Guest Post: Editing The Classics: Is it Ethical?

Note from Callista: I do not claim to agree or disagree with the following guest post. I am offering it to spark conversation among my readers. Thanks to Rachel for the guest post and My Blog Guest for putting us together.

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Political correctness has permeated and dictated personal and professional interaction for too few years. Federal and state laws make many uncomfortable, but the U.S. Constitution must rightfully be honored in word and in intent. But when it infuses itself into changing literary history, political correctness extends cultural sensitivity into the realm of the ridiculous.

The recent decision by NewSouth Books to remove the N-word, a potentially explosive noun of contemporary offense, from the historically significant literary works of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer warrants the ire and disdain of every author, educator, literary historian, and reader around the world.

These stories are fiction, to be sure, but their contribution to literature isn't based on its fiction versus non-fiction status. They used fictional characters to portray attitudes, outlooks, and realistic interaction between people of an age. That particular age passed, yes, but changing that portrayal insults the intelligence and conceptual comprehension and appreciation of whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians, etc., the world over.

If publishers want to change literary history, then by all means, continue the insult. Remove not only the N-word from those classics but also the S-word or all mention, directly or indirectly, of the fact there were any in America. Then extend the censorship into every other work that exists anywhere.

Then why don't we just erase all mention of the Civil War from all written or spoken words? How about jumping forward a few generations and obliterate mention of the American interment of Japanese during WWII? And if we're into the WWII era, by all means 'disappear' the Holocaust!

Destroy all copies of films, videos, records—including rap songs today that include the N-word—and arrest all those who read, listen, watch, gift, generate and produce them, making those same-offense works illegal. After all, they're not politically correct either, right? Don't forget to erase Antonius' soliloquy in the classic film, Spartacus. No mention or inference of homosexual acts allowed. But offense might be taken if it's completely omitted. Such cans of worms perch on the horizon.

Sensitivity gives no right to censor literature or literary history. The First Amendment pertains to written works, historical or contemporary, too. Public domain or copyright-protected status grants no license to change history—period.

Public domain does not mean someone can substitute words for the original and still keep the same author name or pseudonym. It does, however, give one the right to publish another author's work under one's own name, but these books are so well known, no one will ever give credence to Juanita Smith or John Doe, III, having written them, which is why Juanita or John has had the sense not to try it. 

Attempting to market an altered story under the original author's work is, at the very least, immoral, if not illegal, because it's false labeling. They'd be selling a product that's not entirely attributable to the original author. Any change to those exact texts based on public domain status shouldn't be marketed as Mark Twain's work, because it will no longer be his work.

Every author, known or unknown, famous or not, has the inherent right to have his or her original work left alone. If society and its laws change over time, write a new forward explaining the publisher does not agree with sentiments, to the opinions, words, outlook, etc., to the author's work.

Do not change classic literature or literary history for the sake of overzealous, misdirected and ill-aimed weakness of publishing character and especially don't do it under the auspicious title of Political Correctness.

Using public domain status as an excuse is cowardly and inexcusable.

About the Author

JC Ryan is a freelance writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them search for online degrees that can help them reach their goals.

Author Guest Post: Leadership at Work: Communicate and Connect the Dots

There are ways of expressing ourselves to get points across and there are ways to create lots of noise and buzz. Right now, in our stimulus addicted society buzz seems to win.
Think Charlie Sheen!

Hey women, listen up! We know how to talk together and resolve issues. We are not prone to punch each other out to see who is stronger which so often is equated to better.
We are not the ones to rush to judge, attack and condemn.

We can’t let the patterns of avoidance and denial lead the way. We are the ones to lead the way. Yes we are really good question askers/good listeners and that is at the heart of healthy communication. There is no need to posture and polarize.

Now, most politicians, male and female, think the only way they can win is to make the other/s wrong, to paint with a broad brush so that you will agree that their ideas are the right ones. This is not dialogue, this is debate and it has its place; for a brief time. Yes, in debate there are winners and losers; that is part of how life as we know it works.

Yet, for more meaningful discussions we need to poke and probe the essence of what is going on; to understand the history and systems at play. Women, we know how to do this! We just need to stay steady and not give our power away to those who want quick, simple and yet, not long term fulfilling solutions. At the end of “Don’t Bring It to Work” is a story of a business team that decided to tackle what was really in the way of their success. Each had a story that led them upstream to where the real issues lay.

Here is a classic story that is so much a woman’s story, about going upstream to find the source. Think about beginning and endings. They start long before a specific moment and end long after the curtain closes on a meeting in the present.

They stood on the banks of the river and watched the dying fish flow by. Everyone got busy and spent their time scooping and sorting the fish.

Week’s later two young women said they would no longer participate. This was a fruitless exercise leaving everyone tired and depressed with no long term action plan. Scoop and sort had run its course.

Upstream was to a factory that was humming along with lots of activity. They went to the front desk and were told it was a place that manufactured furniture. They were assured that putting tables and chairs together could in no way harm the fish.

They continued walking upstream. Miles away, past the factory the fish were healthy and thriving. They went back to the factory (anyone remember Erin Brockovich) And  yes, the furniture factory was using chemicals to glue their products and the residuals were being drained into the river.

By focusing upstream, by asking the questions, by taking action we can make positive change happen. No longer is it possible to leave the hard work to others. We have the ability to move beyond the obvious and get the heart of the matter; it’s always upstream!

Written by: Sylvia Lafair, Ph.D., author of the award winning book, “Don’t Bring It to Work”, “Working Together” and “Pattern Aware Success Guide”e- book, is President of CEO, Creative Energy Options, Inc., a  global consulting company focused on optimizing workplace relationships through extratordinary leadership. Dr. Lafair’s unique model has revolutionized the way teams cooperate, relate and innovate.
She can be reached at sylvia@ceoptions.com or 570-636-3858; www.sylvialafair.com

Guest Review: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

While not intended to be a parenting manual, Yale Law School professor Amy Chua's memoir, focusing on her trials and travails of mothering, is sure to go down in infamy. Having generated a considerable amount of controversy, Chua's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother details, and, in some cases, promotes, an extremely strict parenting style that she attributes to her Chinese cultural background.

The media storm that followed the memoir's publication provides ample fodder for a review itself. But instead of analyzing what others have said about the book, I decided to crack it open myself to see what all the fuss is about. Of course, many of Chua's parenting dictates--not allowing children to attend sleepovers, participate in extra-curricular activities of their own choosing, and accepting nothing short of a straight-A report card--can be considered a form of child abuse. However, Chua is not quite the "Tiger Mother" the media have made her out to be, and the memoir has its moments of poignancy that extends beyond the extremist parenting.

The book traces Chua's relationship with her two daughters and husband Jed, an academic whose American-Jewish background views parenting in a much more benevolent, laissez-faire way. Some of the more alarming anecdotes, like when Chua dismisses her daughter's homemade birthday card as not good enough, or when she forces her child to play a tricky piano piece over and over, threatening her in the process, until she gets it right, may turn off many readers. But at the end of the day, Chua demonstrates a sense of humor that softens her fierce competitiveness. That her children seem to have turned out to be "normal", happy teenagers indicates that the accusations of child abuse among Chua's detractors are a little overblown.

While I would never actually employ the style of parenting that Chua seems to advocate, the professor and mother makes an interesting case against what she calls "Western" parenting. The heavy emphasis on self-esteem at all costs may indeed produce children who are satisfied with mediocrity and who begin to feel entitled to everything when they are older. Still, in my opinion, parents can strive for a happy medium. After all, teaching children that they must work very hard for success and recognition is a lesson that should, by all accounts, be instilled early.

Although Chua's memoir is by no means perfect, it is an interesting account of alternative parenting styles. What's more, any parent will be able to empathize with its basic themes of family, no matter how much they disagree with how Chua approaches raising children. Despite its imperfections, Chua's book is a worthwhile read for parents who struggle with anxiety over their child-rearing decisions. For more information, check out this excerpt, published in the New York Times.

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Alisa Gilbert, who writes on the topics of bachelors degree.  She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alisagilbert599@gmail.com. 

Article: Keys to Remembering What You Read

This article is referring to students remembering what they read in school but is good advice for adults trying to retain information as well. I thought it was good advice and I wanted to share
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© Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed. Used with Permission.

I recently read a fascinating article in the Wall Street Journal about how writing by hand engages the mind in learning. It said that in a study using advanced MRI technology, children who had practiced printing by hand had far more enhanced and "adult-like" neural activity than in those who had simply looked at letters.

I smiled when I read this because for years my tutors and I have urged our students to take notes as they read text.  We have learned by experience that students who systematically take notes as they read retain more and, of course, do better on tests. Here are a few ways any student can improve retention and sharpen learning.

Take Notes While You Read

Learning is an active process, not a spectator sport. It requires energy and, most important of all, concentration.  For many students, focus is not a problem when they are reading about subjects they enjoy. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In the course of their studies, students have to plow through a good deal of material they find dense and boring. This is when taking the time to take good notes while reading becomes very useful for enhancing learning. 

Note taking works on a number of levels. It heightens attention by forcing students to actively engage with the material they are reading. Just as importantly, it encourages students to put the material into their own words and into some meaningful order. This simple task improves comprehension because the student must summarize the information he's just read. Reiterating and condensing text is one of the very best ways to understand and remember.

There are a number of methods for taking notes while reading. The most basic involves margin notes and "self-talk," a technique in which the reader questions himself about what he's reading. You can coach your child to use this strategy by saying, "After you read a page in your novel (or a section in your textbook), ask yourself, 'What did I just read?' or 'What is the main idea here?'" His answers should be briefly recorded in the page margin. If writing in the textbook is not an option, your child can use Post-it notes.

Use Selective Highlighting

Another effective way to improve comprehension is selective highlighting. Highlighting is a great strategy, but it can often go wrong. Over the years, I've met many kids to whom I've given the official diagnosis of "highlighter happy." These students take a great strategy and use it incorrectly by highlighting AS they read. By the end of the page, practically every sentence is marked.

Instead, teach your child to read first and then go back to selectively highlight only the essential terms, phrases, or dates AFTER he or she has read the section or passage. Interestingly, studies have shown that students are better able to retain information that is color coded. But the color of the highlighter is not important (although most favor yellow or pink); it comes down to personal preference. 

Consider purchasing highlighting tape to use when marking in the school-issued text isn't an option. Removable colored tape can be purchased at www.reallygoodstuff.com. Now, in order to prepare for an upcoming test, your child can review what's been "highlighted" with tape and remove it as he masters the materials. Both highlighting and margin notes are effective as stand-alone strategies, but even more powerful when used together.

What Is The Best Way To Take Notes?

Taking good lecture notes is absolutely essential to academic success. Lately, I have started to believe the best use of these methods is not for taking lecture notes, but for taking notes while reading. My tutors and I are big fans of adapting the columned note-taking method originally developed for lectures (often called Cornell Notes) for this use.

Two-Column Notes

To set up columned notes the student divides or folds the paper into two sections, labeling the left one-third "key words" and the right two-thirds "notes." On the left the student records the main idea, and on the right he jots down an explanation using short phrases. 

This note taking method helps kids to be more independent learners. Your child can fold his paper vertically on the line between the key words and notes so that he can quiz himself and not rely on someone else to assist with studying. With only the left column visible, he asks himself, "Who was Paris?" and then says the answer. He checks his reply by flipping over the page. He continues to review in this manner, repeating and retesting himself on the terms he cannot automatically recall.

Older students can take this method one step further.  Instead of simply recording a key word or concept, they write the chapter subheadings in their text books as a question. For example, if the heading is "Natural Selection and Adaptation Modify Species", the student would jot down "How does natural selection and adaptation modify species?" They then add details in the right column that answer the question. Voila -- the student now has a ready-made study guide! 

To get an added bang, studies show that if students summarize their notes within 24 hours of initially recording them, they're more likely to remember the information for a test. 

Three-Column Notes

Three-column notes are highly effective for younger students and visual or tactile learners. In addition to the first two-columns, a third section for a drawing is added. By drawing a picture of the concept or term, children are hooking a concrete visual image to the information they need to remember. This is one powerful strategy!

Regardless of the note-taking method used, many students are under the impression that "less is more". While being succinct is important, the fact is that the more notes students take, the more information they will be able to recall later. In this particular case, "more is more!"

Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed., is the founder and president of Educational Connections, Inc., a comprehensive provider of educational services in Fairfax, VA and Bethesda, MD. In her new book, Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework, Dolin offers proven solutions to help the six key types of students who struggle with homework. Numerous examples and easy-to-implement, fun tips will help make homework less of a chore for the whole family. Learn more at anndolin.com or ectutoring.com.

Guest Post: Reading for a Happily Ever After

© Flickr User Newton Free Library

One of the things parents should never underestimate is the value of a good bedtime story. Despite the busy schedules most families now are forced to keep, it is important that parents still try to set aside a regular bedtime schedule for their children, which includes a ten to twenty minute story time period. By maintaining this consistent schedule, children learn how to adapt to routines, develop regular sleeping patterns which can prove to be highly beneficial when they reach school age, and allow them to develop a sense of autonomy and independence as they learn to go through the pre-bedtime tasks such as brushing teeth, washing up and putting on their pajamas.

More than just that, however, is that bedtime stories are more than just rituals that can lull children to sleep. Studies show that children who are read to are more successful in school. Further, the American Medical Association highlights the value of reading aloud to children as this helps make them a more fully healthy child.

What exactly does reading aloud to children contribute to their development? For one, reading to kids helps foster cognitive development. This has been known to stimulate brain development and promote language development and communication skills. Kids who are read to are more likely able to answer questions about what he or she has heard, recall details from auditory stimuli and learn to pay attention when being spoken to. Studies have also indicated that playing music and reading aloud to a child while in the womb promotes better brain growth.

Bedtime stories also teach children the basic academic competencies that they will need as they go through life. From colors to shapes, to literacy skills and even causal relationships, bedtime stories build a reservoir of resources for children that they carry on through the rest of their lives. Stories like Eric Carle’s ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ and ‘The Mixed Up Chameleon’ are great examples of simple, fun, and visually attractive stories that can teach academic competencies as well as highlight personal values as well.

Stories also allow children to have better logic reasoning skills. They are able to come up with conclusions, make sense of experiences that they may not have personally encountered, and essentially, have a bigger worldview from which they can draw from.

Going beyond it’s cognitive benefits, bedtime stories help build a child’s self-esteem and foster good social skills. Books are character building. Through these stories, children can understand and appreciate the importance of values such as honesty, sharing, kindness and forgiveness. Although we, as parents, tell our kids about this endlessly, they do not imbibe these until it really makes sense to them, and that is what storybooks do for them. It makes these values much more real to them. Take for example the story of ‘The Rainbow Fish’ by Marcus Pfister. Through Rainbow’s story, children can learn that being the best looking or having the nicest things means nothing if no one likes you and you are not able to share this with others.

Also, storytime can help build better bonds between parent and child. Through this very affirming activity, parents can help make their children feel secure, loved and safe in their environment. The physical closeness of reading time can also help build a sense of trust in others. This is extremely important as many psychologists show that one’s personality and ability to engage with others is deeply rooted in early childhood experiences.

Lastly, reading to children from early on can help foster a love for reading, something which many children have forgotten, mainly because books have been overshadowed by gadgets and technology. Take a look around and try to count how many children are holding a book rather than a handheld computer console. You probably will find that there are little to none. Taking time to read to them can help change this mindset.

Reading to children before going to bed is one of the most valuable gifts a parent can give their children. Not only does it help provide a comfortable night’s sleep, its long-term benefits are far reaching and life-changing.

Author Bio:
Marina Chernyak is the Co-owner of Venetian Masks store located at 1001Venetianmasks.com

Guest Post: How to Tell If Your Family Is Out-of-Control...and How to Fix It If It Is

This post is by Scott Gale, author of Your Family Constitution:

Is my family out-of-control? Are my kids more challenging, my circumstances more difficult, or my mental wiring more loose than my neighbors, friends and colleagues’? Greg, a Southern California teacher and father of two, wrestled with these questions every day. He became convinced that his family was uniquely dysfunctional. He felt isolated and fearful, desperate and depressed. He wanted the perfect family like those whose perfect image permeated his thoughts and perpetuated his concerns.

The problem…he couldn’t answer those tough questions about his family with any sense of conviction. Confidence and family emotions changed more often than the clothes they wore. Without intimate knowledge of how other families operated, Greg could only assume the worst; that his family was somehow more messed up than all others. Anxiety set in, tainting his perception. Greg didn’t understand that all those other “perfect” families asked themselves the same question and came to the same conclusions as he did. To some, Greg’s family may even have been the “shining star” that others looked at as a bastion of health and prosperity. If only he knew the truth.

The truth…every family fits the description of “out of control” at certain moments. Every parent experiences self-doubts and challenges, both with themselves and their kids. So, behind closed doors, where all families fall flat on their face occasionally, how can any parent tell if the people they love most are “out-of-control?”

Although hindsight usually defines the magnitude of such problems, definite signs surface in the midst of chronic family “control” challenges. The first sign is lack of an identified plan or vision. To take a quality shot at developing an impressionable child into a responsible adult, parents must have a target and a path. Once Mom and Dad hit the point where they are simply reacting in a frantic attempt to “keep up”, it becomes difficult to put forth the focused effort it takes to regain control.

The reason…life inevitably speeds up. Parents optimistically think the pace will slow down as their kids get older and become more self-sufficient. This common myth almost invariably proves untrue as careers, activities, and societal pressures overwhelm families as they grow and evolve. In the face of diminishing time and growing tension, families don’t often take the time to evaluate the approach, inadvertently choosing to react to circumstances and accept shortcomings instead.

The second sign is that negative emotion begins to interfere with everyday family interactions. As arguments arise more frequently, human tendency causes parents and kids alike to fall into a defensive stance, paving the way for further tension and confrontation. Greg and his son Jeff argued incessantly, not because of lack of love or respect, but because of poor communication patterns and associated frustration on both sides damaged their ability to rectify even the smallest of problems.

The unfortunate truth is that Greg’s expectations, or lack thereof, bred confusion. He took Jeff’s failure to demonstrate responsibility as lack of motivation and consideration, rather than lack of clarity and consistency. Jeff perceived Greg’s blind attempts to teach responsibility as calculated attacks designed to pick on him unfairly, and intentionally. They went round and round in circles until their mutual desire to enjoy a healthy father-son relationship became overshadowed by emotional barriers.

The third sign is that a family repeatedly has communication failures. Once again, all families will have some communication challenges, but it is a continual pattern of misunderstanding that is most concerning. When people struggle to communicate, the natural reaction is to stop sharing feelings and ideas. This leads to poor coordination, unstated expectations, inefficiency and isolation. Greg’s biggest breakthrough came when he recognized his family’s need to meet regularly...even if they had nothing specific to talk about. They used this forum to share ideas and concerns, plan and prioritize efforts, hold each other accountable to the structure they created together, and most importantly, enjoy each other’s company.

The final sign, a significant gap between actions priorities, is more clandestine, requiring true introspection to uncover. For years, Greg worked very long hours to provide for his family, impairing his emotional availability to his family. When he finally took the time to examine his priorities, he realized there was conflict and contradiction between his choices and his core values. Introspection is hard, but it changed Greg’s life and the course of his family. Greg’s began to coach his children’s teams, to get home in time to eat with his family, and to plan activities for the weekends. His career didn’t suffer because he was more balanced and energetic; however, he and his family came to connect on a level which they had not experienced before...family bliss.

So, what can a family do if it exhibits some or all of the signs of being out of control? The short answer...exercise the 3C’s (clarity, consistency, and commitment) to wrap clear boundaries and incentives around a family’s most important core values. Clarity and consistency will foster shared expectations and respect for boundaries. Clear understanding of family rules, combined with appropriate rewards and consequences, motivates parents and kids alike to stay within the structure. Arguments cease because of the predetermined outcome of certain choices and behaviours.

Although it would be nice if clarity and consistency could make all problems go away completely, it is not the case. Whether it be a new issue that arises or a temporary deviation from the rules, the fortitude of the structure will be tested from time to time. As long as a family recognizes that issues will continue to arise and that adjustments will be made, then the commitment to steady improvement will prevail and positive momentum will be preserved. The system won’t fail, as long as family members stay committed to continually evolving. When someone slips up...don’t declare a failed experiment and throw away vital structure. Instead, evaluate what went wrong, make adjustments to the rules if necessary, and continue to allow core values guide your family’s efforts. It works...it just takes time and the 3C’s.

Guest Post: Inspiration From a Smile by Tim Whitney

Tim Whitney is the author of Thanksgiving At the Inn. More details after the story.

Back in the spring of 1983 I was a 'typical' cocky high school senior, counting the days until I could escape my small home town and run off to college in Boston. My last hurdle before graduation was a volunteer project called the 'May Project' where we had to choose a community service to perform and then write a paper. As an athlete and captain of the swim team, I volunteered for the YMCA and the Boy's Club as a counselor. But the Jesuits had a little surprise for me. Instead of giving me a project in my comfort zone, they assigned me to a school for handicapped children.

I'll be honest, I led a very sheltered life and had never really been exposed to handicapped children, let alone autistic children. At the time the cases of autism were far fewer than they are today and I was so naive that I did not even know the difference between artistic and autistic. The overall experience was totally overwhelming and I went home exhausted every day. From gaining an appreciation for special needs teachers and parents to developing an incredible appreciation for so many things I had taken for granted in my life it was an amazing, humbling, and enlightening experience. It was a pivotal tim e in my life that changed my perspective on the many things I should be grateful for in life.

On the last day there, I was asked to spend time with a little girl in the class that was severely handicapped, both physically and mentally. Somehow I had managed to become her favorite and her smile touched my heart. We went out on the swings, enjoyed the beautiful spring day, and she spoke to me in basic sign language. Later that day as class was ending, the teachers thanked me for spending my time with her and how much it had meant. Then they let me know she only had a matter of weeks to live. I can still picture that day, the smile on her face, and the range of emotions that swept me up like a rogue wave pulling a drowning swimmer out to sea.

I tell this story because it changed my perspective on life and her smile still etched in my memory 25 years later, was in part the inspiration for my book. We all h ave two choices in life- to be grateful for everything we have, or be bitter for everything we don't. The little girl's smile has been a calibration point for my life. With so much adversity in her life, she still had a smile on her face, love in her heart and an appreciation for everyone around her. I learned more about life, gratitude, humility, and laughter in that month than I had in the previous18 years. When I wrote Thanksgiving at the Inn, I wanted to share this message and other life lessons I've learned along the way in hope that I could help someone else realize that we all have so much we take for granted when we should be thankful.

Inspiration takes many forms and for each of us it's unique. For me, it all started with a little girl's smile.

Wishing you a thankful holiday season,

Tim Whitney
Author of Thanksgiving At the Inn

GUEST POST: Back to School with ADHD

Note from Callista: The three books mentioned below will be reviewed here at SMS Book Reviews this week.

Back to School with ADHD by Jeanne Gehret, M.A. September 13-20 is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Week. When I mentioned this to the mother of a child with attention problems, she laughed. "I wish I only had to think about ADHD one week a year," she said. "For us, it's a year-round concern. I guess this refers to when it's uppermost in our minds because of starting school." I agreed. More than any other time, September's when we parents of kids with ADHD establish the accommodations necessary for our children to survive and thrive in school. In truth, however, our efforts continue all year long. As the parent of a child with ADHD, you can help your youngster transition comfortably and successfully into a new school year by asking yourself these four questions: What new people or routines will my child encounter this year? How can I prepare my child to do well in each setting? How can I help the adults in each setting deal effectively with my child? What can I do at home to support my child's educational goals? In answering these questions, here are some suggestions.

Ten ways to help make school great this year for your ADHD child: 1. Meet the teacher(s) as early in the school year as possible. Establish yourself as the child's advocate who has your youngster's interests at heart and is willing to cooperate for the best academic experience. Mention previous classroom accommodations and techniques that worked. Even if your youngster has an individualized education plan or 504 plan, don't hesitate to mention the highlights. This helps teachers use effective strategies from day one, even if they haven't had time yet to sort through documentation. 2. Exchange email addresses and phone numbers with the teacher, and establish preferred contact times. Whether your contact is daily, weekly, or monthly, it is best to check in regularly, even when things seem to be going well. This allows you to smooth out bumps on the path before they become roadblocks. 3. Give your child something to boost his confidence such as a popular new item of clothing, encouraging notes from home in his lunch, or a worry stone. For older kids, a motivational bookmark or a special photo may prompt a smile. 4. Know your school's processes for getting help for children who are having difficulties in school. Does the teacher or school do academic screening? When the screening process identifies children as having difficulties, who provides the services? Once interventions are in place, how long before the child's progress is re-checked? What methods are used for monitoring progress? 5. If your child takes medication for ADHD, notify the teacher and the nurse. Make sure that your child knows when and where to go for his daily dosage. When starting meds or changing doses, be sure to let the school know. Have a clear conversation with your youngster about if and how to explain to others why he takes meds. 6. If you have after-school childcare, make sure your child knows how to get there and is familiar with the surroundings. Visit the childcare facility with your youngster before his first official day there and let the staff know of ADHD issues and any medications. 7. Think of ways to form bonds with classmates -- parties, trips to a playground, or walking to the bus stop. Make your home inviting to other children. When your youngster socializes at home, you can monitor any ADHD problems and help when needed. 8. Minimize distractions at home so that you can focus on your child's adjustment to school. Be pro-active about scheduling physicals, buying school supplies, and getting prescriptions refilled. For the first few weeks of school, cut down on non-academic disruptions like visiting relatives, shopping, major cleaning projects, remodeling, and visits to the vet. 9. Establish a school-year routine. Make a list of no more than five things that your child must do each day after school, such as reviewing with you what's in his backpack, doing his homework, and returning his completed homework to the backpack. When kids are prepared, they become confident and free to focus their attention on doing their best. 10. Make sure that your child gets enough sleep. If she takes stimulant medication, you may need to adjust the timing of the dosage so that she can relax at night. Other helpful bedtime routines may include story time, relaxing music, a foot rub, and special blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals. If you suspect your child has ADHD, or other learning difficulties, make sure to address it immediately. See #4 above and be proactive.

I'm not making any promises. But if you attend to these ten issues by the end of ADHD Awareness Week, you may enjoy a day, even a season, when ADHD is not front and center on the refrigerator of your mind. ~ ~ ~ ~

Jeanne Gehret is the parent of a child with ADHD and learning disabilities and is the author of three picture books that comprise The Coping Series from Verbal Images Press. Eagle Eyes includes a song for getting ready for school and other coping mechanisms that Ben uses after he's diagnosed with ADHD. Houdini's Gift shows Ben using a reward chart as motivation to complete his daily responsibilities. The Don't-give-up Kid describes the invention devised by very creative boy while he discovers and copes with his dyslexia. For more on these books, see www.ksblinks.com. To learn about ADHD Awareness Week, see www.chadd.org.

Guest Post: Indigo Testing by Dr. Janine Talty, DO

Indigo Testing

As the Indigo adults begin to identify themselves based on lists of characteristics found on the Internet and in some printed texts, where can they go to get validation for their suppositions? Who can they ask? How can they verify beyond a reasonable doubt if in fact they qualify to fit in this very narrow classification? Most have felt so ostracized by societal norms, how dare they actually consider they might finally fit into a recognized category. And most importantly, where can they go to find others of the same persuasion?

Finding a test to verify my supposition that I was an Indigo person became both my passion and biggest frustration when I came to suspect that I might be one of these people. How could I truly know for certain? In the metaphysical literature many were repeating a statement that was originally made by Drunvalo Melchizedek that people of this persuasion had upgraded DNA that explained their supernatural traits and abilities. He said these new beings had 26 base pairs of the DNA in the “on” position versus the usual 24 of normal people. As a physician I took his statement to heart but need to scientifically verify it before I could repeat it and perhaps find a simple blood test to test for it. I followed this lead all the way to the Human Genome Project that has been researching DNA characteristics since 1990 in an attempt to identify the 20,000 to 25,000 genes in human DNA but also to determine the sequence of the 3 billion base pairs that make it up. If anyone could verify these statements, they certainly seem capable I thought. I spoke to three different geneticists who had no idea what I was referring to. They needed to know which specific gene I was describing. Not having that specific information my only lead crumbled.

It wasn’t until I met Dr. Richard Boylan who has been researching what he calls the Star Kids and Star Seeds for nearly 25 years when I found my conformational tests. He developed a 54 question questionnaire along with a technique using dowsing rods that measures the individual’s bio-electromagnetic-photic field. Both combined give a high correlation of accuracy. The technology of dowsing for underground water or buried electrical lines is well accepted. Using the dowsing rods to measure the size and distance of the body’s bio-electromagnetic-photic field is not so well known, but very accurate with if performed by a skilled dowser. The questionnaire can be found either on his website; under “star kids questionnaire” at drboylan.com, or in my recently published book Indigo Awakening; A Doctor’s Memoir Of Forging An Authentic Life In A Turbulent World.

Dowsing can be easily learned by taking either two pieces of metal wire from a coat hanger or copper wire bent at a 90 degree angle, holding them lightly between your bent index finger and thumb pointed at the individual and simply ask the rods to show you a “yes” (they will separate out laterally) or a “no” (they will come together and cross). Concentration with intension is imperative for this exercise. If your grip is too tight they will not be free to move so it is always more accurate to place the portion of the wire you are holding in drinking straws so they move more freely. Once you have become proficient at communicating with your rods, stand at least 30 feet from the person you are attempting to measure and walk slowly toward them all the while asking the rods to show you the outermost margin of the person’s electromagnetic field. When the rods separate to the outside is where you begin your counting the distance away from the individual.

According to Dr. Boylan, a “regular USDA human’s” electromagnetic field can be measured 18” – 20” off the body. A Star Kid or Star Seed (Indigo; Blue Ray) is three meters (6 feet) and above. The largest field he has ever measured was an Italian young man at 54 feet. In my practice of physically “derailed” Indigo adults, I commonly find 15 to 22 feet.

Janine Talty, D.O., M.P.H.
Author of Indigo Awakening

[Guest Post] Travel Guides by Michael Schuermann

Thanks to Callista for giving me the opportunity of addressing you, her readers, in this way.

What happened was this: A few days ago, Callista contacted me, having come across a press release about my recently published book, Paris Movie Walks – to which she had replied to my publisher, with refreshing candor, that she was “not interested”. If I was game, however, she could offer me a slot on her blog as a “guest poster”. Anything “book or reading related” would be welcome, she suggested, adding that – obviously – I could also use the post to write something about my book.

Now call me strange, but I am somewhat reluctant to review my own book or even to talk about it in great detail. (I am easily embarrassed. To me, this is like being asked to say how bright and beautiful my kids are.) So, instead, I would like to, if I may, share a few thoughts with you about travel guides in general, the good ones and the bad ones, and the pitfalls involved in trying to avoid writing one of the latter kind.

Now, good travel guides come in all shapes and sizes: it is fairly difficult to generalize about them in any way. Bad ones, on the other hand, generally fall into one of two categories.

Bad Travel Guide Category One is often a quite glossy affair, something that has been released by one of our major publishing houses. It has shiny pages, loads of colorful maps and pictures and appears eager to cover all the bases. Its authors – because there is normally more than one – have compiled these guides diligently and dutifully. A little too much under the assumption, perhaps, that their readers would approach the foreign city or country they are writing about in the same frame of mind. These books appear to be based on the conviction that people don’t travel for fun but out of a sense of solemn duty.

The persons these books talk to are academics on a field trip. Who else would be interested in lengthy descriptions of 13th century masonry techniques or painted-glass windows? The antics of long-dead despots (why, by the way, are all French kings called Louis? and why are they all named after Super Bowls?) or, worse still, their annoying little mistresses? And who else would want to spend most of his time (judging from the space these guides devote to them) in musty museums – places that have been designed to sap your will to live – and that, quite often, on a hot summer’s day to boot?

It is in books like these where you can find a possible destination for a day trip summarized as follows: “Village with a 14th century church, Gothic with some later elements, a 16th century Renaissance town hall, and a museum with two minor Tintorettos”. Now what’s wrong with that? Everything. Because it tells you nothing about the place you would really want or need to know. It’s like being at a party, and someone approaches you to introduce one of his friends. “You must meet Bill”, he says, “Bill broke his ankle last year while playing tennis and lost a tooth when he was a little boy.” Uhhh, yes, Bill, so pleased to meet you ...

Bad Travel Guide Category Two is a different animal. Generally there is only one author, and his or her name is displayed on the front page. We understand immediately: This is a much more personalized account, and we are, for better or for worse, invited to experience the city or country through the eyes of one particular person.

In principle, this can and often does work very well indeed. Unfortunately, however, some authors are much more interested in talking about themselves than about the city or country they have been hired to talk about. I once read a walking guide of Paris where one of the contributors suggested that the reader follow her to all the places where she and her Lesbian friend had been having a good, or, as their affair progressed towards its bitter end, increasingly less of a good time. I mean: puh-lease.

What the writers of travel guides must understand is this: the book is an instrument to assist the reader in organizing a successful trip, essentially not all that different from a map or a compass. It is not a piece of literature. It is not a stage for you to express yourself. It is not about you.

Which brings me back to Paris Movie Walks. Did I manage to avoid these and all the other pitfalls of travel guide writing? Well, probably not all of them all of the time, but at least I tried. I set out to write about something that everybody has an interest in, kind of at least (people may like or dislike music, painting, literature and so forth, but I have never met someone who seriously claimed that s/he had never watched or enjoyed a movie). I showed Paris, this unique and beautiful city: deservedly the number one tourist destination in the world and a “movie star” in her own right, from both familiar and unfamiliar angles, reminding my readers of some of her greatest moments on the silver screen and recommending some others of which they may be less aware. All of this while struggling to avoid academic discourses, tedious flights of fancy and self-indulgent musings of any kind.

And did I manage, in the end? Is this particular kid bright and beautiful? I am too embarrassed to say, really. Ultimately, that’s for you to decide.

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Note from Callista:

Buy it at Amazon!

[Guest Review] Ambulance Girl: How I Saved Myself by Becoming an EMT by Jane Stern

*This review is by Sarah at Puss Reboots*

Jane Stern is a contributing editor for Gourmet magazine. She's also a volunteer EMT. She's been nicknamed "Ambulance girl" by the community she serves. Ambulance Girl chronicles her journey from hypochondria and depression to finding purpose as an EMT.

Each chapter reads like a short story, often focusing on similar training or rescues. Although depression played a huge role in Stern's life she doesn't dwell on it in this upbeat memoir. She also doesn't over state her part in any rescue and never makes herself out to be the hero.

Reading this memoir made me want to get myself recertified with my first aid training. At a previous job I volunteered as an EMT for the company (two were needed per floor). While my training was no where near as rigorous as Stern's I have needed some of that knowledge when my kids have gotten hurt. As Stern points out in the book, it is reassuring and calming to know what to do in an emergency.

Ambulance Girl has also been adapted into a TV movie but I haven't seen it.

Other books that might be of interest:

Blood, Sweet and Tea by Tom Reynolds
Choosing to Be by Kat Tansey

Another review:

Gather Books

Published 2003

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Visit Puss Reboots for more book reviews!

Day 4: Guest Post by Janine Sherman, MSN WHNP-BC

Day 4 - Guest Post

The Importance of Open Communication
by Janine Sherman, MSN WHNP-BC

NOTE: This is a TRUE story.

One day I received a call from a patient who told me her 16 year old daughter hadn’t had a period in a few months and that she had put on a few pounds. My first question for her was could the daughter be pregnant? The mom promptly responded that would be impossible. I asked if her daughter had a boyfriend and the mom told me yes, but that they were never alone. I told her to bring her daughter into the office.

When I saw the adolescent, I couldn’t believe my eyes; she looked pregnant and not just a few weeks. I got a urine pregnancy test that came back positive. I asked the girl while we were alone if she thought she could be pregnant and she exclaimed “no!” Then I asked if she ever had sex and she replied “well, sort of...” Then I told her we needed to examine her and perform an ultrasound of her uterus.

When I started the ultrasound, I was shocked to see a very well-formed 23 week fetus, which would be about 6 months pregnant. When I told the girl that she was pregnant, she had a blank look on her face; I asked her to look at the screen to see the very active fetus. I brought her mother back and we broke the news to her, pointing out the ultrasound pictures. They were all in shock. Even after the scan, she still seemed in a state of denial. We spent the next hour talking about options. It still makes me sad that the option that they had chosen was to terminate the pregnancy.

The worst part of this is that if there had been real honest communication between the mom and her daughter, this situation would have been preventable. It was just very clear that neither mother nor daughter were comfortable talking to each other about anything related to sex. Remember it is your job as a mother to ask the hard questions, and do not be afraid to set boundaries.

NOTE from Blog Owner: To those who comment on this post, please let's NOT discuss the pro-choice VS pro-life part of this story. Let's focus on the need for communcation with our daughters and on other such matters.

Want to buy Start Talking by Mary Jo Rapini and Janine Sherman?

Day 3: Guest Post by Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC

Day 3 - Guest Post

Reduce Your Stress by Reducing Your Daughter’s Stress
by Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC
*Originally printed at Mary Jo Rapini and She Knows

When your teen’s hormone – and friendship – fluctuations are in high drive and your nerves have been sassed and moped raw, tension, stress and heated arguments (or staunch silent treatments) are inevitable. You may feel like the only mom in the world with a surly inconsolable daughter, but you aren’t alone.

Authors Rapini and Sherman know how difficult it is to talk to daughters about – well, anything, but particularly – personal changes – the two women have daughters of their own. But they also know how critical it is for moms and daughters to have an open and ongoing dialogue to help moms raise healthy confident daughters and for daughters to have a safe place to ask the growing myriad of questions about becoming a woman.

Rapini and Sherman say, “Our goal is to inspire open communication between mothers and daughters – to generate memorable conversations and unforgettable table talks.” And their book Start Talking is an invaluable resource to do just that. With more than 113 questions commonly asked by moms and daughters, ranging from periods and sex to self-esteem and dating, Start Talking presents answers, sample conversations and real-life stories that make touchy topics palpable and meaningful.

Helping your daughter deal with stress
Stress is part of life and, though it inappropriately seems to be hitting kids younger and younger, there is no way to eliminate it completely. Regardless of your daughter’s age, teaching her effective coping skills will not only help her deal with the teenage scourge of stressors, it will also give her stress-reducing tools to benefit her for a lifetime. Here are some tips from Start Talking when your daughter is giving you all the signs she is stressed out.

Listen reflectively
Ask your daughter what’s wrong. Listen calmly and nonjudgementally, allowing your daughter to express her opinions. And ask questions like, “Then what happened?” or “How did that make you feel?” to get the whole story.

Notice out loud
Casually observe your child’s feelings and let her know you are interested in hearing more – without sounding accusatory.

Comment on your daughter’s feelings
Show her that you understand and care by saying something like, “That must have been upsetting.” This will help your daughter feel more connected to you.

Provide emotional support
Don’t criticize or belittle your daughter’s stressful feelings, even if they do appear trivial to you. Remember that teens don’t have an adult perspective and issues relating to relationships and body image are extremely important to them.

Provide realistic expectations
Celebrate your daughter’s successes (even if they aren’t exactly what you’d hoped for) and let her know you’re proud of her. Also, share with her that you, too, feel stressed sometimes and that occasionally feeling stressed is normal.

Provide structure, stability and predictability
Preparing your daughter for potentially stressful situations, like a healthcare appointment (particularly her first gynecological visit), will help ease her worries. Also, in general, make sure she understands your rules and routines and sticks to them – or will have to deal with the consequences. Don’t bend or change rules in stressful situations – it’s wiser for her to prepare herself for an upcoming stressful event. By keeping boundaries and expectations predictable, you actually help lower your daughter’s stress.

Model positive coping skills
If you practice good problem-solving and coping skills – like exercising, laughing, or taking a break to reduce your own stress level – your child will learn from you. Don’t criticize yourself or your daughter – ever!

Help your child brainstorm a solution
Suggest activities that will help your daughter feel better now while also solving the problem. Encourage her to come up with creative solutions on her own – this will help build her self-esteem.

Be organized
Teach your daughter good organizational and time-management skills early on. This can make homework and other responsibilities more manageable and less overwhelming and stressful. It also helps her gain time to relax. Easy starting points: suggest she set out her clothes and books the night before, pack a healthy lunch, write her to-do things down for the day or week.

Just be there
Your daughter may not want to talk but you being available to take a walk or watch a movie together can let her know you care – and she’ll appreciate your presence.

Get professional help
If your daughter’s behavior seems way out of character and she's having trouble functioning at school or at home or is she’s exhibiting serious anxiety, ask your doctor to refer you to a mental health specialist.

Additional stress-reducing tips
These are just a few of the helpful tips Rapini and Sherman present in Start Talking. Start here and then pick up the book for you and your daughter. Developing good communication skills is only one of the outcomes – Start Talking also fosters raising a daughter who is confident, healthy and happy. That alone can do wonders in reducing your own stress and allow you to be confident in your parenting practices as well as healthy and happy, too.