Teaching Kids To Be Thankful

If you want to raise compassionate kids who are thankful; you have to begin when they are young.    Children will emulate what you say, do, and feel from the moment they are aware of the outside world. You smile at them, they smile back.  You goo goo gaga, they respond.  

When children are absorbing the world around them that is your moment to begin teaching compassionate and thankful living.  Are you grateful for the simple moments in your life?  Do you feel happy just being quiet?  Do you feel content sitting on the deck and listening to the birds?  Many times we forget to just be thankful in the moment without the bells, whistles and new big kid toys.  

If your children grow up watching you "needing" the next new thing to make you happy, they too will become a "I want it" kid.  I've actually heard people say they will not be really happy until they get__________; whatever it is they are dreaming about.   If you cannot choose to be happy in the moment you are in and find thankfulness for what is.... you cannot teach that to your kids.  You'll get caught up in buying the newest toy and overwhelming them with stuff instead of your time.

Life is all about choices, and here are some ways to embrace and model thankfulness this season:

• Make a conscious choice to show your kids the simple pleasures. (Take a walk, listen for bird sounds, help out someone in need...)
•  Spend face time with your kids and tell them how happy you feel just being with them. (Make cookies, do crafts, teach them a sport...)
• Avoid using toys and things to show your love. (Quality time will be what they remember and will last a lifetime) 
• Tell and show your kids that people are ALWAYS more important than things by always putting people in the family and outside the family first.
• Model selfless service and involve your family in community giving.  (Volunteer, donate.... )

Choose to be happy... and look for the blessings in each moment.

Embracing the Right To Vote Teaches Kids To Use Their Voice

It is so important to teach your kids the power of their voice.  It starts early on when they are given the choice of which snack to eat, or which color to wear, or what they want for their birthday.  All these little choices along the way begin to teach kids that they can think for themselves and that their voice matters and can change the outcome of their day.

When teaching young people the power of their voice it is vital that you support their opinions and avoid trying to make your child a "mini me," you know, a short person that thinks, chooses, and acts just like you. Although it may be cute to watch your child mimic you, it is not cute to see a whole family choosing hate or an entire family pushing their values on their children who may really be completely different in their opinion or what feels natural to them.

If you really want to raise empowered and compassionate kids... you will embrace their thoughts and their right to choose.  On this election day, we all have the right to choose, but it is important that in our choosing we model for our children how to be kind, loving, and compassionate to others who may not think the way we think.  Kids will emulate their parents to some degree, but realize that you are raising a unique individual who is a free thinker.  Show respect for their voice, respect their right without judgement and avoid pressuring them to be your "mini me."

Understanding Students and Violence 11/03 by Student2teacher | Blog Talk Radio

I was honored to be a guest on Professor's Applewhite's show today.  Here is the podcast!
Understanding Students and Violence 11/03 by Student2teacher | Blog Talk Radio

Second Chances: Social Vegan!

Second Chances: Social Vegan!: Quinoa and Black Beans Choosing to live your life as vegan is a huge commitment!  It affects what you eat, where you can eat, what you ...

Social Vegan!

Quinoa and Black Beans

Choosing to live your life as vegan is a huge commitment!  It affects what you eat, where you can eat, what you can buy, and how you manage parties, Holidays, and social events.  It is also an emotional  journey that I never expected I would take.  

As a child, I hadn't even heard about vegan ism and I LOVED Kentucky Fried Chicken and often ate it at my maw maw's house after church.  As an adult, that used to be my go to meal after a camping trip.  Most people would have referred to me as a huge carnivore when I started eating for my blood type ( a book I read once) and it involved serious animal protein.

Then the events of the year 1998 happened.  I had been eating large amounts of meat and working out at the gym for an hour to an hour and a half every morning.  My dad; who had been a smoker since he was 18 years old and joined the navy; was dying of emphysema and could no longer leave the home without oxygen and was attached to a oxygen tank at the home 24 hours a day with a 30 foot hose.  We knew my dad was dying, but the exact time was unknown.

The morning of February 4th, 1998 I received a phone call from my brother telling me that daddy was in the hospital emergency room and it didn't look good.  Instead of getting ready for work; I found myself preparing to go into my parent's home; not knowing what the outcome would be.  My dad died before I even left the house that morning and while driving into Hickory to attend the visitation and funeral; I started coughing.  I was told two weeks later that I did in fact have whooping cough.  The next several months were spent out of work, struggling to keep my breath and avoid respiratory distress, and sitting up in the recliner because I had pulled muscles away from my ribs while coughing and couldn't lie down.

When I finally recovered from that illness, I was left weak, unable to breath, and disconnected to my body.  I tried working out again; but it was too traumatic.  So, I chose instead, to try yoga. Something I could decide how fast I went and what I could do.  Yoga was so healing for me because I could affirm what I could do and wherever I was; was exactly okay.  As I explored yoga I also explored my diet and realized that for me at that time, the my choice to live in compassion became very important.  I read a book entitled:  Vegan, The New Ethics of Eating by Erik Marcus. That book changed my life.  I read the book in one week, and stopped eating meat right then and there.  My partner suggested I not go all Vegan right away.  I chose a vegetarian path for the next ten years which which was difficult enough in social situations.  But, as my consciousness continued to rise and my love for animals and for my own body, I chose to take the next step and go all in and embrace the vegan lifestyle.  This means that I do not eat any animals, animal by products (cheese, butter, milk) or wear/buy leather products or anything that an animal has had to die for.

Imagine going out to eat with friends or showing up to pot lucks and trying to make a Thanksgiving dinner without animals or anything animals make!  It has been a challenge; but I have found amazing cook books and I love to cook; so through this journey I have been able to eat well and feel great about my choices.  I've been able to find tofurky and vegan stuffing and amazing products that give me the taste and texture of "chicken" without hurting any chickens.  

When I go to restaurants I challenge my waiter and the chef to whip up vegan alternative dishes from the menu and I've always been delighted with what they choose.  I bring my own dish to pot lucks and parties to make sure I have something to eat, and my friends, sister,  and mother in law are always choosing things to cook that is "Midge friendly."  Gotta love that!  Just last night I spent a great evening with friends and took along an amazing Quinoa and Black Bean dish that I want to share with you!  ENJOY and know that when your heart is in the right place a path opens to take you where you need to go!  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Quinoa-and-Black-Beans/Detail.aspx?prop24=RD_RelatedRecipes

A Happy and Healthy Child with Great Inner Love Starts in the Womb!

When you decide to plan your pregnancy, and in the best scenario, it would be planned….you become the most important person in your baby’s life.  At the moment of conception, your body, your mind, your energy, and your spirit all work together to provide the best possible start to the child that you will love and encourage throughout their childhood.

As a clinician for children and families, I have seen a huge increase in kids with rage filled explosions, lack of empathy, and an inability to focus. Parents are overwhelmed and don’t know how to make things better.  What they don’t want to hear, is that everything they exposed their baby to; even in the womb, makes a difference in how that child develops, handles difficult situations, and how they feel about themselves.

When an embryo begins to form, everything the mom thinks, feels, eats, drinks, as well as, the environment she is exposed to affects the development of that embryo.  There are very specific times in an embryos development that only happens in a day or in a few minutes.  If the mom is ingesting alcohol, drugs, and/ or cigarettes, her embryo may develop behavior problems, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, mood disorders, and a host of physical problems. 

It isn’t just what she eats and drinks though.  If a mom is dealing with depression, under a lot of stress, or living in domestic violence, that also affects the embryo. Children can be born, not only addicted to drugs and go through withdrawal, but they can also be born with a lack of connection to their birth mom. This will affect their ability to connect and love in appropriate ways. These children may develop attachment disorders if they didn't attach to their birth mom. This can occur when the baby is adopted and never had a chance to bond with their birth mom.  Children can also be affected if the energy and thoughts from the mom about her pregnancy are disengaged, angry, or depressed.

The first person a child attaches to is the mom, and this begins at conception. Once a child is born, what happens after that sets into motion a child with confidence, inner love, happiness, and success or a child with a whole host of emotional, physical, and behavioral problems that take a lifetime to manage.

To raise a child that will achieve her purpose in life and be all that she was created to be, the parent has to mirror love and respect toward them. In the beginning, a child looks to the parent for loving eyes, respect, and direction.  If a child is ignored, shamed, or disrespected; the child will mirror that. They will learn to hate themselves and then they will hate others.  A child can only give to themselves and others what they have inside.  If they see their parents fighting and disrespecting each other, if they see their parents screaming at them, putting them down, and disrespecting their presence, the child cannot be anything other than that.

There are things you can do to ensure your child’s success.

1. Be a healthy and emotionally connected person.
2. Model for your kids how to love and approve of yourself, by loving yourself.
3. Engage you kids in a healthy lifestyle; not just for them, but for you and the entire family
4. Be a part of your child’s life.  Show up for the activities they are involved in and ENJOY spending time watching your child.
5. Allow your kids to take risks and try new things, this builds self confidence.
6. Support your child in beginning the person they are created to be, not a mini you.
7. Praise your child often; for trying, for being a decent person, and for the things they do well
8. Allow your kids to become independent and encourage them to do things by themselves
9. Respect your child’s right to choose their passion and their style
10. Tell them often that you love them and then show them by hugging them and being there both physically and emotionally for them

Listen in tonight on blogtalk radio:Raising Compassionate:Midge Noble 10/15 by ItXs All About You | Blog Talk Radio

and an earlier show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/reconnected/2012/06/23/child-development-part-3-with-midge-noble

Raising Compassionate:Midge Noble 10/15 by ItXs All About You | Blog Talk Radio

I invite you to listen in this Monday evening at 6pm.  Feel free to call the show!  I'm sure the guys won't mind!
Raising Compassionate:Midge Noble 10/15 by ItXs All About You | Blog Talk Radio