Rexanne's Web Review - Issue #3

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Welcome all newcomers!

It's still a learning process here at Rexanne headquarters. LOL! Last week, some of the links were mangled in the mailing process, the week before some people received tons of HTML tags all over their newsletter version. I was pulling my hair out in gobs. :-) I made a conscious decision to laugh instead of cry about it. Made my life so much easier!

Reader Comments:

Boy, have I received email, guys! Sparked a real fire with the "No Spanking" issue. The percentage ran in favor of not spanking by about 10 to 1. Here are two representative views:

"I must say I was very disappointed to read your remarks under the 'Parent link of the week.' If you are prepared to 'open the flood of controversy' as you say you are, then you need to present websites from both sides of the debate. Here is an excellent article * ... I think you will find it very enlightening." - Elaine

* Anyone wishing a link to this article, email me. I will send it in the spirit of fair play, but I felt sick after reading it. I cannot in good conscience add a direct link here.

" ...there is a speaker who hits the circuit and she has wonderful advice in a cassette tape that I own and live by. Her name is Barbara Coloroso and her tape is Winning at Parenting ... without beating your kids. She instructs you on how to make the problems the children are causing their responsibility. It teaches the children self-discipline, independent problem solving skills and just help the parents to not take the burden and frustration caused by defiance. Which is what the whole discipline thing really is -- the parent is frustrated because the child isn't doing what they are told ..." - No name given.

As I said in my last newsletter, I do not particularly want to engage in an email debate. Maybe one day I'll add a message board to my site. ;-) Until then, I will not turn this newsletter into a politically correct forum or feel that I must add an opposing-view article to every article I believe has merit. My main goal is to help and protect children, not to include other view points I feel are corrupt to satisfy "fair representation."

OK, here's the scoop:

Quote of the Week:

"Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children." (Kahil Gibran)

This Week's Web Review Sponsored By: Windmillworks

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Parenting & Family Link(s) of the Week: Criticism

I am horrified by any type of physical violence toward our children as you all know from last week's newsletter. It is equally, if not more horrifying to me when I hear a parent degrade, humiliate or embarrass a child. Our kids are going to get on our nerves. It's just not possible to be a rational adult and NOT be annoyed by our precious imps at times! :-) And sometimes, they need to be chastised, reprimanded and dragged back into line. It's OK ... it's just NOT OK if our child is made to feel like a worm in the process. Criticizing children, unless it's done with true compassion and wisdom, can be a mortal blow to their tentative self-esteem.

Our children see us as mirrors. Like it or not, they see and feel our vision of them. When we're angry or need to reprimand them, it's vital to remember to do it with love in our hearts. We might be flaming with rage, but to tell a child they are bad, stupid, mean, selfish, lazy, etc., is to mold that into their sub-conscience forever. Or at least until they go through years of therapy to get over it! If we treat our children as we would a friend, with the same respect and dignity, we will reap great rewards.

It's our job to mold our children into the adults we would like them to be. Yes, it's a huge responsibility, but it's ours.

Criticism's Harmful Effects - This is a great article on how to reprimand our children without inflicting wounds to their self-esteem.

Labels are for Jelly Jars - This article has some super ideas on helping your child learn and grow without labeling them.

An excellent, time-honored book on general self-esteem in children is: Your Child's Self-Esteem, by Dorothy Corkill Briggs. This is another of the books I've read many times and still browse through often!

Food & Cooking Site of the Week:

Steph's Country Kitchen

Prepare yourself for a really, really great cooking and food site! Steph's Country Kitchen is one woman's passion for cooking taken to the Internet. This beautifully designed, easy to navigate site has loads of super family style recipes, lots of kitchen help and tons of charm. From main dishes to sauces, you'll drool in here! LOL!

Kid's Site of the Week:

Investing for Kids

This site is designed by kids for kids. It examines stocks, bonds, mutual funds and money. Teaching the principles of saving and investing, it also includes a fun and educational stock game. I was fascinated by this site! My investment strategy is zero, so this was the perfect way for me to learn all about what I SHOULD be doing with my money! LOL! Kids 8 to 100 will benefit from the investment advice and instruction. Great incentives for kids to start saving early, as there is information, in kid's language, explaining what will happen to their hard-to-come-by money if they spend it on video games or if they invest it.

Tip or Trick of the Week:
"Red Washcloth"

Here's a super tip sent in by our reader, Martina:

"An oldie-but-goodie tip is to keep a red washcloth on hand to use when a child is bleeding. That way they don't freak out when they see their blood on a white washcloth."

Thanks, Martina! I'm always fascinated by these little tips and tricks of the "trade!" :-)

Got a tip or trick your fellow readers would enjoy or could use? Please send it here for possible publication in one of the next issues: TIPS

Weekly Time Waster:
(Because life is supposed to be fun!)

Sand Art

Oh this is hypnotizing! Click on a color, point your cursor where you'd like to begin creating your masterpiece and you'll be building colored sand castles for the rest of the day! Feed the kids first ... Be prepared to turn the computer over to them once they see this page!

Featured Home Page of the Week:

April Fool's Day

Some fun April Fool's Day gags, ideas, cards and links here at Patty's Potpourri. You can send Patty your favorite April Fool's Day pranks and she'll post them on the page. Lots of other goodies to see at Patty's Potpourri, too. Click on her home page link to discover other hidden treasure! Have fun!

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(I use this service diligently. Wouldn't dream of sending out a page or newsletter without having it "fine-tuned" first.)

Advertisement: Sonshine News ... a free weekly family friendly surfer's guide to the net. There is something for everyone. Come join the fun. To subscribe go to: Subscribe To Sonshine News Or please stop by and visit online at the Sonshine News web page for more details: Sonshine News

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The fine print: This newsletter is copyright - 2000 - in its entirety. Please pass it on, but also please leave it intact. :-) You are receiving this email because you sent a specific message asking to be placed on the mailing list for this newsletter. If you wish to be removed from this list, see the unsubscribe notice above. This is NOT SPAM, nor will you ever see a recipe featuring SPAM in this newsletter! ;-)

I have personally checked out the links provided here but they could possibly lead you to any number of bizarre and/or offensive sites. Surf at your own risk. The DIRECT links on this page are all family friendly unless stated otherwise. While this newsletter is family friendly, it is not necessarily intended to be read by children. Parents should always monitor their children while they are on the Internet. All material on these pages: Copyright: - 2000