Rexanne's Web Review - Issue #36

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We've managed to survive the year 2000 without one nasty prediction coming true and our lives basically intact. Hoorah! Let's make a resolution together this year, shall we? How about we don't believe any unfounded rumors or groundless predictions? It will be a little less to worry about and that'll be just fine by me! ;-)

My kids got spoiled for Christmas. How about your kids and grand kids? Are they still happily playing with the new goodies? What was the most coveted toy in your family this year? Ours was the Play Station 2 and they're still going strong with it!

Let's move into the anticipated new millennium with great web sites to explore and some wonderful reader's comments ...

"I read your article about Christmas traditions with a growing sense of anticipation. Now that the baby we are expecting in April is moving, and its arrival is getting closer, I am looking forward to rejuvenating all the special holiday traditions that my older children enjoyed so much when they were young, as well as inventing others to make Christmas even more special."

"Before we had our kids we didn't care much for the holidays except for the family dinner at Passover and the Jewish new year. Now we try to do something special in each holiday. In Chanukah we light the candles and sing special songs. My eldest, Tomer (4.5 y.o.), loved it last year. This year I know Sapir (2.5 y.o.) will enjoy it too. We are going to make donuts and I will let the kids help shape them (they should be funny looking). I just love the holidays with the kids. :)"

Sounds like you and your family had a wonderful holiday, Klara. It is so true ... holidays with kids are special and a lot of fun.

"I loved reading you web review again as usual ... I especially enjoyed reading about how to organize your gift wrap. Great ideas! Will I do that? Probably not ... I always say that I am going to start organizing things, but never seem to find the time to do it. Guess I will put that on my list of things to do when I get old. LOL!"

Quote of the Week: There are just two rules of governance in a free society ... mind your own business and keep your hands to yourself. - P.J. O'Rourke

This Week's Web Review is Sponsored By: Bargainchildrensclothing.com
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If children are taught to respect their parent's privacy, they will learn to respect the privacy of others. If parents want to teach their children this important aspect of human character, they should respect their child's privacy, too. All too often, parents do not consider that their children should have the same rights they covet.

Some issues of privacy are more important to certain people than others. Having the door closed while in the bathroom, the bedroom door locked at night or a Do Not Disturb sign on the door to a home office are all signals that should be respected by children if this is important to their parent's feelings of privacy. In our home, the doors are usually open but if one of my kids has closed the door to a room, I will always knock before entering. They have subsequently learned to knock first if I have closed the door. This is just basic courtesy and good manners.

Another issue of privacy that is sometimes overlooked in a family is personal mail. While this might seem a rather frivolous example, it merits attention as a basic issue of respect. I have a close family member who will walk into my home and pick up anyone's mail sitting on a table and read it. To me, this is a gross invasion of my family's privacy. Unfortunately, this woman has no respect for the privacy of others. Telling her that this bothers me is tantamount in her mind to me calling her a criminal so I've learned to ignore this offense when she does visit only to keep peace in my life.

I have taught my children to never open mail addressed to another (it's actually illegal) nor to ever go into my purse without first asking. Consequently, I would never open their mail or rifle through my older daughter's purse without a very good reason or without first asking her permission. Sure, when my kids were very young and couldn't read, I would open their mail and read it to them but those days are gone. My daughters deserve the same respect for their privacy that I demand.

The one time I might ignore my respect for privacy rule is if I suspected one of my children were in trouble. This could be anything from drugs to a frightening relationship. If I felt it was in her best interest that I find something she would rather I didn't, I would. I think it is a parent's obligation to protect their children from the occasional poor decisions they make and their inability to admit some of those choices. I would never hold against my child something I found while snooping for her own good. I would, however, use the information to help direct her to a better, safer path.

Whether the issue is mail, closed doors, personal drawers or time alone, privacy in a family is an important aspect we all need to cultivate and respect. Most of us wouldn't dream of overstepping our boundaries with acquaintances or friends. Family members deserve this same consideration. It is within the family that children learn moral values, ethics and manners. Teaching our kids to honor privacy and respect for another's property and space is an important lesson.

I searched hours for a good article on children and privacy but found only these articles on respect, which is actually a big part of the privacy issue. If anyone has a good article on privacy to share, please send it! And always ... your opinions and ideas on the topics we discuss in this newsletter are most welcome. Send those emails!

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Rexanne Mancini is the mother of two daughters, Justice and Liberty. She is a novelist, freelance writer and maintains an extensive yet informal parenting and family web site, Rexanne.com – http://www.rexanne.com -Visit her site for good advice, award-winning Internet holiday pages and some humor to help you cope. Subscribe to her free newsletter, Rexanne’s Web Review, for a monthly dose of Rexanne: http://www.rexanne.com/rwr-archives.html

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This article is available for reprint at no charge providing the resource box with the writer's information is included and remains intact.

Have an opinion about this topic or a story to share? Please send it: My Opinion

At the I Love Pasta web site, there are hundreds of amazing pasta recipes, from basic tomato sauce, sauce with steak and chili, super low-fat pasta recipes and many in between. You could start a new tradition of a once a week pasta night, never wanting for inspiration.

This site will stimulate your culinary creativity and have your family and friends begging for the next pasta creation!

Scribbles is a young artist's paradise. Kids can color online, enter art contests, learn about famous painters and generally enjoy being creative.

There is a Kid's Gallery at Scribbles with pictures of super art projects using various mediums sent in by children from all over the world. I love the Artist of the Month section where children learn about a particular artist of merit. Also of interest is the Art Terms page and the Art Quiz where kids can test their new knowledge.

Scribbles is a well thought out and easy to navigate site. This is one to enjoy with your children!

"I have always hated the taste of the glue on stamps and envelopes. Now that there are self-stick postage stamps I use those. But the self-closing envelopes cost a lot more to buy. I tried a small dampened sponge to seal the envelopes, but it was hard to judge how wet the glue got. Sometimes it didn't stick very well.

Now I purchase a very inexpensive glue stick (usually 2 for $1.00), wipe it across the flap, and it's ready to go with no guesswork. This also eliminates paper cuts of the tongue."

"Pour salt on red wine stains on clothes then wash as usual. Should take it out completely."

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

Here's a deal ... send for a free copy of Dance In Your Pants, the award-winning music tape for children by David Jack. All you pay is shipping and handling and your kids will be rocking and grooving.

I have sent for this freebie just last week so no review but it seems like a great kid's tape. Go for it!

Weekly Time Waster: Ten Minute I.Q. Test
Because life is supposed to be fun!

Here ya go ... waste a little time finding out what your intelligence quotient is! LOL! Go ahead! It's fun, not too tough and will give you a comparison of your score with other online test takers. See if you fall into the gifted category or just plain smart. If your score falls below that, ignore it! ;-)

I tested quite a bit lower than I did in college which bummed me out but hey, I've been quasi brain-dead since having kids. I've accepted the fact that giving birth means losing brain cells in the process. I swear those cells are the main ingredient of the placenta.

A Happy New Year page from one of our own ... Deanna has created a super sparkling page to welcome the new millennium, complete with fire works, party hats and some terrific sentiments. This fun page will help you begin 2001 with a song in your heart and a smile.

Affordable and unique web & graphic design. Free consultations; maintenance; ebilling

Organize your coupons and freebie email into one easy to use FREE web based email account. Participate in our interactive My ShoppingBoards. Get important shopping tips and information. Locate all of the great coupons found online. Win free prizes. If you love coupons and freebies, you'll love MyCoupons.com. Signup FREE!

Jene’s Jewels is a sampler of 40 plus of her poems. Some of them will make you cry and some will make you proud. Some are spiritual and some are just about life. Any way you look at it $6.95 is a mighty small price for something which will bring so much pleasure through the years.

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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.