Health Habits
The health of today's children is in jeopardy. "In the last 10 years, diabetes in children has doubled; there's a growing obesity epidemic among children, and we're seeing heart disease start in children," says Joel Fuhrman, M.D., family physician in Flemington, N.J., and author "Eat for Health and "Disease-Proof Your Child."
The consequences are so dire, in fact, that health authorities are now predicting that this generation of children will be the first to have a shorter life span than their parents. So what habits are putting kids in jeopardy?
Fuhrman pulled together the 10 worst offenders but issues this warning: "Parents can't force children to do anything they aren't doing themselves, which is why parents also need to change their habits to become better role models."
1. Drinking soda
Soda is loaded with sugar (about 13 teaspoons per can) artificial sweeteners, caffeine and empty calories (about 150 in a regular soda). Plus, soda might displace healthy beverages like milk or water and cause tooth decay. Bottom line: Nix soda from your child's diet and replace it with water, milk and other healthy beverages.
2. Not exercising
Today's kids are leading inactive lifestyles, putting them at risk for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis.
Bottom line: Make physical activity as important for your kids as brushing their teeth. By instilling the exercise habit in them when they're young, they'll be more likely to stick with it as adults. Just remember that kids learn by example, so get active with them.
3. Eating processed and barbecued meats
Your kids might love baloney sandwiches and hamburgers, but processed and barbecued meats have been linked to cancer, especially colon cancer.
Bottom line: Steer your kids clear of this kind of meat, and instead, turn them on to more healthy, wholesome foods like fruits, veggies, beans, nuts and seeds.
4. Being overweight
While it might be vogue to be heavy -- roughly 16 percent of kids aged two to 19 are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- that extra weight could cause your child serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Bottom line: Clean up your diet, and your family will follow. Likewise, become a regular exerciser, and encourage your children to get more active.
5. Not eating enough fruits and veggies
Fruits and veggies are loaded with disease-fighting nutrients, which is why kids who don't eat enough are at greater risk for developing cancer and other chronic health conditions.
Bottom line: Make fruits and veggies the mainstay of meals, and your kids will easily get the servings they need. Check MyPyramid.gov to view fruit and veggie requirements for kids or try AOL Health's handy Veggie and Fruit Tracker to calculate daily requirements.
6. Too many hours in front of the TV
Watching TV and playing video games are sedentary activities that encourage snacking and often replace physical activity. TV viewing also exposes your kids to risky behaviors like smoking and drinking, which could influence them.
Bottom line: Limit your kids' use of the TV and computer. Children under two years old should not watch any TV, while kids over two should be limited to no more than two hours of media time a day, per the American Academy of Pediatrics.
7. Noshing sugary treats and foods
Your kids might go gaga over treats, but they're nutrient-poor, calorie-laden foods. Most are also made with refined grains, which have been linked to cancer. Plus, the more your kids eat these, the more they could begin craving them, which could eventually boost their weight.
Bottom line: Limit sugar in your children's diet as much as possible. Ban sugary cereals, cookies and candy from your pantry. Then become a savvy label reader, looking for hidden sugars in everything from granola bars toketchup and even pasta sauces. To satisfy a sweet tooth, serve fruit as a dessert or a snack.
8. Eating fast food
"Fast food is for parents who don't care about their kids," Fuhrman says. By buying them fast food, you're giving them the lowest quality food, which adds calories, fat and little nutrition to their diets. The end result? You could wind up with an overweight, unhealthy child. Plus, if they're eating fried foods or food cooked at high temperatures, they're noshing cancer-causing compounds.
Bottom line: Boycott all fast food.
9. Not getting enough vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to dozens of health conditions, including rickets, osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Sunshine is the best source of vitamin D, but most kids don't spend enough hours outside to get all they need. Plus, if you live in a northern climate, getting enough vitamin D in the winter can be impossible.
Bottom line: Make sure your child is getting 400 IU of vitamin D daily through a multivitamin and/or vitamin D supplement.
10. Filling up on food made with white flour
White flour has zero nutritional value, which is why Fuhrman believes it should be banned from foods. "White flour's been linked to obesity and cancer-causing cell development," he says.
Bottom line: Don't buy food made with white flour. Instead, choose 100 percent whole-grain products. SOURCE: Written By KAREN ASP from AOL
The health of today's children is in jeopardy. "In the last 10 years, diabetes in children has doubled; there's a growing obesity epidemic among children, and we're seeing heart disease start in children," says Joel Fuhrman, M.D., family physician in Flemington, N.J., and author "Eat for Health and "Disease-Proof Your Child."
The consequences are so dire, in fact, that health authorities are now predicting that this generation of children will be the first to have a shorter life span than their parents. So what habits are putting kids in jeopardy?
Fuhrman pulled together the 10 worst offenders but issues this warning: "Parents can't force children to do anything they aren't doing themselves, which is why parents also need to change their habits to become better role models."
1. Drinking soda
Soda is loaded with sugar (about 13 teaspoons per can) artificial sweeteners, caffeine and empty calories (about 150 in a regular soda). Plus, soda might displace healthy beverages like milk or water and cause tooth decay. Bottom line: Nix soda from your child's diet and replace it with water, milk and other healthy beverages.
2. Not exercising
Today's kids are leading inactive lifestyles, putting them at risk for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis.
Bottom line: Make physical activity as important for your kids as brushing their teeth. By instilling the exercise habit in them when they're young, they'll be more likely to stick with it as adults. Just remember that kids learn by example, so get active with them.
3. Eating processed and barbecued meats
Your kids might love baloney sandwiches and hamburgers, but processed and barbecued meats have been linked to cancer, especially colon cancer.
Bottom line: Steer your kids clear of this kind of meat, and instead, turn them on to more healthy, wholesome foods like fruits, veggies, beans, nuts and seeds.
4. Being overweight
While it might be vogue to be heavy -- roughly 16 percent of kids aged two to 19 are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- that extra weight could cause your child serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Bottom line: Clean up your diet, and your family will follow. Likewise, become a regular exerciser, and encourage your children to get more active.
5. Not eating enough fruits and veggies
Fruits and veggies are loaded with disease-fighting nutrients, which is why kids who don't eat enough are at greater risk for developing cancer and other chronic health conditions.
Bottom line: Make fruits and veggies the mainstay of meals, and your kids will easily get the servings they need. Check MyPyramid.gov to view fruit and veggie requirements for kids or try AOL Health's handy Veggie and Fruit Tracker to calculate daily requirements.
6. Too many hours in front of the TV
Watching TV and playing video games are sedentary activities that encourage snacking and often replace physical activity. TV viewing also exposes your kids to risky behaviors like smoking and drinking, which could influence them.
Bottom line: Limit your kids' use of the TV and computer. Children under two years old should not watch any TV, while kids over two should be limited to no more than two hours of media time a day, per the American Academy of Pediatrics.
7. Noshing sugary treats and foods
Your kids might go gaga over treats, but they're nutrient-poor, calorie-laden foods. Most are also made with refined grains, which have been linked to cancer. Plus, the more your kids eat these, the more they could begin craving them, which could eventually boost their weight.
Bottom line: Limit sugar in your children's diet as much as possible. Ban sugary cereals, cookies and candy from your pantry. Then become a savvy label reader, looking for hidden sugars in everything from granola bars toketchup and even pasta sauces. To satisfy a sweet tooth, serve fruit as a dessert or a snack.
8. Eating fast food
"Fast food is for parents who don't care about their kids," Fuhrman says. By buying them fast food, you're giving them the lowest quality food, which adds calories, fat and little nutrition to their diets. The end result? You could wind up with an overweight, unhealthy child. Plus, if they're eating fried foods or food cooked at high temperatures, they're noshing cancer-causing compounds.
Bottom line: Boycott all fast food.
9. Not getting enough vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to dozens of health conditions, including rickets, osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Sunshine is the best source of vitamin D, but most kids don't spend enough hours outside to get all they need. Plus, if you live in a northern climate, getting enough vitamin D in the winter can be impossible.
Bottom line: Make sure your child is getting 400 IU of vitamin D daily through a multivitamin and/or vitamin D supplement.
10. Filling up on food made with white flour
White flour has zero nutritional value, which is why Fuhrman believes it should be banned from foods. "White flour's been linked to obesity and cancer-causing cell development," he says.
Bottom line: Don't buy food made with white flour. Instead, choose 100 percent whole-grain products. SOURCE: Written By KAREN ASP from AOL
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The Family Coach as a lot planned for 2009!
The Family Coach is an educational service provided by North Scottsdale Pediatrics. Family Coaching regards you, the parent, as the expert. Through coaching we identify your goals for Better Family Living and we implement strategies for success.
Families improve skills in the following areas:
• Family behavior and discipline
• Family health and wellness
• Family schedules & routines
• Improving attention and focus
• Improving friendship skills
• Improving school success
• Parenting with confidence
• Parenting with consistency
• Working together with the other parent
We will be doing a teleconference series for families who wish to enhance their family lives.
We are also teaming with Pediatric Speech-Language Specialists (Anita Werner) and On Track Tutoring (Dana Herzberg) for a free in-school educational lecture series for teachers and parents.
We have classes planned for 2009 as well.
Family coaching in home or at school is also on the menu.
Visit www.lynnekenney.com for more information.
Families improve skills in the following areas:
• Family behavior and discipline
• Family health and wellness
• Family schedules & routines
• Improving attention and focus
• Improving friendship skills
• Improving school success
• Parenting with confidence
• Parenting with consistency
• Working together with the other parent
We will be doing a teleconference series for families who wish to enhance their family lives.
We are also teaming with Pediatric Speech-Language Specialists (Anita Werner) and On Track Tutoring (Dana Herzberg) for a free in-school educational lecture series for teachers and parents.
We have classes planned for 2009 as well.
Family coaching in home or at school is also on the menu.
Visit www.lynnekenney.com for more information.
Monday, December 22, 2008
What your kids need most this holiday season
While we are busy shopping and wrapping presents I was reminded what our children need most this holiday season.
Alone time with mom or dad.
A date with their favorite family member.
To give time at a local charity.
Presents that keep them active not just sitting around.
Music lessons.
Time playing sports with mom or dad.
A good bedtime story.
Their manners, don't forget yours either.
Remember, your child's favorite toy is you.
Happy Holidays! Dr. K.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Helping Children Communicate Their Feelings
One of my students recently called me to relate an affirming story about expressing feelings. “I got upset because he wouldn’t help me put his toys away, he said, ‘When you look at me like that you hurt my feelings.’” While a mother’s pride is sometimes overstated, this time it was not.
I knew exactly why my student was so pleased. She, like myself, had once taught preschool and was intent on helping children communicate their feelings. That’s not easy for young children: language is still rudimentary in the early years, plus many children hide their feelings to secure adult approval. Unhappy feelings do not just disappear though—they go underground, often to reemerge years later.
I never told my parents that they were hurting my feelings when they showed disapproval. Such an idea never entered my head and could have been dangerous if it had! Surely, my parents could not have understood, much less expressed, such feelings when they were young. Now, we realize that when children let us know how they feel, we can help them understand themselves and also help them to cope with unhappy feelings, which is much more useful than repressing them.
How Times Have Changed
My student was not only amused and proud; she was also honest. She told her son that she was sorry to have hurt his feelings, and that she had been upset because she was tired and bending over to put the blocks away was hurting her back. He replied, “That’s because you’re old!” My student kept her cool and said, “I guess you must feel angry at me. You know it hurts my feelings to call me old.”
Within minutes, my student and her son went swimming. By then, the slate was clean. They could be friends again because there was no hidden backlog of unhappy feelings.
Encouraging the Expression of Real Feelings
After a lifetime of working with children and recalling my own feelings as a child, I am convinced that nothing, aside from loving and protecting children, is as important as helping them communicate their real feelings. Grappling directly with perceptions and sensations leads to solving problems in the here and now, rather than leaving them to fester into a source of discomfort one is never able to figure out. It can also save on many counseling sessions in the future.
How can we help children tell us how they feel? By reading them stories and following up with conversation. By listening to accounts of their dreams, and asking what they think the dreams are saying about deep-down feelings. By paying attention when children want to tell us something rather than saying, “I’m busy now. Tell me later.”
We are most apt to cut off the expression of real feelings when children tell us things we do not want to hear. If a child says, “You’re fat!” and you roar, “You can’t talk to me that way,” the child may very well decide not to talk to you in any real way.
Less intimidating responses to offending comments do exist. My friend looked as if she was going to faint when her two-year-old daughter, disobeying an instruction to get her pajamas, yelled, “I will not, you mean lady.” My friend turned red, and said in a shaky voice, “If I ever talked to my mother that way I would have been struck dead by lightening.” My friend did not go on to tell her daughter that she was a bad girl and should never say such a thing; instead she did some deep breathing to gain control of her emotions and said, “I know you’re angry and want to play, but now it’s bedtime.” My friend’s courage and fortitude have been well repaid by a teenage daughter who over the years has managed to tell her most of the issues that have upset her.
In our worthy attempts to help our children communicate their feelings, we must be careful not to extract an apology for “unacceptable behaviors.” Forcing children to say they are sorry, when they are not, is forcing them to lie. Nor should we belabor communicating to the point of boredom. Short answers are far better than long ones. At times we will be tired, frustrated, or annoyed; at times we will lose patience because we are human and do not have complete emotional regulation. Children learn to tolerate our imperfections, our fallibility. And if we happen to leave an important problem unresolved, we can always return to it later. We can always say: “I’m sorry I shouted at you, instead of telling you my feelings. I guess grown-ups sometimes lose control too.”
Children need parents, not saints—a truth I have learned while raising my daughters. The true teachers are those who encourage children to accept human frailty, to acknowledge both love and anger, and to muster the freedom and courage to become their fullest selves. By Barb Grady www.parenting-plus.com
I knew exactly why my student was so pleased. She, like myself, had once taught preschool and was intent on helping children communicate their feelings. That’s not easy for young children: language is still rudimentary in the early years, plus many children hide their feelings to secure adult approval. Unhappy feelings do not just disappear though—they go underground, often to reemerge years later.
I never told my parents that they were hurting my feelings when they showed disapproval. Such an idea never entered my head and could have been dangerous if it had! Surely, my parents could not have understood, much less expressed, such feelings when they were young. Now, we realize that when children let us know how they feel, we can help them understand themselves and also help them to cope with unhappy feelings, which is much more useful than repressing them.
How Times Have Changed
My student was not only amused and proud; she was also honest. She told her son that she was sorry to have hurt his feelings, and that she had been upset because she was tired and bending over to put the blocks away was hurting her back. He replied, “That’s because you’re old!” My student kept her cool and said, “I guess you must feel angry at me. You know it hurts my feelings to call me old.”
Within minutes, my student and her son went swimming. By then, the slate was clean. They could be friends again because there was no hidden backlog of unhappy feelings.
Encouraging the Expression of Real Feelings
After a lifetime of working with children and recalling my own feelings as a child, I am convinced that nothing, aside from loving and protecting children, is as important as helping them communicate their real feelings. Grappling directly with perceptions and sensations leads to solving problems in the here and now, rather than leaving them to fester into a source of discomfort one is never able to figure out. It can also save on many counseling sessions in the future.
How can we help children tell us how they feel? By reading them stories and following up with conversation. By listening to accounts of their dreams, and asking what they think the dreams are saying about deep-down feelings. By paying attention when children want to tell us something rather than saying, “I’m busy now. Tell me later.”
We are most apt to cut off the expression of real feelings when children tell us things we do not want to hear. If a child says, “You’re fat!” and you roar, “You can’t talk to me that way,” the child may very well decide not to talk to you in any real way.
Less intimidating responses to offending comments do exist. My friend looked as if she was going to faint when her two-year-old daughter, disobeying an instruction to get her pajamas, yelled, “I will not, you mean lady.” My friend turned red, and said in a shaky voice, “If I ever talked to my mother that way I would have been struck dead by lightening.” My friend did not go on to tell her daughter that she was a bad girl and should never say such a thing; instead she did some deep breathing to gain control of her emotions and said, “I know you’re angry and want to play, but now it’s bedtime.” My friend’s courage and fortitude have been well repaid by a teenage daughter who over the years has managed to tell her most of the issues that have upset her.
In our worthy attempts to help our children communicate their feelings, we must be careful not to extract an apology for “unacceptable behaviors.” Forcing children to say they are sorry, when they are not, is forcing them to lie. Nor should we belabor communicating to the point of boredom. Short answers are far better than long ones. At times we will be tired, frustrated, or annoyed; at times we will lose patience because we are human and do not have complete emotional regulation. Children learn to tolerate our imperfections, our fallibility. And if we happen to leave an important problem unresolved, we can always return to it later. We can always say: “I’m sorry I shouted at you, instead of telling you my feelings. I guess grown-ups sometimes lose control too.”
Children need parents, not saints—a truth I have learned while raising my daughters. The true teachers are those who encourage children to accept human frailty, to acknowledge both love and anger, and to muster the freedom and courage to become their fullest selves. By Barb Grady www.parenting-plus.com
How Moms Shop Online
Study: Mothers Know Best for Online Shopping
Moms were also more likely than non-moms to single out customer product reviews or ratings as the most influential source for obtaining holiday gift information
Dec 17, 2008
By Katy Bachman
Mom knows best when it comes to shopping, and there's a good reason for it: She's big on conducting research before plunking down the dollars. That's according to results from a new Mindshare Online Research study released Tuesday (Dec. 16) that found that 61 percent of moms research holiday gifts compared to only 48 percent of non-moms.
Moms were also more likely than non-moms to single out customer product reviews or ratings as the most influential source for obtaining holiday gift information, 23 percent versus 12 percent.
Another valuable tool is the Internet with 54 percent of all shoppers surveyed doing the bulk of holiday shopping online.
Overall, women are the family members most likely to handle the holiday shopping--77 percent of women compared to 36 percent for men.
As expected, 64 percent of all shoppers said they expect to spend less on gifts this year than previous year and more than three-fourths said they will shop around to find the best prices.
Conducted in December by BuzzBack Market Research, Mindshare's online study was based on a survey of 350 adults.
Moms were also more likely than non-moms to single out customer product reviews or ratings as the most influential source for obtaining holiday gift information
Dec 17, 2008
By Katy Bachman
Mom knows best when it comes to shopping, and there's a good reason for it: She's big on conducting research before plunking down the dollars. That's according to results from a new Mindshare Online Research study released Tuesday (Dec. 16) that found that 61 percent of moms research holiday gifts compared to only 48 percent of non-moms.
Moms were also more likely than non-moms to single out customer product reviews or ratings as the most influential source for obtaining holiday gift information, 23 percent versus 12 percent.
Another valuable tool is the Internet with 54 percent of all shoppers surveyed doing the bulk of holiday shopping online.
Overall, women are the family members most likely to handle the holiday shopping--77 percent of women compared to 36 percent for men.
As expected, 64 percent of all shoppers said they expect to spend less on gifts this year than previous year and more than three-fourths said they will shop around to find the best prices.
Conducted in December by BuzzBack Market Research, Mindshare's online study was based on a survey of 350 adults.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Give yourself the gift of planning
Today, there are 10 days until Christmas. Presents are wrapped and hidden, the holiday meal has been planned, invitations to holiday parties and get-togethers have been accepted, and batches of holiday cookies have been baked.
If you have guests arriving before or on Christmas day, however, then you still have plenty to do in order to prepare your home for the Christmas festivities. Begin each day with a plan of attack. Move your least pleasant tasks to the top of the list and plan to do them first thing in the morning.
Give yourself the gift of early preparation & confidence! www.listplanit.com
If you have guests arriving before or on Christmas day, however, then you still have plenty to do in order to prepare your home for the Christmas festivities. Begin each day with a plan of attack. Move your least pleasant tasks to the top of the list and plan to do them first thing in the morning.
Give yourself the gift of early preparation & confidence! www.listplanit.com
Monday, December 8, 2008
How to Create your Most Peaceful Holiday Season Ever!
How to Create your Most Peaceful Holiday Season Ever!
Are you overwhelmed just thinking of your holiday to- do list?
Has holiday stress already started to take its’ toll on you?
Are you wondering how you will ever get everything done?
Do you dream of a peaceful, joyful holiday season?
Join me on Tuesday Dec 9, 2008 at 1200 noon EST and I guarantee that you will be able to create the best most peaceful holiday season ever.
During this teleclass you will learn:
* the ONE thing you need to do that can dramatically increase your enjoyment of the holidays
* ways to create priceless memories that can be carried on for generations
* how to bring the spirit of the holidays into your household and your heart
* steps you can take to reduce your stress and keep your sanity intact this year
* how you can bring in the NEW YEAR with grace, enthusiasm and peace instead of overwhelm, regret or anxiety
* the ONE thing you must avoid in order to REDUCE STRESS this season
AND the 2 Strategies I have been using that is helping to create my Most Peaceful Holiday Season yet!
Date: Dec 9th 2008 at 1200 noon Eastern Standard Time, 1:00 pm Atlantic Standard Time and 9:00am Pacific Time. $17.00
http://www.peggyporter.com/dec08-teleclass.php
Are you overwhelmed just thinking of your holiday to- do list?
Has holiday stress already started to take its’ toll on you?
Are you wondering how you will ever get everything done?
Do you dream of a peaceful, joyful holiday season?
Join me on Tuesday Dec 9, 2008 at 1200 noon EST and I guarantee that you will be able to create the best most peaceful holiday season ever.
During this teleclass you will learn:
* the ONE thing you need to do that can dramatically increase your enjoyment of the holidays
* ways to create priceless memories that can be carried on for generations
* how to bring the spirit of the holidays into your household and your heart
* steps you can take to reduce your stress and keep your sanity intact this year
* how you can bring in the NEW YEAR with grace, enthusiasm and peace instead of overwhelm, regret or anxiety
* the ONE thing you must avoid in order to REDUCE STRESS this season
AND the 2 Strategies I have been using that is helping to create my Most Peaceful Holiday Season yet!
Date: Dec 9th 2008 at 1200 noon Eastern Standard Time, 1:00 pm Atlantic Standard Time and 9:00am Pacific Time. $17.00
http://www.peggyporter.com/dec08-teleclass.php
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Defining Yourself as an Entrepreneur
Yvette Craddock decided her entrepreneurial fate at six years of age. In 2002, she began her journey by establishing Click Marketing Solutions, a full-service marketing firm, which received immediate industry recognition and has garnered over a dozen awards, including international recognition. In 2008, Yvette launched another business that derives from her personal passion for fashion. ShopStyleFolio.com is devoted to bold, modern and luxurious women’s jewelry and offers only one of each item. Through her entrepreneurial outlets, she continues to design her life and inspire others. www.click-marketing.net
4 P’s
Path - What activities/interests are you attracted to; people or causes.
Passion – What are your strengths; things that you do effortlessly for free if you had to.
Purpose – Combine path and passion to define opportunities for change in your area of expertise/interest.
Plan - What is your realistic, comprehensive business plan? How does that factor into your life plan.
Visit Yvette Craddock at
www.click-marketing.net
www.twittermoms.com/profile/LynneKenney
4 P’s
Path - What activities/interests are you attracted to; people or causes.
Passion – What are your strengths; things that you do effortlessly for free if you had to.
Purpose – Combine path and passion to define opportunities for change in your area of expertise/interest.
Plan - What is your realistic, comprehensive business plan? How does that factor into your life plan.
Visit Yvette Craddock at
www.click-marketing.net
www.twittermoms.com/profile/LynneKenney
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
GRANDMA'S CEREAL COOKIES
What child doesn't like cookies? If you're having trouble your children to eat their cereal in the morning, here's the recipe for delicious, nutritious cookies, from my grandma.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening or organic butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla
1 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
¼ cup milk
2 cups of your favorite nutritious cereal (We use Wheaties)
1 cup chocolate chips
Three steps that make you a cook:
1) Cream the shortening or butter, sugar, brown sugar, milk, egg and vanilla. 2) In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, the baking soda, the powder and the salt. 3) Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. When they're mixed fold in 1 cup chocolate chips and 2 cups of your favorite cereal.
Cook at 350 degrees on a buttered cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Roadblocks to Entrepreneurial Success
You may be holiday shopping or cooking today. Perhaps you are already thinking about how to make 2009 a more productive year than 2008. If so, listen to these hard earned words of John Bishop. Plan for your entrepreneurial success...
There will be challenges along the way to your success. Here are ten potential roadblocks to look out for:
1. No clear vision - The clearer your vision is of your definition for success, the faster you will achieve it.
2. Fear of failure - Eliminate the Bummer Words - no, never, can’t, won’t, maybe and if.
3. Lack of determination - Turn challenges into a problems that need to be overcome.
4. No action plan - Write a detailed, step-by-step plan of how you will achieve your success. Include a timetable for completion, and place the written strategy where you can read it, every day.
5. Inflexibility - You will have to make adjustments in your life to focus on reaching the success you want.
6. Negative thinking - Everyone has some self-doubt. Ask yourself everyday: a). Did I give my best effort to today’s activities? b) Did I move closer to reaching my goals?
7. Lack of enthusiasm - All days are good; some are better than others. You will find enthusiasm is contagious; give some to others.
8. Procrastination - You can have the best plan in the world, but if you don’t take action on it you simply have a dream.
9. Making excuses - Take personal responsibility for your success by eliminating excuses. Avoid blaming others for your lack of effort.
10. Refusal to learn from your mistakes - Successful people learn valuable life lessons from their mistakes.
These roadblocks can actually become stepping stones to your success. How? By identifying which ones are holding you back from reaching your goals and diligently working to eliminate them. Set monthly and quarterly goals. Post affirmations around your home. Seek relationships with positive thinkers. Plan for Success in 2009!
There will be challenges along the way to your success. Here are ten potential roadblocks to look out for:
1. No clear vision - The clearer your vision is of your definition for success, the faster you will achieve it.
2. Fear of failure - Eliminate the Bummer Words - no, never, can’t, won’t, maybe and if.
3. Lack of determination - Turn challenges into a problems that need to be overcome.
4. No action plan - Write a detailed, step-by-step plan of how you will achieve your success. Include a timetable for completion, and place the written strategy where you can read it, every day.
5. Inflexibility - You will have to make adjustments in your life to focus on reaching the success you want.
6. Negative thinking - Everyone has some self-doubt. Ask yourself everyday: a). Did I give my best effort to today’s activities? b) Did I move closer to reaching my goals?
7. Lack of enthusiasm - All days are good; some are better than others. You will find enthusiasm is contagious; give some to others.
8. Procrastination - You can have the best plan in the world, but if you don’t take action on it you simply have a dream.
9. Making excuses - Take personal responsibility for your success by eliminating excuses. Avoid blaming others for your lack of effort.
10. Refusal to learn from your mistakes - Successful people learn valuable life lessons from their mistakes.
These roadblocks can actually become stepping stones to your success. How? By identifying which ones are holding you back from reaching your goals and diligently working to eliminate them. Set monthly and quarterly goals. Post affirmations around your home. Seek relationships with positive thinkers. Plan for Success in 2009!
AND BABY MAKES TWO- - Things that make you say eeeew and smile
First time parents are in for their share of terrible sights and smells! Some of us are better at it than others; but it’s safe to say that we all have some issues dealing with those baby bodily functions. Here are some tips for dealing with the grossest of the gross.
Spitting up
Moms of young babies often feel that they spend their entire lives wearing a dirty shirt. Not only is it difficult to keep your clothing clean, but it’s difficult to keep yourself (and baby) smelling fresh. First, keep some sort of cloth around for your shoulder and lap whenever you’re burping baby. They make specific burp rags, but when my babies were young, I found that these cloths were not wide enough to cover my whole shoulder. Cloth diapers worked much better. I pretty much walked around the house with a cloth diaper on my shoulder at all times when I had a small infant.
Washing those clothes that have been regurgitated upon takes some special care. The smell (especially if you’re using formula) can be hard to remove. Try putting a splash of color safe bleach in the wash to completely remove the smell.
Moms who work have a special challenge – getting to work in the morning without having to change your shirt before you drop off baby. Here was my solution for this dilemma. After I got dressed in the morning, I would put one of my husband’s old dress shirts on over my clothes. I wore it until after I had dropped the baby off at the sitter. It covered nearly my entire outfit.
Poopy Diapers
Get a surgical mask if you need it, you’re going to be changing these for a while. However, once your baby gets a little older, there will be fewer each day. You just have to toughen up about changing them. The best solution for controlling the smell is just to get them out of the house quickly. No, really just bag em and toss em. Luckily, a newborn’s diet prevents the smell from being too offensive; just wait until they start eating solids or better yet, til they are teens...
Little Boy Accidents During Diaper Change
Has it happened to you yet? If you’re the parent of a newborn boy, it’s only a matter of time until your little darling sprays you in the face with a stream of urine during the diaper change. My advice is to keep your son’s penis covered as much as possible during the diaper change. An extra cloth close by can be a lifesaver!
Honestly, babies smell great no matter what the secretions. A bit of humor goes a long way. Here is a great link for large swaddling blankets that are super helpful. I use the aden + anais large swaddling blankets for everything. www.clevermom.me
Spitting up
Moms of young babies often feel that they spend their entire lives wearing a dirty shirt. Not only is it difficult to keep your clothing clean, but it’s difficult to keep yourself (and baby) smelling fresh. First, keep some sort of cloth around for your shoulder and lap whenever you’re burping baby. They make specific burp rags, but when my babies were young, I found that these cloths were not wide enough to cover my whole shoulder. Cloth diapers worked much better. I pretty much walked around the house with a cloth diaper on my shoulder at all times when I had a small infant.
Washing those clothes that have been regurgitated upon takes some special care. The smell (especially if you’re using formula) can be hard to remove. Try putting a splash of color safe bleach in the wash to completely remove the smell.
Moms who work have a special challenge – getting to work in the morning without having to change your shirt before you drop off baby. Here was my solution for this dilemma. After I got dressed in the morning, I would put one of my husband’s old dress shirts on over my clothes. I wore it until after I had dropped the baby off at the sitter. It covered nearly my entire outfit.
Poopy Diapers
Get a surgical mask if you need it, you’re going to be changing these for a while. However, once your baby gets a little older, there will be fewer each day. You just have to toughen up about changing them. The best solution for controlling the smell is just to get them out of the house quickly. No, really just bag em and toss em. Luckily, a newborn’s diet prevents the smell from being too offensive; just wait until they start eating solids or better yet, til they are teens...
Little Boy Accidents During Diaper Change
Has it happened to you yet? If you’re the parent of a newborn boy, it’s only a matter of time until your little darling sprays you in the face with a stream of urine during the diaper change. My advice is to keep your son’s penis covered as much as possible during the diaper change. An extra cloth close by can be a lifesaver!
Honestly, babies smell great no matter what the secretions. A bit of humor goes a long way. Here is a great link for large swaddling blankets that are super helpful. I use the aden + anais large swaddling blankets for everything. www.clevermom.me
Kids Health and Activity Camp
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Location Village Health Club and Spa at DC Ranch
Open to ages 6-15 5-6:15pm
December 15th, 2008 thru January 9th, 2009
Excluding December 24th, 25, 31st and Jan 1st, 2009
$15 per single class/ $100 for 10 classes/ $120 for 15 classes
(no make-ups and classes must be used in the scheduled time)
Kids do not need to be members to attend these classes
Contact Cindy Feltman Angulo CPT (602) 451-3672
Location Village Health Club and Spa at DC Ranch
Open to ages 6-15 5-6:15pm
December 15th, 2008 thru January 9th, 2009
Excluding December 24th, 25, 31st and Jan 1st, 2009
$15 per single class/ $100 for 10 classes/ $120 for 15 classes
(no make-ups and classes must be used in the scheduled time)
Kids do not need to be members to attend these classes
Contact Cindy Feltman Angulo CPT (602) 451-3672
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