Page 33 – Raising World Children

All Those Times I Hated My Mom

May 11, 2018

by Aditi Wardhan Singh with 9 Comments festivals Parenting Voices

Skating. Swimming. Cycling. And any time she would apply gram flour to my face.

I would raise hell!

Screaming, yelling. A 5-10 year old fearing for my life. Scared I would get hurt. Wondering why in the world is she putting me through this?

That and performing in front of a crowd.

She in her pride would want to show off her talented daughter’s dancing prowess. And her hesitant daughter would cry and cry because … (honestly, even I don’t know why I cried. I was a stage performer from the age 4 for goodness sake!)

Just a kid not understanding why in the world would we need any of those life skills?! To a kid it felt like I was against a huge mountain, unrelenting. In my heart, I always knew she would not deter till I walked her path.

As Time Passed

In my 20s, my arguments with my mom became about things that just didn’t’ factor my then thought process. Superstitions. What I wear. What I weigh. My ambition. Learning to cook or do house hold chores. How I should be with people she cared about.

All the things that left me feeling unappreciated, misunderstood. We would argue vehemently, maybe shed a tear or two and then again get back to talking about everything under the sun.

You see, my mom has never been just my mom. She is my best friend. She is the person who knows what is happening the minute after it happens. She and I have always shared a relationship of equals where she valued my opinion on a whole and it was amazing that she eventually always did trust my judgement. Many a times, she would argue about a point and then come over time come to see my way. Or show me the light to what she was talking about. It took a lot of convincing and heart ache, but we would always reach a mutual understanding.

I don’t know if it’s the Indian-ness in her or it’s a universal thing, but the many of the things she cared about were more society based or future based than what she herself ever really cared about.

It is through those interactions with her that I realized that what people argue or get upset about are often just distractions from what’s really worrying them. In my case it was her worries about a good prospective husband and my future.

The root cause of most miscommunication is varied base desires.

It is not always easy to understand your mother, but with age comes the luminescence of insight.

[bctt tweet=”Understanding the fights between child and mother are such an intrinsic part of family life and personal development. #momlife #parenting #family” username=”contactrwc”]

After I Became A Mom

Every single time my child argues with me, I think back to all those times. The insistent crying, the yelling. The muttering of horrid things under my breath and then half an hour later regretting everything. An hour later promising myself I wouldn’t do it ever again to only do it all over again the next time. My brain a fog of my stubbornness.

We all have done it in a given phase of our lives. That’s what allows our mothers to proudly, and happily defend their grandchildren when we complain about them. “You were no different!”, they repeatedly chant.

When my child fights with me, in the heat of the moment, I get this huge lump in my throat of how and why in the world did I do this to another human being. “It’s all my roosters coming home to roost”, I regret. And when the moment passes, this one simple thought warms my heart, “In spite of it all, I was loved, my mom never once gave up and that is why I turned out okay.”

She continues to go through hell with me to empower me with the foundation that gave me the sense to make good choices, be respectful and today be the best mother and wife I can be.

While we still don’t see eye to eye on many topics, specially not on how I arrange my kitchen cupboards, I still know she always has my back!

Mothers Day

A day each year where we can honor and celebrate our mothers and other motherly influences for the strong and wonderful people that they are. Today, though I want to take a moment and say thank you for all those fights.

As a mom, I now know how hard it is to keep going when your child is being difficult. Raising children takes tenacity, ferocious will and fighting every day when you desire to just let go and sleep. It gets heart wrenching. Tears threaten to burn your eyes while you are feeling helpless in teaching them essential life skills. The guilt is tremendous, and yet, we know, if we give up on an important thing that needs to be taught, our child will eventually suffer.

Yielding to a child’s will is easy. Standing tall as an example 24/7 for love, for values, to show your child the right way That is what makes a mother amazing!

And mine is certainly extraordinary.

I certainly hope tomorrow when my children think of me, they know too that every purposeful battle I fought with them was for them.

Which is why I wrote my book Strong Roots Have No Fear —

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Origami Mini Heart Photo Frame- DIY Fridge Magnet

May 10, 2018

by Suja Dinesh with 4 Comments Crafts Kids Corner Voices

Origami Mini Heart Photo Frame is a perfect project for kids (and beginner grown-ups, too!). This makes a beautiful last minute gift for Mother’s day too! Haven’t got time to get your mom a gift? Just grab a paper and make this photo frame and gift her with a favorite pic in it, Voila! Addition to this adorable paper gift, paste a magnet in the back side of the frame and make it as a fridge magnet. Wouldn’t be a great idea to record your happy memories in the kitchen?

DETAILED TUTORIAL HERE

Let’s get started with the supplies you need:

12×12 cm square patterned paper or origami paper
Glue Gun
Magnet button
Mini square photo

Method:

Take a 12×12 cm square paper and fold it all the side to create crease all over the paper.
Now carefully fold the paper and make the photo frame as shown in the video.
Once done, place a square size pic inside the frame.
To make it as a fridge magnet, paste a button magnet in the back side of the frame.

That’s It! A cut photo frame plus a fridge magnet is ready! I am sure this simple yet creative craft will be a great addition to your craft adventures.

We would love to hear from you. Make this and show it off! Email it to us at contact@localhost or upload it on social media and tag us. @passionatemoms,@raisingworldchildren. We would feature the best ones on OUR platform for the world to see!

Help Your Kids Develop a Positive Body Image

May 9, 2018

by Featured Guest with 12 Comments Contemporary Education Voices

Did you know that 30 million people in the U.S. suffer from eating disorders? And every 62 minutes, a person dies as a direct result of an eating disorder? There is a higher mortality rate from eating disorders than from any other mental illness.

After reading these statistics, I feel incredibly fortunate that I am part of the 60% of people who recover from eating disorders.

My eating disorder started rather innocently. It was the end of my second year of college, and I had started to focus more on exercising and eating healthfully to combat the dreaded Freshman 15. It didn’t take long, though, for my health kick to become an obsession, partly because I have an all-or-nothing personality, and partly because I struggled throughout college with low self-esteem.

I attended the best university I got into, a smart move in some ways, but not necessarily an easy one. From the first week I felt overwhelmed by how smart, talented, attractive, and socially skilled all the other girls were. Was I smart enough? Pretty enough? Funny enough? Talented enough? Would I ever be enough? These questions plagued me.

Once I started exercising obsessively, I found a way that I could be enough. Maybe I wasn’t smart enough or pretty enough or cool enough, but I could definitely be thin enough. That was one thing I could control. At that point, it seemed working out and eating as little as possible were the only ways I could feel really good about myself.

I kept up with those behaviors for about nine months before finally confronting the problem and admitting to myself that things had spiraled out of control. I don’t think it was a coincidence that I called my mom to admit my problem to her minutes after she had finished a nine-week prayer that I would recover from my eating disorder.

Over time, I did recover. The patterns of thinking lingered for years after that initial recovery, but I got much better. And once I became a mom, I recovered fully.

A mom to three girls, I feel immense pressure to help them develop a positive body image in the hopes that they will not fall into the same trap that I did. Early on, I researched ways of fostering a healthy body image and developed a few key rules:

1) Focus on qualities other than their appearance. I try to avoid overemphasizing aspects of their appearance, particularly their body shape. I had always been slim, and having people comment on how lucky I was to be slim made me feel like I had to maintain that shape to be liked. I try to focus instead on what their bodies enable them to do.

2) Avoid making comments on your own appearance. I decided early on to eliminate all the negative, body-related self-talk we women tend to participate in. I’m not perfect, but I try very hard to avoid making comments like, “I shouldn’t have eaten so much,” or “I feel fat.” I just don’t even want that kind of thinking to be on their radar.

3) Avoid commenting on other people’s appearances. It isn’t helpful to make comments about how skinny or pretty another girl or woman is, even if you’re talking about a celebrity. Instead, I try to focus on interior qualities or personalities. And if a celebrity makes a point of being photographed without makeup or airbrushing, I help them see that most celebrity photos aren’t realistic.

4) Help them find activities they enjoy and are good at. Any activity a child can do well helps develop confidence and self-esteem.

Parenting is tough, and even if we do all of the above, we may not be able to prevent eating disorders or any other problem our kids may have. As with most things, paying attention and engaging in open dialogue can be extremely beneficial. And, as I learned from my own experience, prayer doesn’t hurt!

Catherine Brown is a freelance writer and mom of three who can be found at writehappy.net. Together with Christina Tinker, she is developing a book of stories by people who have recovered from eating disorders to bring hope and peace to those currently affected by eating disorders. If you have a story to share, please fill out the submission form: https://richmond.citymomsblog.com/eating-disorder/stories-can-change-lives-bringing-hope-struggling-share-story/

International Day of Families: A Guide to Reflection and Connection

May 7, 2018

by Courtney Harris with 3 Comments Contemporary festivals Parenting Voices

International Day of Families: The Background

In 1993, after more than a decade of integrating a focus on families, the United Nations General Assembly decided that May 15 of every year would be observed as International Day of Families. This day is dedicated to growing awareness of diverse issues relating to families.

One major objective of this specially marked day is for our larger governing bodies, institutions, and organizations to acknowledge the complex ways they impact and influence families. That being said, it is an acknowledgement of the ways that social, economic and demographic systems and structures impact families.

Furthermore, International Day of Families invites these organizations to recognize their responsibility to support, nourish, nurture, respect, and protect families. This year, 2018, the theme for International Day of Families is “Families and Inclusive Societies,” which aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal #16.

Inclusion in the Family Community

Society is simply another word for community, and a family is a type of community. Communities have a responsibility to be inclusive. This requires intention, conversation, dedication, and maintenance– just like your family!

Communities, big and small, must adopt practices that promote inclusion. For example, at the family level, restorative circles are reusable, recyclable practices that bring all members of a family community together. Circles allow each member to have a voice and require mutual respect.

I share the practice of circles with my clients and with other professionals who work with families and children. Specifically, I teach the values of this system: each member is valuable; each member deserves space to share, listen, process, learn, and grow; each member honors and cares for themselves and one another; each member has a responsibility to participate; each member will think, act, and behave with kindness to the best of their ability. Each of these values promotes and requires inclusion!

The experience of restorative circles benefits each family and each individual in it by encouraging active engagement in the system. Moreover, circles teach children and teens, especially, that they have agency in their lives and communities, including but not limited to, the family. This deep sense of empowerment, then, allows children and teens to feel comfortable taking up space in intentional ways; they are included and valuable.

The Community Connection

Restorative circles not only teach each family member to have and use their voice, they encourage and demand authentic listening and mutual respect for oneself and one another. When children and teens (and adults too) have powerful experiences of sharing responsibility in their families, they enter their schools, neighborhoods, cities, religious communities, and beyond with a skill set that promotes collaborative problem-solving and connection. THIS is inclusion!

Father Gregory Boyle is one of my greatest role models and teachers. His message is one of love and the highest level of inclusion– kinship: “It’s connection and kinship that ultimately heals people.” When we treat one another as kin, when we are inclusive, we grow– individually and collectively. In other words, when we build a community of inclusion, we all thrive.

When I hear the phrase “peaceful and inclusive society,” I imagine all members having equal amounts of space and voice. I imagine each member showing up fully with passion, interest, and commitment. Essentially, I imagine a massive, dynamic circle! What do you imagine?

Reflecting on the Family and Extended Communities

As a Life Coach for Teens and Parents, I support families on building pathways to Connected Hearts, trust, and communication. I am constantly facilitating conversations about what “family” means to each individual, as well as what the experience of the family community is like for all members. Pause for a moment and consider how you define the term family. Hold an image (or multiple) of your family in your mind.

Today, I’m excited to share with you a reflection guide that you use as a parent, caregiver, or educator. In addition, you can share this tool with your family to create rich, thought-provoking conversations with your family and extended communities. Feel free to get out the paper and coloring utensils as you sketch, write, draw, and express your thoughts in response to the following questions.

What does peaceful mean to you?
What does inclusive mean to you?
What does a peaceful and inclusive family look like, sound like, and feel like to you?
How do you contribute to a peaceful, inclusive family?
What does a peaceful and inclusive society look like, sound like, and feel like to you?
How do you contribute to a peaceful, inclusive society?

On International Day of Families and Beyond

I invite you to notice the ways you contribute to each community you are a part of; keep making space for your children and teens to consider their part too. As you explore, notice how you contribute, observe the ways you live out the values of circles and inclusion, and celebrate the connections you are creating.

It is my hope that circles and this reflection guide can support your family or any other community you wish to share it with. Consider modifying the questions above to align with other values your family or extended community may want to explore. For instance, you might like to explore values such as joy and responsibility or passion and diversity.

Finally, In honor of Intentional Day of Family, let us set intentions for engaging with the intention of being inclusive and welcoming to all those we interact with. Reach out to me if you’d like support on getting started!

As a Life Coach for Teens and Parents, Courtney supports tweens, teens, and young adults in finding their voice, growing confidence, and thriving. Through 1:1 and small group coaching sessions, teens and tweens are able to overcome anxiety, disconnect, and isolation as they explore their truest sense of self and develop a deep sense of empowerment. Courtney supports parents in practicing self-care, growing alongside their children, and developing balanced sensitivity towards the process their rapidly-changing child is creating. Through Intentional Parents of Tweens and Teens, an online membership for parents of adolescents, Courtney offers parents the time and space to learn, grow, problem-solve, and relate to one another in a supportive community. Sessions with Courtney lovingly guide families in developing the trust, communication, and connection that’s crucial for a life of ease. http://courtneyharriscoaching.com/ https://www.facebook.com/courtneyharrisedconnect/

8 Steps To Avoid Overwhelm in Your Morning Routine

May 4, 2018

by Sneha Jhanb with 4 Comments Parenting Voices

I remember the first year we started pre-k, going to school was hell. (My child went to pre-school one extra year as he was born after cut off for previous kindergarten year). The morning routine was as follows: the alarm would go off, I would wake up, get everything ready and then wake everyone up, get them ready for school. In the middle of it, somewhere, would be my child, slowly getting ready, not wanting to go. He did not want to wear his clothes, would want to finish his cartoon before we left or would have some other thing that he wanted to do.Or if he wanted to go, he would be stalling around at breakfast or for drinking milk or some completely other reason.

I clearly remember getting extremely frustrated at my kids and my husband (poor guy, he got most of my bad side for no fault of his own during those crazy moments) as I was running late to get to work and literally no one would be ready on time.I also remember during those periods that I was skipping breakfasts and getting further late to work as I would stop somewhere to pick up a chai latte and eggs and breathe for a minute before I entered work. It was not the most productive or helpful habit. I was also 20 lbs overweight but that is a story for some other time.

I talked to my husband about these issues and we knew we had some form of changes that we had to make in order for our child to get ready on time for school.

To make changes we had to first figure out what exactly was going wrong.

I believe that in order to improve our lives we have to make some form of a change in our daily routine and do something differently. And in order to do something differently, we have to know what we are doing daily that is not working.

Here were some of the things that were wrong:

He was going to bed really late (almost 10-11pm) in spite of us trying to make him sleep at 9 pm
He was watching cartoon early in the morning
He was not liking his breakfast or it was possibly too much for him
Our morning interaction was nothing but a big yelling match
We were always in a rush mode and at the edge of being irritated
Our mornings were not conscious at all and everything was on an auto-pilot with no space for a connecting dialogue. Those were reserved for the nights
We were not providing any role model for him as to eating breakfast or about being healthy
We always showed how excited we were about his school but failed to bring that excitement in him and have his internal motivation woken up

It is not easy as a parent to admit you have done something wrong. But if it is for the greater good of the family, it is ok to face the truth and change the consequences.

So my husband and I faced our truth and changed our morning routine:

We changed my kid’s preschool. What was not working were his afternoon naps as that gave him a lot of energy at night. There were a few other things that were not working schoolwise so the change was welcome. I would not have very easily changed schools otherwise. It was one of the hardest changes we had to make but we chose a preschool where they did not nap in the afternoon. It brought an amazing change in his night time routine and he started sleeping at sane hours at night. (9pm-ish)
We made a rule to not turn a TV on in the morning. This took a while to catch on and we decided to give some interesting incentives for not watching cartoons in the morning.
We started waking my child up 15 mins earlier than usual so he had enough time to eat his breakfast.
We started eating breakfast with him or in front of him so he could model our behavior of having breakfast at home before we leave anywhere.
I let him tell me what he wanted for breakfast, snack, and lunch the next day so he was excited about his food. When he chose wrong, I told him what the long-term effects could be about eating the wrong food. While he chooses healthy most of the time, we do have some days when he wants Nachos for lunch.
Instead of TV, now I started talking to my child in the morning. Asking him questions about his excitement about meeting his friends, reading a new book or doing some experiment with the teacher. I would talk to him about what I would be doing at my work. My husband started connecting with him more on his level.
As he started growing up, he got excited about choosing his clothes, dressing himself up, combing his own hair and it motivated him. So after he finished his breakfast, I started with letting him choose his clothes for the day and slowly let him get ready on his own.
We consciously got over the rush mode and decided to breathe in and out and take impatience out of our equation. It single-handedly helped us change how we connected with each other every morning. And no we did not meditate for this.
We now have a kindergartener, who gets ready on his own, is excited to go to school and also eats his breakfast at home before he goes to the bus stop.

If you are looking to end your morning struggles as a parent, here are 8 steps to create your own conscious morning routine with your kids:

Find out what is not working for you
Now make a conscious list of root causes of your problem
Own your mistakes
Change them one by one and replace them with what will work for you as a family (not all at the same time. It is the hardest route and can burn you. I have tried it)
Become a role model for a behavior you wish to incorporate in your children.
Develop patience in yourself and your children
Develop self-compassion
Celebrate success and repeat.

If you have had success with your morning power struggles, I would love to know in comments below what you did differently and what changed your life?

Sneha is a mom of two boys, mom blogger focused on mindfulness, minimalism and conscious relationships, mindset and confidence coach (NLP) , tarot enthusiast and Master Reiki practioner. I was also an Industrial Engineee for 10 plus years. I am excited to be here and learn from everyone here.

How To Make An Easy Mother’s Day Card

May 3, 2018

by Suja Dinesh with 4 Comments Crafts Kids Corner Voices

Does your mom love Tea? Have you been looking for some creative card ideas to compliment your mom on this mother’s day? Then you’ve found the perfect happy Mother’s Day card for her! This tea homemade mothers day card may not feature a real tea, but it reminds her of how Tea-rrific she is.

DETAILED VIDEO HERE

Let’s get started with the supplies you need:

Egg carton
Cardstock Paper
Patterned paper
String
Marker
Paint
Glitter glue or Chenille stem
Glue gun
Scissors

Method:

Take a cardstock paper and fold it in half to make a card. Now paste a patterned paper on the cardstock paper as shown.
Cut the separate egg holder from the recyclable egg carton and cut the half to make a cup shape.
Now paint the half cup with any desired color.
Paste the half cup to the card using a glue gun.
Now trace and cut a tea bag from a patterned shiny paper and paste it to the card as shown in the video.
For the teacup handle, you can use either glitter glue or chenille stem.
Finally, add your love note and gift your mom.

Yay! There is your beautiful yet creative homemade card. I am sure this will remain a special gift to your beloved mom.

Book Recommendation – A Man called Ove-Fredrik Backman

May 2, 2018

by Malvika Roy Singh with No Comment Books Voices

Crotchety, cantankerous, curmudgeon are all synonyms to define Ove. Living a life high on principles, with a timetable like precision, has always been Ove’s motto in life. In doing so, he doesn’t feel the need to oblige to the societal image of him of being kind and patience. On the contrary, he doesn’t feel the need to be all happy and mindful to appease certain set of people.

When things don’t happen his way, or when encountered with too much of casual behavior, Ove doesn’t shy from giving a piece of his mind and tongue. A sharp reply, followed by oodles of grumpiness and brashness is what people get from him. To him, it’s ok to dislike people or things which don’t happen with perfection and he doesn’t mind having a strong judgmental take about it!

Right from the start of the book, it’s evident that Ove doesn’t like change of any kind.

Be it while terrorizing the Apple salesmen, to not getting his house sold, to pave way for a more modern one, he hates people trying to bring about change of any kind into his life. He is charmingly quaint about certain ideologies and is pretty proud of it! No wonder the morning rounds put him off, especially when he sees a bicycle out of place, along with a mangy cat somewhere!

At the age of 59, driving a Saab, and assuming a life perfectly led, it becomes very difficult to understand why the man has inclination to commit suicide at the first place!

It is with the introduction of his next door neighbors that his character layering starts unfolding. Thanks to the nosy, clumsy neighbors, who ruin his plan of committing suicide at the first place!

His characteristics traits come to surface at this particular point of time, when his neighbors, accidentally bump their trailer into his house, while reversing, and spoil his plan of suicide!

His not-so-perfect-neighbors, a pregnant Persian lady by the name Pervaneh, her clumsy husband and two doting daughters, manage to bring out both perfect and imperfect side of his character. His funny disastrous encounters with them, all bring out the reasons of why Ove is what he is shown to be!

The series of comic encounters involving his neighbors, to the rampant flashbacks showcasing his life, when he was a teen to his work life to his marriage to his wife’s demise, everything points to the satisfying, yet deeply heartbreaking characteristic outcomes in Ove!

My Review

Right from the start, the plot has added good number of events, to keep the comic flow, yet the slice-of-life feel of the book alive!

The book is all about the art of empathy in the face of all imperfections or seemingly perfectionist characters like Ove! It’s all about developing human connection, just like Pervaneh does, with a character like Ove, who seems difficult, unapproachable, unlikable and worse, hard to co-operate!

It’s about seeing the best in people, no matter what! It’s about appreciating people, who try to give their best, without being natural or obvious in their surface presentation!

The flashback moments of his growing up with his father, his father’s demise, his early adulthood, his working life, his first meeting with his wife, his marriage and his wife’s death, all events generate a deep feeling of empathy and respect for Ove, who is constantly shown to be a man high on morality! His thirty years’ of service, not giving up on his house but rather re-doing it from scratch all vouch for his high moral standards!

This book might seemingly sound depressive, yet comically, it turns out to be an eye-opener, an endearing tale of finding happiness through imperfect of things and situations! Thanks to the character buildup of Ove and Pervaneh by the author! The writer does full justice in bringing about the truth laced with wit and goodness, all sunny side up!

In short, right from the start till the end (the ending is wonderful), the story is heartwarming. I highly recommend it, especially if you are one of those readers for slice-of-life stories and have a knack to appreciate differences around you! This one should not be missed!

A freelance creative writer and blogger for the past 7 years, Malvika Roy SIngh writes about subjects like travel, food, lifestyle, health, interior designing, real estate, digital entertainment, media and marketing, education etc. Her parenting blog helps her be a conscious parent (www.wipmom.com) When she is not writing, she can be found either running or playing with her 4 year old son enjoying time reading. She resides in Hyderabad and can be reached at mroysingh@gmail.com

Adopting the Real Meaning of Sorry into Family Life

April 30, 2018

by Janie Saylor with 9 Comments Parenting Voices

Sorry. Miriam Webster defines the word as, “a feeling of sorrow or regret.” But when people say those words, “I’m sorry,” do they literally mean they feel sorrow or regret?

While growing up, that word “sorry” was never specifically defined for me. But when my children were growing up, I had one of those “Aha” epiphany moments when I realized that I’d never defined the word “sorry” to them either. From the time they were teeny tiny all I’d been doing was telling my kids “tell or brother (or sister) I’m sorry” when they had done something wrong.

They were just coming into their teen aged years when I noticed I was still telling them they needed to apologize for doing something. Usually it was for the same “something” they’d done the day before! I thought, “Obviously, they’re not getting it.” There had to be a distinct problem with the way I’d been teaching them. Oh, I knew they knew they’d done something wrong, but why were they continuously doing the same thing wrong, over and over?

So that night at the dinner table, I decided to see if I could figure out an answer. I asked each of them if they knew what it meant to say, “I’m sorry.” They both had pretty much the same answer, “It means I’m sorry for what I did.” (they also both looked at me as if to say, “Duh Mom!”) And for some reason, that was the moment that I’d suddenly “got it.” I realized there is a disclaimer I’d neglected to teach my children all those years when I was saying they needed to apologize, a disclaimer that I’d honestly wished I’d realized many years prior.

I suddenly recognized that, to me, those words, “I’m sorry” don’t just mean to apologize for doing something wrong or even Miriam Webster’s description of, “a feeling of regret or sorrow.” Oh, that’s what I’d thought it meant all those years, but what I always wanted it to mean is, “I’m sorry and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” But never once in all my years of apologizing to people had realized this small distinction. It was actually an epiphany for me and I began trying to teach this to my kids.

Recently, in a required online college course, I was learning to understand my own moral codes, including when I say, “I’m sorry” and how my morals were developed. Because of this class, it got me wondering more and more about my children’s values and moral codes. With my children now in their early 20s, I hoped I’d done everything I could to shape them and help them develop positive morals and values. I’d like to think things like that distinction I tried to teach them over 10 years prior made the impact on their lives I was hoping for. Unfortunately, I’ll never really know for sure.

But this class talked a lot about how we might teach morals to our future generations and what kinds of things we unknowingly end up teaching those around us. Are there missed opportunities (like for me, all my years of not really figuring out what I’d wanted it it to mean to apologize)? Did we set a good example for our kids by the way we live our lives? If we weren’t, how much of an impact, if any, could this make on how problems such as bullying may be developed?

On the discussion board of this class, every single student was really taking a deep look at themselves, a philosophical look. We decided there will always be missed opportunities and we’ll probably never know just how many or what they were. But as far as teaching about bullying, the general consensus of us surmised it could impact our children if were continuous mean to them and others. A classmate mentioned that to him it seemed much easier for his children to learn and understand physically hitting hurts the other person. But what about psychological hurts? How many times in our lives have we been completely blind to the times we’ve hurt our children’s or someone else’s feelings? And how do we explain this to our children?

I decided to ask my classmates their meaning of the words, “I’m sorry,” and although there were various answers, when I wrote about what I’d always wanted it meant, they agreed and said that they hadn’t realized it but that was also their unspoken understanding too.

This particular class played a big impact on my life. It got me more used to thinking about my role, not only in my life, but in the lives of others and especially my children. The class was required to write a paper about how we would like to think about ourselves and our morals, how we would like others to think about us and was that the life we were currently living?

But the premise went even deeper than that. The professor asked us about what changes we would need to make in order to be living the life, having the morals we wanted and were we prepared to make those changes? Many of our answers reflected on how much the way we had always acted had set an example for our children. And how much of it was it was for the good or for the bad?

Every so often, I enjoy rereading this college paper. I helps me to reflect on how I’m currently living. How many of the changes I’d hoped to have made had I actually incorporated into my daily life? And my answers are always enlightening. Each time I reread this, I realize, though there may be several changes that I’ve indeed incorporated, there are a few others on my list to go, things like exercising more and not judging myself so harshly.

But one thing I can honestly say I’ve incorporated into my life is what my honest intention behind my apologizes is. I’m sorry and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure it doesn’t happen again. But I’m always curious of what others mean when they apologize to me and I can can only hope the changes I have made had an impact on my children’s lives.

Janie Saylor is a professional certified life coach with a degree in psychology and a focus on the emerging field of positive psychology. She is mom to two wonderful children, both in their early 20s. Janie’s published, “The Road You’ve Traveled, How to Journal Your Life.” It’s a book which came from various experiences teaching life journaling to people for 10+ years in the Metro Detroit area. She’s is also co-author of the recently published, “When You’re Done Expecting,” a collection of heartfelt stories from mothers all across the globe. Always inspired by nature and observing the emotions of others, Janie wrote many chapbooks, small books of poetry, also collecting those from others among a small poetry community in her neighborhood in the early 2000s. Janie enjoys uplifting others with positive posts and memes on her Facebook page, Become University, “Your Happy Place.”

For Every Daughter Entering Adulthood

April 27, 2018

by Featured Guest with No Comment Parenting Voices

Every parent wishes their child to be a lot of things. But what happens to a parent’s emotions when their child becomes an adult?

Here is a beautiful poem written by a mother for her daughter as she hits that beautifully adventurous age 21.

Ok, Let’s have that adult-adult talk today.
Have a dream and follow it.
Have a purpose in life and fulfill it.
Have empathy and be empowered!
Do Everything with passion.
Do only what feels right in your heart
When you follow your dreams,
people may laugh at you
Just ignore them and keep going.
Then they start talking behind your back,
Show off and Vested Interest are the weapons they use,
Just overcome those and fly high!

Never talk behind anyone’s back,
Be truthful to all,
and be straight on their face.
Be open with your feelings to all,
Some may hate you for the time being, but that’s ok,
They may come back to you eventually.
Some may hate you forever, which is ok too,
Because they don’t deserve you anyway.

Never break anyone’s trust in you,
Always hear both sides of the story.
Value experiences more than money,
The money will come and go,
But the experience you made will stay with you forever!

Never trust anyone blindly.
Have friends who inspire you and lift you up!
Set standards, expectations and goals for yourself,
Once you realize who you are, reveal your true self to the world.
Then you look around and see that boy with admiration, respect and love in his eyes for you,
Hey, that is your partner girl! (BTW mom got lucky very early though)
Fly high like a kite and stay grounded at the same time.

Always remember,
Nothing is the end of the world,
You have always a place to fall back,
Your family is always here for you,
Enjoy life one day at a time.

Mrs.Menon always exceeds the expectations of an average math teacher. After attaining an MA in Economics, a BS in Math, and a California Certified Teaching Credential, Mrs. Menon has worked various jobs in the educational field. Throughout her career, Raji has branched out from the ordinary roles of a teacher and dedicated her life to not only teach math but to reach out to youth and help each individual become a civilized member of the community. Mrs. Menon is the entrepreneur of her own business, Gurukulam , which derives from a thriving after-school enrichment center, where she teaches math both in-class and online, an active blog (http://rajimenon1.blogspot.com), and a social organization which participates in numerous projects for the less fortunate.

A Real Plan to Resist Negative Thinking

April 27, 2018

by Tammy Coin with 10 Comments Mindset Parenting Voices

The world we live in is filled with messages, both positive and negative. Humans tend to absorb more of the negative messages.

Once we have found ourselves in the trap of negative thinking, we may find ourselves increasingly out of balance and out of alignment with the life we aspire to live.

When we find ourselves in this spiral, we often begin to transfer that negativity to everyone around us, including our children.

In order to stop this cycle, it helps to have a plan in place before it starts.

A simple plan might look something like this: Be fully present when speaking to each other (eye contact is important);

Make a point to speak lovingly; Minimize all outside influences (electronics); Upon waking, set three positive intentions for the day ahead; Before bed take the time to list three gratitude moments from the day.

This type of plan is a lesson in Mindfulness.

Simply start by taking an honest inventory of your life and where you can begin to implement subtle, beneficial changes. This is not a judgement inventory of how you “should be” doing better. This is a loving, honest look at your real life and how you can add positive moments.

The best foundation for resisting negative thinking is adding a Mindfulness practice to your daily life. Mindfulness can be incorporated into literally every function of your life from the most mundane tasks all the way to a profound spiritual practice.

Tammy Coin is a Mind-Body Wellness Practitioner, Transformational Life & Spiritual Coach, Author, Teacher and Speaker. She holds sacred space & helps you locate the unhealed emotions leftover from Childhood Abuse & Trauma that block the door to your authentic self. She then partners with you, using the pieces of her own life, to empower, motivate and inspire you to fully uncover and step into your Soul Purpose. You can find Tammy Coin and The Doors of Wellness at http://www.thedoorsofwellness.com on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thedoorsofwellness

How To Make A Kid’s DIY Canvas Painting For Mother’s Day Card

April 26, 2018

by Suja Dinesh with One Comment Crafts Voices

Waited until the last minute? Looking for a fun and easy card or keepsake for your kids to make for Mother’s Day?

Then you are in right place.

This sweet DIY canvas art is simple to make and great for children of all ages! With a simple rose stamping, you can make mom feel extra special with a beautiful bouquet canvas art for your mom or your grandmother. They make wonderful keepsakes and will be treasured for years to come! Let’s get started with the supplies you need.

FULL VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE:

Supplies Needed:

Lettuce head
Kids paint
Chenille stem
Satin ribbon
Any decorative embellishment
Glue
Scissor
Marker

Method:

Pour some kids paint in a palette and dip the lettuce head on the color and make the rose stamps on the canvas.
For the stem, use a chenille stem and glue it to the canvas. I used hot glue gun which is not advisable for kids to do alone. Adults can help this part.
Create a bow from a satin ribbon and paste it to the stem. You can use any embellishment to decorate the bow.
Add a personal touch to this bouquet art by making leaves from your little one’s thumbprint.
Finally, add your love note.

Yay! A beautiful bouquet Canvas Art gift is ready to surprise your Mom or your Grandmother for this Mother’s day. A great alternative to an easy Mother’s Day card. I am sure this will remain a special gift to them.

How I Connected with Jesus Through My Art

April 25, 2018

by Featured Guest with 3 Comments Heritage Voices

Time stood still. I had driven under a bridge in our home city and I had prayed, “Lord, if you are really real, please guide me to know you.”

At that moment I cried out to God because I couldn’t understand my purpose here on earth.

Don’t get me wrong – my life was great. We had a loving family. We attended a church with some “friends”. I had been treasurer of the growing church plant. I had taught Sunday School. We had enough money to be comfortable. I had enough time for some recreational pursuits.

But I had this ache inside. An emptiness. So I prayed that prayer.

And God led me. I found a new church home with loving caring, encouraging friends who wanted to know the real me. I attended their Bible study – I had gone to Bible studies previously but I didn’t feel comfortable.

I even made this stipulation to my new friends:

“I will attend your study if I don’t have to hold hands, I don’t have to pray out loud and I don’t have to share about myself.”

They accepted me. Loved me. Cared for me. They let me ask questions and patiently answered them.

I questioned. I really questioned. I read books.

Then I tried to read my Bible – failed.

Tried again – failed.

I bought another version of the Bible – failed.

My mentor friend said: “Why don’t you ask Jesus to open His Word to you.”

I tried again and the light started to penetrate.

But I still, even though I “prayed in Jesus’ name”, I didn’t know Him. I started to have some head knowledge of Who He is but I still couldn’t believe in my heart.

Such a doubting Thomas was I.

[bctt tweet=”How I connected to Jesus through my art. ” username=”contactrwc”]

One day, on the prompting of my spiritual mentor friend, I asked Jesus to reveal Himself to me. It was early morning; I was sitting in my chair in my family room. All was quiet. As I asked Jesus to reveal Himself, suddenly I felt this “whoosh” come over me and I dropped to the floor. I felt His presence so strongly. It overpowered me with a peace and understanding. And I said, exactly what Thomas said: “My Lord and my God”.

That was the beginning of my journey – almost 20 years ago. Since then I have had such a wild, crazy ride.

Some of the highlights:

I wrote daily in a journal while I studied the Bible.

I wrote 150 poems.

That led me to attend Christian writers’ conferences.

And over the years I occasionally took some art classes.

I studied early every morning.

I listened to God. I woke up and saw everything around me.

I wrote, illustrated and published two children’s books. (http://www.janiscox.com/bookstore/)

I went on a mission trip to Poland 5 times.

Hope Stream Radio asked me to podcast for them and I have done over 120 podcasts.

I grew in my knowledge of God. I grew in my knowledge of His Word.

I grew in knowing Who I was.

And I am growing still.

Never stopping. Always changing.

Right now my faith is as strong or stronger than ever. Each day God teaches me something new. I can’t get enough of His Word or His Voice.

The one thing I have learned more than anything else is to LISTEN to Him.

That takes practice, patience and perseverance.

And I have led my own Bible studies since that first hesitating time. And I do hold hands, I pray out loud and I share and listen to others.

My art has expanded because I always pray before I do anything – including art. I paint pictures, make greeting cards and do Bible Art.

Now God is telling me that my purpose is to lead and guide other Christian writers in their faith and their writing.

This is my new walk. And I don’t know what it will look like. I am a work in progress.

To that end I am working on a free Bible journaling course.

And I have a free PDF for studying the Bible called The SIMPLE Method of Bible Study.

Janis Cox is a creativity catalyst with a heart to connect people to God. She specializes in creating art based on Scripture so that the Truth penetrates hearts and not just minds. The world needs more pictures, art and colour. God speaks through our creativity. We connect deeply with God through creativity because it is play. Our doubts fall away. We become like the little children that Jesus invited to Himself. Janis helps people play, connect to God and connect to each other. She gives honest simple reminders to remain rooted in Him. Janis lives in Haliburton, Ontario Canada with her husband and their small dog, Snowball. Besides writing and painting, Janis podcasts for HopeStreamRadio. She can be reached at Janis Cox.

How To Prepare for Post Par-tum

April 24, 2018

by Featured Guest with 7 Comments Voices world changers

MEET LORI ISENSTADT – LACTATION CONSULTANT IBCLC

What exactly it is that you do?

As a lactation consultant, I spend my days helping moms with all issues related to breastfeeding. I use my expertise and meet with moms and their babies to help them overcome breastfeeding challenges they are experiencing. I am the host of the popular itunes podcast called – All About Breastfeeding where I interviews moms about their breastfeeding experiences.

2. How did you come about this passion/profession?

I became a “birth and breastfeeding junkie” shortly after the b irth of my first baby. Unhappy with my birth experience, I began learning all I could about pregnancy and birth. I soon became a certified childbirth educator and quickly moved further in my career and became a birth doula. Loving the art and science of breastfeeding, I became a lactation consultant in 2001 and have been helping moms with breastfeeding ever since.

3. Tell us about your family.

I am fortunate enough to be part of a big family of 5 kids. I am the middle child with 2 sisters and 2 brothers. My husband Alan and I have 3 beautiful kids who make us proud every day.

4. What do you think are three biggest struggles most new moms go through philosophically (just to make people aware of new mom problems)?

I find that the biggest struggles moms go through are:

Trying to keep up with the Jones
Feeling guilty they are not doing enough.
Figuring out ways that they can make time for their own personal growth and still be there for their kids.

5. What are 5 ways a new mom can help herself ?

Reach out and connect with other mothers in her community.
Check out your local library and see what is offered in the childrens section for you and your child
Get out of the house each and every day. Take your baby for a walk. Begin with just 10 minutes and gradually stay out longer. Weather not good? Dress properly and just walk from one end of your block and back. Go out into your backyard and walk back and forth, smell the fresh air.
Put a plan in place so that you know you will have a good dinner at least 4 nights a week and the other nights can be leftovers.
Try hard to not be too shy to ask for help & to tell loved ones exactly what it is you need.

6. How do you think friends can help new moms best? (gifts / etc )

When offering help, be specific in what you are willing to do.

Anytime you come over – be prepared with a healthy meal OR be prepared to listen to her

Anytime you come over – call first – say you are going to the “xyz” store and can you pick up anything for her.

If you feel mom is shy and won’t ask for anything – ask her husband or mother what they think she would like – don’t guess or get something that you would like – make sure it is s omething she wants.

Chip in with a few friends and pay for a house cleaner.

8. Do you have any resources for our readers ?

All About Breastfeeding free handouts on the early days of breastfeeding and working and pumping:

Ebook- New Mother’s Survival Guide – Practical tips for the new mother

Check out more videos from other parenting experts here.

Celebrating All Things Motherhood in Richmond May 5th. Click Here to Learn More .

Games to Teach Kids the Art of Poetic Dusting

April 23, 2018

by Featured Guest with 6 Comments Education Voices

When I first decided I was a writer it was in the third grade. Sister Mary Donald taught us Language Composition by drawing sentence diagrams on the chalkboard and making us memorize the 35 prepositions.. About, Above, Across, Around, At… but she also taught us the magic of creating images and emotions through poetry.

I loved words and how I could manipulate them in a way to transpose reality in a line of poetry. Even though my first poems were only in song-song rhymes and very poorly written, I pursued with poetry as a means to escape my world of adolescence. Of frizzy hair and freckles and brown Catholic school uniforms and of the chaos that comes of house with five children.

Poetry helped me to grow, to learn about myself and my world. Poetry helped to move me as well as stay grounded when I needed to.

When I have a new writing workshop of fresh faced middle schoolers, I like to start with poetry, as well. They kinda freak. Poetry is scary to most. We have this idea that it needs to be high-brow and deeply meaningful and seems like it should only come from well-educated scholars or philosophers. But that’s so not true. First off, Dr. Seuss? Hello? And how about Shel Silverstein?

Silly, made up words that add rhythm to the page can also give different meanings and different points of view. Poetry is all around us: in songs, as symbolism in advertising, in art and on the page.

How can you add a little dusting of poetry to your child’s world?

Here are some of my favorite poetry games and exercises. They’re fun, easy and impactful. You can practice on your own, but it’s so much more fun to learn and write with your children:

Word War

Poetry begins and thrives on a love of words. But not ordinary everyday words: computer, car, pencil window, latte. Unique and rarely used words: thump, thistle, prickly, ginger, hobble. I play a game with my students to get them warmed up to new words and get them to say the words out loud. It helps to listen to the rhythm and cadence of the spoken words and to link or disconnect meanings.

We go around the circle and each person has to shout out the first word that comes to mind. I will veto their selected word, though if it seems pre-planned or shadows the word the writer next to them just shouted.

For example, if the first writer says kitten, the next writer might shout soft or fluffy or whiskers. Though on their own these words are good warm ups, I’ll veto them because it’s common to think of soft, fluffy or whiskers when someone says kitten. Now, if the next writer shouted “pepperoni” after kitten, I’d be pleased and we’d continue around the circle. Try it! Write down the words that really spark an interest.

The Answer Squash (inspired by Susan Wooldridge’s book, Poemcrazy)

This exercise can continue naturally from the word war or stand on its own. It can be a short five minute lesson or one that scales an entire season. Susan Wooldridge likes to name inanimate objects. Giving a smooth, empty gourd a title makes it more interesting, The Answer Squash, for example, came to be when she placed the words Answer Squash on a hollowed out gourd that sits on her shelf. What the heck is an “answer squash?” Maybe it’s like an organic take on the Magic 8 Ball. Maybe it’s just random words strung together and taped to the outside of fall decoration.

Try it:

Find words, whether handwritten from your word war session or cut from magazines, printed from digital pinterest boards, even using the magnetic poetry kits will work here. Tape words to objects around your house, your office, your room. Perhaps on the bathroom mirror you would find “Vanilla sky” Reflection, mirror, glass compared to sky, compared to the sweet soft flavor of vanilla. How might that connection insight a poem? Maybe “energetic muse” would be attached to running shoes. Running creates or releases restless energy, right? Muse often comes when we get outdoors. Do you see how this works? No real rules! Which is the freedom of poetry, that artistic license, if you will.

Name Poem

A simple poem that your kids have probably already tried in school is the name poem or acrostic poem, Writing down one word or phrase that begins with each letter of their name, but also describes their personality or interests. Here’s an example:

Silly, stretchy, stressed out easily

Animated, animal lover, action movie fanatic

Music maker, mover and a shaker

I Am…

“I Am” is another favorite of mine and pairs wells with the acrostic poem from above. It’s a great insight to your child’s mind and how they think and feel about themselves. Try it:

Collect words from each category and plug them into the template, below, to create beautiful, lyrical poetry:

landscapes: mountains, rivers, meadow, tundra, caverns, etc.

action/movement verbs: twirl, flip, flop, spin, saunter, glide, etc.

colors: acqua, magenta, tree frog green, watermelon flesh, elderberry

nouns: zipper, square, cloud, linen, basketball, custard.

Now, combine, drop them in Mad-Lib style.

So, in this example template:

I am a (action verb) (landscape) , (action) (color) (noun).

You might get:

I am a twirling tundra, flipping acqua clouds.

Practice looking for, listening for and reciting words and poetry often. Magic will infuse your world with just a light sprinkle of poetry throughout your day.

And,next time you’re intimidated by someone reciting Whitman from memory, whip out your Energetic Muse running shoes and tell them how you are a twirling tundra.

Have fun with these? Try your luck at a kids-only, free-to- enter writing contest: WriteTheWorld-for Young Writers (new contests, themes and deadlines, monthly!) Be sure to read the Contest Rules.. https://writetheworld.com/competitions/upcoming

Mary Jo Campbell lives, writes, reads and breathes in Downers Grove IL. When she’s not coaching the next generation of young writers through in person and online writing workshops, she’s raising a few boys, a few dogs, a husband and the will to keep attending kickboxing classes. You can find her site and sign up for a free 30-page eBook of Story Prompts here.

You are welcome to send your kids creations to us here for our KIDS CORNER as well.

11 Ways to Creating a Love of Reading in Children

April 20, 2018

by Aditi Wardhan Singh with 9 Comments Education Parenting Voices

My son came back from school all excited. The teacher had discussed the topic of Needs Vs Wants. He felt like such a big boy having grasped this essential aspect of life. We had fun discussing the various things we come across (toys are wants, food needs) till we came upon the topic of “Books”. I said they are needs and he was sure that they are wants.

A few days later, at a party family friends and I started debating over the same. About how books are essential for a society as a whole and thus ideally should be a need. The children over heard this exchange and came over.

One child asked, ” Aunty, why do you say that books are needs?”

Not one to leave a teaching moment, I asked the children, “What do you want to be when you grow up? “

“Doctor! Engineer! Astraunaut! Policeman!” They shouted, hands raised.

” How will you learn about these things? “, I asked.

” From a teacher. “, one responded.

” And your teacher will teach you by reading from a book someone has written about how to become an astronaut or engineer or doctor right? “

They all nodded.

” When you grow up and live by yourself you will want want to cook or fix something. That time you will you look for a recipe in a book or read a manual right? “

Their head kept moving in agreement.

“In old, old, old times when man discovered fire and hunting they started scribbling on walls to teach others. So that no one ever forgot how to do them. First they wrote on walls, then stone slabs, then long pieces of paper then short pieces of paper that became books.

People need books to find out how to do things and teach others. And not just teaching, when people tell stories we learn about what we should do or should not do in life. So maybe not all but some books are definitely a need, right ? “

Their mouths forms “Ooohs !” while their tiny heads nodded understanding. I think I could actually see a light go on in all their eyes !

Books for me are a very big part of my life. Growing up whenever I was on my own, books were my only friend many a days keeping me company. They taught me about people and life, helping me grow. I never felt alone when I had a book with me. I never felt lost.

I always trust there is someone out there feeling the same thing I am feeling and writing about it. And if I a lucky, I will find that book and read it.

Trips to the library are our favorite in my household. As a parent I harbor the hope that my children become avid readers as well. The turning of pages, the words coming alive, the curiosity aroused, the answers they find are fascinating. There are many adventures one take by losing ourselves in those rustling pages.

As parents we can help children find all this and more by nudging them in the direction of the written word.

Have a Fixed Time to Read

As with everything in life, something has to be part of our daily routine in order to become a habit. Have a set time or day. Like bed time or holidays or weekends when they know there will be reading and make it an event into itself.

Read With Them

Reading to them is of course a given. But as they grow older they love feeling grown up by helping. So let them contribute with words they know. Pause when you come across a word you are sure they know of. Just like cycling, let them read slowly and steadily till they start doing it on their own.

Write Their Name On Book

Children love being made to feel special. Whenever they attain a book, write their name on the first page. From whom or the occasion. It helps them take ownership of the same. Also, it turns the book into a keepsake to be cherished.

Reading Parties

Kids love doing things as a group and showing off their stuff. Call a few friends over. Have them bring their favorite books. Read to them or if they are old enough, have them each read their most liked story. And then ask them questions about the book. Discuss what each one loves about it.

Gifts/Goody Bags

Books make great gifts. Also, you have lot of options at your local discount stores or dollar stores to give as goody bags. If you know the child, give them something that is to their liking. If not, you can choose something to the theme of the party or something age appropriate. Add fancy wrapping paper, their name and a candy if you like.

Give Kids the Choice

Let your children choose the books they would like to read. Let them take charge and you will find they enjoy being the one making this decision. Give them rules of the kind of book they are allowed on that particular trip.

I made the mistake of trying to get my son to love story books but over time I realized he prefers non fiction, science, historical books. And that is what I gave him.

Library and Book stores are Fun

Story time and games laid out at local stores and library are a fun way to make an event out of visits. Some places even have toys lying around. Give them time to move around, do their thing and then read to them in that setting.

Relevant Books at Home

Always keep a small library at home that is within reach of children. It is wonderful that schools today make sure kids have books but those books are not very often those that may interest the children. I myself grew up around a ton of books gifted, hand me downs or picked up while traveling. And a big reason that I read is I have always had access to a variety of content.

Leading by example

As with everything it wonderful for children to see others around them reading. There is something calming about having quiet time. I have many childhood memories of sitting around with my dad, cousins all of us relaxing after a meal together, reading.

Local Reading Programs

It is wonderful that there are wonderful reading programs during the summer and winter that you can participate it. You register, manage a log of the books your read each day and then the kids get a treat at the end of completion. It gives them such a sense of achievement.

Discuss the Story

Don’t just stop at reading. Use children’s natural story telling abilities to turn the reading into an adventure. This helps gets their creative juices flowing. Turn the little ones into master story tellers. Ensure they take away from the story with questions like

What did they learn?
What was their favorite part?
How would they change the ending?

Discussing every story they read and the various characters and the many facets of the story helps children understand that within the tale, there is a basic truth being conveyed by the author. In today’s digital age, where there is so much of information being exchanged books provide a wonderful tool in teaching children how to differentiate between truth and fiction.

More Tips on Teaching Kids About Consequences, Multilingualism, Racial Equality and more Early here

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