How To Recognize Manipulation
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from the Florida Jewish News There’s little worse than thinking someone is a manipulator who isn’t, except failing to realize you are being manipulated when you are. We should think well of our fellow and give people the benefit of the...
For Successful Parenting, Tell Your Inner Child to Just Keep Out of This
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from the Florida Jewish News, p. 15 “I can’t do anything with her,” Mrs. Porter said plaintively, “I am absolutely starting to lose it.” “Starting?” her husband asked with genuine surprise and a roll of the eyeballs. “Listen,” he confided in...
You’re Going To Be A Role Model For Your Child So Be A Good One
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from the Florida Jewish News, p. 22. My son hunches over that computer day after day and I fear he’ll develop a curvature. “Exercise!” I say and I get the rolled eyeballs. “Where in the world does he get that from?” I wonder. Ha! I know the...
The “Adult Content” Lie
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from the Florida Jewish News, pp. 12, 20 One of my pet peeves is using the word “adult,” as in “adult movie” because, in fact, the nature of relationships in the so-called “adult” scene are so juvenile. Who watches such things? People with...
What Causes Nightmares in Children and What Parents Can Do About It
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from the Florida Jewish News, pp. 15, 21. I couldn’t have been that young. Maybe I was 10 or 11 by then because we were in the new house. I would be sleeping but feel as though I were awake. I’d be looking at my room and it looked the way it...
Common Enemy? – Not This Grandma!
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from the Florida Jewish News, pp. 15, 22. Congratulate me! I’m a grandma again. And for those of you who haven’t tried it, I recommend it. Seriously. Heck, adopt a grandchild if you have to. It’s sweet. But, I’ll tell you, I am perplexed...
Controlling People Don’t Know How To Control
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from the Florida Jewish News, January 27, 2006, pp. 16, 22. Abusers are complete wusses. I’m serious. I've never met an abuser who knows how to be assertive. Abusers abuse because they have no skills at getting—the nice way—what they want and...
You’re Walking On Eggshells? —GOOD!
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from the Florida Jewish News, p. 16. “Can’t I express myself?” the man asked me with annoyance. “I think I should be able to be honest with my own wife!” another one haruumphed at me. “Why should I always watch out for his feelings?” a woman...
8 Causes of School Phobia and What to Do About Them
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from the Florida Jewish News, pp. 16, 22. Screams echo down the hall. Raised voices escalate in pitch. Enough already! Get this child to school! But she won’t go. You would think that two intelligent adults could figure out how to get an...
What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About ADD Medication
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from The Florida Jewish News, p. 13 [edited with title change] If we take a position that some aspects of ADD/ADHD are desirable, then the question of whether or not to use medication becomes a question of whether, or when, to blot out those...