No one can give you more than 24 hours in a day. But, it’s your choice in how you choose to spend that time. Even an extra 10 minutes a day is a worthwhile goal. Once you see benefits, you’ll be motivated to set additional goals.

Winter Comforts Now that you’ve set aside a few extra minutes each week, enjoy some of these winter activities with your family.

Start with dinner as a family. Make a new recipe. Let kids help in planning. Be sure to include some of their favorite foods.

Make one night a week Eat Dessert First Night.

Dedicate 30 minutes after dinner to family time. Buy a new board game, set up an ongoing jigsaw puzzle, read a story aloud together.

Bundle up and go on a family walk.

Make snow angels or build a snowman together.

Schedule one Saturday or Sunday a month as family day. Plan an outing. Try hiking, snowboarding, skating, movies, or a museum.

Take a drive in country and stop for a cup of hot chocolate before ride home.

Explore nearby towns or historic landmarks. Arm kids with cameras.

Start a family project to send to relatives next Christmas. Create a family cookbook or photo album.

Set aside an hour to bake a batch of sugar cookies. Pull out all of sprinkles and decorations.

Dedicate one day as Pajama Day. Let everyone stay in their PJs for entire day. Build a fire in fireplace, read books together, watch movies, play board games.

Enjoy your family and your new found time.

You have permission to reprint this article electronically or in print, free of charge, provided that each article is: 1. Printed in its full form with no changes 2. Includes an active link 3. A courtesy copy of your publication is sent to above contact 4. And following byline appears at bottom of each article: About Author: Rondi Hillstrom Davis is co-author of award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out her website that's jam packed with family ideas, visit To subscribe to her online newsletter, go to

Even as an adult, it can be intimidating to walk into a principal's office. But I am a parent who believes my son's physical and emotional safety are paramount. I am able to set aside my own issues to make sure my son is safe.

It's difficult enough to deal with a classroom bully, but when bully is your child's teacher, it's usually even more difficult to correct problem. Most times, school administration will view a parent's complaint as arrogance on part of a parent of an unruly child or revenge for a poor grade. Proof is difficult to come by. Yet there are times when a teacher is in fact, a bully.

Lack of safety is one of top concerns of young people, and bullying is a real and constant threat. A child's emotional development is just as important, if not more so, than academic development. In fact, a safe, healthy emotional environment is essential to academic growth and success.

Humiliation, fear, anxiety and depression are constant companions of a child that is bullied. It can lead to harmful, shocking and unexpected behavior from an otherwise shy or timid child.

Victims feel ashamed and tend to view themselves as failures. They are more prone to stress related illnesses such as headaches and stomachaches. In extreme cases, victim of a bully can experience sever depression and entertain thoughts of suicide.

What Do You Do When Teacher is a Bully?

Stand up for your child. Don't diminish their concerns over a teacher's attitude or behavior. You have right to question school authorities, and you owe it to your child to do so.

•If you suspect a teacher is bullying your child, request a meeting. •Before your meeting, get as many details as possible from your child. •Speak to other parents to see if their child has voiced any complaints or observed mistreatment of your child. •Take notes and prepare yourself. When you speak to teacher or administrator, try to keep calm, but make sure you get answers. •If your concerns are dismissed without resolution, take it a step further. Document your efforts, meet with superintendent, write an article for newspaper, or attend a PTO or school board meeting to voice your concerns.

Our children have enough to deal with; a bully for a teacher shouldn't be one of their problems.

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E-mail or courtesy link appreciated when you publish mailto:Joyful-Productions@comcast.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Title: My Son's Teacher was a Bully

Author: Patricia Gatto Copyright 2005. All Rights Reserved.

Category: Parenting/Children's Social Issues/Education

Word Count (including Resource Box): 1,100