This is how it goes. You plan and organize and set everything up just so and you're ready and - BOOM! Something happens that messes up any semblance of order and routine you had. I speak from experience and I'm sure you hear me from experience.
I had it all planned out. I was going to write the next few posts in response to emails and comments I'd gotten about the previous posts here. I was going to focus on routines, making routines routine, organizing, keeping to a schedule etc. etc. And then - BOOM! I broke a leg - not in the theatrical way (but it has gotten me thinking again about some old things in new ways...) yes, I broke my foot. So besides the pain and annoyance and aggravation and not being able to function like I'm used to (let's not even talk about the hours that I walk every day which I can't do for a while...)there are a number of things that had to be put on hold, reorganized and re-figured.
Life Skills Tips for Children of All Ages
* Think of alternative ways to do the things you wanted to do.
* Remember all the projects you've wanted to complete that didn't fit into your
regular schedule. Can you do any of them now?
* Indulge yourself in ways you might not otherwise. Treat yourself well.
* Ask for help. You can't do all the things you normally would right now. Who can
help?
Stay well and healthy!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
The Dangerous Book for Boys - WebMD article with some of my thoughts
Kids Playing: Slingshots vs. Video Games
Is The Dangerous Book for Boys really that dangerous, or is it just what we need?
By Denise Mann
WebMD Feature
Great article about the current bestseller The Dangerous Book For Boys by Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden. I was happy to speak to the author of the article Denise Mann and WebMD about my thoughts on the book and its' subject matter. Here's some of what I had to say, I've included a link to the entire WebMD article below.
Questions of Safety
When asked if she believes this new book is dangerous, Rebecca Kiki Weingarten, MScEd, MFA, a psychotherapist and the co-founder/coach of Daily Life Consulting in New York City, says that "it all depends on what you mean by dangerous. In a way, children live in a more dangerous world all around today then they did in the past."
We rarely see kids playing outside on the block because of crime, she points out.
This lack of perceived safety has sired the whole concept of the “helicopter parent," she explains. "Parents literally don’t let their kids breathe and everything is so, so controlled that kids end up in the house using technological toys," she says.
"They do this to the exclusion of other activities, and kids’ attention spans become shorter, and some of the content of these video games is really way inappropriate and not psychologically healthy," she says.
In this sense, "this book is a backlash," she says.
This book also sires father-son bonding, she tells WebMD.
"It's a way to connect boys with fathers," Weingarten says. "Boys can now say, 'hey can you help me make this paper airplane,' and fathers and sons are doing projects together, and that is fantastic," she says.
In terms of physical danger posed by some of these activities, "kids scrape their knees and break their bones, it happens," she says.
"Playing is crucial, and play is learning, and that is what everyone is forgetting, and a book like this brings it back," she says.
And that is sort of what the brothers Iggulden were hoping for when they first put pen to paper.
"The original idea came about when I had a son of my own in 2000," Conn Iggulden explains. "I started looking for the sort of books I enjoyed as a boy and couldn’t find any with the sort of verve and attitude I wanted."
From there, the Iggulden brothers worked for six months in a shed, reliving everything they had ever done as kids and a few things they cared about as adults. "We honestly thought no one else would be interested, [and] it’s been enormously satisfying finding out that society has moved on from the dubious decades where we all pretended boys and girls were the same."
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/kids-playing-slingshots-vs-video-games?page=1
Is The Dangerous Book for Boys really that dangerous, or is it just what we need?
By Denise Mann
WebMD Feature
Great article about the current bestseller The Dangerous Book For Boys by Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden. I was happy to speak to the author of the article Denise Mann and WebMD about my thoughts on the book and its' subject matter. Here's some of what I had to say, I've included a link to the entire WebMD article below.
Questions of Safety
When asked if she believes this new book is dangerous, Rebecca Kiki Weingarten, MScEd, MFA, a psychotherapist and the co-founder/coach of Daily Life Consulting in New York City, says that "it all depends on what you mean by dangerous. In a way, children live in a more dangerous world all around today then they did in the past."
We rarely see kids playing outside on the block because of crime, she points out.
This lack of perceived safety has sired the whole concept of the “helicopter parent," she explains. "Parents literally don’t let their kids breathe and everything is so, so controlled that kids end up in the house using technological toys," she says.
"They do this to the exclusion of other activities, and kids’ attention spans become shorter, and some of the content of these video games is really way inappropriate and not psychologically healthy," she says.
In this sense, "this book is a backlash," she says.
This book also sires father-son bonding, she tells WebMD.
"It's a way to connect boys with fathers," Weingarten says. "Boys can now say, 'hey can you help me make this paper airplane,' and fathers and sons are doing projects together, and that is fantastic," she says.
In terms of physical danger posed by some of these activities, "kids scrape their knees and break their bones, it happens," she says.
"Playing is crucial, and play is learning, and that is what everyone is forgetting, and a book like this brings it back," she says.
And that is sort of what the brothers Iggulden were hoping for when they first put pen to paper.
"The original idea came about when I had a son of my own in 2000," Conn Iggulden explains. "I started looking for the sort of books I enjoyed as a boy and couldn’t find any with the sort of verve and attitude I wanted."
From there, the Iggulden brothers worked for six months in a shed, reliving everything they had ever done as kids and a few things they cared about as adults. "We honestly thought no one else would be interested, [and] it’s been enormously satisfying finding out that society has moved on from the dubious decades where we all pretended boys and girls were the same."
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/kids-playing-slingshots-vs-video-games?page=1
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Marketwatch - Dow Jones - Tips for Grown-Ups Heading Back To School - My tips from the article.
Great article by Amy Hoak in Marketwatch/from Dow Jones - many of you asked for my tips - here they are as quoted in the article. I've attached a link to the full article below.
Adults in session
Tips for grown-ups heading back to school
By Amy Hoak, MarketWatch
CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- Achieving a healthy balance between time at work and home is undoubtedly a challenge for many employees. But when adults also add coursework to their daily loads, the balancing act becomes even more intense.
Whether the goal is an M.B.A. or a bachelor's degree that will assist a career change, going back to school as an adult is often a lesson in time management and prioritizing. Sacrifice is another common word you'll hear among those brave enough to hit the books again -- whether they're giving up time with friends or missing their child's Little League games........
Remember the goal-
As students progress through a program, it's also important to take a step back at times to reassess whether their goals are being met and they can achieve the life balance they had anticipated, said Rebecca "Kiki" Weingarten, co-founder of and a career coach with New York-based Daily Life Consulting. She has worked with some clients who simply weren't able to handle demands of both work and school and had to readjust their plans.....
Take baby steps -
Plus, there's a big change adjusting to a larger workload and adapting to the academic mindset, added Weingarten. At work, students likely feel proficient and accomplished; in class, they're back in learning mode and take the role of a novice again, she said. Prepare for the shift and realize it might take some time to get used to the new circumstances.....
Get support from family and friends -
It isn't only the adult student who is learning to sacrifice while keeping up in school.
Less attention might cause young children to act up in school or be clingy during family time, while a spouse can also become jealous of the time an adult student sets aside to study, Weingarten said. Even friends might be envious of the classmates who now get more face time with their long-time buddy......
Stay professional on the job
Finally, it's important that students don't allow the demands of school to affect performance at the workplace, Weingarten said.
Students should keep school materials and books out of sight at work and definitely not on their desk in plain view, she said. Don't even stay at the desk if the plan is to study during the lunch hour, she added. Not only could it be distracting to merge work and school in the same office space, but it could also cause nosy co-workers or an employer to speculate about a student's motives and career goals -- or their current commitment to the job.
"That sends the message that you are not 100% here -- whether or not that is true," she said.
If you'd like some more tips please feel free to email me at coach at dailylifeconsulting dot com
Link to full article -
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/how-adults-heading-back-school/story.aspx?guid=%7b8C2B7491-AB47-4CBE-8036-F56A72213718%7d&print=true&dist=printTop
Adults in session
Tips for grown-ups heading back to school
By Amy Hoak, MarketWatch
CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- Achieving a healthy balance between time at work and home is undoubtedly a challenge for many employees. But when adults also add coursework to their daily loads, the balancing act becomes even more intense.
Whether the goal is an M.B.A. or a bachelor's degree that will assist a career change, going back to school as an adult is often a lesson in time management and prioritizing. Sacrifice is another common word you'll hear among those brave enough to hit the books again -- whether they're giving up time with friends or missing their child's Little League games........
Remember the goal-
As students progress through a program, it's also important to take a step back at times to reassess whether their goals are being met and they can achieve the life balance they had anticipated, said Rebecca "Kiki" Weingarten, co-founder of and a career coach with New York-based Daily Life Consulting. She has worked with some clients who simply weren't able to handle demands of both work and school and had to readjust their plans.....
Take baby steps -
Plus, there's a big change adjusting to a larger workload and adapting to the academic mindset, added Weingarten. At work, students likely feel proficient and accomplished; in class, they're back in learning mode and take the role of a novice again, she said. Prepare for the shift and realize it might take some time to get used to the new circumstances.....
Get support from family and friends -
It isn't only the adult student who is learning to sacrifice while keeping up in school.
Less attention might cause young children to act up in school or be clingy during family time, while a spouse can also become jealous of the time an adult student sets aside to study, Weingarten said. Even friends might be envious of the classmates who now get more face time with their long-time buddy......
Stay professional on the job
Finally, it's important that students don't allow the demands of school to affect performance at the workplace, Weingarten said.
Students should keep school materials and books out of sight at work and definitely not on their desk in plain view, she said. Don't even stay at the desk if the plan is to study during the lunch hour, she added. Not only could it be distracting to merge work and school in the same office space, but it could also cause nosy co-workers or an employer to speculate about a student's motives and career goals -- or their current commitment to the job.
"That sends the message that you are not 100% here -- whether or not that is true," she said.
If you'd like some more tips please feel free to email me at coach at dailylifeconsulting dot com
Link to full article -
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/how-adults-heading-back-school/story.aspx?guid=%7b8C2B7491-AB47-4CBE-8036-F56A72213718%7d&print=true&dist=printTop
Gratitude? “Thanks for the encouragement” but “Not when I’ve got attitude!”
That’s the gist of the emails I got in response to yesterday’s post. You’re right! Meaning both “you’re ok” and “you’re correct”.
For those of you who thanked me for any assistance I may have provided in making your daily life easier, you are most welcome I appreciate you’re taking the time to let me know.
For those of you who are feeling frazzled - when you’re overwhelmed with you’re daily life or having a bad day, thinking about gratitude can feel like just one more thing to do. Correct. But if you take the 2 minutes to do it you’ll find you feel a bit better.
How? Well, for one thing, you’re focusing you’re attention on something positive. That doesn’t mean that everything is wonderful, perfect or that all your difficulties will vanish, it just means that you’re taking the time to see that it isn’t all one way or the other. You’re focusing your attention for just a few moments on positive thoughts and experiences. No pressure. No added work.
Focusing on the positive means that if you found a parking spot right away and didn’t have to circle and get your blood boiling about it – that’s a good thing. If you’re child has a teacher they love and are feeling motivated this year – that’s a good thing. If you’re able to handle things better than you were able to last week, year or yesterday – that’s a good thing and it should be noted. Give yourself or someone else a pat on the back and distract yourself with something good for a couple of moments.
Life Skills Tip for children of all ages…. Focus your attention on something (anything) positive for just a moment or two during your day for starters. Then begin to take note and be in the moment during a positive event. Demonstrating this trait to your children will empower them to do the same.
Let me know how goes!
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Spoiled Children Concern Parents - NY Daily News - Rebecca Kiki Weingarten
Here's what I added to the dialogue about spoiled children and how to "unspoil" them in an article by Sheryl Berk. http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2007/09/01/2007-09-01_spoiled_children_concern_parents.html
Good article - to recap - it's possible, but it isn't easy. My clients and I have worked together to achieve the goal and it takes work, determination and persistence but then again, doesn't anything that's worthwhile? I'll be adding some more thoughts and tips on the topic here so stay tuned.
In the meantime, please feel free to contact me with any of your questions or concerns and I'll try and address them here. If you'd like more information about individual or group education or parenting coaching email me at
coach at dailylifeconsulting.com . For more information or to arrange a seminar for your school or group please contact Jill Evans at jill at gtkgroup.com
Good article - to recap - it's possible, but it isn't easy. My clients and I have worked together to achieve the goal and it takes work, determination and persistence but then again, doesn't anything that's worthwhile? I'll be adding some more thoughts and tips on the topic here so stay tuned.
In the meantime, please feel free to contact me with any of your questions or concerns and I'll try and address them here. If you'd like more information about individual or group education or parenting coaching email me at
coach at dailylifeconsulting.com . For more information or to arrange a seminar for your school or group please contact Jill Evans at jill at gtkgroup.com
How Can I Organize Getting Organized?
Thanks Marion G. for the great question.
Getting organized can feel like a job and a half itself at the best of times. Factor in children and their constantly changing needs and schedules and you've got a full time job just getting organized the things you need to organize!
A couple of quick tips:
1) Try and organize in advance of the event or situation that needs to be planned. For example try to organize for the first day/or week of school a week in advance. Waiting until the night before doesn't leave time for last-minute situations such as supplies that haven't been bought but all the stores are closed.
2) Choose your best time of day. Are you a morning person? Or does everyone in the household know better than to approach you before you've had your second cup of coffee? Working at your optimum time makes the work go faster and you've got more energy to deal with any difficulties that come up.
3) Take charge. Your children may have an idea of how they think things should go but they have less experience than you in many areas and also really, really need your guidance in showing them how to get organized. The better you are at modeling behavior the better they'll be at doing it. You'll be teaching them the skills you're demonstrating.
Children in many cases do as you do, so if you're calm and methodical about organizing and planning they'll follow your lead and be the same way.
Life Skills Exercise For Children - after they're done with the first week of school, or organizing a project or subject or supplies with you, have them write down 3 things that went well or that they're happy about. For the younger children have them color a picture. It could be something like "I like my teacher" or "I had a good time with my friends" or anything else that they can think of. It will teach them to appreciate their daily life moments and can serve as a journal or memory book to keep for the future.
Enjoy and appreciate the day - what 3 things will you be happy about today?
Getting organized can feel like a job and a half itself at the best of times. Factor in children and their constantly changing needs and schedules and you've got a full time job just getting organized the things you need to organize!
A couple of quick tips:
1) Try and organize in advance of the event or situation that needs to be planned. For example try to organize for the first day/or week of school a week in advance. Waiting until the night before doesn't leave time for last-minute situations such as supplies that haven't been bought but all the stores are closed.
2) Choose your best time of day. Are you a morning person? Or does everyone in the household know better than to approach you before you've had your second cup of coffee? Working at your optimum time makes the work go faster and you've got more energy to deal with any difficulties that come up.
3) Take charge. Your children may have an idea of how they think things should go but they have less experience than you in many areas and also really, really need your guidance in showing them how to get organized. The better you are at modeling behavior the better they'll be at doing it. You'll be teaching them the skills you're demonstrating.
Children in many cases do as you do, so if you're calm and methodical about organizing and planning they'll follow your lead and be the same way.
Life Skills Exercise For Children - after they're done with the first week of school, or organizing a project or subject or supplies with you, have them write down 3 things that went well or that they're happy about. For the younger children have them color a picture. It could be something like "I like my teacher" or "I had a good time with my friends" or anything else that they can think of. It will teach them to appreciate their daily life moments and can serve as a journal or memory book to keep for the future.
Enjoy and appreciate the day - what 3 things will you be happy about today?
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Welcome to Daily Life Coaching 4 Kids - Back To School Time
Hi All!
One more day. One more day before school starts. As a teacher, Labor Day was one of the hardest days of the year for me - back to school after the looooong vacation. It was hard getting used to getting up early in the morning and getting back into the routine. I knew just how my students felt.
The last couple of weeks we've been talking a lot about the beginning of school and how to get children back into the swing of things. A few thoughts on how to make this year the most productive and fun year ever.
A. Today is the first day of school. For everyone. It doesn't make a difference what happened last year and with the last teacher or the subjects. It's a new beginning - take advantage of it.
B. Prepare routines and guidelines early - tonight maybe - or tomorrow. What time does everyone have to get up in the morning? What is the homework checking schedule? Prepare a large calendar and put it on a wall in the kitchen - write down the weekly schedule before Monday. Keep another poster available for details. What will you need to get x,y, or z ready for school? Check it off as you do it?
C. Sit down daily, if possible, weekly at the very least and discuss what's going on in school. It's a great way to encourage good work and head off troublesome situations.
D. Have fun! School can be hard and tiring but boy can it be fun. Experiments, new books, friends, trips and so much more.
Any topics or questions you'd like to see covered in this blog - please email me at coach (at) dailylifeconsulting dot com
Good luck with the first day and have fun! it's going to be a great year!
One more day. One more day before school starts. As a teacher, Labor Day was one of the hardest days of the year for me - back to school after the looooong vacation. It was hard getting used to getting up early in the morning and getting back into the routine. I knew just how my students felt.
The last couple of weeks we've been talking a lot about the beginning of school and how to get children back into the swing of things. A few thoughts on how to make this year the most productive and fun year ever.
A. Today is the first day of school. For everyone. It doesn't make a difference what happened last year and with the last teacher or the subjects. It's a new beginning - take advantage of it.
B. Prepare routines and guidelines early - tonight maybe - or tomorrow. What time does everyone have to get up in the morning? What is the homework checking schedule? Prepare a large calendar and put it on a wall in the kitchen - write down the weekly schedule before Monday. Keep another poster available for details. What will you need to get x,y, or z ready for school? Check it off as you do it?
C. Sit down daily, if possible, weekly at the very least and discuss what's going on in school. It's a great way to encourage good work and head off troublesome situations.
D. Have fun! School can be hard and tiring but boy can it be fun. Experiments, new books, friends, trips and so much more.
Any topics or questions you'd like to see covered in this blog - please email me at coach (at) dailylifeconsulting dot com
Good luck with the first day and have fun! it's going to be a great year!
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