By Dr. Caron B. Goode 

Kevin’s comment: This is an excellent article that can be applied to children of all ages. Reading and reflecting on it really helps one understand not only your child but also yourself. If you ever wonder why you and your child continually butt heads, this article can help. It provides insight in understanding not only your childs personality but your own. It has given me a whole new perspective in understanding my children.

Tweens have a lot on their plates. They have school, friends, extracurricular activities, and impending puberty. It’s no wonder they have a hard time remembering their chores!

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With summer almost here, many families are planning a family getaway. Traveling with kids can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a bit trying for parents, particularly when the kids are small. Small children often have very short attention spans, and they’re not able to become absorbed in reading a book for instance, to while away several hours of a trip. Trips are hard on kids of all ages, because most kids want to move around and do fun things. Smaller kids have the most difficult time with traveling though, because on short hour can seem like a whole day to them. So keeping them occupied while traveling can be a challenge.

There are many things you can do to help make traveling with kids a more enjoyable experience though. Some things work well for smaller children, while others are usually best for kids a little older. Most of the techniques we cover here are for traveling with kids in a car, but some of the tips can be used for air travel, trains or buses too.

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I was reflecting tonight on my childhood role models and the effect they had in my life. As a child I idolized Neil Armstrong. He helped instill in me my sense of adventure. The most important lesson I learned from my hero is that there is nothing a person can’t do once they set their mind to it. Unfortunately many young kids role models tend to be cartoons. Children need and want positive role models to look up to in their life. Real life role models. Knowing that their are people in the world that like the same thing that they do, and are accomplished, interesting, and committed, will fuel their optimism, desire, and persistence.

Below are 3 ways in which you can give your kids some great role models to look up to.

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It only seemed yesterday when you where holding your child in your arms. How fast they grow up! Most parents have some fears of the day their child will start dating. It is the big sign that they are entering adulthood. But it’s important to remember that they do still need you now and this is a normal development phase of the teen years. Here are a few things you can do to help make dating easier for both of you.

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Memorial Day commemorates those who have fought and died as well as those who are still fighting for freedom. With many of our friends, sons and daughters oversees this year, it is important to to remember our men and women around the world by honoring them with a special family ceremony by lowering the flag at half mast. Say a prayer for them and their safe return to our shores. Undoubtedly, you will be celebrating Memorial Day by having a barbeque at your home. As most of us will have the day off with our families, here are some Memorial Day game ideas to make this day even more enjoyable.

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The next time you punish your child for something, one question to ask yourself, is "how do I feel?" Are you a parent who would like to know why you cannot seem to get your children to listen to you after they have made a mistake or have done something wrong by breaking the family rules? Do you try to fix every problem as soon as it happens, on the spot, while still steaming with anger inside?

To become the best possible parents that you can to your children when they break the rules or make mistakes, you must learn to control your own emotions in times of anger, and avoid punishing your kids when you are upset. Of course it is understandable to want to take corrective action immediately when your child’s mishap is fresh.

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Father’s Day will be here before you know it! Your kids are probably trying to come up with unique ideas this year. To help them, here are some Father’s Day ideas for younger kids that are sure to please Dad.

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When it comes to parenting our children, we all want to teach our kids responsibility. If you care about your son or daughter as much as I do then you probably have been guilty of spoiling them a bit. Unfortunately this practice is not a good way of empowering our kids. You need to nurture their abilities, not take them away. And of course we do this out of love, but there comes a time when parents must learn to never do for their kids what they can do for themselves.

It’s tough at times, I know, but well worth it when you start thinking in terms of the future. For example, you must start instituting little chores around the house and other smaller responsibilities as soon as they are old enough. This will help teach them to be respectful of their atmosphere and to start learning that life takes a little “maintenance” each day.

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As a parent one of the hardest things to do is watch your child make mistakes. While you may want your child to benefit from your mistakes, the greatest and most appreciated lessons are those personally learned. This can be one of our greatest parenting challenges, deciding when to step in and when to let your child experience their own mistakes.

If someone asked you why you should be happy your child is going out on their own, how would you answer? While we all want our children to be safe and have a happy, full life, yet at the same time have this desire for them to remain home just a bit longer, many of our peers are yelling, “Don’t clip their wings!”

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Part of parenting is teaching and helping our children build a strong value system. My 4 year old son, for example, loves the look and feel of money. He gets extremely excited when he is handling money of any kind. So we have started giving him chores to earn his money. Our hope is that he will begin to associate work and money and appreciate the value of money a little better. While his allowance may be small, he looks forward to doing his chores to get that dollar bill.
By their own accounts, work is good for young boys and girls. Here are a few benefits from having to earn their own money and meet the requirements of a work commitment or a job:

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As a parent of young children you probably find one of the biggest parenting challenges is to get your child to listen. Often you probably ask yourself: “If only my child would listen more!” This is a comment that parents of all ages and all cultural backgrounds are saying every day. The ability to teach your children to listen both in the home and outside of the home is truly the hallmark of successful parenting. If your kids will listen to you for a large portion of the time, then your future years of parenting will be much easier, for both you and your kids.

One of the best ways to raise children who are good listeners is to model good listening skills. Be a role model. Live a life of good communication between you and your spouse. When two parents are really listening to each as a way of life, not only with that relationship improve, but it will show the children the value and importance of paying attention.

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I found this poem which touched an emotion I would like to share. You see, I was adopted. As the poem points out, a mom is much more than simply ‘blood’. The love a mom gives to her adopted or foster child is truely a love from the heart. It takes a very special, loving person to adopt or foster a child. To all those special Moms I hope you have the best mothers day or all.  Happy Mother’s Day!

As we grow up and move away we realize how much we miss our Mother’s. As a kid my mom was always there for me. Her presence and love meant more to me than anything, and still means more to me than anything. I will be hundreds of miles away and not able to see my mom this year. It is important that she knows how much she means to me, and that toughts of her will be in my heart this Mothers day.  

With love this Mothers day from your son Kevin and your grandkids. Mom, I will miss you dearly this year, you will be in my heart and the hearts of the kids. You are the greatest. 

Mothers day is a time to reflect and remember how special our Moms our. They have dedicated their lives to us and we need to let them know how much they are loved and cared about. Here is a special Mothers day poem for my mom and all moms on Mother’s Day:

A PRECIOUS MOTHER

Mom You’ve given me so much,
Love from your heart
and the warmth of your touch.

The gift of life and you’re a friend to me.
We have a very Special Bond

which only comes from God…
I’m sure you agree.

As a child I would say Mommy I Love You,

Now you’re my Mother so dear
I love you even more
with each and every new year.

If I could had chosen,
I would have picked no other.
Than for you…to be my lifelong friend
and Precious Mother.

~Author Unknown~

From everyone here at More4kids, remember to make this mothers day extra special!

We all miss and love you Mom

Being a great grandparent is something of a balancing act. You need to be an understanding, supportive parent to your own children, as well as being supportive and loving to the grandchildren too.

As a parent to your own children, the temptation is always present to tell your kids what to do, correct them when you feel they’re wrong, and disregard or disrespect their wishes. All of these actions will only serve to annoy, irritate, and possibly alienate them from you though. And if your adult children are alienated from you, it will be next to impossible to have a relationship with your grandchildren.

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