Organize Your Move With A Moving ChecklistWritten by Lee Dobbins
Moving is a chaotic and stressful time. There’s so many things to arrange, having utilities switched, signing up kids for a new school, scheduling movers, packing house. With all other things you do it’s not easy to find time to get everything done! Using a checklist of tasks, can help keep you organized and make sure you don’t leave out an important moving task. I suggest that you start list well in advance – a month or more before move. Just jot a few things down and then leave list on kitchen counter or fridge where everyone can see it. As you think of new things to add, write them down right away or it might be too late when you think of them again! As time for move grows closer, you may want to transfer list to a calendar format. Some of items like notifying phone company, will be things you can do in advance so you can assign those a date and then each day check calendar to see what tasks need to be done. Cross off those that you have accomplished and you can easily see what is left to do. This method also works well if you are delegating some of items on list – you can add name of person responsible next to task and this will avoid any last minute “but I though you were going to do that….” problems. When day of move comes, you’ll probably still have plenty left on your to do list so make sure that it’s last thing you pack up on your way out and first thing you unpack at your new home. You’ll probably need to add tasks that are specific to your situation, but some common items on your to do list might include:
| | Raise Awesome Kids! This 4-Point Plan Gets ResultsWritten by Jean Tracy
Are your children truthful, kind, and helpful? If so, read no further. If not, please listen to Colby and his mom. “All my friends cheat,” announced 11-year-old Colby. “What?” exclaimed his mother? “You don’t cheat do you?” “Sometimes,” answered Colby. “But I never get caught.” “It’s not all right to cheat, young man,” scolded his mother. “How many times have I told you cheating is wrong? What is matter with you?” Whether it’s lying, stealing, cheating or some other problem behavior, do you find yourself giving lectures on being honest while your child rolls his eyes? I remember counseling one father who loved his daughter so much that he would give her two-hour lectures. She not only rolled her eyes, but tapped her fingers too. He would yell, “Are you listening to me?” “Uh-huh,” she’d answer. Parents, there is an easier way. It doesn’t have to take two hours either. Consider using 4-POINT PLAN: Probe Listen Appreciate No Criticizing Instead of worrying, whining, or wearing yourself out with lengthy lectures, make your goal one of understanding what and how your child thinks. By knowing what your child thinks, you can better influence how he or she thinks. This simple PLAN will help you communicate more effectively. Let’s go back to Colby. Instead of lecturing – PROBE Ask nonjudgmental questions. Get as much information as you can in order to understand how and what your child thinks. Guide your child with questions like: How do you feel when a cheater gets better grades than you get? How do you think honest kids feel about cheaters? How much would your class learn if everyone cheated? What advice would you give to cheaters?
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