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Book Review: The Male Gift Giving Survival Guide
This extraordinary book was recommended to me by a colleague after he visited my new web site, Gift Ideas For Women. The Male Gift Giving Survival Guide compliments my website perfectly, untangling for men the web of gifts for women. It deciphers the ...

Single in a Couples' World
Advertising for St. Valentine’s Day seemed more relentless than ever this year. Everywhere I turned, I saw candy hearts or jewelry glistening in store displays. Radio announcers drummed the message home through constant promotions of dinner for two. ...

What are you creating?
What are you creating? Money from work you love: love in a soul-mate relationship, peace and harmony around us; a stronger sense of who you are; inner wisdom and personal power; a confident, thriving family; improved health; a stronger sense of community; ...


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Mommy & Baby: Styles Of Parenting
 
? Child-centered Parenting o Intensely pursue the child's happiness, taking great strains to avoid discomfort or emotional stress for the child. o The child receives what she wants when she wants it: no delay, no waiting.
These concepts might not sound too bad, but what happens when Mom is sick? Or when Mom & Dad want to leave the baby with a sitter? There is little-to-no freedom in this parenting plan--and the baby will not grow in to a child who understands delayed gratification or how the world works. Additionally, this sets a child up for a bad case of "me-ism"--other people will not matter to her. Her goals and needs are paramount to everyone else's goals and needs, and the ability to look outward and understand being part of a team will be compromised.
? Family-centered Parenting o Keeps the baby's needs met, but within the appropriate context of the family unit. o The child enters in to a team-setting; she is not the center of the universe, but part of the family-team.
These concepts might not seem very different from the child-centered approach to parenting, but the results of the two methods are starkly


different. Parents have the freedom to meet their child's needs and look ahead to developing skills and abilities, as they aren't catering to every fleeting whim or fancy a child might express. Sitters are okay for the family, as the parents will take time out to "date" and be intentional with each other. Because a baby raised in a family-centered plan understands that she is part of a team, she will learn "we-ism," not "me-ism." She will consider others as she grows and how her goals and needs can be met within the framework of a team--without compromising the others on the team.
You may know people on either side of these parenting styles who go overboard. That's not what I'm advocating here; a balance must be achieved. Remember these things:
? Life doesn't stop because you have a baby ? Date your spouse ? Continue those loving gestures you enjoyed before your baby came along ? Invite some friends over for food and fellowship ? At the end of each day, spend 15 minutes sitting with your spouse, discussing the day's events
About the Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a baby and parenting expert specializing new mothers and single parent issues. Visit http://www.babyhelp411.com/ for more information on how to raising healthy, happy children.

News



RPT-Olympics-Happiness for Bhutan Olympians is not golden
Reuters
Neither Sherab nor Kunzang expect to win medals for Bhutan, an impoverished, largely Buddhist country between India and China which only opened up to foreigners in 1974, banned television until 1999, and uses happiness to measure its success.

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'Happiness Is a Chemical in the Brain': review
San Francisco Chronicle
This story is exclusive to the Chronicle's Sunday print edition and will not appear on SFGate.com until 3:00 AM on Monday, May 28. To read this and other exclusive print stories today, subscribe to The Chronicle's iPad app by visiting ...

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Bloomberg

World's Happiest Countries
Bloomberg
By Andy Reinhardt - 2012-05-25T15:21:49Z People all over the world are fascinated by happiness rankings and how their own countries fare in global league tables. In some places, such as Britain, ratings of national well-being aren't just a matter for ...


Olympics-Happiness for Bhutan Olympians is not golden
Reuters
Neither Sherab nor Kunzang expect to win medals for Bhutan, an impoverished, largely Buddhist country between India and China which only opened up to foreigners in 1974, banned television until 1999, and uses happiness to measure its success.


Scientific American (blog)

What Will Make Facebook's Eduardo Saverin Happier: US Citizenship or $67 Million?
Scientific American (blog)
Here's my question: assuming that Saverin is not allowed back into the US, what is likely to make him happier: the ability to travel freely, or $67 million? Let us look to science for answers. Researchers have long examined the links between money and ...

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