- Published on
An idea.
Carve out dinner times as often as possible, to be together.
To be at peace.
To share your day.
To enjoy each other.
We need to become aware of studies that show us that children are being damaged by screens and by the content on those screens and of studies about the high risk of cancer from screen use. And, of the breakdown of families and the terrible impact on all.
SO - picture dinner times as often as possible, together as a family, all devices out of the room, and talk and sharing with the food. Even include preparation of the food. How about making a delicious soup, and serving it with a healthful toast?
Here’s a wonderful, easy, quick recipe that could be fun for you all to make:
Yummy Butternut Squash Soup - makes about 4-5 servings
• about 8 cups of fresh cubed butternut squash, which you can find in the produce section of most groceries;
• Olive Oil;
• about 20 oz. of vegetable or chicken broth;
• about 2 c Heavy Cream;
• A large bag of baby spinach and a large chopped onion to saute to serve with your soup;
• Creme fraiche or sour cream or yogurt.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Turn squash cubes in oil until well coated.
Put onto baking sheet or baking pan, single layer, and roast at 400 deg for about an hour, until they are brown on the edges.
Can refrigerate at this point until ready to make the soup.
Blitz squash with broth in processor or with stick blender, and heat through. Add cream
Saute chopped onion in olive oil, remove, then a bit more olive oil, and dump your large bag of spinach into the saute pan and saute til wilted.
Serve your soup as you wish - top with your sautéed spinach and onion, creme fraiche, sour cream or yogurt, and. and sprinkle with red chili flakes if you want a touch of spicy,
Yum.
Love,
Carve out dinner times as often as possible, to be together.
To be at peace.
To share your day.
To enjoy each other.
We need to become aware of studies that show us that children are being damaged by screens and by the content on those screens and of studies about the high risk of cancer from screen use. And, of the breakdown of families and the terrible impact on all.
SO - picture dinner times as often as possible, together as a family, all devices out of the room, and talk and sharing with the food. Even include preparation of the food. How about making a delicious soup, and serving it with a healthful toast?
Here’s a wonderful, easy, quick recipe that could be fun for you all to make:
Yummy Butternut Squash Soup - makes about 4-5 servings
• about 8 cups of fresh cubed butternut squash, which you can find in the produce section of most groceries;
• Olive Oil;
• about 20 oz. of vegetable or chicken broth;
• about 2 c Heavy Cream;
• A large bag of baby spinach and a large chopped onion to saute to serve with your soup;
• Creme fraiche or sour cream or yogurt.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Turn squash cubes in oil until well coated.
Put onto baking sheet or baking pan, single layer, and roast at 400 deg for about an hour, until they are brown on the edges.
Can refrigerate at this point until ready to make the soup.
Blitz squash with broth in processor or with stick blender, and heat through. Add cream
Saute chopped onion in olive oil, remove, then a bit more olive oil, and dump your large bag of spinach into the saute pan and saute til wilted.
Serve your soup as you wish - top with your sautéed spinach and onion, creme fraiche, sour cream or yogurt, and. and sprinkle with red chili flakes if you want a touch of spicy,
Yum.
Love,
- Published on
You’ve undoubtedly heard the question, “Doctor, what can we do about her bad breath?”
Jenny’s mom asked me that question a worried look on her face. “I’ve talked to the pediatrician, and nothing is wrong. But, she is being teased about it, and we notice it at home too. Can you help us?”
And you’ve undoubtedly run through the conventional wisdom of telling them to check with their pediatrician or doctor about any upper airway infections, congestion, allergies, and about any GI tract illness, including GERD -- and be sure they brush and floss well every day.
Past that, you have suggested mouthwash. Maybe.
Mouthwash? Not. A. Good. Idea... because many-to-most mouthwashes have alcohol which dries the oral cavity and may worsen the situation. Of course there are products created for just this situation, the 'BB' (Bad Breath) that embarrasses the patient and/or parents. Those may work, though are often expensive and do not get to the etiology of the problem.
About 25% of the population has chronic BB, apparently not related to the above etiologies. A study of Army recruits found that only 17% did NOT have halitosis.
What could be the reason for BB?
Once you have ruled out the respiratory tract and GI tract (including gingivitis/perio disease) as sources, and the patient’s medical reports do not show other systemic diseases or challenges, the etiology is… GET READY…FOR…IT…
PROBABLY… an unhealthy and highly pathogenic MICROBIOME.
Bad bugs in the gut.
BB (Bad Breath) is caused by BB (bad bugs).
The trillions of microbes we call the microbiome is the community of coexisting microorganisms found in and on the human body. According to studies, the number of microbes is actually from three to ten times the number of cells in the human body. This includes the red blood cells, which are about 25 trillion, or 84% of the total cells of the body.
These microbes include bacteria, fungi and viruses (as well as other simple organisms called archaea and protists (algae and amoebae), that coexist with body cells. They are crucial for the immune system, and for hormonal and metabolic balance. Many are necessary “good bugs” that work with the body for health.
Some are not good. These are the BB (bad bugs), and have been implicated in cardiovascular diseases, cancer, infections, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, even obesity and other serious illnesses.
Everyone routinely carries some pathogens or “bad bugs.” In healthy people, they co-exist with the body (their host) and its total microbiome. However, these pathogens are etiologic in disease states such as infections, heart disease and cancers.
It hasn’t helped that we have become so “germ-conscious” that we’ve overdone it to the point of killing the “good bugs”, and letting the “bad bugs” overgrow. We use anti-bacterial soaps, and disinfecting wipes and lotions. Often more quickly able to "bounce back" from such an attack, the bad bugs have a heyday.
Additionally, nutrition and diet are critical parts of the body’s interaction with its environment, as frequent snacking and high carbohydrates and sugars help the pathogens overtake the friendly microbes.
When out of balance, one of the possible results in a human body is BB - halitosis.
Balancing and restoring the microbiome has the potential to make us much more healthy.
Start with probiotics, the supplemental “good bugs” that are packaged in liquid, capsule and chewable forms. In fact, for the patient with BB, the chewable can be fantastic.
Encourage the patient to reduce the intake of sugars and carbohydrates, on which the “bad bugs” feed, and to chew up three or four probiotic tablets a day. One brand is American Health Chewable tablets, and available on Amazon as well as at many health food stores.
It works! Amazing when we get to the etiology of the problem!
Jenny’s mom reports that she no longer has any problem with BB, now that she is limiting sugar and carbs and using Probiotics. She’s a happy girl! Likewise, no BB for my daughter, one of my assistants and a colleague, all of whom have successfully addressed their microbiome.
Got BB? Get Probiotics!
Jenny’s mom asked me that question a worried look on her face. “I’ve talked to the pediatrician, and nothing is wrong. But, she is being teased about it, and we notice it at home too. Can you help us?”
And you’ve undoubtedly run through the conventional wisdom of telling them to check with their pediatrician or doctor about any upper airway infections, congestion, allergies, and about any GI tract illness, including GERD -- and be sure they brush and floss well every day.
Past that, you have suggested mouthwash. Maybe.
Mouthwash? Not. A. Good. Idea... because many-to-most mouthwashes have alcohol which dries the oral cavity and may worsen the situation. Of course there are products created for just this situation, the 'BB' (Bad Breath) that embarrasses the patient and/or parents. Those may work, though are often expensive and do not get to the etiology of the problem.
About 25% of the population has chronic BB, apparently not related to the above etiologies. A study of Army recruits found that only 17% did NOT have halitosis.
What could be the reason for BB?
Once you have ruled out the respiratory tract and GI tract (including gingivitis/perio disease) as sources, and the patient’s medical reports do not show other systemic diseases or challenges, the etiology is… GET READY…FOR…IT…
PROBABLY… an unhealthy and highly pathogenic MICROBIOME.
Bad bugs in the gut.
BB (Bad Breath) is caused by BB (bad bugs).
The trillions of microbes we call the microbiome is the community of coexisting microorganisms found in and on the human body. According to studies, the number of microbes is actually from three to ten times the number of cells in the human body. This includes the red blood cells, which are about 25 trillion, or 84% of the total cells of the body.
These microbes include bacteria, fungi and viruses (as well as other simple organisms called archaea and protists (algae and amoebae), that coexist with body cells. They are crucial for the immune system, and for hormonal and metabolic balance. Many are necessary “good bugs” that work with the body for health.
Some are not good. These are the BB (bad bugs), and have been implicated in cardiovascular diseases, cancer, infections, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, even obesity and other serious illnesses.
Everyone routinely carries some pathogens or “bad bugs.” In healthy people, they co-exist with the body (their host) and its total microbiome. However, these pathogens are etiologic in disease states such as infections, heart disease and cancers.
It hasn’t helped that we have become so “germ-conscious” that we’ve overdone it to the point of killing the “good bugs”, and letting the “bad bugs” overgrow. We use anti-bacterial soaps, and disinfecting wipes and lotions. Often more quickly able to "bounce back" from such an attack, the bad bugs have a heyday.
Additionally, nutrition and diet are critical parts of the body’s interaction with its environment, as frequent snacking and high carbohydrates and sugars help the pathogens overtake the friendly microbes.
When out of balance, one of the possible results in a human body is BB - halitosis.
Balancing and restoring the microbiome has the potential to make us much more healthy.
Start with probiotics, the supplemental “good bugs” that are packaged in liquid, capsule and chewable forms. In fact, for the patient with BB, the chewable can be fantastic.
Encourage the patient to reduce the intake of sugars and carbohydrates, on which the “bad bugs” feed, and to chew up three or four probiotic tablets a day. One brand is American Health Chewable tablets, and available on Amazon as well as at many health food stores.
It works! Amazing when we get to the etiology of the problem!
Jenny’s mom reports that she no longer has any problem with BB, now that she is limiting sugar and carbs and using Probiotics. She’s a happy girl! Likewise, no BB for my daughter, one of my assistants and a colleague, all of whom have successfully addressed their microbiome.
Got BB? Get Probiotics!
- Published on
New Year’s resolutions originated a long time ago. Perhaps with the Babylonians who made promises to their gods at the start of each year; perhaps with the Romans who made promises to the god Janus, for whom January is named; perhaps in the Middle Ages when the knights reaffirmed their commitment to chivalry.
Do resolutions help? Do they work?
The answer is, that without a goal to pursue, without a target to shoot toward, it is unlikely that you will hit that goal or target.
However, with a goal, a resolution, your success depends on your recurring, repeating work toward the resolution.
Tony Robbins says to keep on re-visiting the resolution. Every day, for the whole year. Why? Because you reinforce your belief in your goal. You reinforce your thinking toward your goal. You reinforce your actions toward your goal.
You power up!
Gratitude also reinforces your perspective and belief in your goal. It’s amazing. When we are grateful for what we HAVE, we receive more. The Universe is abundant and unlimited. There is enough for everyone. Truly. “Ask and you shall receive.” ~ Matthew 7:7
Do this:
Ask. Tell the Universe your goal. Even write it down and look at it a few times every day.
Be grateful for what you NOW have. You are setting your beliefs, your perspective, to abundance.
Take actions toward your goal. Tiny steps, tiny decisions that work toward your goal.
Go on living life. It’s too good to miss!
You are POWERED UP!
Love,
Do resolutions help? Do they work?
The answer is, that without a goal to pursue, without a target to shoot toward, it is unlikely that you will hit that goal or target.
However, with a goal, a resolution, your success depends on your recurring, repeating work toward the resolution.
Tony Robbins says to keep on re-visiting the resolution. Every day, for the whole year. Why? Because you reinforce your belief in your goal. You reinforce your thinking toward your goal. You reinforce your actions toward your goal.
You power up!
Gratitude also reinforces your perspective and belief in your goal. It’s amazing. When we are grateful for what we HAVE, we receive more. The Universe is abundant and unlimited. There is enough for everyone. Truly. “Ask and you shall receive.” ~ Matthew 7:7
Do this:
Ask. Tell the Universe your goal. Even write it down and look at it a few times every day.
Be grateful for what you NOW have. You are setting your beliefs, your perspective, to abundance.
Take actions toward your goal. Tiny steps, tiny decisions that work toward your goal.
Go on living life. It’s too good to miss!
You are POWERED UP!
Love,
- Published on
Deep down - in our subconscious, our amygdala, our unconscious, we have a primitive brain that functions like our animal friends’ brains. We react. Without thinking. (Thinking is higher up.)
Our emotions predominate. It’s our ego barrier - subliminal defense mechanisms that make it hard to accept that we might be wrong, or at risk. Our fears rule - the seeds of stress.
Your higher-up you is not aware of your lower level you. That’s why its called subconscious or unconscious (below the conscious level). So we don’t even realize that fear of not being enough, fear of not being loved, fear of so many things in these deep parts of us, makes us instinctively vulnerable or attacked.
The neocortex part of your brain is the higher-up part that is responsible for higher-order brain functions - thinking and learning.
As your deep hidden motivations (fear responses) are in control, it’s impossible for you to logically understand what “you” are doing.
Even the most intelligent person is wired this way.
“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections.” ~ John Lennon
What to do?
You can get better and better at this stuff. And that will make you happier and happier.
Our emotions predominate. It’s our ego barrier - subliminal defense mechanisms that make it hard to accept that we might be wrong, or at risk. Our fears rule - the seeds of stress.
Your higher-up you is not aware of your lower level you. That’s why its called subconscious or unconscious (below the conscious level). So we don’t even realize that fear of not being enough, fear of not being loved, fear of so many things in these deep parts of us, makes us instinctively vulnerable or attacked.
The neocortex part of your brain is the higher-up part that is responsible for higher-order brain functions - thinking and learning.
As your deep hidden motivations (fear responses) are in control, it’s impossible for you to logically understand what “you” are doing.
Even the most intelligent person is wired this way.
“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections.” ~ John Lennon
What to do?
- First understand what is happening - primitive subconscious vs. neocortex.
- Then begin to listen more than reacting, to understand you might be wrong, and try to hear more information.
- Don’t worry what others think of you. That usually triggers fears. Think instead of getting enough information to find out what you need to know to make good decisions.
- Remember that if two people disagree, one is most probably wrong. Could it be you?
- Meditation can enhance higher-level perspective and dim your deep-down reactions.
- Gratitude reduces deep-down fears.
You can get better and better at this stuff. And that will make you happier and happier.
Dr Chris Baker (center), with a group of seminar doctors at a local dental office.
Photo by Claude Hammond © 2017
TOP PHOTO: Thunderstorm photo by Catalin Fatu at the English language Wikipedia,
Photo by Claude Hammond © 2017
TOP PHOTO: Thunderstorm photo by Catalin Fatu at the English language Wikipedia,
For further reading.
- Published on
Why You Should Read All the Time (at least 10 pages a day!)
- to increase your focus
- to spend time wisely
- to gain perspective
- to be reflective
- you will set goals
- to improve your writing and speaking skills
- to increase your memory
- to be more interesting to other people
- to stay fresh
- to be educated and informed
- to relax
- to boost your creativity
- to enhance what you know
- to level up!
"In my whole life, I have known no wise people who didn't read all the time — none... ZERO." ~ Charlie Munger
“Those who do not read are no better off than those who cannot read.” ~ Jim Rohn
“The book you don’t read won’t help!” ~ Jim Rohn
“It’s never too late to start. It’s always too late to wait.” ~ Jeff Olson
You want ideas? Good books?
You Can If You think You Can by Norman Vincent Peale
The Power of the Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy
You Can: A Collection of Brief Talks on the Most Important Topic in the World - Your Success by George Matthew Adams
Please, please send me your great book ideas! I’m so up for them!!
- to increase your focus
- to spend time wisely
- to gain perspective
- to be reflective
- you will set goals
- to improve your writing and speaking skills
- to increase your memory
- to be more interesting to other people
- to stay fresh
- to be educated and informed
- to relax
- to boost your creativity
- to enhance what you know
- to level up!
"In my whole life, I have known no wise people who didn't read all the time — none... ZERO." ~ Charlie Munger
“Those who do not read are no better off than those who cannot read.” ~ Jim Rohn
“The book you don’t read won’t help!” ~ Jim Rohn
“It’s never too late to start. It’s always too late to wait.” ~ Jeff Olson
You want ideas? Good books?
You Can If You think You Can by Norman Vincent Peale
The Power of the Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy
You Can: A Collection of Brief Talks on the Most Important Topic in the World - Your Success by George Matthew Adams
Please, please send me your great book ideas! I’m so up for them!!
- Published on
Our minds and egos are amazingly capable of convincing us. Unfortunately, most of the convincing is in the negative realm.
As Jim Rohn liked to say, “Success (having a truly happy wonderful life) is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day; while failure is simply a few errors in judgment, repeated every day. It is the accumulative weight of our disciplines and our judgments that leads us to either fortune or failure, joy or despair.”
That decision about one “little dessert,” “one extra little bite,” one day’s exercise, spending rather than investing some money, are all chances to make choices in the success realm or the failure realm.
Make it your habit that your decisions will be in the positive direction, that your simple disciplines will take you to your happiness.
Think of how you’ll feel about yourself after a day of great decisions and simple disciplines!
Think, “I am taking responsibility. I am aware that there is something I can do to keep moving upward. And I will do it!”
“Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better!” ~ Jim Rohn
Let’s get better together.
Love,
As Jim Rohn liked to say, “Success (having a truly happy wonderful life) is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day; while failure is simply a few errors in judgment, repeated every day. It is the accumulative weight of our disciplines and our judgments that leads us to either fortune or failure, joy or despair.”
That decision about one “little dessert,” “one extra little bite,” one day’s exercise, spending rather than investing some money, are all chances to make choices in the success realm or the failure realm.
Make it your habit that your decisions will be in the positive direction, that your simple disciplines will take you to your happiness.
Think of how you’ll feel about yourself after a day of great decisions and simple disciplines!
Think, “I am taking responsibility. I am aware that there is something I can do to keep moving upward. And I will do it!”
“Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better!” ~ Jim Rohn
Let’s get better together.
Love,
- Published on
"You can never do a kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too late."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Say, 'I love you' to each of your loved ones as soon and as often as possible." -- Dr Chris Baker
“You can never do a kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too late." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
You can change someone’s day - and maybe their whole life...
• With a small kindness.
• Say “I love you” to each of your loved ones as soon and as often as possible.
• Help someone who is struggling to carry something.
• Say “good morning” or “good afternoon” to people around you.
• Hold a door for someone.
• Bring or pour coffee for your assistants.
• Say “Please,” and “Thank you," and really mean it.
• Allow a driver to merge into your lane.
• Take a stray shopping cart from the parking lot into the store, as you walk in.
• Bring some breakfast snacks to your office.
• Take time to give compliments about someone to their supervisor as you are shopping or traveling.
It will make people happy and you the happiest!!
Love,
You can change someone’s day - and maybe their whole life...
• With a small kindness.
• Say “I love you” to each of your loved ones as soon and as often as possible.
• Help someone who is struggling to carry something.
• Say “good morning” or “good afternoon” to people around you.
• Hold a door for someone.
• Bring or pour coffee for your assistants.
• Say “Please,” and “Thank you," and really mean it.
• Allow a driver to merge into your lane.
• Take a stray shopping cart from the parking lot into the store, as you walk in.
• Bring some breakfast snacks to your office.
• Take time to give compliments about someone to their supervisor as you are shopping or traveling.
It will make people happy and you the happiest!!
Love,
- Published on
"We all appreciate encouragement -- every day."
Dr Chris' book, REAL, encourages readers to lead a life of positive action and change.
Are you needing encouragement today?
We all appreciate encouragement - every day. How good does it feel when someone comments on how well you are doing?
How incredible it is when someone notices you are kind.
Guess what?
When you encourage others, their appreciation encourages YOU.
As you make them feel better, you feel better. As you lift their spirits, not only do they go away more committed to doing well, so do you!
Uplift them and make them feel great!
What an easy, easy thing to do for others - encourage them! Tell them they can do it! Tell them they ARE doing it!
It goes right into their hearts. It is so easy. And you walk away happier and more encouraged!
Be an encourager. Always.
Love,
We all appreciate encouragement - every day. How good does it feel when someone comments on how well you are doing?
How incredible it is when someone notices you are kind.
Guess what?
When you encourage others, their appreciation encourages YOU.
As you make them feel better, you feel better. As you lift their spirits, not only do they go away more committed to doing well, so do you!
Uplift them and make them feel great!
What an easy, easy thing to do for others - encourage them! Tell them they can do it! Tell them they ARE doing it!
It goes right into their hearts. It is so easy. And you walk away happier and more encouraged!
Be an encourager. Always.
Love,
- Published on
Albert Schweitzer said, "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success."
Dr. Chris Baker's book, REAL, reveals successful strategies for raising healthy, sane and responsible children.
The best way for a parent to teach his child to share is for the child to see the parent sharing with others. (Wikimedia Commons photo)
A child learns courtesy and good manners when he or she sees their parents being courteous.
Dr John Rosemond's book, New Parent Power! is a great resource for parents who want to raise responsible children.
As parents, we all want our children to be successful. We strive to help our children become “successful” so they will be “happy.”
But - as Albert Schweitzer said, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.”
Scientists studying the psychology of happiness have discovered that:
• Happiness isn’t genetic.
• Happiness isn’t luck.
• Happiness isn’t dependent on our circumstances.
• Happiness is created by us.
• Happiness is created by simple disciplines practiced every day, over and over.
• And, unhappiness is created by errors in judgement repeated over and over.
Now we know it is our parenting behaviors that help train our children to be happy. And their happiness will lead to their successes.
So what are these things that we do that work to train our children to be happy?
1. Simple Daily Disciplines - Yourself!
Learn, practice and train yourself to practice simple disciplines every day, over and over. Let your children learn from you that you are grateful. Let them learn that you do kind things for others, not just for them. Let them learn that you eat well, exercise and stay fit. Let them learn most of all that these simple daily disciplines occur over and over.
A recent article from Harvard University, points out that “the result you wish to see in your child comes from the effort you put into yourself.” Your children will mimic and learn from you.
2. Show Encouragement and Compassion for others - all others.
Children have to see and hear their parents caring about and for others. From the time a toddler is just beginning to get the idea that we want them to “share”, they need to see their parents encouraging other children and other adults, as well as them.
Children need to see their parents being compassionate of others -
* holding a door for the next person,
* picking up trash as they walk (take a plastic bag to put over your hand),
* say thank you - and mean it,
* give genuine compliments to people you meet,
* praise others every chance you get,
* write handwritten thank you notes -
* focus on the person speaking to you - NEVER on your phone while they are talking,
* and teach your child to do so.
Give EVERYONE you meet the gift of your smile, ask about the other person’s family, or work, or children. Let your children see you care very much about the others.
3. Always, Always, Keep High Ethical Standards - did I say always?
Let your children see that you have good manners, graciousness, humility, and above all, honesty. Let them be able to trust that what you say is what you mean.
Counting, “I’m gonna count to three…” merely means that you don’t mean what you say until you get to three. Saying, “I promise you,” means that if you don’t say that, you may not mean it. Earn their respect and trust. Of course they will learn that we are all human, yet they will be so proud of an honest and trustworthy parent!
4. The Big and Real Picture is Inside
As things happen around you, and TO you, let the children see that the only things that matter are the things that happen IN you. In other words, help them learn that it is not what happens, but how you look at it, and how you take it.
Be the victor, not the victim. Let them see that when hard things happen, you work to accept and to use it as a lesson. Make every day a day of victory!
5. Allow Problems to Happen and Allow Your Child to Solve those Problems.
We never “wish” hard things on our children, of course not! But the reality is that life has lots of challenges, and since your child will encounter these many lessons, childhood practice coping is critical..
Doing pediatric dentistry and orthodontics has taught me how fortunate is the child with a parent who helps the child cope with the dental situation. This is especially true if it seems hard for the child.
I have seen over and over, the incredible result in how well a child copes when the parent is matter-of-fact and believes their child can handle it, and stays right beside the child to just “be there.”
The most successful appointments are those with parents who tell the child “You can do it. I’m here with you,” and then the parent goes on to talk with us, holding the child’s hand, but not over-focusing on the child. And guess what? The child believes the parent - the person they trust the most - that it’s all ok.
The child may cry. The child may worry. But the child will get through it ever so much better than if a parent is worrying and saying, “It won’t hurt - I promise!” (How does the parent know? “Hurt” is a very personal definition - don’t “promise” such things!)
Allow your child to solve the problems, and to learn to cope with the challenges!
What are some things parents of happy children (who become successful adults) DO NOT do?
- They do not rescue their child to prevent the “hard stuff.” They do not let their child “quit”.
- They do not give in.
- They do not worry when their child is “mad at them.”
- They do not reward their child for good behavior, good grades Material things - money, shopping trip, new toys, etc, do not teach a child to cope. They bribe the child to learn to manipulate to get their way.
- They do not allow the child more than 30 minutes a day of screen time - including TV, computer, games, social media, iPad, and phone - other than the least time it takes to complete their homework or assignments.
We can develop “happy habits” and help our children to do so as well! We can teach them how to be happy. And they will be happy for a lifetime!
Happiness is created by simple disciplines practiced every day, over and over.
Unhappiness is created by errors in judgement repeated over and over.
For more reading:
Link to Forbes article on crippling parent behaviors.
- Published on
Unlike the natural scents given us by nature, artificial "fragrance" can contain many petroleum-based toxins.
While chemicals are meant to imitate the scents of nature, their effects on the human body are much more harmful.
A great guide to healthful living and thinking, Dr Chris Baker's book REAL, is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
A safe replacement for many cleaning fluids is pure white vinegar.
On a recent flight, I noticed a strong perfume-y scent that made my throat feel tight and my head ache. I asked the flight attendant if the jet's air circulation system scented the air as it blew through the vents on the plane. He assured me that it did not.
The scent was so strong that I thought he probably did not know and was answering an easy “no.”
Then, Claude thought the scent came from the lady who sat right behind us, who wore a potent amount of cheap perfume. That turned out to be the case. Poor thing - she had no idea what she was doing to us!
When you read a label on a cosmetic or household product, including perfume, lotion, shampoo, laundry detergent, cleaning product or room fresheners, the ingredient, “fragrance” means a synthetic chemical that is potentially LETHAL over time due to its toxicity.
More than 95 percent of these chemicals are made from crude oil. They include benzene derivatives, aldehydes, phthalates, formaldehyde, toluene, and many other known toxins. These can cause cancer, birth defects, autism, ADHD, (see work by Dr. Philip Landrigan, et al) nervous-system disorders, kidney damage, lupus and other immune illnesses.
These health effects can also include allergic reactions and endocrine disruption which can lead to weight gain, and, even worse, reproductive system cancers including breast, prostate, testicular, ovarian and uterine cancers as well as liver cancer.
There are about 3,000 different chemicals which can be called "fragrance", some of which are on the EPA’s hazardous waste list.
People are being poisoned with fragrance ingredients that go straight into their bloodstreams, and their precious children’s bloodstreams, after they are absorbed from the skin, inhaled into lungs, or eaten and in one's gut.
They make us sick. Really, truly sick, and shorten lives. They also cause short term headaches, respiratory distress, nausea and brain fog.
You know how it works - everything is “worse” for the pregnant woman, infants and the elderly, oh - and for children of course. But they are bad for YOU TOO! You want your child to have a parent for many years to come.
Don’t be fooled. Avoid these synthetic scents.
How?
• Read the labels of your products. If you read “fragrance”, avoid that product. Completely. That includes shampoos, conditioners, lotions, (even BABY lotion), perfumes, colognes, talcum powder, baby wipes, air fresheners, candles, detergents, stain removers, dryer sheets, deodorizers, liquid soaps, antiseptic washes. Don’t buy them.
• Even if the front of the bottle or spray says, “fragrance-free”, read the label. Many STILL have “fragrance” to cover the nasty chemical smells of the product. READ THE LABEL!!
Why do companies use these toxins in consumer products if they are bad for us?
• These ingredients are cheap, and most people won’t notice the masked, nasty chemical smell of the product's other chemicals.
Doesn’t our government ban all harmful substances?
Nope. The FDA website explains they cannot legally require companies to warn about toxicities in products that aren’t food. Look for labels that list ingredients that are not chemical names and fragrances.
Some countries like Canada, South Korea, Japan, China and the European Union have banned certain chemicals - but not all.. The U.S. government demands such a high level of proof of harm that many agree it is simply impossible to reach — and our government is slow to respond, banning only a few chemicals in its history.
Many people are starting to speak up and voice their concern. Some of the well-informed are even reluctant to wash their hands in a public restroom because of the toxins and scents that are in the soaps and lotions provided there. Surveys say about 23 percent of people will avoid places and other people that have scents.
Keep these poisons away from your family. Read labels and don’t buy the products which contain these chemicals. .
Here are some ideas for household products that you can make at home, instead of buying poisons:
1. Whlte vinegar is an amazing household cleaner. Clean your computer mouse with a 50/50 vinegar/water solution and cotton swabs. Let dry.
2. Vinegar can remove ballpoint pen ink, fabric stains, carpet stains, remove candle or other wax and furniture polish buildup, water rings on furniture, piano keys, and in a spray bottle is as good as any glass cleaner!
3. A disposable aluminum cake pan with table salt and vinegar will clean your silver jewelry. Put the salt and vinegar into the pan, lay the jewelry in and after a few moments, you can rinse off and polish the jewelry. Be sure not to put opals or other fragile stones into the mixture.
4. Baking soda down in your slow drain, with vinegar poured over will both deodorize and unclog the drain. Wait til the foaming is done, then flush with hot tap water, then with cold water. Kills bacteria as well!
5. Clean greasy stoves with vinegar, and put some vinegar in your liquid (natural dishwashing soap) for more grease removal.
6. Vinegar through your coffeemaker or in your french press will clean the nasty odors old coffee leave. Be sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards.
7. A small dish of vinegar with a few drops of liquid dish soap will attract the fruit flies, or pantry moths that plague you occasionally.
8. Mix 4 oz. baking soda, 1 T dish soap, 1/4 c hydrogen peroxide, used with a toothbrush, will clean the grout between your bathroom tiles beautifully.
9. Clean your oven: remove the racks. 2 spoonfuls of baking soda and water in a bowl. make a paste and spread on the inside of the oven. let it sit at least 12 hours. The next day, with a wet rag, wipe out as much of the baking soda paste as you can. Spray all areas with a spray bottle with vinegar in it. Wipe with another wet rag. Turn the oven onto a very low temp for 15-20 minutes. You can do the oven window with the same technique.
10. Search Google, Bing, Yahoo, or your favorite Search Engine for more ideas!
The scent was so strong that I thought he probably did not know and was answering an easy “no.”
Then, Claude thought the scent came from the lady who sat right behind us, who wore a potent amount of cheap perfume. That turned out to be the case. Poor thing - she had no idea what she was doing to us!
When you read a label on a cosmetic or household product, including perfume, lotion, shampoo, laundry detergent, cleaning product or room fresheners, the ingredient, “fragrance” means a synthetic chemical that is potentially LETHAL over time due to its toxicity.
More than 95 percent of these chemicals are made from crude oil. They include benzene derivatives, aldehydes, phthalates, formaldehyde, toluene, and many other known toxins. These can cause cancer, birth defects, autism, ADHD, (see work by Dr. Philip Landrigan, et al) nervous-system disorders, kidney damage, lupus and other immune illnesses.
These health effects can also include allergic reactions and endocrine disruption which can lead to weight gain, and, even worse, reproductive system cancers including breast, prostate, testicular, ovarian and uterine cancers as well as liver cancer.
There are about 3,000 different chemicals which can be called "fragrance", some of which are on the EPA’s hazardous waste list.
People are being poisoned with fragrance ingredients that go straight into their bloodstreams, and their precious children’s bloodstreams, after they are absorbed from the skin, inhaled into lungs, or eaten and in one's gut.
They make us sick. Really, truly sick, and shorten lives. They also cause short term headaches, respiratory distress, nausea and brain fog.
You know how it works - everything is “worse” for the pregnant woman, infants and the elderly, oh - and for children of course. But they are bad for YOU TOO! You want your child to have a parent for many years to come.
Don’t be fooled. Avoid these synthetic scents.
How?
• Read the labels of your products. If you read “fragrance”, avoid that product. Completely. That includes shampoos, conditioners, lotions, (even BABY lotion), perfumes, colognes, talcum powder, baby wipes, air fresheners, candles, detergents, stain removers, dryer sheets, deodorizers, liquid soaps, antiseptic washes. Don’t buy them.
• Even if the front of the bottle or spray says, “fragrance-free”, read the label. Many STILL have “fragrance” to cover the nasty chemical smells of the product. READ THE LABEL!!
Why do companies use these toxins in consumer products if they are bad for us?
• These ingredients are cheap, and most people won’t notice the masked, nasty chemical smell of the product's other chemicals.
Doesn’t our government ban all harmful substances?
Nope. The FDA website explains they cannot legally require companies to warn about toxicities in products that aren’t food. Look for labels that list ingredients that are not chemical names and fragrances.
Some countries like Canada, South Korea, Japan, China and the European Union have banned certain chemicals - but not all.. The U.S. government demands such a high level of proof of harm that many agree it is simply impossible to reach — and our government is slow to respond, banning only a few chemicals in its history.
Many people are starting to speak up and voice their concern. Some of the well-informed are even reluctant to wash their hands in a public restroom because of the toxins and scents that are in the soaps and lotions provided there. Surveys say about 23 percent of people will avoid places and other people that have scents.
Keep these poisons away from your family. Read labels and don’t buy the products which contain these chemicals. .
Here are some ideas for household products that you can make at home, instead of buying poisons:
1. Whlte vinegar is an amazing household cleaner. Clean your computer mouse with a 50/50 vinegar/water solution and cotton swabs. Let dry.
2. Vinegar can remove ballpoint pen ink, fabric stains, carpet stains, remove candle or other wax and furniture polish buildup, water rings on furniture, piano keys, and in a spray bottle is as good as any glass cleaner!
3. A disposable aluminum cake pan with table salt and vinegar will clean your silver jewelry. Put the salt and vinegar into the pan, lay the jewelry in and after a few moments, you can rinse off and polish the jewelry. Be sure not to put opals or other fragile stones into the mixture.
4. Baking soda down in your slow drain, with vinegar poured over will both deodorize and unclog the drain. Wait til the foaming is done, then flush with hot tap water, then with cold water. Kills bacteria as well!
5. Clean greasy stoves with vinegar, and put some vinegar in your liquid (natural dishwashing soap) for more grease removal.
6. Vinegar through your coffeemaker or in your french press will clean the nasty odors old coffee leave. Be sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards.
7. A small dish of vinegar with a few drops of liquid dish soap will attract the fruit flies, or pantry moths that plague you occasionally.
8. Mix 4 oz. baking soda, 1 T dish soap, 1/4 c hydrogen peroxide, used with a toothbrush, will clean the grout between your bathroom tiles beautifully.
9. Clean your oven: remove the racks. 2 spoonfuls of baking soda and water in a bowl. make a paste and spread on the inside of the oven. let it sit at least 12 hours. The next day, with a wet rag, wipe out as much of the baking soda paste as you can. Spray all areas with a spray bottle with vinegar in it. Wipe with another wet rag. Turn the oven onto a very low temp for 15-20 minutes. You can do the oven window with the same technique.
10. Search Google, Bing, Yahoo, or your favorite Search Engine for more ideas!
