*Mend a quarrel *Think first of someone else *Find TIME - then TAKE TIME! *Apologize if you were wrong *SMILE! Did you know that a smile is a universal language? *Seek out a friend who has been forgotten *Encourage youth and manifest hope *Forgive an enemy - let go of a grudge *Try to understand - TRY! *Be kind - Be gentle - Express your love *Make a child's heart glad *Soak up beauty and wonderment of earth - TAKE time! *Laugh - Laugh a little - Laugh a little more *Speak your love - Speak it AGAIN - Speak it "one more time"!

You have heard these all before and this list is so small. Make your own list or ADD to this one.

Christmas IS a celebration - a celebration with a stirring of heart that extends towards very core of life itself!

This Christmas, let's together try to grasp an inkling of significance of that very first Christmas that changed world forever!

I wish you faith, hope and love this Christmas and always. May your Christmas Celebration be within your heart.

May you have a Merry and Blessed Christmas, Jan McCracken

http://www.LowCarbcookin.com Home site of Low Carb Christmas Cookin' The FIRST Low Carb Christmas Cookbook! Low Carb Christmas Cookin'- with an Old-Fashioned Cook! 224 fun-filled,sometimes hysterical pages!

About author: Jan McCracken is author & self-publisher of 39 gift books & cookbooks. Laugh & cook with this fun-loving, old-fashioned cook who insists that food taste like “the real stuff” without carbs… no one will ever know it’s Low Carb!

Jan McCracken is author and self-publisher of 39 gift books and cookbooks. Born in the Midwest and former owner/innkeeper of a country bed and breakfast in Branson, MO, she has been cooking since she was seventeen years old (she won’t tell us how many years that is!).

Where Do You Need Help? Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Maybe you are good at discipline and lax at family meals. Maybe your children have limited television but play hours of video games. It’s hard to be consistent in all areas every single day. Instead of getting frustrated or giving up, begin and end each day with a commitment to be a better parent. Routines take time to develop, and kids will push envelope to see what your boundaries are. If you try to establish routines, but you can’t make them stick, you can get help by joining a parenting support group. Churches, YMCA’s and neighborhoods are great resources. It helps to understand other mothers struggle with same issues. Single parenting isn’t so different, but responsibility is more intense.

The time and effort you put in today will be best investment you can make as a single parent. The children may need more of your time today, but they will need significantly less as they grow older. Soon house will be quiet and they will be gone. The carpet will stay vacuumed and no crumbs will be in living room. You will long for days house was filled with noise and laughter.

Think consciously about being a good role model. The benefits will last your children’s lifetime.

Dr. Debbie

50 Great Tips, Tricks, & Techniques to Connect With Your Teen

Debra Hapenny Ciavola, Ph.D.

Marriage & Family Therapist

www.greatparentingtips.com

DrDebbie@greatparentingtips.com

972-304-5409