Your Strengths, Your MoneyWritten by Darlene Arechederra
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Do you Enjoy Great Outdoors? Use Seasons! Fall How about raking leaves? Bag up leaves and take them with you for homeowners who don't enjoy this type work, or who can't do it themselves. Fall is also a good time to give lawns a final mowing. Mow leaves up with final grass cutting for year. The leaves are actually great nourishment. Winter Shovel sidewalks. Shovel paths so others can get in their cars (especially elderly). Or run errands for them while you're already out doing your errands. Wash slush and chemicals off neighbors' cars after a major snowstorm. Spring Weed, till soil, remove downed branches after a storm. Summer Your neighbors probably have swimming pools. Are you good at cleaning them? How about making sure chemicals are just right? Remove stray leaves that end up in pool. (For safety reasons, please don't take your children with you to these pools. Water gardens in evenings or early morning for those who don't enjoy it or can't do it. Weed their flower or veggie gardens. See what you can do for neighbors in your area while they enjoy their vacations. Change of Seasons Remove leaves from gutters for others. Again, there will likely be lots of downed branches to gather and remove. Now, obviously these are very basic ideas. There are many more ideas you can come up with. Use your strengths as your starting point and see what you can dream up.
Darlene Arechederra is author of Rat Race Blues-How to Break the Stranglehold. Do what you *love* to do for a living -- not what you *have* to do! Darlene offers hope and help in *finding* money, time and energy to support your dreams. Fr*ee weekly newsletter with mini-assignments and rewards to get you back on track with your money and dreams. http://www.RatRaceRemedies.com.
| | Are Your Children Ready for School?Written by Dorothy M Neddermeyer
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Third, a child needs to have specific information, tools and techniques to know what to do. Self-protection offers a direct and effective way for children to help themselves. Who, other than child, is in a better position to protect him/herself? Perpetrators say they can sense a child to victimize. They can tell by child's demeanor, body language, and facial expression. They sense fear, helplessness, passivity. They chose a child who is easily intimidated or controlled so hopefully child won't tell. Secrecy, needless-to-say, is paramount for perpetrator. Whenever a person is traumatized, he or she resorts to familiar behavior; for girls this behavior is usually passivity, while boys usually 'tough it out;--thinking if they are strong and unemotional, no harm can occur. Sexual crimes against children can only be committed if perpetrator finds someone who will hopefully keep secret. No child needs to fall prey to these cunning predators. There is no foolproof method of preventing perpetrators from abusing a child. They are cunning predators, who have perfected their predatory skills to get what they want. Therefore, you need to heed and investigate any warning signals. Warning signals might be: ·an aversion to a teacher. ·sudden outbursts of anger and there is no apparent reason known for such anger. ·any unusual or unexplained behavior change. ·not wanting to go to school on a particular day of week-the day gym or music class is held for instance. ·not wanting to ride bus or be around a particular person. ·the gym teacher says your child is athletically 'gifted' and he or she wants to develop your child's athletic abilities if your child practiced one-on-one after school. ·a teacher gives your child a gift. A gift is sometimes an overture to win your trust and groom your child for seduction. What to do: ·Teach your child Good/Appropriate Touch. ·Teach your child Appropriate Body Boundaries ·Foster Self-Esteem and Good Body Image ·Teach your child "Tell Mommy and Daddy Everything-No Secrets. ·Allow your child to command respect regarding dislikes and touch with family members, friends or authority figures. ·Talk with and listen to your child until you are satisfied aversion is unrelated to improper behavior by teacher. ·Make a habit of coming to school unannounced during one-on-one practices or other times to become 'known' as an attentive parent. ·Be present at games and practice. If you can't be there, ask another parent to be 'stand-in' parent. Tell coach who is 'standing-in.' ·Trust and honor your child's intuitive reactions. If your child feels uncomfortable with someone, respect their intuitive sense. ·Teach your child to avoid going into a teacher's office alone-many children unwittingly go into a teacher's office at teacher's request to help carry books or equipment-with door closed and alone with teacher, child is abused.
Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, MSW, CSW, CCH, CRT specializes in sexual and physical abuse recovery and prevention. . She is Executive Director of Genesis Consultants, Inc. and 1-800-THERAPIST referral service and www.Gen-Assist.com Her book, "If I'd Only Known...Sexual Abuse in or out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention" is available in ebook or soft cover and can be ordered through http://www.gen-assist.com or any book store.
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