Parenting Tips-How to tell your child no

     One of the challenges I see modern day parents struggling with is the idea of telling their children no to anything they ask for. There are many misconceptions surrounding the concept of telling one's child no including the idea that saying no, regardless of the irrationality of the request, is somehow mean. Some parents even believe saying no is a form of child abuse while Hippies (or "free spirits") believe that "a child must be free to discover themselves without boarders, man" and saying no inhibits that growth. Some parents believe saying no is too difficult and others are just too lazy to do so. Today we are going to explore how a parent can be successful in saying no and the benefits of doing so!
     The first thing parents must understand is saying yes can come in many forms including (but not limited to) "Whatever", "I don't care", and "Fine! Just do it then!". It also does not count if a parent says no at first, but then gives in after further persistence. Below is an example what not to do:

Child: "Parent or legal guardian, I want to eat cake and ice cream for every meal."

Parent/legal guardian: "No my child, you may not have cake and ice cream for every meal."

Child: "But I want to! PLEEEEEEEASE!!!!!!"

Parent/legal guardian: "Fine! Whatever! I don't care!"

     Makes you think of Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory doesn't it? If this looks like an exchange similar to one you may have with your child you may have a problem with saying no. Fear not, for no matter how long you have been bowing to your child's absurd demands you can still turn the ship around and here is how you do it:
     Phase 1-Phase 1 involves saying no. As we discussed earlier many parents actually get this phase correctly, however it means nothing if you do not follow through with the following phases (unless, obviously, phase 1 works in which case the following phases are not needed). Phase 2-This phase involves saying no again, this time more sternly and/or perhaps with a brief explanation of why a no was given. In children who have never been told no twice in a row this will normally provoke an adverse response which is often referred to as a "temper tantrum". If the temper tantrum is initiated then it is necessary to move on to phase 3, which I have nick-named the "discipline" phase. Phase 3 is another no coupled with some form of punishment (this may include a time out, repossession of a toy, or corporal punishment for parents discerning enough to handle it). Please keep in mind that if you go through all the phases and still give in to the demand you have labored in vain, so stay strong!
     For parents who have spent years bending over backwards for their child's demands you will find that the phases will probably not work at first. This is because the child has learned over the years that (through your own inaction) they will eventually get what they want if they are loud enough or press long enough. Keep up the good fight, for although it will be a struggle in the beginning this method will pay dividends for the rest of both of your lives! Thanks, and be sure to tell any parents you know who may be dealing with this issue!

Occupy Wall Street-The Real Story

     Occupy Wall Street is what most people believe to be a series of protests based in Zuccotti Park on Wall Street in the financial district of lower Manhattan, New York. It is thought that the group is primarily young people, many of whom are "starving artists", who have come together to protest financial inequality and coporate greed and have no specific demands or central leadership. There has been very little media coverage on the protests and speculations abound as to the goals and end of the demonstrations, and I am going to tell you why. The truth of the matter is this is not a demonstration at all. That's right, this whole "movement" happened by mistake. Let me explain:
     During the July New York city council meeting representatives of Manhattan expressed concern over the dramatic decrease in tourism to the area and proposed legislation to "beautify" local parks, a measure which included the banning of any and all persons living in or conducting business ("street vendors" as they are commonly called) in public parks. The measure passed and was set to be enacted on September 16th, 2011. For the next 2 months the NYPD had the task of informing all "street vendors" and residents of Manhattan public parks of their September 16 eviction. As more and more people were told of their impending fate it was reveled that there was one privately owned park in lower Manhattan called Zuccotti Park located on Wall Street, and the new law did not have precedence over private parks, only public. So, basically, all the homeless people and "street vendors" (including many musicians, artists, performers, and food carts) descended on Zuccotti Park on September 17 after a night of relocating from their former homes elsewhere in the borough. Four days into the relocation The New York Observer did the first report on the abnormally large group of hobos in the park. When prompted by the question "Are you here on Wall Street to protest coporate greed and economic inequality?" one homeless man answered "Uhhh...sure...that's why we're here." The next day Keith Olbermann got ahold of the quote and the following Friday, September 23rd, the New York Times did a report on the "movement". The rest, as they say, is history.
    I hope this article has helped you to understand the real deal that is going on down on Wall Street. Share it with someone who may not know. Thank you and have a blessed day!

Why Exercising Is Bad For Your Health.

     Do you ever get sick and tired of pushy commercials telling you how you need to try the latest diet, join a gym, or take some diet pill? Even on the channels my children watch (Nickelodeon, the Disney Channel) they have advertisements telling my children to 'be active' for at least one hour a day. If someone wants to try and push their propaganda on me that is just fine, I can handle it, but when you try to fill my children's heads with poison I will not stand by and let that slide! Therefore it is time to expose the danger of exercising and the negative impact it has on the human body!
     When one exercises they are putting unnecessary strain on their muscles and joints. Do you know anyone that has back problems? Bad knees? Tennis elbow? Of course, we all do. These are all common problems that come with a life full of exercise. They say working out can extend your life. I don't buy that, but for the sake of argument if that is true all you are doing is adding extra years to the end of your life that will be plagued with health problems. You are also putting additional strain on your heart when you exercise. When you work out your heart jumps into hyper drive which can (and often does) lead to what we will refer to as "early burnout". Think of a car's engine. If 2 people each bought the same new car and one of them raced it for an hour every day while the other took it for a light stroll driving it no more than needed and pushing it no harder than needed, which one would last longer? Obviously the latter. When we work out for an hour a day it is the equivalent to taking your daily driver to the race track and, basically, flooring it for an hour a day.
     Another aspect is the emotional strain put on the one exercising. This is another area where we only hear about how "exercising makes you feel better" and "it releases endorphins" but what happens when the party is over? When you stop exercising you lose a month worth of muscle for every day you don't work out. So even if you have spent a lifetime sculpting your body it will be gone within a year of you being unable to exercise. Whether you quit working out by choice or because of inability, it will end in an unnecessarily emotionally painful failure.
    If you are already a chronic exerciser it's not too late. Just like smoking, it is still better to quit now, no matter how long you have been at it. Also, like smoking, please think seriously about beginning a workout regiment. I'm not here to tell you what to do, just to offer some advice and trust you to make the right choice! Have a great day!

Best and Worst Toys of Christmas 2011 Part 2

Last week we looked at some of the most disgraceful Christmas gifts so far this giving season, so tonight we will show you some of the best the market has to offer. Since everyone seems to be struggling with finances these days we will focus on economically practical choices that will ensure you can provide your loved ones with the best Christmas ever and when the credit card bills roll in next year you wont wish for death.

Toy Stick

     Parents these days often dread Christmas time because of the great financial burden children's toys place on them. Even my 6-year-old asked for an XBox 360 for Christmas last year after a schoolmate told her she needed one. Well, parents, instead of giving in to these ridiculous demands you have a choice. When I reflect back on the days of my youth I remember playing with sticks. Yes, a stick is not only free, but has so many benefits I can only begin to scratch the surface. A stick opens the imagination of a child to worlds that Playstation couldn't even begin to think of how they could possibly create. And what happens if the stick breaks (as almost all children's toys do)? Well, unlike that iPod, you now have 2 toys so breaking the gift only makes things better! Some of the greatest minds in history grew up poor and played with common sticks; Einstein, Steve Jobs, and daVinci are among the few.

Toy Box:

     When you hear 'toy box' the first thing you probably think of is a box that holds your kid's toys. Well, this Christmas season that term has a whole new meaning! If I had a nickel for every time I heard someone say "he/she likes the box more than the toy" I would probably be a multi-billionaire. With the toy box you simply take a box, put a smaller empty box inside, and wrap the bigger box. This cash-savvy option offers the opportunity for imagination promotion while actually giving the child 2 gifts: the box itself and the box that the box came in. As with the toy stick you can find these free from several sources (such as your local Wal-Mart) and when (not if) they are destroyed they are easy to replace.

     With both of these choices you are giving your children gifts they will treasure above any mind-numbing fancy electronic gift and you will also be giving yourself a gift-the gift of financial peace. Thank you and please be sure to 'like' us on Facebook and post this on your own wall for others to enjoy!

*Note to Men: The gift ideas mentioned above are meant for children only. It is highly recommended that you do not give the above mentioned gifts to your wife or girlfriend.

Parenting Tips-What Movies Should My Child Watch?

     A fellow parent and avid fan of the blog was lamenting to me just the other day about a child-related mishap she experienced regarding a questionable film. The film in question was the Universal Pictures 2011 release "Bridesmaids", a movie that is rated 'R' for strong sexuality and language throughout. This parent took her 11-year-old to the movie theater believing this to be an innocent, family-friendly romp that her and her young daughter could enjoy together, but what happened was a much different, and much darker story. It turns out that despite her most sincere effort the movie had strong sexuality and language throughout, ruining their mother-daughter day. This got me thinking about how a parent could avoid a similar disaster and I believe I have come up with a revolutionary idea to address this issue. I call it "pre-screening", and here is how it works.
     In the past a parents only choice when determining what films to take children was to choose based on the film's title alone without the help of ratings, reviews, or previews. With "pre-screening" the first phase is to watch a preview of the potential film, look at the ratings and why the film drew such ratings, and even consult other parents, friends, or family to get a feel for what they might expect in the theater. If the parent believes the movie is fit for their kid they may move on to phase 3, but if questions still linger they can move on to phase 2 of the "pre-screening". Phase 2 is a little more complex, but well worth the effort exerted. Basically it involves the parent, or parents, going to see the movie without kids. Going to a movie without kids has endless benefits but for the sake of the subject matter we will keep it within the context of "pre-screening".If you go to a movie without kids and it ends up being a filth bath you simply do not return with the children, and potentially avoid having to post bail for them years down the road. If you give it your own personal thumbs up then move on to phase 3. The last and most rewarding phase of "pre-screening" simply involves you going back to the theater with your children to watch a film containing no dirty surprises and enjoying a clean family night out!
     I hope this helps you parents out there, and if you know someone who is struggling with this very issue I encourage you to direct them here. Have a blessed day!

Best and Worst Toys of Christmas 2011 Part 1

Hello, I have seen plenty of best/worst toys for Christmas over the years by many "experts" so I thought I would compile one for regular parents by a regular parent. This list will come in different episodes as I see toys roll out so here is the first leg of the adventure. In this segment we will explore a few of the toys that have already made the naughty list.

Monopoly Electronic Banking

     In the latest edition of Parker Brothers Monopoly series of board games the company has managed to alter several components of this timeless classic to bring it from dominating several 'top ten' lists since the Great Depression all the way to the bottom of my personal 'bottom ten' list. Instead of encouraging hard work and promoting advanced math skills we now have credit cards and calculators. Another problem I have with this is the marketing campaign behind it. In the commercial you see a child going around putting things like extravagant homes and exotic sports cars on a credit card while in the background a song that repeats "It's all about the money, money. It's all about the money". Clearly for Parker Brothers it really IS all about the money. Sad to think a that the board game that single-handedly brought this country out of the Great Depression will probably lead us into the next one.

Alternatives: The original Monopoly, The Game of Life, Candyland

Doggie Doo

     I saw a commercial for this atrocious game for the first time today. "Doggie Doo" is a game that consists of a plastic dog that you feed playdough to and it poops. Contestants must then collect the feces in order to win. Honestly, I don't even really know what to say other than a game that encourages children to play with dog poop and expect a reward from it is well beyond twisted and tasteless. Basically, buying "Doggie Doo" is like purchasing everything bad about a real dog with none of the benefits. Goliath games is responsible for this disaster as well as the "Pop the Pig" (a game that consists of children overfeeding a pig until it explodes) and I recommend buying nothing from this company.

Alternatives: Basically anything other that "Pop the Pig"

Kaboom! Foam-Tastic

     You would not normally think of this as a potential Christmas gift but my four-year-old saw a commercial for this product and said "I want that" so I thought it should be addressed. While I'm sure Kaboom! Foam-Tastic is a fine cleaning product it would make a terrible Christmas gift for a child due to the fact that it is most certainly poisonous and probably would not be used as it is intended anyway. In fact, if you were thinking of getting this for your young child for Christmas you should probably not have children at all.

Alternatives: Baby's First Vacuum by Hoover, Easy Bake Oven


Thanks and check back often for more best and worst for Christmas! Have a blessed evening!