Empowering Youth: The Only 3 Things Your Child Needs to Be Successful

What are you willing to do for your child's success? Really think about this before you leap to answer.

Sure, it sounds good to say "I would do anything for my child"...

But would you really?

To be sincerely "willing" to do whatever it takes for your child's success, you would...

1. Not use unkind words towards your child

2. Not tell white, black or blue lies to or in the presence of your child. (And yes that includes telling somebody that you aren't home when you don't feel like talking)

3. Know your child's friends and meet all of their friend's parents

4. Spend more time talking with your child than you do talking at your child

5. Not baby and shelter your child from the good and bad experiences of life

6. Not buy them everything they want or most everything either

7. Give them rules and responsibilities with appropriate consequences

8. Allow them to make mistakes and resist the urge to "fix it" for them

Of course the list could include things like smoking in the house which is bad for their health, exposing them to too many "uncles" which is bad for their relationship skills, and being too tired or busy to attend their activities which is bad for their self-esteem.

So again, what ARE you willing to do for your child's success?

You want to be a "great" parent but...

Love without action is fruitless.

Gifts without TIME is useless.

A map without a destination is foolish.

And success without work is just a WISH.

It may be true that kids don't come with a manual but there are clearly certain things kids need to be successful.

Some things are external while others are internal. Some are best planted by the parents, some are best fertilized by teachers and some need to be developed by a mentor. And then there are those success qualities, skills and knowledge that can only come from experience. No matter how you slice it, it is going to take a village to empower your child for success and your child can't do it alone.

There are many lessons your child needs to learn in 18 years but sometimes adults make things way more complicated than they ought to be so here are a few secrets.

Your child needs to learn:

1. Financial Management

2. Business Excellence

3. Leadership Greatness

Now if you really think about it, in the process of learning those three areas your child will develop everything else they need to be successful.

When you focus on the majors, the minors will fall into place.

"Though you cannot go back and make a brand new beginning, you can start from today and make a brand new end"

And now I would like to invite you to claim your FREE Instant Access to a 10-day e-course entitled "Ten Actions YOU MUST Take For Your Child To Succeed" when you visit http://empoweringyouthforsuccess.com/

You'll also receive free VIP seating at our cutting edge monthly teleseminar.

From Linette Daniels- "The Youth Success Doctor"

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How You Could Be Wishing Your Child's Life Away

Have you noticed there seems to be such a rush to get everything done? Why the rush? Are you intending to be on this amazing planet of ours for a short time?

This even applies to parenting. Each age group will present itself with its own set of challenges... and of course its own set of rewards. I don't know about you, but that's exciting!

Thinking back to when my own children were babies, which seems such a long time ago, especially as I know have a son who towers over me. (It is hard to look back and think of them being so small at times). I remember wanting them to walk, talk and do everything. It seemed as soon as each of them reached one milestone we were already eagerly awaiting the next one. I will admit it, there were times I felt a little anxious when my child wasn't quite up to where all the other babies or toddlers were... and I know I'm not the only one guilty of this. Especially the first time around.

The thing I now understand is that we all get there. Whether someone's child speaks earlier than your child honestly doesn't matter. If we continually look forward and not enjoy who they are now, then we are wishing their life away. Don't get me wrong, I have been a parent. I know how exciting it is; the first word, when they start crawling, talking and walking. Instead of searching and reaching for the next milestone, stop and enjoy the miracle that is being presented. The next milestone will come when it is ready, when your beautiful son and daughter is ready. Not when you are.

And of course this doesn't simply apply to our babies and toddlers either.

When I think about my nearly eldest 16 year old son, I still wonder how we got here. I also appreciate how precious each moment is that I have with him (or my other two children). Over the past few days I have been at the State Age Swimming Championships with my son. He has had a rather full program with six individual events and three relays. Of course everyone who competes would love to win a medal, but when you are racing in an event with up to 70 other people, only a small few will go home with them.

It was really encouraging to see, in such a competitive environment, they level of support from both their parents and coaches; no matter where they finished. For many this is the first step of a very long road which may take years. For some, this is the end of the road. For others they are embarking on a rather fast paced highway. But wherever they are in their swimming journey, they have all achieved something, most of us won't. Instead of focusing on the future, let's celebrate what they are doing and achieving now.

When we do that in our own lives, and we show our children, their self-worth rockets. Sure it is important to look to the future and set goals, but it is equally important to enjoy each and every moment that got us there.

Felicity Baker is a mindset expert, author and speaker who specialises in empowering children and the child within us all. Her website Joyful Horizons for Kids is the #1 Single Resource For Parents On Creating Strong and Positive Self-Esteem In Their Kids Today and In The Future.

Felicity's "NO THEORY ONLY" philosophy means that everything she recommends has already been "tested" with her own children and the results are positive and proven.

For a FREE Video Series on Building Your Child's Self-Esteem visit http://joyfulhorizonsforkids.com/freevideo

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Qualities to Being a Good Parent 2 - Eleven More

The first ten qualities to being a good parent went so well here are eleven more.

1) Spend time with your child alone, and as a family unit.

Pen, not pencil, in a time to do something special with your child. Read to them at night, go on a walk together. Get to know your child. Also, do things as a family. Eat dinner together, play a board game together, even play handball together... By doing this you are creating a family bond. Kids who do not deal much with their parents or sibling(s) can be clueless as to what families actually do together. Give your child a basis.

2) Show your child how to solve life problems.

If you don't teach your child how to deal with problems in the correct manner, who will teach them? Problems can range from how to deal with friends who are mean to how to lose a game without having a melt down. Life can he hard, teach them how to handle it as best as possible.

3) Instill the idea of moderation. I.e. Food. TV. Computer games. You can't have everything all the time.

4) Teach good eating habits. Monkey see, monkey do.

5) Teach tolerance towards others by your own behavior.

6) Teach your child about finances.

It's no joke when a woman says, "Oh I have no head for finances. My parents never taught me." Children should learn how to budget their money. They shouldn't spend money on things they don't have money for. Credit card debit can be like a black hole. It's hard to get out of.

7) Teach your child responsibly.

From pitching in with chores to turning in their homework on time. Your child's boss later in life is not going to believe their dog ate the company's project report.

8) Teach an appreciation for life.

If you complain and whine about life and what it dealt you, you are instilling negativity in your child. There are things to appreciate. From art to nature to your pet dog to the right of having a fair trial in the U.S.

9) Teach your child about safety.

The world is not perfect. You need to teach your child to protect themselves. This can be from the danger of matches to not going anywhere with a stranger, no matter if the person says that they are hurt, you the parent is hurt, or the puppy in their car is hurt and can they help.

10) Give your child a warm, safe home environment.

Your material goods come second to a child's basic needs. Food, clean clothes, and shelter. Also, a child should not have to fear living in their home. No child should be exposed to, or have to worry about, being verbally or physically abused by anyone in their home.

11) Let your child grow and go when the time comes.

One day your child might want a spouse. It's hard to have a good marriage with a parent-in-law poking in your business all the time. Children and adults need to learn to make their own decisions. Just because a minor decision your child picks is different then what you would pick doesn't automatically mean it's the wrong choice. Dealing with parent guilt is not fun.

Find Articles, Parenting Programs, Low Cost Prescription Medicine, Pet Medicine and more at Foundit-4u.com. Follow my BLOG for Parenting Articles, useful Tips, Activity/Art Projects, Recipes, Family Movie Reviews, Children's Book Reviews and a monthly Science Experiment Day.

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5 Signs Your Child Is a "20-Something"

Times are changing for people in their 20s. While their parents were most likely married and starting families well before the age of 30, today many people this age are still living at home and trying to find their place in the world. What causes people to become 20-somethings is a topic for another article, but what we are looking at here are five ways to tell if your child is a "20-something."

Keep in mind that not all people between the ages of 20 and 29 are "20-somethings." This is like saying that all men like Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. Just because they are in their 20s does not mean that they fit into this category. This list will help you identify 20-somethings within that age group.

Here it is:

1. They are unnecessarily nostalgic.

There's nothing wrong with your child reminiscing about the good times they had in high school and college. The problem is that they'd rather work on creating new memories than creating their futures. Hanging out with friends and partying are still priorities, while careers and families aren't.

2. You still pay some of their bills.

I'm guilty of this (hey, I never said I wasn't a 20-something). My parents still pay my cell phone bill. It's not because I want or need them to, but they insist. They know things are a little tight for me, so they want to help me out... and saving me this $75 each month is pretty nice.

3. They still live at home (or have at least once since graduating college)

The housing situation for recent college grads is tough. Everyone expects that they should find a well paying job and their own apartment right out of school. The unfortunate truth is that most people take between six months and one year to find that kind of job. Until then, many are stuck working the same part-time jobs they had in high school and living with their parents. Hopefully you didn't convert their old bedroom into your new office just yet!

4. Their attitudes and values haven't changed much since they were 17.

Many people are classifying the "20-something" stage as an extended period of adolescence. This comes with the same behaviors and beliefs as the first adolescence, the teenage years. A lack of responsibility, failure to commit to anything, and an unyielding optimism about the future are rampant. All doors are still open for 20-somethings, but they haven't chosen which door to walk through yet.

5. Many of their friends are in the same boat.

Being a 20-something is not an uncommon thing. Many people are delaying their adulthood as long as possible, and surround themselves with likeminded people. Take a look at your child's friends. Are they still living at home? Can you see a lot of similarities between them? Chances are that if your child is a 20-something, a lot of his/her friends are too.

Hopefully this list will help you decide if your kid is a 20-something. Now if only anyone had any ideas of how to break them out of this phase...

Kyle is a 26 year old writer living in western New York. Recognizing the growing number of people in their late 20s postponing major life milestones, Kyle runs a blog where he discusses his own life as a 21st Century 20-something. Find it at Diary of a 20-Something.

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How to Help Children With a Divorce

Divorce may be one of the worst moments in your life, and it will impact everything happening in you and your children's lives. Many children will experience the pain, frustration, stress, and loss that divorce brings to their lives. While kids are very resilient they need help adjusting to a new life when their parents are separated. There are many things that the parents can do to help their children with the divorce process. Often how you deal during the divorce impacts how they handle their loss.

When you break the news of the divorce or separation, keep in mind how you approach the subject. Tell them honestly and simply what is happening. When telling your children about the divorce, never say anything detrimental about the spouse; gently explain that it is the best thing to do for you and your spouse. Answer their questions and help them to understand as best as possible. Reassure them that they did not do anything that lead to the divorce. Children will often blame themselves during the divorce process. They may then try to negotiate with you or your spouse about things they could change that would keep the family intact. As simply as possible let them know that aren't in anyway responsible for this divorce. Reassure them with a discussion that they did not do anything that caused the divorce, and then calm them with a discussion about their feelings about the separation.

Expect a mix of emotions everything from depression to anger to denial and everything in between. Children are grieving the loss of their family. While grief may not be a perfect example, it does help to remember to understand the potential emotions your children are feeling. Some typical stages of grief include anger, depression, denial, bargaining, and acceptance, not everyone will experience these stages or go through them in a particular order or length of time. Examples include anger at their parents for the divorce, sadness about not being able to see a particular parent as often, bargaining asking their parents what they can do to keep the family together, denial in refusing to believe or understand that the divorce is happening, and finally acceptance that the separation is taking place. Be accepting of any feelings that your children have, allow them to have their feelings, and help them to understand that it is OK to feel upset and hurt because of what is happening. Talking to them, answering questions, and being accepting will go a long way towards them coping well with this transition in their lives.

Keep your children out of your fight with your spouse. Do not speak badly about your spouse or discuss any legal/financial matters in front of your children. Discussing legal and financial affairs often serves to confuse your children about what is happening even further, making their adjustment period even harder to deal with. Particularly do not force your Children to choose sides. Choosing sides can backfire and create resentments and difficulties for everyone, particularly when you need to be on the same page as your ex-spouse about a discipline issue. By minimizing the disruption to your child's routines and making transitions and changes as routine as possible, will help with the adjustment process for your children.

Get help dealing with your own painful feelings about the divorce. If you're able to adjust; then, your kids will be more likely to do so. There are many different groups and programs aimed at helping people deal with their divorce such as Divorce Care and Divorce Care for Kids. Be patient with yourself and your children; because, this is not an easy process. There will be both good and bad days: but, by being patient, you will make it easier for your children; and yourself. Spend quality time interacting with your kids and help them to adjust. Continue to feel that they are special to you as you go through the divorce process.

Recognize stress that your kids display. Consult your kids' teachers, doctor, or a child therapist for guidance for handling specific problems you're concerned about. Feeling hurt and or overwhelmed by your divorce is not a reason to confide in your children. This will only cause confusion and bad feelings toward you or your spouse. For help sorting through your feelings, consider joining a divorce support group or seeking counseling. If you and your spouse need help reaching decisions about your children during or after the divorce; then, consider using the services of a family or divorce mediator.

Your kids may: likewise, benefit from counseling. Particularly if he or she has significant behavioral issues, seems depressed or has trouble adjusting to the divorce after the first year. You can help your children to understand what has happened by being honest and providing reassurance.

Jeffrey Gallup graduated from Stephen F Austin Statue University in 2004, earned a Master's degree in Community Counseling, and is Licensed Professional Counselor.

Jeffrey has a strong background in providing counseling and psychological assessment to children, teens, young adults and their families. Having completed internships at Timberlawn Hospital, and Avenues Counseling Center he has worked with a variety of people from all backgrounds, and cultures.

http://www.mansfieldcounseling.com/

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