Building a Better U - The Power of Forgiveness

During this season of giving, why don't you give yourself one of the most valuable gifts you could ever get... The power of forgiveness! Today, we will discuss how forgiving others can go a long way in helping you set yourself free...

 

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Join Craig DeLuz for Building a Better U (BABU) Radio, where he provides advice to help you address the issues and challenges you face in everyday life. Family, Relationships, Business, Health... you name it. Call in to our live show or email us at craig@usmediagroup.net and we will answer your questions live on the show.

 

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How To Get Your Kids To Organize Their Bedroom

By Marilyn Bohn -

I was not a perfect child by any stretch of the imagination. But one thing I don't remember is my mother having to nag me to organize my room and get rid of clutter. Maybe I just have selective memory.

Now my brother on the other hand is a different story. He was very popular at school. He was into all kinds of sports and student government. But at home he was, how do I put this nicely? He was messy. If there was anyone who needed to get rid of clutter it was him. He didn't leave things around the house but his room was awful and he didn't want to clean it.My mother used to worry that he would be hurt on the football field and the medical people would have to carry him home on a stretcher to his room and she would be mortified that it was so awful.

As an organizing expert I see firsthand the problems between parents and children as they fight over keeping their rooms organized and they insist they have to get rid of clutter. Many times the kids can't see any clutter in their rooms as we as adults do.

It is ineffective to say to a child go and clean your room and get rid of clutter and organize it. Have you tried it? Has it worked? Probably not, not even with older children does that technique work. Here are 8 sensible ideas on how to get your kids to organize their bedroom.

1. Teach the child, no matter the age, what it means to have an organized, clutter free room. Walk around their bedroom with them and look in the drawers, in the closet and under the bed and talk to them about what you expect the room to look like when it is organized. Listen to them about what they think an organized room should look like. Come to an understanding so when you need to tell them to clean or organize their room they will know what it needs to look like when they are done.

For a young child it is never effective to say clean your room. They need specific instructions such as: put your dirty clothes in the hamper, put the books on the book shelf, hang up the clothes on the floor in your closet, and put your toys away. Children can't remember more than one or two instructions at a time and many adults can't either. So the child may need to be given one task to do and then come back to you for another task to do. For older children have them write it down and have them check it off after it is done.

2. Make it easy for a child to stay organized and get rid of clutter. Provide a waste paper basket in their room for trash. They will be responsible to empty it once a week or when it is full, whichever comes first.

3. For small children have plenty of child friendly containers to separate their toys into. Label the container with a picture or words to help them remember what toy goes where. Get their input as to which bin they want to use for which toy. When you get their opinions they are more likely to cooperate and have a feeling of ownership for things that are theirs. Also it is a great time to teach how to organize and get rid of clutter.

4. Have containers, drawers and closet rods at the child's level so they can use them.

5. Don't cram their closet with clothes they can't wear. In their closet and drawers only keep clothes they can wear. Seasonal clothes should be removed and placed in bins that are labeled and put on top of their closet or in some other room. If you are saving their clothes for another child label the bin with the size of the clothes.

6. Teach children the joy of giving by giving them the opportunity to clean up toys they no longer play with and take them to a local shelter.

7. Put a bookcase in their room for books and teach them how to take care of books. You could keep one shelf free for small toys they use often.

8. Teach children to make their bed every day. When their bed is made their room looks neater and it will encourage them to get rid of clutter and keep their room neat and tidy.Kids can be expected to keep their rooms free of clutter and adults can teach them and encourage them to do so by example and providing them the tools they need.

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Marilyn Bohn is the owner of Get it Together Organizing, a business dedicated to developing practical organizing solutions that help individuals and business professionals live clutter-free and productive lives. She is the author of "Go Organize! Conquer Clutter in Three Simple Steps" and is an experienced, enthusiastic public speaker, a member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) and the author of hundreds of articles covering various organizing topics.

Marilyn takes the often stressful subject of organizing and breaks it down into a simple, easy to understand system. Her methods are both eye-opening and encouraging! She has a passion for helping others reach their personal goals and living a better, clutter-free life!

Marilyn also offers personal, private consulting to assist in organizing. She invites you to visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com for easy organizing.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/how-to-get-your-kids-to-organize-their-bedroom-3698333.html

The Good Stuff

By Joseph C. Phillips

It was a glass mug that I treasured dearly. My sophomore year in college my little sister, Carole, had given me the mug for Christmas. As a special treat she had engraved my nickname, "Joey" into the Mug. It wasn't fancy or expensive; just a regular glass mug. After my sister passed away the mug took on a sentimental value and I loved it. It was a beautiful reminder of a sister that was also my best friend.

This mug had survived a year of dormitory life, 9 years of Brooklyn apartment living, a move to New Jersey, a cross country move to California and three moves around the city of Los Angeles. Alas, the mug couldn't survive children.

Unfortunately for me, my favorite glass also struck the fancy of my number one son. When reaching for a mug to drink from, this was the one he often chose. I explained the significance of the mug to him and he promised to be careful. Of course little boys always promise to be careful just like they always promise to be good. Given enough time they always end up breaking both promises. One day while not paying attention he went to set the mug on the edge of the counter and missed. The glass fell to the floor shattering into 20 pieces. My wife was sure that all hell was about to break loose, but I have really been working hard on understanding what is important in life. It would be a lie to say that I didn't remind my son of the mugs history through slightly clenched teeth. However, to my credit (I think) and my wife's surprise I didn't yell. I took a breath, reminded myself that this was only a glass, grabbed the broom and dust pan and swept the pieces into the garbage. Se la vie.

A wise man once told me that nothing real can ever be taken away. The mug is gone, but the love, respect and admiration I feel for my sister remains. That's the good stuff. The same is true of being a parent.

A few weeks ago I watched this same son perform a karate form for his school talent show. It was one of those moments that parents are all too familiar with: your heart swells, your throat tightens and the water comes to your eyes. It is a feeling of transcendent euphoria that is difficult to describe to those that have not felt it.

My sons often ask me what heaven will be like. I playfully respond it will be like taking a bite of the most perfect pepperoni pizza you have ever tasted or lifting your head into the most perfect breeze. I think I will add that heaven must certainly be something near to the good stuff of parenting: kissing the softest, fattest, most milk smellingest cheeks of your new born, the sweet comfort in the hug made with little arms, bathing in the most radiant smile of your son when he hits his first homerun or scores his first touchdown, or watching from the audience as your child performs.

I have often wondered about parents - fathers in particular that choose NOT to experience the good stuff. These are the fathers that choose not to take an active role in their children's lives. We know the statistics all too well: 85% of children from 'this" group do not have regular contact with their fathers, 55% of children from "that" group do not see theirs.

The studies are clear on the negative impact absentee fathers have on their children. What we don't know is what affect absence has on fathers. I can only imagine that a man that fathers children yet chooses not to raise them suffers some deep damage to the soul. If being immersed in the good stuff is heaven then being removed from it must certainly be hell.

I treasure fatherhood especially because it's replete with broken mugs, broken beds, sunflower seeds in the dryer, socks on the ceiling fan.All of it is the good stuff. I wouldn't miss any of it for the world.

*Republished commentary from June 2009

How to Grow the Word in Your Child

By Marie Stroughter

You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

 (Deuteronomy 6:7)

Our statewide ad council sponsors Public Service Announcements on TV all the time encouraging everyone to get their five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. However, our children need spiritual food also! Here are some ways to get more Bible into your children this summer:

Summer Reading Programs: Many Christian book stores sponsor summer reading programs for children. Some have strict guidelines as to what will count for their particular program. Some I have seen state that the book has to be of a spiritual or character-building nature.

Bible Bowls: Many congregations host fun-filled Bible Bowls. A Bible Bowl is a contest where questions are asked on a particular theme announced in advance (think spelling bee). The children study the books of the Bible pertaining the theme and answer questions based upon it. They often break the Bowl up into various age groups and modify the questions to match the abilities of the children in those groupings.

Youth Forums & “Lock-ins:” Many congregations have a weekend lectureship series and overnight “lock-ins” for youth. Bonding with children the same age can help children form solid spiritual friendships. At the point where children become more and more independent, friends have far more influence than parents do. When that happens, you want friends around your child that will help them spiritually, not hinder them. You can “stack the odds” in their favor by providing opportunities for them to meet like-minded children of faith.

Bible Camp: There are camps based on various abilities (sports, cheerleading, etc.), academic subjects (Math, Space, etc), and health conditions (epilepsy, diabetes, etc.). This goes for religion as well. Sleep-away camp is a staple of childhood for many kids. There are arts and crafts, nightly skits and devotionals, and recreational activities each day. Check with your local congregation to see what camps are available. Many are sponsored by colleges as a recruitment tool and are low-cost, or may be free to members of the congregation. Check with your particular congregation.

Vacation Bible School: Any kid who grew up in a church-going family will have fond memories of VBS! Similar to a day-camp, children come daily to a themed classroom and learn facts about the Bible and Bible characters, or a particular virtue or characteristic. There are snacks and crafts, and tons of fun for all!

Trying some or all of these ideas will help your children gain additional Bible knowledge, and they will have so much fun and create lasting memories and pleasant associations in doing so!

Dads and Coaching

By Joseph C. Phillips

I am an assistant coach on my middle son's youth football team. Football practice begins in August and I have spent the last two weeks reading up on defensive alignments, surfing coaching websites, and sending e-mail to some of the high school coaches in the area begging for coaching tips. If I watch one more video of conditioning exercises for defensive linemen my head is going to explode. I have begun dreaming in "X's" and "O's."

Of course, that is what I say today. Tomorrow, I will get up and begin the routine all over again. Why? Well, I guess it's because I have grown to love coaching. Unless one loves it, there is really no other reason to be a youth coach.

A person certainly won't get rich coaching youth sports. In fact, often a youth coach will lose money over the course of a season. Every coach I know spends his own money to pay for extra equipment and materials. Most of the coaches I know spend additional money on books and clinics in order to expand their knowledge. More than one coach I know has paid the registration fee for a boy whose parents were having financial difficulties. These coaches didn't open their wallets because the boy was a superstar, (although I have also witnessed performance purchasing). Rather, the coach paid the fee because the boy wanted to play.

How to Keep Your Child Safe From Pornography

By Marie Stroughter

Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

 (2 Timothy 2:22)

Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.

 (1 Corinthians 6:18)

Pornography is just a click away for Internet-savvy teens and ‘tweens. Read on for how you can help protect your child from pornography’s lure.

According to the website XXXChurch, the average age of first exposure to pornography is eleven years old. This statistic crosses all socio-economic and religious boundaries. One online site stated that there are “more outlets for hard-core pornography in the United States, than there are McDonald’s restaurants.” With that in mind, if you think your family is immune, you are woefully unprepared to confront it, should your child be one of the statistics.

What can you do?