Show Your Love

It is important to show your children that you love them every day. One of the things you can do to show (and tell) your kids that you love them is to hide a note in their book bag or in their homework folder for them to find when they get to school. This happy surprise is especially nice if one of them is having difficulties in a subject and a note saying "You are doing a great job." or "I know you can do it" will provide much needed encouragement.

Closing Doors

You are not ready for a new relationship until you have firmly closed the doors on past relationships. If you have hopes that one of your past relationships will return to you, others will detect it. No one is interested in someone who is unavailable or only partially available. Close the door on all past relationships if you want to move forward.

Reading to Your Child

It is never too early to start reading to your child. You can start as soon as your child is born or even before. Even though your child may not grasp the meaning of what they hear, they learn to identify the rhythm and tone of their parent's voice. Nursery rhymes and songs are especially good reading materials for infants.

Reading Time Ritual

Scheduling a regular quiet time to read to your child after dinner or before bedtime helps both child and parent relax and enjoy each other's company. This reading habit creates an intimate and still moment for parent and child to share and provides a good opportunity for bonding.

Family Dinners Impact Teens

According to the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, family dinners are VERY important. Teen surveys conducted by CASA in 1998, 1999, and 2000, showed that the more often a teen eats dinner with the family, the less likely that teen is to smoke, drink, or use illicit drugs.

Bicycling for Beginners

To reap the benefits from bicycling, you should bicycle for at least 30 minutes three times a week. Beginners should start out with 10-20 minutes. If you cycle 20 minutes one day, try doing 30 minutes the next day, then back to 20 minutes the following day so you do not overdo it.