Focus on Family

[bloopz]

Thought there are lots of men and ladies here who are married and might be interested in reading about some pointers in Today newspaper (Focus on Family) about managing relationship with their partners or with their children.

Feel free to provide any old excerpts as most of them are really meaningful.

 

[bloopz]

Here's the one today to start things off.

Focus on Family by Dr Bill Maier (24 Aug 2009)

Teamwork in disciplining kids
One of the hardest parts about setting limits with your kids is figuring out what those limits should be. And it's important that you and your spouse agree. The worst thing you can do is to show a divided front when it comes to discipline. Be sure you've worked out a clear plan of action with yor spouse before laying down the rules to your children. Sometimes it helps to write it out, so that there's no confusion about it later. Never argue about your roles in front of your kids. It undermines the very thing you're trying to achieve - letting them know that your rules have no wiggle room. Most importantly, don't let yourself be ambushed by kids who try to play one parent against the other. Once the rules have been set, make sure they are enforced by both you and your spouse.

 

[bloopz]

Focus on Family by Dr Bill Maier (26 Aug 2009)

Behavioural 'Red Flags'
Kids don't always tell us when something is bothering them. That's why it's important to watch for those little red flags.
Any time a child's behaviour changes, it's a good sign that something different is going on in their life.
It could be a problem at school, like being picked on by a bully. Or they could be having nightmares, or other unsettling events.
One mother noticed that her 12 year old girl suddenly developed separation anxiety. the behaviour seemed to come out of nowhere, so the mother knew instinctively that something was wrong.
I told her to have a heart to heart talk with her daughter, and to try and draw her out.
Children don't always share their problems, so it's important to let them know that it's safe to tell us when something - or someone - is bothering them.
Just talking through a struggle is often the best way to fix it.

 

[bloopz]

This is so meaningful.... I guess I am guilty of this as well.. Hope this article enlightens you as much as it did to me. :o

Focus on Family by Dr James Dobson (21 Aug 2009)

Two Faced?
Isn't it curious how in the midst of a nasty family argument we can shake out if a bad mood the instant the telephone rings or a neighbour knocks on the door?
Sometimes it seems that those we love the most, we treat the worst; and kids are quick to notice this hypocrisy.
Have you ever been brought up short by a small voice questioning your sudden turn to peaches and cream after 20 minutes of fire and venom?
Somehow we're all guilty from time to time of what I call "split vision": Treating people with unending forbearance and giving every benefit of the doubt while heaping instant contempt on others under our own roof.
We assume the worst; we pounce on every shortcoming, and never miss and opportunity to deliver a corrective harangue. Isn't it time to cut one another a little slack at home?
If in fact we love our spouses, our children, and parents as much as we proclaim on every greeting card, one way to show it is to give them at least as many smiles and kind words as we bestow on our casual acquaintances.

 

[SamuelStalin]

Thought there are lots of men and ladies here who are married and might be interested in reading about some pointers in Today newspaper (Focus on Family) about managing relationship with their partners or with their children.

Feel free to provide any old excerpts as most of them are really meaningful.

Families should be destroyed. Edmund Leach is right. Consider me an abolitionist too