Lowered Expectations
Andrea Ramsay Speers
As parents, we set pretty high standards for ourselves. When we’re expecting our first child, we plan on having a child who listens, who is patient while we’re shopping, who [...]
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Gratitude in the Time of Abundance
Andrea Ramsay Speers
It’s hard not to notice how much our kids have. One study found that not that long ago – only a few decades – the average child had 50 toys. By 1995, that number had jumped [...]
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Happiness At Home: Emotional Survival Guide For Teens
Andrea Ramsay Speers
This month’s newsletter is written for teens. If you are a teen, this is for you. If you know a teenager, please pass it along. This month, we will explore the hardest things [...]
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Out-Of-The-Box Encouragement
Andrea Ramsay Speers
We’ve talked before about how important encouragement is for kids. It contributes to healthy self esteem, it fosters courage and a willingness to make a mistake but try again, [...]
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7 Habits Of Highly Effective Communicators
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Many of us take our communication style for granted. We just say what we’re thinking. We might assume that what we’re thinking is “common sense.” Maybe we don’t give much [...]
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Helping Your Child Cope With Divorce
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Divorce is not easy on anyone. When children are involved, the situation can be particularly challenging, but it doesn’t have to be traumatic. Your child’s age will [...]
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Hands-On Parenting: Too Much Of A Good Thing
Andrea Ramsay Speers
I first became aware of the term “helicopter parent” many years ago. It was in an article by Amanda Robb in the July 2008 issue of O Magazine. The term was coined by former [...]
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Listening To Our Kids
Andrea Ramsay Speers
How well do you listen to your kids? Many parents would pat themselves on the back when it comes to keeping communication flowing between themselves and their children. But [...]
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Making The Most Of Summer Birthdays (Even If It’s An Un-Birthday)
Andrea Ramsay Speers
As a winter baby, I never had to experience the disappointment of inviting friends to a party but having them all at the cottage on the appointed day. Or of not knowing how [...]
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Say What You Mean And Mean What You Say
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Following through as a parent is hard. Who among us has not threatened to cancel Christmas or a vacation, knowing full well that we’d never do it? Who hasn’t said to [...]
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