Don't you hate it when your computer goes on the fritz?
If you're anything like me, you depend upon it - a great deal! There's the stuff I've got to do for work, there's the stuff I need to get done for our household and, of course, there's when my daughter needs to use it for schoolwork.
All fine and good until something doesn't work right. And you can't even tell what's wrong when it comes to your computer, can you? It's not like smoke starts coming out of it (hollywood notwithstanding); heck sometimes you don't even know it's broken until weeks have gone by and you've done serious damage. Nasty!
So I have to share a little site with you I saw that I appreciated. Computer Repairs in Sarasota, FL (which I don't live there so the site won't help me get MY computer repaired) not only lists places to get your pc or laptop fixed if your near Sarasota or Bradenton, FL, but on its homepage it gives a clever little history of computing in the 20th century.
I learned stuff. Stuff I can impress my 12 year old with. I'm thinking this page is like the waiting room at your computer doctor...a little something to read and make the time pass while you wait for the pro to show up.
Anyway, the idea of a little sugar to help the medicine go down is not a bad idea. I'll keep that in mind for other ventures, too.

"How much longer will you tolerate dishonesty and disrespect? How many more temper tantrums and arguments will you endure? Have you wasted a lot of time and energy trying to make your child change? If so, you need to get help as soon as possible."
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/432659_parenting-problems-of-todays-teenager#ixzz1B4PzpM9O

I love this quote I found today on another parenting blog. In my nearly 30 years of parenting experience, I have found this to be so true:

Real problems require real action.

Troubled teenagers need distressed parents to take action. Not be immobilized by panic or hopelessness. Teens can smell a lack of leadership a mile away. Use something as simple as a behavior log to help yourself move from inaction to action.

Talk to another parent. Go on a forum and look for other parents in similar struggles. Talk to your clergy. But whatever you do, do something to help you and your teen!

How to stop back talking - do you have that challenge in your family? Chances are you do if you've had kids longer than 5 minutes!

As a longtime parent myself (nearly 30 years), I've seen my fair share of back talking. Frankly, other than pockets of smart mouthing, we've never had a major problem. I honestly think that is due to a couple of factors we've never let out of our sight.

1. Respect is king in our home. Period.
That means that my husband and I have tried to cultivate an environment of respect in our home. We intentionally focus on the level of respect that gets displayed day in and day out. Are we perfect? Heck, no. But we are intentional about how to stop back talking and in establishing respect and our kids know that because we say so out loud. A lot.

For example, we have always told our kids that we want to hear their opinions and frustrations. Always. But only if they can communicate them respectfully. So when something like back talking comes up, it immediately trips the filter of disrespect and gets our undivided attention. Which brings us to the next point.

2. Back talk gets handled on the spot.
This would be my number one suggestion for how to stop back talking - stand up against it immediately. Calmly and firmly stop the conversation and say something like "hey, that's not how you talk to me or anyone else. Are you clear on that now?" And I require a positive response. Why? Because then the child takes ownership of the decision to talk respectfully.

Obviously this works best in a culture of ongoing respect and that's why if you're dealing with ongoing back talk, you have to fix a larger problem than just smart mouthing. Take a look at the climate of respectfulness in your home and start making intentional changes. It will take time, but it will have an effect on many areas of your family.

You know, just when you think you're getting a handle on parenting, along comes toilet training. Then when you think you've gotten that one at least a bit under control an issue comes up with constipation, potty training bowel movements or the like.

Thanks very much, life. Sigh.

It's in these moments that we just have to laugh, don't we? What else is there to do? Cry? Oh wait, we've already done that - multiple times! The great thing about this realization is that it help keeps us calm and matter-of-fact, which is a huge help to our toilet training toddler or preschooler. The more relaxed - and even humorous - we can keep the process of bowel movement training, the more we help our potty trainee.

If you need ideas on helping your own poop-challenged little one, you might want to listen to a podcast I just created on potty training & bowel movements.

Hang in there, Mom. And laugh. Even a little.

I have a friend who just gave birth to her 4th child. Her other children include a toddler, a preschooler and a school-age child. A potty training child is always on this woman's mind. She confessed to me that she was trying to get the toddler potty trained before the new baby arrived - something I have also tried to do with no success.

Well, maybe I should amend that. When my oldest was waiting (!) for the birth of his little brother, I was sure talk of being a 'big boy' would finally inspire him to completely toilet train.

No, it inspired him to show me that he knew exactly what I was talking about and he wasn't going to do it. And I couldn't make him.

I was so frustrated by the time my second son arrived. And then a miracle happened. Or rather, Grandma happened. My wonderful mom, caring for my older son while I was busy in the hospital with my newest son, told my oldest he wanted to be potty trained. He was a big brother now.

And so he did. By the time I came home from the hospital (2 days), my oldest was happily trained. I felt foolish and grateful at the same time.

Was it the Grandma touch? Being away from me? Just deciding? I don't know. But after potty training 3 other kids, all equally creative, I learned that while I could guide and influence the process  only a child can potty train himself.

Lesson learned. By mom.