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Rexanne Mancini - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
Rexanne Mancini is the mother of two daughters, Justice and Liberty. She is a novelist, freelance writer and maintains an extensive yet informal parenting and family web site, Rexanne.com -Visit her site for good advice, award-winning Internet holiday pages and some humor to help you cope.
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- Teaching Children Gratitude
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] When children are handed everything they want, without regard for the complexities of where these possessions and/or advantages came from, they are going to naturally feel entitled. I will freely admit I have contributed to this generational snafu... I can't give my kids enough and they are regaled with things and advantages as best I can supply. So how do we counter the entitlement attitude? I think we need to teach our children gratitude. Maybe we even need to learn gratitude ourselves.
- Raising Children With Faith
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Faith is actually the pinnacle of hope and optimism. I think we can all agree that a child who has an optimistic outlook is considered happier than one who has a cynical or negative outlook on life.
- Childhood Vaccinations
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] While infant and childhood vaccinations remain a rite of passage for babies born in the United States and most other countries, there is a growing trend by concerned parents of questioning this practice. Unfortunately, there is very little support for these parents in the traditional medical community. While you, as parents, will be told that it is mandatory to vaccinate your babies and even accused of child abuse in some instances if you do NOT vaccinate your infant, I feel it is of vital importance that you know the facts and truth about various vaccinations routinely administered to your children, the actual legality of not vaccinating if you so choose and the opportunity to make your own informed choices.
- Talking to Kids About Sex
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Parents, at some point, need to discuss sex with their children. It's an uncomfortable topic, could be embarrassing and it's certainly not easy, however, it's mandatory so be prepared.
- A Parent's Educational Responsibility
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] While academic education is vital to our children's well-being and they will learn basic academics in school, we, as parents, have the ultimate responsibility of educating our children in the ways of the world. It is our duty to instill morality, ethics and values in our kids.
- The Magic of Santa Claus
[Home-and-Family:Holidays] Allow kids the innocence of believing in Santa for as long as they will. And while they still believe, make Santa as magical and outrageously fantastical as you can. After all, the spirit of Santa is what parenting is all about.
- Holiday Traditions
[Home-and-Family:Holidays] Though we might not realize how deeply our kids are touched by family traditions, most children look forward to the holidays and the little ways we make them special. It’s a form of security for children to know that certain events and personal touches will always be part of their celebrations.
- Infant Circumcision
[Home-and-Family:Babies-Toddler] Cultural tradition and religious practices notwithstanding, there is no longer a medical or rational reason to circumcise a child other than for purely “cosmetic” reasons.
- Holiday Expectations
[Home-and-Family:Holidays] What’s one person to do when it becomes overwhelming and seems there’s never going to be enough time, resources or energy to cope? Well, I’m not sure I have the answer. What I’m longing to do is escape to an undisclosed location (me and Dick Cheney) to save my sanity, health and well-being. Naturally, this isn’t an option …
- Bullies
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Bullies are an ugly but very real part of childhood. There's not much we can do to protect our children from these cruel and brutal kids except teach them how to defend themselves from an otherwise unprovoked attack of the bullying kind.
- Gaining a Child's Trust
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] When I see a parent forcing a child to tolerate something potentially fear inducing, it curdles my blood. This child was traumatized and her mother was not helping her escape the offensive waves. She was the cause of her child’s trauma. Where is the trust in this relationship? Will this little girl grow up believing that her mother will always be there for her or resent her mom for belittling her sensitivities? I think the latter.
- Children's Allowance
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Allowance is a great teaching tool when given in the spirit of generosity and practicality. It’s never too early to learn or teach responsibility and when we consider that allowance is a good math lesson, we’ve just added to our children’s knowledge base considerably.
- Childhood Friendships
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Childhood friendships are as special as they are a necessary part of growing up. While some of our children will maintain these friendships into adulthood, many will not. Kids move away or they find other friends with more current interests and grow apart. Whatever form a childhood friendship is taking, know that these relationships are vital to your child’s well-being and growth as a human being.
- Eating Disorders in Children
[Health-and-Fitness:Eating-Disorders] Eating disorders are almost as common as acne in teenagers today, creating many health problems, not the least of which is potential death. Try telling a 15 year-old girl that she is not fat after her mother or both parents have been urging her to diet from the time she was old enough to dress herself.
- Learning Disabilities
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] These children are the different ones among us. They should be honored for their uniqueness. Unfortunately, they are more likely to be labeled and boxed into a problem corner, snuffing out their bright lights and destroying their self-esteem at a tender age.
- Spanking Children
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] I feel we have evolved enough as a society to understand that violence breeds violence. Hitting is physically violent. So is spanking. I do not believe spanking children teaches them to mind their parents or caretakers any better than other forms of constructive discipline.
- Potty Training ...To Train or Not to Train?
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Sure, we went a little stupid each time they were successful users of the throne and they got rewards and accolades just like the kids who were put through a regimen of potty training tactics fit for Patton's soldiers. But we never made it a big issue in our house and, consequently, it never became an issue.
- The Importance of Fathers
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] There is no doubt that mothers play an all-important leading role in the lives of their children. They are the obvious heroes of child rearing. But what about a father's role? Just how important are ...
- The Importance of Mothers
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Moms, did you ever question your value as a role model, caretaker, administer of hugs and Band-Aids? I think we all have in today's climate of "do more, get more, have more." Many of us work to bring home a paycheck and others work for our sanity. Have you ever wondered if your children were better off with the baby sitter than you? Scientific studies are beginning to point to the overwhelming value of a mother's love, hugs and support. Nannies, baby-sitters and relatives are terrific. They just aren't as terrific as Mom.
- Teaching Children Good Manners
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Last week in my newsletter, I mentioned that my children knew how to behave in nice restaurants because they had been exposed to the atmosphere at an early age. My idea of well behaved might be different from yours, however, I think there are certain basics that are important and universal.
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