Keeping Kids Safe
I just read a rather funny magazine article about all sorts of electronic gadgets meant to keep kids safe. I’ve often joked with my husband that I’d like to implant some kind [...]
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“That’s Not Fair!”
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Kids are sensitive, especially to anything their siblings get. This could be attention, money, dessert, chores…the list is endless. How many times does a parent have to [...]
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Want To Keep Your Kids Out Of Trouble?
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Even though I grew up within a short drive of the largest city in Canada, I still remember being a teenager and a friend complaining that there was “nothing to [...]
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“Parental Love With Strings Attached”
Andrea Ramsay Speers
I just reread a classic article about the danger in tying parental love and approval with good behaviour. It was written by Alfie Kohn, a well-known critic of and thinker [...]
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“No” Is A Complete Sentence
Andrea Ramsay Speers
As parents (and moms in particular), we often have a hard time saying no. Whether it’s to a sleep over we’re not sure we’re comfortable with or whipping up eight unicorn [...]
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Protecting Our Kids From Internet Porn
Andrea Ramsay Speers
We’d all like to keep our kids away from graphic and disturbing internet pornography. Filtering tools give us a feeling of safety, but unfortunately researchers have [...]
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Why Kids Need Chores
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Back when actual papers were delivered to our house, I would cut out articles that were relevant to my work as a psychotherapist. I was recently cleaning out my files and came [...]
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Happiness At Home: Managing Today’s Stepfamilies
Andrea Ramsay Speers
If you are a member of a stepfamily, you know how difficult it can be to integrate all of the new members and adjust to the new boundaries and rules. The following ideas may [...]
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Happiness At Home: 12 Rules For Constructive Communication
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Poor communication patterns erode self-esteem and harm relationships but sadly, plenty of people fall into the trap of indulging in them. If you and your relationship partners [...]
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Happiness At Home: Suicide Warning Signs and Treatment
Andrea Ramsay Speers
It is reported that suicide, the act of deliberately ending one’s own life, is a cause of death for about 4,500 people each year in Canada. Since many suicides are not [...]
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