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Society Will Change---One Peaceful Parent at A Time

"What if war was not inevitable? What if tyranny, human rights abuses and ecological destruction were not inescapable? And what if the means to prevent them were in the hands of ordinary mums and dads, and all those involved in the care and…
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Is There A Kindness Deficit In Your Home?

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."  --Nelson Mandela Kindness is something we all respond to. When we come into contact with kind people, our radar goes up, we take notice,…
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The Case for Living the Self-Directed Life

Summer is probably the most dreamed about, written about, and longed for season in America. For most of America's children and young adults, summertime means freedom. The school year schedule fades away and the longer, warmer days are replaced…
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Guilt is a Messenger? Yes.

''Guilt, the sense of anguish that we have fallen short of our own standards, is the guardian of our goodness.'' In a 1983 article written by Jane E. Brody for the New York Times entitled, Guilt: Or Why it's Good to Feel Bad she reviews the…
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25 Ways Joyful Families Operate

We all long for a joyful life. To be in the company of people who are happy and peaceful is nirvana. We create visions in our heads of what a joyful life looks like then we proceed to Pin everything that meets that perception. A tapestry…
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Creating Peace around the Palate: Understanding "Picky" Eaters

Food is the great connector--the center of gatherings, celebrations, services, and parties. We bake to show our appreciation. We cook to support an ailing family member or neighbor. Entire industries are built around growing, preparing, delivering,…
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Raising Humans? 7 Books Every Child Wants you to Read

  It is extraordinary that the most important job in the world, raising a child, is an untrained position. -Richard Grossman, Ph.D.   When I was around 11 or 12 I found several books my Mom had been reading that caused me feelings…
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Gun Play: Shooting down Parental Fears

In the early days of parenting, when all toys were bright and cheerful, when television shows were filled with funny songs, silly dances, and playfully nice characters, and when advertisers had a limited effect on my son’s wants, I reveled…
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Teens Need you to Read This

"It has become a cultural cliché that raising adolescents is the most difficult part of parenting. It’s common to joke that when kids are in their teens they are sullen, uncommunicative, more interested in their phones than in their parents…
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Bedtime Battles: A Modern day Creation?

From co-sleeping to sleep training to bed times and schedules, the topic of where and how our children sleep is a hot button issue in parenting circles I have found. But why?  How did we become so obsessed with where our children sleep and…
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Why We Chose Homeschooling- A Letter to My Son

D, In three more days, I could be sending you, my four year old son, off to Kindergarten.  Your carefree days would be replaced with homework, inflexible schedules, and demands.  You would no longer get to greet your five month older sister…