Family Bond Paper™

Have you ever walked down an urban, public area or sidewalk only to get a puff of some kind of strange smelling smoke blown in your face?  I have. After relocating to a more urban-populated neighborhood, a few years ago, I realized that such smoking behavior was the norm--an everyday situation within my local community. It is a normal disregard by individuals who smoke modern-day what?--Weed.  Every day this is happening in unique homestyles, city playgrounds, and public sidewalks. There is a new trend, that is happening, where parents are deliberately intoxicating their children with marijuana. A few weeks ago, I read an article about a mother of color who was arrested for exhaling such smoke in front of her children. I have learned that second-hand weed smoke can exhibit someone to have the same effects as being truly high; it's called having a "contact."  The overall goal of the smoker is to dumb down the activity of children so that they will become less active or h...

An illustrator is the person who provides their artwork skills to enhance the value of reading a good story. Who doesn't like to see pictures of what an author is trying to express to the reader? Allow your child to verbally explain to you what he/she thinks is happening. Give them a few seconds to view all of the delightful colors and expressions. Read the illustrator's name aloud just like you would the author's. You don't have to go to art galleries to appreciate beautiful artwork.  Watercolor, oil painting, pen and ink, collage, and other forms of artwork can be found in quality children's literature. Take time to tell the story of the artwork, too. Why do you think that color was used? Is it day or night? Inside or outside? What is the season? Many illustrators have distinct artistic styles that even young children can learn to recognize with very little adult assistance. --Oh, that's illustration from Eric Carle, Tomie de Paola, Don Tate, Cheryl Willis...

   "  Be Consistent" --                                                "Explain Any Change of Routines"--         Children develop best in an environment of order and consistency--even during summer and holiday school breaks.  They are happier when they know what to expect. To a young child, a predictable world is a safe world.      By setting up regular, reliable times and procedures for daily events, parents and guardians or child care provider provide a dependable environment.  Routines also help avoid the power struggles that so often occur between adults and children.      You'll find life with your child goes more smoothly if you set up and consistently carry out regular routines such as bedtime, wake-up time, mealtimes, chore times, play times, and homework times. You will find tha...

It's my hosted event theme of U.S. Mixed Race Identity Month and Online Quotes Month (April, yearly). It is Spring Cleaning Month, too. I read an interesting article, from another blogger, of what not to say to parents of biracial kids, accessed April 8, 2014, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-stir/15-things-never-to-say-to-parents-of-biracial-kids_b_3109408.html Can you imagine someone commenting "Aww, look at the cute zebra baby" as implied by the blogger. By definition, mixed race individuals include people of two or more racial identities.  Most U.S. minorities could be considered a part of this definition. Is race still a factor in America? In my opinion, it is never possible for a mixed-race individual to fully avoid their racial identities. I believe that there is more cultural awareness that takes place by mixed individuals --attempts to fully understand American racial identity and personal behaviors. Some individuals may consider too much attention to racial...

Just because you get a divorce, parenting doesn't stop... Shouldn't stop! Do you know this nasty word, co-parenting. Most traditional legal systems and judges do not like this nasty word because it offers too much flexibility in parenting arrangements--who will do what and when? Will there be consistent routines in place? I know, right, all of these challenging questions while your trying to get over an "adult" ... but not your child(ren). Yes, parents, can and many do, co-parent after divorce or separation. Be creative in new parenting expectations: more or less demands, habit building routines, and more should be discussed between you and your ex, and, then, external people that you both associate with.  If not you will have too many people in your bizamiss (pardon the cultural slang). Some suggestions What daily routines does your family follow regarding  mealtime? chores? schoolwork? playtime? television habits? bedtime? friends/relationships? What traditi...