There are many many places your child will observe character, some of it good and some of it not good. Besides what type of character-- which attributes will your child randomly be exposed to? And will your child be able to identify them, understand them, and discern how to incorporate them in such a way to be a wonderful adult?

Here is a list of 52 qualities of internal character. You can take one item a week to fill up a year’s worth of character training within your own home. You can design curriculum, buy curriculum, or hire someone to work with your family to tailor content that reflects lessons you’d like your child to learn along way in life. As I said before, long gone are days when parents can just trust that throughout day their child is taking in right information to become a responsible, highly functional, & happy member of society. Take list. Tweak it to fit your lifestyle and preferences. Have fun with it. And enjoy knowing you are not leaving your child’s character up to chance.

Accountability Caring Character Charity Compassion Credibility Desire Determination Diversity Awareness Diversity Respect Duty / Responsibility Empathy Excellence Fairness Flexibility Following directions Friendliness Frugal Fun Generosity Gentleness Giving Global awareness Happiness Helpfulness Honesty Honor Hope Humility Imagination Integrity Judgment / reason Knowledge / education Logic Loyalty Obedience Openness / privacy Patience Peace Perseverance Politeness Respect Self-control Sharing Sportsmanship Strength (internal) Team player Tenderness Tolerance Trust Trust-worthiness Uniqueness

Until next time--- all best, Kate

What’s “S” for, Anyway? Ever notice certain website changes when you’re making online purchases? There’s an “s” which appears after HTTP, for starters. This let’s you know you’re on a secure server. Also, check status bar on window you’re using to make purchase. You should see a yellow padlock -- mouse over lock and you’ll see encryption level for site.

If you don’t see both of these items, do not make purchase right now and notify vendor. Go back and make purchase at a later time.

I Didn’t Charge Two Dollars Every month, without fail, I want to you check your statements from your credit union, bank, brokerage, credit card companies -- any institution from which you receive a paper statement or an online statement. If bad guys have access to your account, they may try and slip in a small charge before coming with big guns. Take a look at each and every line item and verify you’ve made purchase. If something is amiss, call that institution immediately.

The Joy of Shredding I have a special “shred” basket near my desk and shred all of basket’s contents at end of work day. My personal receipts, which I no longer need and have reconciled against my online statements, get shredded. All working documents I’ve printed or proofed, especially for my attorney clients, are blitzed at end of day as well. Anything which may personally identify me or one of my clients gets treatment.

You have no logical excuse for not owning a shredder. Price? Hardly an issue. You don’t have a car to get to office supply store? If you’re reading this article that means you’ve got internet access. Start a new browser window NOW and access your favorite online office supply vendor. You’ll have your new shredder in a matter of days and you too can become a Shredder Queen (or King).

We live in a different world from just a generation ago. Be smart, be aware and remember that if something seems too good to be true, it is.