News-Herald

Solutions to Random Acts of Violence Pt 1 and 2 (Column Related)

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So, I’ve done it, I’ve opened my mouth again. Some people really hate it when I do that.
Well, I’m not the only one who sees it. Random acts of violence are running rampant in our nation.

WHY?

I am not sure why, but since my oldest daughter was a glimmer of hope in my young eyes, I have wanted to find the solution to this sick, sick epidemic.

Who takes a persons life? Why would they? Would my child do this? These are just three of the questions we are being faced with. And I don’t think we are nearly close to the answers (I’d swear in that statement right there if I could)!

Please read my November column in County Kids News-Herald Ohio Magazine for Pt I of this blog.

If you have read this already, please stay tuned because Pt III will be following in the next day or two.

I’m a positive person, I really am. I try to put the best attitude forward and wear a smile, but I am sick of standing watching, gasping, asking questions. I want to open the dialogue and discuss the solutions.

Want to read more on my thoughts regarding random acts of violence in schools and other places? Click here for my recent blog post on the topic as well as a list of all links on the same subject.

If you have read this month’s County Kids article already, some facts related to it, will be in Pt III, including the source of the FBI study, and more.

The No Diet Challenge: Step 1

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If you read my May column, in the News-Herald County Kids Magazine (page 12), you know about the “No Diet Challenge” we’re doing for Spring.

Here’s a summary. In the column I remind you that I came from an A-1 dysfunctional childhood (which some of you already know) but one where eating habits weren’t immune. I mean it makes sense right? What super dysfunctional family gets eating habits 100% correct, but not much else? Exactly. So, my horrible food habits were just part of the equation.

In the column, I explain how much of the food I ate was junk (mostly sugar). Fast forward to when I became pregnant. Well, obviously I really didn’t have much clue what to eat, so I had to read that book -you know the one- “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”. Thank goodness for that book-I followed it to a ‘T’, and a healthy 8 lb baby later, I thought, ‘I got this’!

But then, crash! Nope. Seems I didn’t have it. Because soon I realized I was doing a terrible job of feeding my toddler. Ooooops! But, it wasn’t too late to turn it around, and I did.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE… (for anything)

So join me for the No Diet Challenge! Because as I write often about things that help me parent my kids better- discipline, routines, emotional intelligence and communication, I never really discuss food- But I should, because it helps them behave better, learn more, and makes my job easy 
(yes, you read that right, EASY).

READY?
Take Step #1 of the “No Diet Challenge” 
and do nothing.

You heard right…
Don’t do a thing….

I Repeat: DO NOTHING!

I hate diets… and I would never suggest anyone ever try one, ever…

So don’t stop eating out, don’t Google health foods or exercise routines, and please, please, please, whatever you do, don’t look up any new diet fads (they’re called fads for a reason). Just relax-and commit yourself to participating in the challenge, and if do you feel motivated to do something, just grab a pen/paper, pocket calendar, or your preferred source of portable technology and start keeping track of the following:

1. How you feel every day for the next 7 days….

-If you can manage it, write down your mood or feeling-
at morning, lunchtime and dinner. 

-While you’re at it, and if you can tell, also jot down what the kids’ moods, behaviors, and attitudes are like.
That’s it.

Next week we will do Step 2

Photo credit: Fork With Measuring Tape Stock Photo
By Grant Cochrane via Freedigitalphotos.net

New Year – One Word – No Resolutions.

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“Two Thousand And Fourteen On Laptop Shows New Years Resolution 2” by Stuart Miles via Freedigitalphotos.net

For three years I’ve not made a single resolution. That’s right…not a one.

Don’t get me wrong, I know I’m far from perfect, I know I could use a little help (what type of help could actually be debated), but in all seriousness, I have not not made one list of resolutions since 2011.

I no longer focus on bad habits to fix, good deeds to do, or goals to work on relating to the traditional New Year Resolution.

Neither do my kids.

That’s because I like life simple…

And ever since I read an article in Psychology Today about the benefits of picking just one word for the year, I jumped on board.

And, it’s worked!

You see, the truth is, I’ve been a self-help junky for too long and so I could never go into the New Year without at least something to get better at….

I found that the one word approach just made life easier, and believe it or not,  it’s more effective!

I did My One Word for 2011, 2012 & 2013 and let me tell you how my life has changed because of it.

This One Word thing has been way more effective than any approach you could ever take to a New Year’s Resolution…and it’s easy to teach kids how to do! When you take away the daunting list of ‘have-to’s’ and replace it with a philosophy, life becomes simpler.

Oh, but don’t let this simple one word idea fool you- It’s work. And it will pay off.

Come back and visit later in the month to find out what 
one word I’ll be choosing for 2014!

My One Word ~ Blog Posts:

SPECIAL POST: A Mother's Inspring Story

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about a mother who truly inspires me.

Tamsen giving her brother Kenan Kisses (Visit Kisses for Kenan site)

There are two postings today so if you missed today’s Fun Friday video click here.

What Did You Do Last Night? (Collection of Photos)

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Normally, I do not post on Thursday, but I just couldn’t wait to tell you what we did last night!

First, we brought our wishes to the News-Herald, made some ornaments for them and put them on the Wishing Tree. We had hot cocoa, chatted with Cheryl Sadler, ate cookies and watched a few scenes of Christmas movies on the TV. We even learned a about what the News-Herald does, how they keep old archives saved in their library, and what happens in the Community Media Lab.

Then, we went over to a school function and picked up some very wonderful artwork done by my 3rd grader.

This is a cheetah, by the way 🙂

Afterwards, we took a nice stroll (well, I strolled, they ran)  around downtown Willoughby to see the lights! We took 83 holiday photos tonight (just for fun) and I cannot tell you the last time that I saw my children in the most beautiful moods, the best light, and the most love.


What did you do last night?

Share it here in the comments on Family Matters with Amber or Tweet me at @amberinspiration
My wish is that everyone in the world would have a family to love them.

If you are interested in sending wishes to the community (or the world) send them to News-Herald Ohio and let them spread the word for you on their blog. Don’t worry if you are not from Ohio – (the internet is an amazing thing).

See below for more information.

The News-Herald Wishing Tree

What’s your wish this holiday season? Whether you’re an individual, a family, a business, a school or a nonprofit agency, we’d like to know what you wish.

The News-Herald is gathering wishes to hang as ornaments on our Wishing Tree in our Community Media Lab.

You can share your wish in several ways:

  • Email TellTheNH@gmail.com.
  • Call 440-497-0858.
  • Fax to 440-975-2293, Attn: Cheryl Sadler.
  • Mail to The News-Herald, Attn: Cheryl Sadler, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094.
  • Tweet @newsheraldinoh with the hashtag #wish.

Your wish will be written on an ornament to hang on our Wishing Tree, and wishes will be published on our Wishing Tree blog, newsheraldwishingtree.blogspot.com.

If you’d like to record a video of your wish or create your own ornament, you may come in to our Community Media Lab at our Willoughby office during our Wishing Open Houses:

  • 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 5
  • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 14
  • 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 17
  • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec 19

The family-friendly open houses will include coffee, hot chocolate and homemade cookies. 

A FOLLOW UP: To the News-Herald Home School Discussion Panel

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THANK YOU!
 To all who came out and expressed an interest in the News-Herald 
Home School Discussion and their own child’s education last night!
We enjoyed your company, questions and feedback, and hope you left 
more knowledgeable, confident and clear about home schooling.
Your child’s education is important.
Whether or not you send them to public or private school, home school with a curriculum or unschool, ‘homeschooling’ is still a life long value they will be bringing with them everywhere they go.
Please let us know if you have any more questions.
And don’t forget to visit the News-Herald’s Education Blog often for information and related links.

For now, here are a few Homeschool Blogs 

you might want to check out:
Happy Schooling!

Still Grateful After Farmpark Membership Hikes

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This past fall at the Farmpark for our daughter’s tenth birthday.

A few years ago, my family and I relocated from Connecticut to Ohio.
We used to live in a very rural area which was quite beautiful, but a little pricey. Moving to Ohio has been a financial relief for us in many ways. But, with that being said, no place is immune to a poor economy.

Gas has rose, grocery prices are on the rise also, and I recently read that our favorite family place of all will be their raising their membership rates.

Since moving away from Connecticut to NE Ohio, the Lake Metropark Farmpark has become like home to us. It is a wonderful place for families to play, learn, and attend community events that teach things; the most important of them, agriculture (which is something important to me that I want to continue teaching my children about). We live in a busy town, and are removed somewhat from the roots we used to have regarding the land, nature and the animals.

Read my February County Kids Column to understand why we are grateful for rate hike and a little more about our home state and our move. (Pg 7)

Here are many ways we utilize the Farmpark:

The Quilt Show(Starts in February!)
Country Lights (This event has past, but is held annually, and is a must see!)
Birthdays, Fall Festivals, Country walks, Seeing the animals, field trips, we take yearly family photos there, and more! Lake Metropark Farmpark is a family place which every time we leave there, I end up saying a little prayer. I thank God that the Farmparks are available to my family and I pray they stay in business during tough times so that not only my family can enjoy it, but my children’s family as well.

Largely running on volunteers they need the support both physically and monetarily. So, despite the increase, our family is very grateful.

Per News-Herald article linked above:
‘The increase will not become effective immediately, Palagyi said.’ ‘“We’re going to give current members an opportunity to renew this year at the old rate,” he said. “We believe that is fair treatment for our devoted family members.”’  


“Again, Thank you Lake Metropark Farmpark for all you do!”


Truly,

The Family-Matters-with-Amber Family

County Kids July Parenting Article

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Once a month I write a column in a magazine put out by our local newspaper The News Herald.

I address family matters there as well, just in more detail.

Previously the link posted on my site had some glitches from time to time.
So if you haven’t been able to check it out, here is a working link to July’s column which is a topic not really covered yet in my posts.

Hurry up and read July’s before August’s is published in it’s place!

County Kids Magazine – Family Matters Column

 In August:  10 Tips to Make Parenting Simpler

Happy Parenting!

Truly, 

Amber

DON'T FOLLOW ME…

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… ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK OR MY BLOG.
I DON’T WANT YOU TO Follow me…
Instead, I’D LIKE YOU TO go with me. 
I’m a blogger on a mission…
And on Family Matters with Amber my mission is to help parents be successful and enjoy parenting, while bringing up the healthiest happiest kids they can.
I’m not selling anything except ideas, encouragement and smiles.
I’m not an expert on anything; only my own experience as a parent.
I am from a divorced, dysfunctional family. I’m divorced myself, and almost remarried with three children. 
I am working hard trying to reverse the mistakes my family made with me, as well as the ones I made with myself… in hopes to help my children enjoy life more.
Life has its doozies and I have always seemed to end up with most of them; but somehow, most days I still end up happier than I was the day before, so I figure, why not share…
If you know a Family who would benefit from reading Family Matters with Amber, please share me!
I hope to reach as many Families as I can, so thank you in advance for sharing me and my goal.
Please forward my blog link to a Family today!
And in case you haven’t had much time to spend on Family Matters with Amber, here is a map of tools:
  •  Subscribe- to button: get an email notification of my most recent post and not have to wait for me to post link on Facebook and/or get updates on comments made on the post. 
  • Post a comment at the end of any blog
  • Link any particular post to one of your social media sites like Facebook or Twitter 
  •  Learn more about me by reading my bio and mission statement 
  • My email address: for use to ask questions privately, give me suggestions and/or offer helpful feedbck 
  • Top 40 Best Selling Children’s Books (categorized in drop-down box ages 2-12)
  • Books that have helped our family        
  • News Herald.com Headlines and access to their online News Paper Northeaster Ohio news and sports      
  • Search within the blog by topic in the search bar below the News Herald on lower right 
  • Search the archives of Family Matters (average of 3 per week is archived by month/week)
  • A list of links to Blogs I’m Following (for dads see Tony Dungy)
  • A link to my Yellow Inspiration blog (a place for motivation and laughs)
     
·    
·      If there is a tool(s) on this list that you have not yet utilized, please do so and let me know what you think.
                                             Thank you!
Truly,
Amber

 ‘The Best Thing I’ll Ever Do in Life is Be the Best Parent I Can.’