Reflective Monday- Walk down Evolution Lane

It was a good opportunity for the kids to learn how our earth was made through walking along the part in this garden. Even though i the concepts of evolution were a bit too much for a 4yr old to understand I managed to explain to Ryan that the earth started out with just plants. Later on they had the first flowers and from that the various fauna and flora that we see. Much later came the animals and humans. After many millions of years later then we have the earth as he sees it today.

I think that I will have to bring the boys back there when they are much older so they can really appreciate the creations at the Evolution Garden and the richness in the history that its exhibits portray.

July 4, 2008

5 Greatest Parental Mistakes

Dominique Book Review, Parenting Views Book Review

I have been reading this book – Kids are from Jupiter by Mark chamberlain and have picked up many good tips from his book

In summary it talks about the 5 greatest parental mistakes

Giving into guilt by taking upon the mistakes of the children as your own. It is okay if children make mistakes. It is only bad if they do not learn from it. It is not possible for your child not to make mistakes or be infallible as you personally are not.
Striving for Perfectionism. Stop!! Don’t do that you are not bringing up robots. If all your kids problems/battles are being solved by you catering to their every need they will not be able to adapt to the real world and the how to be independent and face their own battles. They will not know/learn the techniques/skills needed for survival.
Being Overindulgent. Do not be afraid to deprive your kids. Sometimes they have too much of a good thing to learn how to appreciate it properly.
Failing to admit that they as parents foul up sometimes. Do admit your mistakes to you child if you commit any. It will only help to strengthen your relationship . Your child will give you plenty of changes to apologize, ask for forgiveness and try to do better.
Problems and errors are inevitable; how we handle them is up to us. We can be critical of ourselves or our children, or we can see our mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.
Shutting off the child. Irregardless of what tactic you try in an attempt to guide your child, make sure that you also keep the lines of communication open, be as perceptive as you can, and then trust your intuition about what’s best for your son or daughter.