Can Tutoring Reduce Bullying?

Can Tutoring Reduce Bullying?

How Confident Students Can Triumph Over Bullies

Most parents think of tutoring as a solution for a child with bad grades, but Beatrice Hair knows it’s about so much more than just the grades.

“Knowledge breeds confidence,” said Hair, founder of the Salisbury Tutoring Academy, www.staltd.com and author of the book, H3LT: The Hair Three- Legged-Table Solution for Education. “If it ended with better grades and test scores, then all we’d be turning out are book-smart kids who can pass a minimum skills assessment. That’s not the goal. The goal is to help a child realize their full potential both intellectually and personally. Showing them how to think for themselves in a way that fuels their ability to learn also boosts their self confidence, and when you have a child who is smart and filled with self-esteem, that child will be capable of accomplishing anything.”

Hair has personal experience with that paradigm. One of her students, William Scott, was suffering through a teenager’s worst nightmare – classes filled with failure and schoolyards filled with bullies.

“William was a special child who had moved from a school where he was succeeding marginally to a school where all he found was failure,” Hair said. “He told me what he experienced at his new school were cruel teachers and bullies. He wrote me a letter after he finished our course where he described that period as one of the darkest times of his young life, saying that the only thing he learned in that school was how to hate.”

Scott switched schools again, and his parents enrolled him at Hair’s academy for one-on-one after-school tutoring. That’s when he said his life changed.

“I’ve suffered through many hardships in my brief sixteen years on this Earth. Some of the things I’ve been through many people would understand, while on the other hand I’ve faced things that few could comprehend. I’ve faced bullies at many different schools and fought cruel and perverted teachers,” he wrote in his letter. “The entire time I faced these challenges, I had to deal with things on a much more personal level such as my lack of self-confidence and my learning difficulties. Luckily in this dark time of my life, I found a glimmer of light. I had found hope at a tutoring academy. I don’t want to go into all of the details, but when I first entered the academy, I barely had a seventy-seven average and when I finished with Algebra 2, I had the highest class average. I’m happier now that I know I can pass difficult classes and excel in them if I just put in a little more effort into my work. I’m not really sure where I would be right now if I hadn’t gone to the Salisbury Tutoring Academy, but I know for sure that it wouldn’t be a good place.”

For Hair, Scott’s solution was what she refers to as the “three-legged-table.”

“Most major problems encountered by parents, teachers and students can be solved by addressing the problems with what I call the three-legged-table,” she said. “The child, the parent and the teacher each hold up one leg of this three-legged-table. The table is the platform for transformations to occur. Imagine a three-legged-table with one leg broken. Will it stand, or will it wobble at the first sign of any turbulence? In our process, we approach problems by involving everyone who holds a stake in that child’s development, and that’s why it worked for William.”

Beatrice Hair is the founder and owner of the Salisbury Tutoring Academy, the One-on-One School, which is a franchised tutoring academy for ages four-to-adult.

Find out more about whether your child needs a tutor

www.ParentingWithAngela.com

Getting Kids Outdoors

Talk to a group of parents long enough and the question is sure to come up: How do you get your kids off their electronic gadgets and get them outdoors?

Parents will lament and complain about how hard it is to even have a conversation with their children because they are so distracted with their cell phones, their handheld games and computers. Of course, some children will say the same about their parents.

“When the whole family can get moving together, it makes getting outdoors more fun. And it gets everyone moving,” says mother Kathy McDonald, owner of Get Clear Get Going Coaching and author of Creating Your Life Collage, a self-help book regarding work/life balance. “So many times we make commitments to get moving more, and we think we don’t have time. But if you save a regular time with your kids, you’re more apt to do it.”

Besides playing tennis with her family, McDonald and her two children, ages 12 and 11, walk their dogs together daily. “For my kids, walking the dogs is a great check point. We talk about how their day is going, how their lives are going. We’ve turned this daily ritual of walking the dogs into so much more,” she explains.

Developing a habit of fitness and appreciation of the outdoors should start early, McDonald says. “If you can make it a habit when they’re young, you’re helping them develop a habit that will support them throughout their lives,” she says. Equally important is giving their minds space to think, to foster their own creative thoughts instead of depending on video games or television to provide a story, she says.

Alex Curtis Boyer, program director for the abcPROGRAM at Baby Bungalow, cites research showing that children lack the upper body brachial strength that older generations possessed, the theory being children used to spend a lot more time climbing on jungle gyms and participating in other outside activities that helped build physical strength.

Outdoor exploration utilizes skills not needed for more passive play taking place indoors, Boyer says. “When children play outdoors, they have to look for things in the grass, climb trees, pick up rocks…It takes a whole different skill set than sitting in and watching TV. All your senses are engaged in a different way,” she explains.

She has also noticed in her line of work at Baby Bungalow that today’s children seem afraid to get dirty. Whereas their parents probably grew up making mud pies, these children aren’t necessarily used to playing with mud and other natural materials. In tactile learning, children are introduced to interesting textures such as shaving cream and sand. “They almost panic; they don’t want to get their hands dirty,” Boyer observes.

Perhaps the greatest benefit to spending time outdoors is the spiritual component that Mother Nature can provide, Boyer says. “The child that is outdoors, in a quiet surrounding, is using his or her senses, without being overly stimulated by technology. A lot of peace can come from nature. It can help a child be more centered, feeling they are one with nature and connected to the world.”

Local pediatrician Dr. Marcy Baker, says some parents have an unnecessary fear of the outside. While there are reasons to be cautious, parents should look at the risk/benefit ratio and allow their children some freedoms, she says. She allows her sixth grader to walk a few blocks down the street to visit a friend, for example. Regarding the perpetuation of fear, “the media is a big part of the problem, honestly,” she says.

“Parents need to not be fearful of letting kids play outside. It really is sad if kids aren’t outdoors at all. It’s just not good for them. Beyond physical health, being outside is good for their mental health and it’s important to have creative free play,” Baker says, adding that many studies demonstrate the correlation between increased screen time and increased weight.

To other parents, Baker recommends a sunny day rule like she has adopted at home: if it’s a beautiful day, there’s no reason not to play outside. If the sun is shining a bit too brightly, go to the pool or a beach, “while wearing sunscreen,” she adds. If her daughter Samantha has a friend over, they’re not allowed to be on the computer or the TV. “I send them out to play,” Baker says.
Like Boyer and McDonald, she cites imaginary play as a reason to get them outside, and emphasizes that social aspects can be incorporated into outside play that are invaluable. If your neighborhood isn’t abundant with other children playing outside, Baker suggests starting an outdoor club with a group of families that will go together to explore the great outdoors.
So strongly does Baker feel about this topic, a few years ago she started a Health and Fitness Committee at her daughter’s school, with a main project being a day set aside for walking to school. The website www.walktoschool.org offers tips for setting up similar programs, such as the International Walk to School Day.

She recommends reviving old traditions, such as camping in the backyard, creating leaf collections and keeping an aquarium. One family she read about bought a truck load of dirt, plastic buckets and shovels – for the price of a video game – to let their children discover the joys of dirt exploration. Baker suggests setting up a tent in the backyard and leaving it there for convenient, repeated camping.

Sending kids to summer camps where they can spend an extended amount of time immersed in hiking, canoeing, and other wildlife activities can be a wonderful, safe way to let children explore and learn Florida’s true environment.

Executive Director of Wildlife Foundation of Florida Brett Boston recommends the bestselling book, “Last Child in the Woods,” by Richard Louv, describing an ailment he calls Nature-Deficit Disorder. His website, http://richardlouv.com/children-nature-resources provides ideas of getting children outside.

According to Boston, spending time outdoors helps prevent juvenile diabetes, increases life expectancy, helps children with attention deficit disorder, and is important for overall good health. “Everything is so structured. We don’t have unstructured play time anymore, so children don’t invent games anymore,” Boston says sadly. “It used to be if you had a ball and some grass, you could make a game.”

“As parents, we’re all in the same boat. Relax and find your limit on what you think is safe. Parents need to consider, is there unstructured play in their child’s week? Are they getting to parks? Somewhere, there’s bird watching and great nature trails,” Boston says.

The Tampa Bay area offers a great many natural places to explore that are engaging to children. A few nearby places to explore with children are the Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, Weedon Island Preserve off Gandy Boulevard, Inchetucknee River near Gainesville and Crystal River.

More tips about getting children outside can be found on the website for the National Wildlife Federation, www.NWF.org and the website for the Florida Youth Conservation Network, http://fyccn.org

Disney's new movie "Prom"

Prom. It’s one of those events that never really lives up to our expectations. But, 20 years later, somehow we can conjure up a few fond memories of the evening. Attending the sneak preview of Disney’s new movie “Prom” definitely took me back to 1994. The good, the bad......and the drama.

I read an article ahead of time that discussed how there were no current actors that were hired to play the teenagers. They wanted people who were fresh, relatable and could tell the story. There really are no big stars in the cast at all. I tried to go in with an open mind and without expectations.

Truthfully, I was just thrilled that my 13 year old daughter gave up a few social hours over Spring Break to accompany me to the preview. It gets off to a rather slow start while setting up the story. And as an adult, it is quite predictable. But, the story does take you back to your inner 17 year old. They rounded of the cast fairly accurately and did a pretty decent job of representing the life of high school and prom. You had the smart girl, the prep, the jock, the pretty girl, the rebel, the couple that has been together since middle school, the guy who can’t get a date as well as several “misfits”. There’s even a guy who is obviously stoned out of his mind the entire time. This is a Disney movie. Even though everyone in the audience knows he’s stoned, it’s never discussed. They manage to keep all of the really negative things that actually happen in high school out while still making a few good points. There are many lessons within this movie, several that even adults need to be reminded about. And while your teenager may not absorb the majority of them, they will walk away with something that they didn’t realize before. This story deals with goals and relationships. It shows you that you should learn from bad decisions and helps you realize what people are “good” for you. It also reminds you that things aren’t always as they appear and being judgmental can backfire on you. There’s even a “little” lesson in there for us parents regarding our teens.

My daughter and I laughed and then cried. It was a great moment for both of us to have. I remembered exactly what it was like to be her age. It reminded me that just because something doesn’t matter “in the grand scheme of things” or “20 years down the road”, it doesn’t mean that the weight of the world isn’t seemingly on their shoulders at that time. It’s all they know. She felt good knowing that someone out there understands what it’s like to be a teenager.

The predictability and simplicity of this movie shouldn’t sway you from seeing this movie. Try to keep in mind who the target audience is. As adults, we’ve been to Prom. We know it isn’t as amazing as they’re selling it. But, let your daughter live vicariously through the movie. It’s predictable because it’s accurate and it’s simple because it’s truthful. It will create a moment for you as a parent---if you allow it---to bond with your child. I encourage every mother and father with a teenager (especially their daughters) to make the time for this movie.

Disney’s “Prom” isn't going to won’t win any Academy awards, but it does allow the opportunity to connect you with your teenager. And I think that deserves an award in itself.

Big Momma and Me

Things, as of right now, are better than they've been in almost a year. A lot of things have been resolved and are well on their way to being what they used to be, if not better. But it's been months of crisis: financial, marital, parental, mental, health. Recently, I've had a heavy heart. On Monday night, at the urge of my mother and support of my husband, I got a mini getaway to almost a type luxury resort. You know---the room is outrageously priced and anything for you to use in the room is going to cost you. It wasn't St. Lucia, but it would have to do. And thankfully, I only had to pay 20% of the bill.

I was on the 4th floor and let me tell you: this was the place to be if you wanted to be doted on. With the push of a button, I could have someone at my service. They almost were annoying with their checking in on me to make sure I was comfortable. While I was enjoying some downtime, a woman next to me was trying to do the same. She was so joyous and jovial, but her health seemed to give her no reason to be. We started to talk and she adamantly informed me her Blood Pressure was no longer a problem---as long as she took her meds. (Which I think made my brain want to initiate a debate as to whether the general population understand that if you neeeeeed meds, you still have a problem. But this wasn't the place.) She tells me she has 5 grandkids and 3 children. I noticed she mentioned the kids last and asked her jokingly if there was a reason. She said, in her best fitting Big Momma voice "Child, those kids are why I'm here. I love them dearly and they turned out well. But those grandkids are the loves of my life. Make sure you are able to enjoy the lives of your children's children. They love you differently---and it's blissful and delightful." Wow. What do you say to that?! She excitedly proceeded to tell me she has lost 80 pounds over the past year and what foods to eat to do it. (I already knew, but I listened intently because Big Momma was just enjoying being heard. I'm thinking that Big Daddy did most of the talking at home.) Big Momma (aka known as Mrs. Renita Williams) seemed to know everyone by name and informed them how she would be treated. I knew pretty quick she was a frequent visitor.

On the same floor, a few rooms over, there seemed to be a panic---the kind of panic when a code RED alarm goes off in a hospital. I heard family yelling and found out that someones heart had stopped. I never found out if they revived it.

There was a treadmill not too far away and when I woke up, I went over and used it. Even took a few pictures. I felt tired but accomplished. I mean, really, I never workout when I stay anywhere so this was a first. I went back to my room and turned on the tv. Barbara Walters ws talking about having her heart checked. Studio 10 was showing how to eat healthier. And Dr. Oz was talking about heart health and cholesterol. Prior to that day, almost everyday, I always wondered exactly what damage my weight and my less than perfect food choices had done.

That moment, I didn't have to wonder anymore. I was discharged from St. Lucia....I mean St. Josephs 4th floor cardiac unit with a clean bill of health. And of course, a lecture about what the modern day diet---whether you're skinny or obese---has done to our bodies, our hearts and our life span. I gained all the weight back that I lost last year. And it was so easy to do. Life just got in the way. No. Wait. I take that back. I allowed life to get in the way. And I want to be around many, many years to enjoy it. Because after all, Big Momma said I need to be around to experience the life of my children's children because they'll be the loves of my life. Who wants to miss that?

Big Momma was not doing well when I was discharged. She is on a huge amount of medications and oxygen and still weighs 346 pounds. But she was spunky. When they came to take her for more tests, she said to the young, thin, pretty nurse "Shugah, Ima need you to shut that door. I'm not graceful enough to get up outta this here bed in this nightgown made for negative size people without flashing my lucky charms. Now, hunnay, I know times have changed for your generation, but I don't show my lucky charms for free. You gonna have to at least buy me dinner.....or something sweet because this cardiac diet is for the cows." I tried hard not to chuckle out loud but she heard me. She said "Laugh out loud, baby. That's what life is all about. Laughing out loud. I think your generation even rolls around the floor laughing your booty off. Lawdy, if that actually worked, I'd look like Beyonce and act like a diva!" Somehow, I believe her.

Maybe the relief that the chest pains I had were not a heart attack. Maybe it's because of Big Momma that I enjoyed my stay. Maybe the code RED was a reality check. Maybe the clean bill of health fuels me to not ruin a 2nd chance. Whatever it is......Big Momma is right: Times have changed for our generation. And I'm going to have to work really, really hard to make the necessary changes......permanently. Take care of your heart.....and your lucky charms. ;)

That's just how I see it. But maybe it's my misperception.

The vase.....

So, it’s been a while. You know that a lull in my writing can only mean one thing---it has to be really bad for me not to blog about it. I’m willing to share just about anything. I think people learn from it and I feel better. Some people admire it….some people condemn it. But, the older I get, the more I care about the rats ass than what people think. Even so, there are specifics that I won’t divulge publicly, but I will use the best story combined with an analogy I can to get my point across.

Imagine a beautiful room, with a beautiful vase sitting on a gorgeous, well crafted table. The first morning you wake up to this scene, you soak it up. You admire the craftsmanship of the table. You admire the strength, sturdiness and beauty of it. You notice there are a few rocks of different shapes and sizes---all exquisite---in the vase. You note each design and the beauty within each one. You are oblivious to all that is around. You just focus on the vase and the table.

Every morning, you check the vase, pleasantly surprised to see a few more beautiful rocks. Day after day, year after year--- just as expected---rocks fill the vase.

As time goes on, the rocks have blended together and they seem less vibrant. The table seems to be worn. Some days, you don’t even notice the rocks. You have other things that need tending. Eventually, you spend your days tending to everything BUT the vase and table. But, people come over and admire your room---your table, your vase and how full it is. You just know it’s there every day. You don’t appreciate it’s beauty like you once did.

You’re too busy too notice that less and less rocks are being put into the vase. You’re too tired to notice that the table is cracking. Until one day, you wake up and the vase is sitting on the floor, empty. The vase has been full for 15 years, sitting on that magnificent table just as long. You feel a void that you never thought you would have. You just expected the vase and table would always be there…..

Let me tie this all together for you.

The room is your life.
The vase is your heart.
The table is your spouse.
The rocks are all the important moments---the ones we often deem insignificant in the middle of it all, but end up being the most significant in the grand scheme of things:
A kiss when you wake up.
A jacket when you are cold.
A foot rub when your feet hurt.
A holding of your hand when you sit in the emergency room.
Recording Saturday Night Live for you because your favorite actor is hosting and you fell asleep.
A cold washcloth when you have a fever.
An “I love you” just because…and mean it.

And the rocks stop filling the vase when you become to busy to be bothered. Too busy with laundry, facebook, dinner with the girls, scrapbooking, dishes, cooking, watching American Idol, mopping or cleaning baseboards to notice the rocks.

Don’t expect that your spouse will always be there because they always have been. Don’t expect that they will tolerate what you’ve always done because they never say anything about it. Know what matters and treasure it. We tend to forget that just because it always has been, doesn’t mean it always will be. Don’t let your spouse feel like you don’t care about them. Don’t allow your spouse to carry the weight of your heart on their shoulders.


Don’t just expect that the table will always hold the vase. Don’t expect that the vase will always be full. Repairing the table and refilling the vase is not impossible, but it is a long and winding road. Don’t wait for your vase to be empty and the table to be broken---or gone---to realize how much you adored it. But in reality, sometimes you have to be without the table to realize the importance it has and what it provided.

Take care of your room, your vase, your table---and appreciate every rock inside the vase. Even the small, dull, ugly ones. They just remind you how special the other rocks are.

Learning to take care of my table, appreciate every rock and rebuild my room……


That's just how I see it. But maybe it's my misperception.

Let Go & Grab On

Earlier last week, I was the Secret Santa Shopper for the Angel tree at work. While I was trying to make $960 stretch over 24 kids, I started to think about my life and how 2010 had gone. This was not our best year---not by a long shot. Personally, financially, emotionally, maritally (Yes, it's a real word) and relationshipally (No, it's not a real word) things didn't go as---shall we say---smoothly as they have in years past. All I had been thinking about was how I could pull off getting my oldest a Mac laptop. These kids were asking for toothbrushes and socks. And if they splurged on anything---it was Super Hero Underwear and bubble bath. It was heart breaking. And humbling.

I started to think about how we---people in general--- spend our life waiting for things to happen or change and then bitch about the way things are until they do. Some do this more than others, but we are all guilty. We all complain about relationships and friendships and often money. We express our deepest and typically most negative emotions. We are human. We should all be allowed to express "what's on our mind". But, some people take it literally. Or they need a new mind.

Maybe one day I will find myself openly, and repetitively complaining about work, traffic, parking spots or not having enough time. Maybe I will lose my sense of peace and just start bitch slapping 30-something guys that wear shirts with dragons that are 2 sizes too small. Maybe I will complain that people just don't get it! Maybe I will spend my days festering over how another mom let their kid wear shorts to school when it's cold outside. Or be ticked off at how parents could let their kid play a video game that isn't age appropriate. Maybe one day, I will buy everyone a Christmas gift and fill their stockings and bitch about how they didn't buy me anything or fill my stocking. Maybe I'll remind the world about what my parents didn't do for me and how bitter I am. Maybe I'll start saying how much I hate Oprah. Maybe one day I will get tired of just being the peaceful, perceptive person I am and tell everyone how I really feel. Maybe.........

But, the truth is this. Complaining about traffic means you have a car. And I know enough people that don't. They walk to work. Rain or shine. Complaining about work means you have a job. And I know plenty of people without one of those. Complaining about how little time you have JUST TAKES AWAY FROM THE LITTLE TIME YOU HAVE. Manage it better. Simplify. Delete. There's enough time. Really. People have been making it for years. Complaining about the Jersey Shore look alike wearing the too small dragon shirt is just stupid to begin with. But, the irony is you are 30 something wearing jeans with holes in places there shouldn't be and a top that my teenage daughter could wear---which leaves your boobs, muffins and ass crack peaking out. Saying that "People just don't get it" is probably the most truthful thing I hear. They don't. And neither does the person saying it. You forget that you are "people" and you have to include yourself. *IF* you truly got it----you would understand people---and you wouldn't be so frustrated. And when you add kids and the cold weather, it's simple. They deal with the cold better than us adults. I remember my gramma wanting me to put on long underwear and I thought she needed to be baker acted! She was out of her mind if I was wearing anything like that! I will suffer through the cold to look cool. And I survived. And who really cares if someone else's 7 year old is playing Call of Duty? If that mom starts sneaking in your kids window and playing HALO with him, I'll punch her for you. Until then, let it gooooooooo. And buy Christmas gifts for those you want to---not obligated to. Fill the stockings because you want to. Because you feel better when you do. Not because you hope yours will be filled in return. And your parents? Enough. How long are you going to use them as your crutch in life? How much more hate can you harbor against them? Most people that I hear complain turned out pretty good---so thank your parents. Because many of the people that aren't complaining, are STILL being supported by and living with them. How'd ya like that? I didn't think you would. And Oprah! Really? You don't have to like her. But how much hate do you have to have in you that you hate her?! You have to be pretty miserable to hate her, in my opinion. Otherwise, you just wouldn't care. And there is a difference. I hope to always be a peaceful, perceptive person. The alternative doesn't seem like much of a good time to me.

Worry about the things that matter. Your spouse, your kids, your pets (Yes, that's for my peeps that love their pets like they were kids), and your family. Fix the relationships that are broken. There are exceptions, but if you were to really step back and look at it, you played a part. All of this will sound hokey, cliche and trite. But life is too short. There isn't enough time---to nurture what we traditionally abandon---people. And we abandon it so that people who don't matter can see if our floors are mopped and our toilets are scrubbed. Those that matter most and are good for us in our life don't give a rats ass if any of that is done.

So, let go and grab on. Let go of the petty crap that won't matter when you're 80 sitting in a rocking chair. Grab on to those things you will miss most and regret not doing when you get to your rocking chair. I don't have to be 80---none of us have to be 80---to know what we will regret. But, not being 80 tricks us into thinking we have plenty of time. And, since most people complain that they don't, you'd think we'd get to work on that. Then again, people just don't get it. ;')

I hope 2011 brings you---no---I hope you create peace and perspective in 2011.

Be the change you want to see in the world---starting with your world.

That's just how I see it. But maybe it's my misperception.

Taming the Tantrums

It’s natural to have tantrums; adults have them all the time. We can lose our temper when someone cuts us off in traffic or when our kids don’t listen. Maturing is all about managing our emotions more effectively, and it’s a lifetime project. Tantrums can’t be completely avoided, but we can impact how often and how long they go on by the way we respond to our children’s outbursts.

When we yell or give in, we’re relieving our own distress rather than helping our children develop self-control and will only make things worse.

What to do:

Get yourself to a calm and assertive state: The first order of business is to get yourself under control; get calm, rather than trying to get your child under control. Put the effort there. Take a walk around the house, count to 100, and take your own timeout. Call a friend. Do whatever you can do to get yourself under control, but again, try not to lose your temper. Remember, you’re just trying to be the anchor in the storm that’s calming the system down. If one person in a system can stay relatively calm, that's the best way to quiet any kind of upset or tantrum.

Your child needs to learn how to control emotions, we can’t control them: Remember, you are not responsible for the choices your child makes. Rather, you are responsible for how you choose to handle those choices. Try not to get engaged by your kids' angry outbursts. If it doesn’t capture you, it won’t capture them. Stay focused on staying calm. Do not react by yelling, worrying, hovering or giving in—all typical things that we do as parents. Remember, anxiety is contagious, and so is calm.

Do not give into your child’s request: If you give in to your child's requests when he has an outburst, it will set up a pattern where you create more tantrums. In effect, you’ve taught your child that the best way to get what he wants is to scream, yell and be out of control.

If you’re in public place, you can simply explain that your child is having a hard time, excuse yourself and move out of the situation. Leave the room, go to the car, or go home. Remember, you don’t want to give the tantrum attention, either positively or negatively.

Isolate your child: Put your younger child in his room or in some spot where he can have a timeout or cooling off period and learn how to soothe himself. Make sure you’re not continually engaging him in his tantrum. When the child is calm is when you can discuss what is upsetting them.

Teach your child: Parents are the teachers. Your children can’t handle these strong emotions yet and it’s our job to help them learn how to do that. Remember, they are testing you—and believe it or not, they truly want you to win this particular test. On the surface, your child really wants you to give in, but on another level, he wants to see that there are strong parents in the room. Kids want to know that their parents are sturdy, strong and reliable and are people who mean what they say. They don’t want parents who are going to fall apart. They need us to stay anchored and be the disciplinarian. That is what they NEED.

www.parentingwithangela.com