Want to Ask Best-Selling Author Barbara Sher a Question?!

July 3rd, 2009 by Jacqueline Green

I am delighted to announce a unique opportunity to ask best-selling author Barbara Sher your top question about doing what you love! Two decades ago I turned to her first book Wishcraft to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Since then she has written many other books, including I Could Do Anything, if Only I Knew What it Was. Barbara is a master at teaching people how to make a career out of what they love to do.

In her most recent book, Refuse to Choose, Barbara is teaching people who have many passions how to still be very successful without narrowing their work down to one area.

The call is on July 15, 2009 at 6 pm PST, 7 pm MST, 8 pm CST or 9 pm EST. Go to www.GreatParentingPractices.com/askbarbara to ask your top question of Barbara!

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The Power of Connecting Rituals with Our Kids

June 27th, 2009 by Jacqueline Green

I just finished submitting another article to Ezine articles about the importance of using connecting rituals with our kids. I first heard of connecting rituals in university while studying communication. Until then I didn’t understand what was behind the way people say hi and nod to each other as they pass in hallways or on the street. Even then I didn’t see how, decades later, that information would be powerful with the kids in my life.

The connecting ritual I talk about in the Ezine articles is that much more crucial with teens who are in danger of disconnecting from us, or have already begun to do so. Rome wasn’t built in a day; this technique won’t fix your problems instantly, but combined with the ideas in the second article I wrote, you’ll be well on your way to connecting with your kids, whatever age they are, and immunizing them from drugs, bullying and other real dangers that they will face.

Want to know more? In the left column of this page you’ll find my Ezine articles box, or click here to go straight to my articles on the Ezine Article website. The second article is live now.

On that note, I’m off to go hiking in the hoodoos near Edson. After writing about the gifts that come from stretching to find common interests with our teens, I need to put my money where my mouth is and go hiking, even though I’d prefer to wait and go when Rob is home. The kids and I need a fun event to mark the end of school and I’m sure I will love every minute of the hike!

Great parenting is great fun!

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Popularity: How Important is it?

June 8th, 2009 by Jacqueline Green

Do you find yourself wanting your kid to be more popular, as if that would be the magic wand to ensure their happiness and success in life? Even though I look back on my own teenage years and am glad that I wasn’t one of the "in group", I find myself wanting that for my kids. How important is it that our kids are popular? Is it really better for them to be popular, or do they just need to learn to deal with this major adolescent issue? Like all parents, this issue is driven home to me periodically when my kids’ popularity is at stake.

Let’s face it, popularity is one of the toughest issues that kids have to work through. Arguably, no time is tougher than the young teen years; at least that was true for me growing up. By mid to late teens, most kids have settled into their groups, or at least the lucky ones have, and if it is the nerds, or the drama geeks or some other group that is less than the in-crowd, the self-esteem blow is not so hard anymore.

I was reminded earlier today what parents can and can’t do to help our kids through this tough time. We can make sure our kids have a haven, a place where they know they are welcomed and cherished for who they are. Although we are powerless to stop the social blows, if they have a haven that will mitigate the damage. Read the rest of this entry »

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Be Who You Are, and You’ll Be the Best Mom Possible

June 1st, 2009 by Jacqueline Green

Rob and I had a meeting with lawyers today. For the first time in years I was reminded of how close I came to going to law school (I was accepted to a number of law schools before deciding not to go), and how much a part of me would love being a lawyer. I love information, facts and arguing a case, as well as the trappings that come with the job. Although I chose a different route for my life, this fact about myself definitely informs who I am as a mother, and influences and affects my kids’ lives.

My approach to parenting includes a heavy emphasis on books and learning, the arts, and other educational experiences. I’ve been called a professional mom because of my approach to parenting. What I see so clearly now is how these traits of mine are part of the gift that my kids will get from being my kids and not someone else’s. Yet when I first started parenting I struggled with trying to give my kids all the possible gifts and feeling crummy about myself because that was an impossible task. It took awhile for me to realize that in order to be the best mom I can be, I needed to allow myself to be who I am and not try to be someone else. Read the rest of this entry »

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Great Call with Top Teen Parenting Expert Vanessa Van Petten

April 30th, 2009 by Jacqueline Green

Last night’s teleseminar/webinar with Vanessa Van Petten was so helpful! Vanessa is a wealth of knowledge, and she covered your questions ranging from how to monitor social media usage, to sexting, to how to coach your teen on difficult issues instead of turning them off by asking leading quetions. I learnt a lot and the feedback afterwards was great!

The lucky winner of Vanessa’s ebook, Dirt E-Secrets of an Internet Kid, was Lorraine Symes, of Edson, Alberta! Congratulations Lorraine, and enjoy the ebook! I learnt a lot from the ebook, as well as from Vanessa’s book, You’re Grounded and her blog at www.RadicalParenting.com .

If you want to listen to my interview with Vanessa, click on the audio and transcript link to the left. The audio will be available by Friday night, and the transcripts by Monday May 11th.

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