Ezine | Books | Main | Music | Links | Web Rings| Awards | DMOZ Directory Portal | Search | Contact | Prayer | Spiritual Teachings | Site Map
| Featured Columnists Jamie Sanders New Thought Minister, professional speaker, workshop facilitator and television personality Ask Alli Writer, Motivator Jackie Woods expert in the fields of personal growth, communications, and relationships, an author, and a leader of seminars and classes for 20 years Barbara Rose Internationally acclaimed spiritual author and public speaker Current Articles & Categories: Business Parenting/Family Earth Ways Inspirational Self-help Poetry Prosperity Relationships Spiritual Lightwork Health/Healing Daily Feeds Natural Health News Parenting News Vegetarian News Greenpeace News Enviroment News Weekly Updated Horoscopes AngelVoice Tarotscopes Monthly Updated Health/Wellness -- Learn how to care for your mental, physical and emotional health through these educational articles Mom2Mom -- Rachel Webb shares intuitive knowledge and practical ideas for moms who need fresh ideas or just interesting ways of dealing with kids  Past Featured Columnists Susie and Otto Collins Dr Rita Louise Naturopathic Physician, Medical Intuitive Keith Varnum & Sulana Stone Authors. Life Coaches, Radio Hosts, Vision Quest Guides Dan Joseph author of Inner Healing and Inspired by Miracles, two books inspired by A Course in Miracles Linda Salazar Certified Personal Life Coach, Author, Speaker Judith Pennington an author and spiritual teacher... Mary Jo Marchionni Stephanie Bickel ________ Past Articles & Categories: Business Parenting/Family Earth Ways Inspirational Self-help Poetry Prosperity Relationships Spiritual Lightwork Health/Healing ________ LiteBooks.net - Special Interest Children's Books by Lori Lite ________  Blue Dolphin Group, Inc.-- Your magazine free newsletter source _______    _______ Wanted: Inspiring authors with articles for submission. Information: Article submission
______ Affiliates:  Feng Shui @ Dragon Gate: Online Chinese Feng Shui Retail and Resources Aromatherapy, Essential Oils, Aromatherapy Community - Auroma - Established in 1981, Auroma has rapidly become synonymous with quality essential oils and natural botanical products. Auroma.com was launched in 1998 and includes products ranging from essential oils and carrier oils, to massage oils, candles, books, raw The Cancer Information Network - Professionally guided website for cancer patients, their care givers, and healthcare professionals. Choose from over 4000 natural lifestyle products at Gaiam.com! Gardener's Supply Company Visit the World's Largest Candle Store! Candlemart.com SerenityHealth - Award-Winning site, offering magnificent, unique relaxation products at Discount Prices. The SkinStore, Natural Skin Care Products Free Yourself from Emotional Trauma – Gain Emotional Wellness and Intelligence Tai Chi for Busy People. Mind and body fitness to fit any schedule. CLICK HERE Let Wai Lana lead you on the journey to better health and well-being. Visit her online at www.wailana.com ABUNDANT EARTH - Products for People Who Care! |
Index of Articles: 8 Gifts of Parenting WHAT TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE TERRORIST ATTACK Helping Kids Beat the Back-to-School Blues Honor Your Children Who are the Indigo Children? Kids In Danger The Importance of Starting Young Parents Dealing with Worry and Fear An Intuitive Child is a Confident Child NO is Not For Children: 3 Principles for Respectful Discipline  Sam Rosen
The world of youth personal development is a stark one. There are few positive resources to which a young person can turn, and the material available rarely focuses on true internal change. It has been said that young people today have more options than ever before with less guidance. I would feel relieved if our schools were providing such guidance, yet schools rarely focus on interior development. In school, children learn how to read, write, and multiply, yet they do not learn the fundamental tenets of goal setting, visualization, or meditation. The rudimentary skills children learn in school are crucial for their intellectual development, but ultimately leave little room for spiritual and personal growth. Imagine, then, what would happen if little Jimmy learned that, by writing his goals down every day, he could achieve anything he wanted. Imagine what the world would look like if children were taught that they could create their own realities. Imagine how our society would change if each and every child understood the meaning of true freedom – the freedom to be, do, and have whatever you want – and created a society of truth, justice, service, and prosperity. Can we honestly say that we are helping our children on all levels if our education lacks spiritual nourishment and disregards the cultivation of innate genius? And if such an education is not being offered in school, then isn’t it time someone provide those resources? Isn’t that the least we can do for our younger generations? I would say a resounding “YES!” It is time that we focus on the personal development of our younger generations. Young people are the business leaders, decision-makers, and legislators of tomorrow. Even more importantly, their minds have an openness to new ideas, which is perhaps the greatest asset to any evolving society. For these reasons, I started up Succeed Young Enterprises, a company that is dedicated to cultivating awareness and growth in young people. A young person’s mind is far too important to waste, and up until this point, the capabilities of many young minds have been squandered. We need to capitalize on the incredible power of youth, and encourage them to rise as leaders in their communities and society at large. Whether they are musicians, politicians, artists, lawyers, doctors, actors, businessmen, spiritual teachers, or novelists, every young person deserves to learn how to create a lifetime of success starting from the moment they are born. This is an incredibly exciting time in history. Never before have young people had so much access to such a wide range of resources at the click of a button. Let us, then, harness the power of carpe diem, and show today’s young people that the world needs them, offer them the tools to create and achieve broad visions, and allow them to lead us into a brighter future. Sam Rosen is the author of “You’re So Money, and You Don’t Even Know It,” a step-by-step guide that shows young adults how to create a lifetime of success and follow their own path. He is the founder and CEO of Succeed Young Enterprises, a personal growth company for young people. You can visit his website at www.youresomoney.com, and e-mail him at sam@youresomoney.com. Back To Top __________ Parents Dealing with Worry and Fear by Lawrence Vijay Girard
Dear Vijay, I worry about not being a good parent. My daughter Tracy is six and my son Michael is four. They seem happy. Our family does things together. It is just that with so much that seems to be going wrong in the world, I fear that something will go wrong at home. Hope you can help me, M.J. Dear M.J., This really isn’t a parenting question. It is a question about your own self and how you relate to life. Your children are simply the catalyst for energizing these issues for you. The fact that your feelings of unrest are manifesting in the guise of concern for your children just proves that negative energies don’t play fair. They go for our soft spots, and they have no mercy. You told me your story perfectly. But, you only needed to use two of the words you wrote: Worry and Fear. These are words that become self-fulfilling. The more you use them, the more powerful they become. Whenever you have reoccurring feelings or emotions that get in the way of your personal sense of internal balance you are doing yourself and your whole family a favor by doing something to improve your mental/emotional landscape. You have taken the first big step by recognizing that this area of your life is out of balance. Observation is key to knowing what is going on in life. Next you want to come up with creative solutions to your situation. Remember, you aren’t trying to go to war with yourself over this issue. What you are trying to do is redirect energy that is heading in what you would consider to be a negative direction, and turn it towards a positive direction. Here is an idea to show you how this works: Go on a diet. Not a food diet, but a worry/fear diet. That means you consciously abstain from worrying or being fearful for periods of time. Of course as soon as you go on a diet (as with food) you become intensely aware of the very thing that you are trying to forget! The key is to remember that you aren’t trying to fight with yourself. You are trying to redirect negative energy into a positive direction. If you take some quiet time to search inside yourself for creative ideas I bet you will come up with some fun and inventive ways that fit your own situation perfectly. If you get stuck for ideas, do a little brainstorming with a good friend. Tip: You don’t have to tell your friend that you are driving yourself nuts with worry/fear. That could create a negative image in their mind. Just tell them truthfully that you are looking for some fun ways to redirect your energies when you feel the need. They may end up trying the ideas themselves! When you notice that you are starting to worry or be fearful (you want to catch yourself as quickly as possible before you build up a head of steam) then go directly to one of your redirection ideas. If the first one doesn’t work, move right on to the next idea. Here are some sample ideas:
When you immerse yourself in almost any positive direction with energy and concentration you will find that negative energies lose their power and eventually fall away through neglect. This is a powerful truth that works in every facet of life. Experiment with these ideas and let us know how things go. Bless You, Vijay Lawrence Vijay Girard is the author of Way of the Positive Flow and Positive Flow Parenting. As well as, his popular children's book, The Adventures of Harry Fruitgarden. You can find his books at: http://FruitgardenPublishing.ComBack To Top _________________ An Intuitive Child is a Confident Child Bernie Siegel quotes; "sHEALy's methods are life affirming". sHEALy (Sherry Healy) is an artist, author of two books, Living Your Intuitive Dreams and Confident Child and a well-known intuitive living and working on the East Coast. sHEALy helps individuals to understand and empower themselves using their own intuitive/intrinsic powers. sHEALy's art is the expression of her intuitive visions and philosophical studies. As an expert in intuitive communications and energy therapy, Her art has been famed for its meditative and healing powers at http://www.visuallyyoursart.com A child is an incredible and intuitive miracle. Like the simple yet extraordinary color of a red rose growing on a green branch or the rare birth of an albino deer or the persevering sun rising each and every morning, a child is a constant force of energy. The physical body grows and we see limbs stretching and muscles forming, yet often parents are not always capable of realizing the full value of these changes. Busy parents continue to live their daily lives and parent in the best way they know how. Until one day, they can not believe their eyes; the baby, toddler, adolescent grows up and becomes an adult. And, the parent sees the light, perhaps for the first time. The busy parent recognizes the unique and intuitive spirit of her own child. However, there are parents who take the time to seek holistic forms of healthy parenting earlier on. And, these families are frequently at the forefront of innovative ideas and methods and are often more effective at knowing their child in an intrinsic manner. They see a light present in the child from birth and as he grows. The light in their child is the intuitive seed and once cultivated it will grow and bloom forever. These parents, those who seek to know their child intuitively will know how to nurture and raise a more confident and happy child. Each child is gifted with an intuition all his own. And knowing this intuition as well as allowing the intuition to grow and emerge is a crucial part of raising a spiritually healthy child. The first and largest challenge a parent faces when raising an intuitive and confident child is the challenge of knowing ones own intuition. The more in touch a parent is with her own intrinsic voice the more effective she is at facilitating a proper environment for her child. Once, however, the parent has made the decision to enhance her own self knowledge, the next step toward enhancing the child is to know and utilize a healthy spiritual system of thought. Today, this moment, you are where you are and who you are for a reason. You have created your life; with fate at your side. And your spiritual system of thought can be easily found. Look within and begin to trust your own emotions and ideas and listen to the voice that speaks to you. You will be amazed at the information the Universe presents to you. And as you recognize this to be true, you will find a healing serenity and joy available to you and your child. You will begin to dream vividly, listen to hunches and trust your instincts. The intuitive voice, that life saving and glorious gift, will shout out the melody that you so badly need to hear. Intuition is powerful yet completely natural and free. There is only one expense when seeking the wisdom of intuition. One must commit to look within and ask difficult questions while ready to hear answers that are sometimes jarring in nature. Sometimes, we are directed to move on, leave behind people or places. We are often guided to attempt new and unfamiliar avenues; ones that might appear frightening at first glance. And, we are always directed to look at our inner demands; the ignored emotions and pain. But, eventually, if we trust the intuitive voice and follow the path in which it points, we reach the unexpected home lands, and we find our spiritual self waiting there. We get the chance to see the glory. We meet our spirit. We become children, visiting a place that makes us feel special and good about ourselves. And, for the first time we know how to understand and truly communicate with our own children. If you are a parent who desires to raise a confident child you are beginning to recognize that how important intuition can be in this journey. You are realizing that it is essential to first tune into your own inner voice. Then, develop and share with your child a spiritual attitude. Next, you can practice a few easy exercises that will enhance your child's intuition….. 1. Listen to your child without giving advice. If you feel the need to give advice, remember that you can always do this at a later time. It is important for your child to hear and respect his own voice and know that you respect and hear his voice. 2. When your child is uncertain of a direction to take, remind him to stop and listen to his own thoughts and emotion. Thoughts and emotions are powerful tools toward knowing ones inner voice. 3. Communicate your own intuitive experiences to your child. Tell your child about your dreams and hunches. Communication these things to your child will help him recognize and respect intuition. 4. Respect your child's feelings. Speak to your child often about his emotions. Always tell your child that his feelings are natural and worthy. 5. Read books about intuitive and happy people. Most intuitive individuals are healthy and happy. Your child will feel more successful and motivated as his own beliefs are reflected from pages of books. 6. Practice a form of meditation, prayer or spiritual method each day. Ask your child to make an "I am Grateful List". Keeping your child focused upon the positive happenings of life will help him to develop a more confident outlook on life. 7. Spend time in nature. Plant and grow and garden and explain to your child that all things live and die and that nature gives us clear signs of this life cycle. Nature will help your child appreciate his own connection with the world. Biography sHEALy (Sherry Healy) holds a BA in theology/philosophy. She is a well known intuitive, artist and author working from the town of Annapolis, Maryland. In addition, sHEALy works as resident artist with Head Start children and is trained and has worked with the public school system as a one-on-one reading instructor and resident artist. Much of her time is dedicated to using intuition as a means to spiritually heal others. She is the author of Living Your Intuitive Dreams, a book designed to help individuals create the life of their dreams through the use of intuition. In addition sHEALy is the author and illustrator of Confident Child, a children's book designed for young readers. Confident Child, a Tale and Affirmations is designed to help little ones learn to look within themselves for the answer to the tough questions of life. sHEALy (Sherry Healy) is a lecturer, workshop leader and expressionist painter. Her art work is highly coveted and known for its beauty and healing qualities. Her intuitive insights have given her a name that is known in metaphysical and healing circles. To schedule an appointment with sHEALy contact maryandtinsel@comcast.net . To purchase or view original or print artwork go to http://www.visuallyyoursart.com Back To Top ______________________
by Lawrence Vijay Girard
Back To TopNo one who has hugged their child can doubt the gift of a child’s presence in their life. The love that is expressed in that simple act is one of the most profound ways that we experience love in this world. In order to nurture the special relationship of parent and child, and fulfill our roles as parents, there are number of things that we are signing up to do. Here is a list of eight essential ways to fulfill our parental responsibilities. These are gifts that we should freely give to our children without thought of what we will receive in return for our efforts.
receiving a child into our lives we are sharing the gift of life itself. Remembering the precious nature of life can help us to keep the ups and downs of daily life in a proper perspective.
the soul, both in giving and receiving, then love. When we include a conscious awareness of this truth and nurture it as the most basic value of our relationship with our children, we will find that many mistakes – on both sides – can be weathered.
actions: I love you and I would rather be with you than doing anything else. This is one of the best ways that you can objectify your love. It is also one of the greatest blessings.
free will. It is a gift that will enhance their lives. The process of developing good manners will help them to begin learning to see how others are affected by their actions. Through the establishment of basic good manners we are giving our children a skill that will benefit them in every other part of life.
the seeds of a character trait that can serve as a strong support for success in any endeavor: Self-Control. Practice cultivating self-control in your own self first. Then attune yourself to ways that you can instill these same values in your children.
develop in our children the experience that all good things are possible. Positive mental culture includes ten overarching areas of development: Non-Violence, Non- Lying, Non-Greed, Non-Sensuality, Non-Covetousness, Cleanliness, Contentment, Self-Control, Self-Study, and Devotion to God.
been numbers of great people throughout history who couldn’t read or write. But next to those great souls who can shine in spite of this lack of formal training, there are millions who could advance their lives immensely if they could but read and write. It isn’t enough that we simply send our children to school. This is a gift that opens up a world of information and possibilities for our children. Don’t leave this area to chance.
sanctity of all life. While we can’t make our children believe in God or appreciate the beauty and value of the incredible variety of life forms that inhabit our planet, we can communicate our own belief. Not to share your view on these issues is to - by default - preach that they have no value. The communication and application of the highest aspects of life should always be at the forefront of family life. Given the mixture of things that we want to share with our children we will need to mix and match according to how the soup is cooking. This is one of the beauties of life – its variety and spontaneity. It will, no doubt, turn out different than what we had anticipated in the beginning. If we give our children these eight gifts we will be well on our way to fulfilling our duties as parents and sharing with them the tools that will allow them to experience the best that life has to offer. © 2003 Lawrence Girard This article has been provided to you courtesy of Lawrence Lawrence Vijay Girard is the author of Way of the Positive Flow and Positive Flow Parenting. As well as, his popular children's book, The Adventures of Harry Fruitgarden. You can find his books at: http://FruitgardenPublishing.Com__________ WHAT TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE TERRORIST ATTACK Thomas D. Yarnell, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist We, as a country, have just experienced the most horrible attack that can be imagined. Thanks to the media, every detail was shown - again and again. Yes, many of us, including me, were riveted to the TV coverage in utter disbelief about the tragedy that was unfolding. As adults, it was impossible to comprehend the horror of watching people jump from windows to their death and watch as 2 110 story buildings collapsed on top of whomever was still in them. Unfortunately, many young children were watching the same things we were watching. Many children saw all the gruesome details we saw. Their minds, however, are even less able to comprehend what they saw. This may leave an indelible mark on their minds and emotions that could leave them scarred for life unless you, their parents, do something about it now. Children will tend to react the way their parents react to a crisis. If you, the parent, became anxious, angry or confused, your child will respond, to some extent, the way you did. The problem is they do not know why they are feeling the way they do. The other possibility is that children will become fearful for their own life and the life of their family. It's not unusual for children to develop symptoms of trauma when they have observed or heard about acts of terror. It is too late to keep the younger children from seeing all the images on TV but it is not too late to influence or change their reaction to it. The first thing you as a parent must do is to get your children to talk about what they think and feel about what they saw and heard. Turn the TV off, remove distractions and let them know that they have your full attention. If they talk about being scared or worrying that something will happen to them, do not tell them that it's silly to feel that way or belittle what they think or feel. This will only make them stop talking and keep their feelings to themselves. Encourage them to express all their feelings without being judgmental. The more they talk about how they feel and what they feel the easier it will be to get rid of the fear. Let your children know that you understand how they feel. It's normal to be afraid when traumatic events occur. Reassure them that you love them and that they are safe. Reassure your children that they are not in danger and the rest of the family is not in danger either. If you have a sensitive child who has become very fearful, you will have to continue to give your reassurance often and for quite awhile. If behavior at bedtime is a problem, give your children extra time and reassurance. Let them sleep with a light on if necessary. Again, do not belittle your child for being afraid. This will only make your children feel worse and will not help them get over it. Another technique that will help your children is to answer any questions they have about the incident. Answers should be short and age appropriate. The older the child, the more details you can go into. Do not try to lie to your children as most children will see through it and will begin to mistrust you. You should try to answer all the questions because if you just leave something out, your children will make up something to fill the space. Generally, when children do this, what they make up is more scary and worse than the truth. If you do not know and answer, admit that and tell your child you will try to find out. When you, as a parent, ignore or avoided talking about what happened, you are sending a signal to your children that it is wrong to feel the way they feel. This only serves to make your children not trust you and increase their fear that what they saw happen could happen again to them. Once these beliefs set in, other symptoms of trauma may start to develop. According to the National Institute Of Mental Health, children may develop symptoms immediately or not until weeks or months later. The reactions will vary according to the age of the child. For children five years of age and younger, typical reactions can include a fear of being separated from the parent, crying and excessive clinging. Parents may also notice children returning to behaviors exhibited at earlier ages such as thumb sucking, bedwetting and fear of the dark. Children at this age tend to be strongly affected by the parent's reaction to the traumatic event. For children 6 to 12 years old, typical reactions can include extreme withdrawal, disruptive behavior and regressive behaviors such as nightmares, sleep problems, irrational fear and irritability. Depression, anxiety and feelings of guilt are often present as well. Adolescents may exhibit responses similar to those of adults such as nightmares, depression, interpersonal problems with their peers and antisocial behavior. If your child develops any of these symptoms, you should consider getting counseling for them as soon as possible. All mental health research indicates that the sooner the counseling starts after the symptoms appear, the easier and faster it is to help the child get over the problem. God Bless America Copyright C 2001 Dr. Thomas Yarnell All rights reserved. You have permission to copy, download and reproduce this article for any and all purposes as long as credit is given to the author. Dr. Yarnell also publishes a free, online newsletter called Psychology & You. It contains practical self improvement and personal growth articles for you to use to help yourself, your children, your spouse and your friends. Click here to go to Psychology & You Newsletter.. http://www.selfhelpsolutions.homestead.com/ Back To Top __________ Helping Kids Beat the Back-to-School Blues Boys and Girls Clubs of America Provides Tips Every Parent Can Use (ARA) - It seems just like yesterday that the school bell rang and classes were dismissed for the summer. But already, parents everywhere are beginning to panic because of the annual battles they will face trying to get their kids excited about the school year. This may be a parent's worst nightmare, but it's one that must be faced given these facts:
Schools cannot do the job alone. That is why Boys & Girls Clubs of America (B&GCA) developed Project Learn -- a comprehensive educational enhancement strategy encouraging students to participate in high-yield learning activities that reinforce skills and knowledge taught in the classroom. As a result of $7.5 million in funding provided by JCPenney Afterschool, more than 2,000 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country have been able to implement Project Learn and train their staff. However, Club professionals agree, the biggest challenge is getting parents to support Project Learn, which a Columbia University study found could increase a child's overall GPA by 11 percent. "Many parents of the young people we serve had their own bad experiences with schools, so they are reluctant to get involved," said Roxanne Spillett, president, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Our goal is to break this cycle of disengagement by providing high-yield learning activities that can bring children and families together to enjoy learning." The best news yet is that parents can easily engage themselves in their child's educational efforts by doing the following:
If you'd like more helpful hints on how to battle the back-to-school blues,
visit www.bgca.org or www.jcpenney.net and download your free issue of
Learn & Live, a newsletter for parents from the education experts at
Boys & Girls Clubs of America, sponsored by JCPenney Afterschool.
________________________ ___________ Kids In Danger On the afternoon of May 12, 1998, 16-month old Danny Keysar was lay down for his routine nap in a Playskool Travel-Lite portable crib by his child care provider, Anna. When Anna checked on Danny a little while later, she found that the crib had collapsed while he was standing, trapping his little neck in the "V" of the folded rails. Though the toddler weighed a mere 25 pounds, the rails had collapsed under his tiny weight, folding shut at the center hinges. Soon thereafter, Danny was pronounced dead at the Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Soon after Danny died, his parents- University of Chicago professors Linda Ginzel and Boaz Keysar - learned that the deadly Playskool crib had been recalled five years earlier. Danny was the crib's fifth, but not final, victim. A few weeks later, a 10-month old New Jersey boy became the sixth victim. The statistics are staggering - one child has died for every 2,000 Playskool Travel-Lite portable cribs sold. However, there are over a million cribs of this type that are still unaccounted for, possibly still in circulation, waiting to claim a seventh victim. State inspectors had visited Danny's childcare home just eight days before the tragic incident occurred, but they did not check for recalled products, because they were not required to do so, and didn't have data on dangerous children's products. "We were shocked to learn that even state inspectors didn't have information about recalled products," said Ginzel. "If they had been informed by the manufacturer, Danny would be alive." Astonished by the circumstances surrounding their son's death and determined to prevent the death of another child, Danny's parents founded Kids In Danger (KID), a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children by improving children's product safety. KID's mission is threefold: to promote the development of safer children's products, to advocate for children's product safety, and to educated the public, especially parents and caregivers, about dangerous children's products. "The tragedy of Danny's death has been the impetus for getting the word out to other parents and caregivers," said Nancy Cowles, KID's Executive Director. KID has worked diligently in the past four years to alert parents, caregivers, and concerned individuals worldwide to the dangers of juvenile products through its website, www.KidsInDanger.org, billboards, and grassroots email and letter writing campaigns. Also, KID provides speakers to address a wide range of audiences on the topic of children's product safety - from local childcare providers organizations to the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization. Despite how important the job of reaching parents and caregivers with information about recalls is to KID, preventing dangerous products from being sold in the first place is even more important. A recent book by E. Marla Felcher, Its No Accident: How Corporations Sell Dangerous Baby Products, explains the methodical process by which inadequately tested, dangerous baby products end up in our homes and trusted childcare centers. Its No Accident is a forceful, compassionate account of how recalled products continue to threaten the safety of our children, and why they will continue to do so until industry, government, and citizens take an active role in preventing the death of children. KID is an active advocate for children and consumers alike, representing consumers in the process of setting safety standards for children's products through participation in the American Society for Testing and Materials and Underwriter's Laboratory. Possibly their foremost accomplishment to date, KID championed the Children's Product Safety Act, model legislation passed in Illinois in August, 1999 that makes it illegal to sell or lease recalled products and prohibits licensed childcare facilities from using unsafe children's products. Hailed by consumer advocates as the most extensive legislation of its kind, similar laws have since been established in Michigan, Arkansas, Vermont, and Louisiana. KID is now promoting this legislation nationwide. Although KID is continuing to push for similar legislation at the state level across the nation, KID is now actively promoting The Infant and Toddler Durable Product Safety Act, referred to in Congress as HR 3283, at the national level. This legislation would develop standards for durable children's products and set up certification for premarket testing. Currently, only a small number of durable children's products are required to meet safety standards. The voluntary standards that the toy manufactures claim to impose on themselves do not address all the known hazards that a product may contain. Additionally, there is no requirement that products be safety tested by an independent laboratory. However, The Infant and Toddler Durable Product Safety Act would require that adequate testing be performed so that our children do not become guinea pigs for the corporations new products. Rep. Schakowsky says, "The purpose of this bill is to prevent dangerous children's products from getting to the market, by testing all infant and toddler products before they are put on the shelves." The Infant and Toddler Durable Product Safety Act, HR 3283 has 30 co-sponsors along with Rep. Schakowsky, but more are needed. If you would like to help support this legislation to keep dangerous products from reaching the marketplace, then please ask your legislator to protect children by co-sponsoring HR 3283, The Infant and Toddler Durable Product Safety Act. You can find more contact information for your House Representative at www.house.gov. KID just released a report examining all the recalls that occurred in 2001 and discovered that half of all products recalled were children's products. This amounted to nearly 23 million children's items that were unsafely released into the marketplace by corporations. None of these toys were required to be tested before they were released into the marketplace, so the corporations use our children as guinea pigs to test their products' safety rather than testing their products before releasing it into the public. For more information about this cause and to find out how you can protect your children from dangerous products, please contact Kids In Danger at 312-595-0649 or visit www.KidsInDanger.org Back To Top ___________ Honor Your Children (c) 2001 Julie Jordan Scott Honor your children. Has a different ring to it, doesn't it? We have historically heard that phrase in regards to children honoring their parents. I agree with that as well. Children should honor their parents. And I also strongly believe that the best way to teach our children to honor others is to honor them. Merriem Webster defines "Honor" in this way: an evidence or symbol of distinction. When you honor your children, you are recognizing and setting apart what it is in them that makes them special. Being sincere with your respect towards them will bring them to a higher understanding of your values and ideals. Simple ways to honor your children include: 1. Tailor consequences for negative behavior to each child and his/her unique situation. Some children do not respond to a time out. Some children respond by taking away privileges. Some children wither with only a stern facial expression. Be alert to each child and take action accordingly. 2. Spend special, one on one time with each child. Pronounce at least one half hour per week with each child one on one and treat that time as sacred to do something special. Maybe you will play a game together or make a craft or prepare a meal. The other children need to respect this sacred space for each child. 3. Create meaningful rituals which involve the family as a whole asking for the children's input in their creation and implementation. 4. Hold regular family meetings, not only during times of crisis or large change. My eldest daughter knew I was pregnantthe last time because "the only time we have family meetings is when you get pregnant!" 5. Create a family mission or purpose statement. Craft it together and revisit it on occasion to be sure it is still relevant. Post it in a visible place so all the family members can see it daily. 6. Discuss important issues in current events and ask children to ask any questions they have. If you are not comfortable answering that particular question, honor your child by stating the exact situation as it is occurring for you. Don't simply brush it off, be honest and authentic. 7. If you make mistakes (as we all do!) ask for forgiveness from your child. This is very powerful AND rewarding. Remember this when your child asks YOU for forgiveness. 8. Listen completely to your child. Teach your child to wait if you are in the middle of something that cannot be interrupted so you can give 100% attention during the conversation. 9. Include children in your workplace or business as much as possible. Take advantage of corporate "take your child to work days". Introduce them to your co-workers. Include them in family events so they can link your work with something tangible. 10. Speak to your child according to his/her love language. You may think you are communicating your love and honor to your child only to find years later nothing sunk in. It is like speaking German to a Spanish speaking person. If you are unsure of your child's love language, reading a book such as The Five Love Languages of Children would be extremely helpful. (Read a review here: http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBMayJun00p104.html What would have happened in your life if you were treated by your parents as if you wore a distinctive brand simply because you are who you are? How would your attitudes, actions, profession and demeanor be different? Imagine the increased quality of life when you are respected, listened to, cherished and made to feel as if you matter. Now create that for your family. Honor your children today. ******************************************************************* Julie Jordan Scott is a Personal Success Coach who left her career as a government bureaucrat and built a successful business in less than six months. She now combines mothering 4 children with inspiring people worldwide with her books, ezine, teaching and personal coaching. Visit http://www.5passions.com for free resources for YOUR success! Email-julie@5passions.com or call 661.325.4116 Back To Top 
________________ Who are the Indigo Children?by Wendy Chapman Brian* has trouble in school. He doesn't like to follow directions and he refuses to do the classwork if he can't see the point of it. Although his grades are low, his parents know he is gifted and talented. At home he will work on his model rockets for hours at a stretch. Despite this, he has been labeled with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). When Brian's classmates call him names, he cries. He feels persecuted and vows to get back at them one day. Sometimes he can see colored light around his friends and occasionally he sees angels and can hear them talking to him. He knows immediately when his mother isn't feeling well, and when he puts his hands on her back she feels better. He is very disturbed by the problems in the world like homelessness and the devastation of the rain forests and he wants to solve these problems and improve the world. Brian is an Indigo Child. Many of today's children are Indigo Children, also known as Children of the Sun by the Native Americans and as Millennium Children by some authors. Some experts say up to 90% of all children under age 9, and some think even a small percentage of adults are Indigos. These children are identified by their unique set of characteristics. They are very intelligent and creative, but also rebellious to authority and systems in general. They are often mislabeled with ADD and may need alternative therapies to handle this behavior. They are often physically sensitive and extremely emotionally sensitive. Often they are very empathic and caring, though some become callous after years of emotional abuse. Indigos may have extreme rage that needs a safe acceptable outlet and counseling. Indigos may experience existential depression at young ages if they do not remember why they are here or have any feeling that they can help to improve the world. Sarah*, an Indigo Child, relates, "As a child, I knew I was different. The realization occurred while still in pre-school. One day, while watching an elderly woman eating alone in a restaurant, I was assailed with thoughts about time, age and death. I felt a gnawing sense of apprehension for the woman who was nearing the end of her life, a slight anxiety at the idea of my own demise, and a feeling of tremendous empathy for all who existed or would ever exist (for I knew they would go through similar spiritual turmoil). A sadness that has never since been duplicated overtook me, and for an instant, I had forgotten that the four year old me existed. For I had aged 80+ years in spirit." Sarah's story is typical of the Indigos' strong connection to all humanity. Indigos have a mission on Earth to help to bring the planet into ascension. Many Indigos also have strong psychic talents which need assistance and support to develop. Some Indigos are natural healers and seem to be naturally attuned to Reiki energy. Some children who have autism and those with Asperger's Syndrome are also Indigo Children and it is thought that with spiritual counseling and various energy therapies such as Reiki, Shamballa, and EMF Balancing, among others, that these children may come out of their shells. Indigo Children are named for the predominant auric color of indigo (an ink-like dark blue with a touch of red). The color indigo represents the third eye chakra, the energy center of psychic activity, which is believed to be wide open on most Indigos. Indigos experience a thinner "veil" or separation between the earth and the spirit worlds, and they are able to access information many cannot. Most of the behaviors of Indigos are explainable by this aspect of a thinner veil. Learning about Indigo Children will improve our ability to work with children. It will also help us to better understand the new energy coming into the Earth, for the Indigos will bring in the new energy and help us learn to live with each other in greater harmony. They are here to enlighten the world and bring us into ascension whether we are ready or not. Who better to lead us to new ways of behaving, thinking, and feeling than the children who are already behaving, thinking and feeling differently? Is it not more likely to come from the children than older ones who have lived longer in the culture that opposes those changes? A sentiment expressed by many Indigos is summarized by Tegan: "If I could wish anything for this world, it would be for people to feel compete understanding, acceptance and love for all their fellow souls on this planet!" * Note - names have been changed, but the stories are typical. ~by Wendy H. Chapman copyright 2001 Metagifted Education Resource Organization, www.metagifted.org, please request permission to reprint or post to other lists. Wendy Chapman is the Director of Metagifted Education Resource Organization, www.metagifted.org, the goal of which is to educate people about giftedness - both academic and metaphysical. Metagifted is particularly focused on helping the Indigo Children through consultations, counseling, workshops for parents and teachers, and classes for children. Wendy has been a teacher and supervisor of programs for gifted children for the last 15 years and she is also a Shamballa Reiki Master Teacher. Back To Top ________________________ Want to see more articles?
________________________ |
