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As a mother of 6, I always wanted to write a book on parenting, but as PFA president, now is NOT the time! Thankfully, there are great books out there for parents seeking great parenting skills. We spend a lifetime learning skills in school, on the job, for the job. Back to school is a great time to learn new parenting skills!

Who knew parenting would be this hard? Our grandparents worried about ring around the collar, we worry about drug rings. From napping to kidnapping, from the heating bill to Global Warming, from cavities to AIDS, from grass stains to the greenhouse effect, from the nuclear bomb to the nuclear family, times have changed! Effective parenting requires skills!


Want a GREAT read?The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families
From the Publisher: "In his first major work since The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven R. Covey presents a practical and philosophical guide to solving the problems -- large and small, mundane and extraordinary -- that confront all families and strong communities. By offering revealing anecdotes about ordinary people as well as helpful suggestions about changing everyday behavior, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families shows how and why to have family meetings, the importance of keeping promises, how to balance individual and family needs, and how to move from dependence to interdependence. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families is an invaluable guidebook to the welfare of families everywhere."
-- St. Martin's Press, LLC
"[Steven R. Covey], called one of America's 25 most influential people by Time magazine, explains how families can use the principles he presented in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. ... Covey imparts practical advice on solving common family dilemmas, such as finding quality time to spend together, dealing with family disputes, healing a broken relationship, and changing a negative family atmosphere."
-- barnesandnoble.com
Less philosophical, Simplify Your Life with Kids, by Elaine St. James, best selling author, is a simplistic approach to parenting. I found the book light on help (she is not a parent herself) but an easy read for on-the-go parents wanting a quick solution of common sense for common problems.

Monthly, I’d like to publish tips from YB parents on this site. Now that it’s back to school, and back to a routine, here are some tips you may find helpful this month:

Eliminate the morning mad dash
Make a game of getting ready the night before. Check homework and pack backpack. Pack lunches while cleaning up dinner – leftovers add variety to lunches, and two meals for one cleanup saves time! Teach children to lay out tomorrow’s outfit in a pretend person on the floor. Eliminate electronic games, TV, or other distractions. Send your child to school with a smile and a hug!

Eliminate clutter
Send me your ideas and we’ll post solutions for this “scary” problem, just in time for Halloween!

Know that you are not alone in your quest to be a better parent, and that we all struggle with problems. Parenting can be among the greatest of challenges, but also reaps the greatest rewards. I love the parenting adage, “The days are long but the years are short,” because it gives perspective. I loved this advice at a baby shower, "Don't wish away their youth!" Let's enjoy the journey!

For more parenting tips, click on http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/CA/1100/improve
Laura Leininger
PFA President 2007-2008
Last Updated ( Sunday, 28 October 2007 )