Even that changed, however, as coat of arms simply became a status symbol. Those with money could simply purchase a coat of arms for display in their homes. No longer tied to any military or governmental forms, it was simply a display of money. For instance, we know that Shakespeare was rich because he purchased a coat of arms for his family. Though this may be something of a bastardization of its original intent, it meant that coat of arms could be available to everyone.

Now, there are numerous places from which one can find or purchase their own coat of arms. Through web sites, stores, gift shops, and stores dedicated to genealogy, one can either find heraldic emblem for one's particular name, or simply choose from amongst a list of many. For those who are particularly adventurous and artistic, you can even design your own!

No matter how you come across your particular coat of arms, these intricate and beautiful designs can provide you with an heirloom for your own family. Display it proudly on your front door, place it above your mantelpiece, or just tuck it into a sheaf of papers with knowledge that you know it is yours. Whatever you do with it, it can be an enjoyable little piece of your history and your ever-living tie to Old World from whence your ancestors came.

Finally, is your solution 'best'? It's easy to forget that our children are different to us when thinking about a solution to a problem. The solution may be best one for you, but is it best one for your teen?

Giving advice by telling teens what to do is only one way of passing on a parent's knowledge, there are other ways of achieving same outcome and with a higher likelihood of success. And it's how you pass on that experience that makes difference.

How to Get Your Point Across

1.Ask before you give. Always ask your teen if they want your advice before you start to give it. If they say, "yes please" then go ahead and have your say, if they say "no" respect their decision and keep quiet. 2.Question their intent. If your teen has refused advice, ask them specific questions about how they’re going to handle situation. Asking questions about smaller 'parts' of problem is a way to at least get your teen to think about what’s involved. 3.Provide information instead. Directing your teen to a source of information that's neutral allows your teen access to information without having to agree to your point of view. 4.Give your teen time. Just because your teen hasn't given you an immediate answer to your question doesn't mean they’re ignoring it. Give them time to go away and think about answers. 5.Highlight their qualities. Reminding teens of their strengths will focus their minds on choosing options that make best of them. Focus on their weaknesses and they're likely to lose confidence in doing anything. 6.Listen to your teen. Often just listening to your teen without interrupting will show you that you don't even need to give advice; your teen already has a solution.