Character/Self Esteem
"These are websites I have visited and like."
"These are books I have available for you to borrow."
Handling Your Ups and Downs - Joy Wilt
Because I Love You - Max Lucado
Taming Your Gremlin - Richard D. Carson
Sticking Up For Yourself
I Am Not A Short Adult
Esteem Builders
100 Ways to Enhance Self Concept in the Classroom
The New TA For Kids and Grown Ups, Too
TA For Tots and Other Prinzes
TA For Tots II
What's Happening To Me?
Then Emily Woke Up Angry
Double Dip Feelings
The Good Kid Book
I'm Joshua and Yes I Can
Friendship First-Aide Thinking, Feelings, Behavior Book
Tenth Good Thing About Barney
Do You Ever Wish You Could Change?
Feelings
Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World
"These are short articles I have written for our school newsletter."
Gratitude
Pusuit of Happiness
Gratitude II
Making a Difference
Gratitude - A note from Mrs. Paris…your school counselor!
I mentioned last month that Building Character for Life was the new character education initiative that the Franklin Community is adopting. Please consider cutting out this logo and placing it where you can easily see it as a reminder to focus on these words.
As terror continues to grip our country and the world, please monitor the level of information your children are exposed to and be open to their questions. Remember, what you do not attend to and answer…they will make up and their imaginations can many times do more damage than the reality of the situation. Providing comfort and consistent structure in their lives will help insulate them from this terror. Children will mirror your responses to life so carefully look at what your children are seeing from your actions…hold that mirror in front of yourself. Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching so may we turn our focus to the positive and remember daily what makes us grateful. Gratitude will color your attitude in a pleasant way. What a wonderful gift to give your child if you will help them practice the art of gratitude. Every night or every morning make a quick list together of the things your are thankful for and save them to read on those days things don’t look so pleasant! What a mood lift that you can create on your own and will cost nothing but 5 minutes of your time!
Pursuit of Happiness - A note from Mrs. Paris…your school counselor
Once again I am reading John Rosemond and I LOVE his statement, “The more parents take on the responsibility for their children’s happiness, the more they guarantee their children’s eventual unhappiness.” Think about that for a moment. Remember my discussion of vitamin N a few months ago? This thought is a reason for giving out the vitamin N more often. Dr. Rosemond challenges us to look at the Declaration of Independence closely. It does not say we have a “right” to happiness but to the “pursuit” of happiness. We need to teach our children how to pursue happiness or in other words find it on their own!! There will be pitfalls and unhappiness but our job is to be their support during trying times, not create happiness for them to take away the reality of frustration. Children will expect it is someone else’s responsibility to make them happy and take care of their needs and wants instead of learning to take care of their own well-being if we (parents) spend our energy making sure everything is perfect for them! Your child will learn to blame everything and anything that goes wrong on someone or something else instead of taking responsibility. You know those children who never think they have control and always blame others. If you REALLY love your child, you will let them realize they are responsible for their happiness and allow them to build their self-esteem because they will realize they are in control, even if the price is some bumps and bruises! As Dr. Rosemond states, “There is no better reason than that for making sure your “parenting cabinet” is stocked with ample supplies of Vitamin N.” I hope you are building up your surplus (sorry students, I know this may not make you happy at the moment but you will be better off in the long run). If I can be of any help or support, you know where to find me! Mrs. Paris
Gratitude II - Ponderings by Paris…your school counselor.
The holiday season will soon be upon us and that can translate into many feelings! I hope you can begin the holiday season with a grateful heart by learning to search for things to be grateful about. I am into my third year of daily (most days anyway) listing of things that happen that I consider a blessing. There are days when it is a struggle to list five and other days I can fill a page! I challenge you to begin to develop an attitude of gratitude and teach your children to do the same. It will cost very little but your time and the development of a habit, which generally takes 4-6 weeks of consistent commitment. Choose a time to stick with and regularly list good happenings from your day and be sure to date it. You can keep it in a journal, notebook, 3x5 cards…something you can keep handy to use. Here is the best part, look back at the week, month, or year before and relive the blessings that happened then! It will help develop your smile muscles and color your day a bit brighter as well! I am thankful for being here at Northwood and still loving my job! Enjoy the holiday season!
Making a Difference - Ponderings by Paris…your school counselor
Did you know any of you can make a difference in this world? We all have choices in how we handle the experiences given to us in this life. We need to value the precious present…the moment you are in…and live it to the fullest because it could be our last! We need to treat others as we would like to be treated. I often ask children if they treated others the way they treated themselves…would they have many friends? Think about that one…how do you treat yourself as well as others? We need to be a little kinder to the strangers as well as friends in our lives…share a smile, give a compliment, let someone go first. You would be amazed at the lift it will give you as you extend kindness to others. We need to take care of nature and NOT LITTER! The above mentioned are just a few things that EVERYONE can do and it costs nothing! There is also one other thing you could do but will cost your time and a quick response. There is a dream statement attached to this newsletter. I am serving on a group of people that are dreaming for the county. If you have an idea that would fit this statement, please share it with me. The problem is I need it BY March 2nd as there is a deadline we must meet!
This means you have to think fast! I am reminded of a quote that I don’t remember who the author is but it goes something like this: “If you think you are too small to make a difference then you have never been in a sleeping bag with a mosquito!” There’s another thing to think about! Remember I am here to help in anyway I can…your children are precious to us here at Northwood so don’t hesitate to call for help!
You know you are welcome to call me with any questions or concerns. Your children are in good hands here at Northwood where we care for them as our own!
