Are the voices in my

head guardian angels

or spirit guides?

How do I know if I

can trust them?

Do I have to do what

they tell me to do?

How can I know if

they are good or evil?

What if I’m crazy?

Voices

Divinity or Insanity?

answers these questions

and more

40 of Skye Thomas’ most popular articles have been brought together to create this magical book.  Give it as a gift to someone going through a rough time to show them

your love and support.  Give

it to your teenagers as a series of life lessons to help them get through the difficulties of becoming adults.  Give it to yourself as a reminder that

you have what it takes to

get through the dramas that

life throws your way.  

When All Else Fails,

Find Your Heart’s Song and Sing Louder!

is one of those pick-me-ups

that you can rely on to always be there like a good friend ready to cheer you up on a cloudy day.

Who can I trust with

my heart?

What type of person

is naturally

compatible with me?

Who will love me for

who I am on the inside?

Who is naturally loyal

and faithful?

Why Do I Keep Falling

in Love With the

Wrong People?

answers these questions

and more

How can I stop the

negative self-talk from ruining my life?

How can I conquer my negativity and become a naturally positive person?

Why am I so fearful

of trying new things?

How can I improve

my self-esteem?

Beyond the Inner Critic

answers these questions

and more

Quirky Goodies can be found at our

Tomorrow’s Edge

Gift Shoppe

Love & Compatability       Angels & Spirituality       Horoscopes & Astrology       Self-Confidence & Personal Development       Skye Thomas

Articles       Books       Newsletters       Abundance & Prosperity       Family & Friends       Contact Us       ...and so much more

May 3rd, 2010

Looking Up

Good morning,

I don't think Thomas Jefferson meant for today's Quote of the Week to be applied to parenting, but I found it quite fitting.

take care,

Skye Thomas

Tomorrow's Edge

...inspiring leaps of faith

www.TomorrowsEdge.net

Books, articles, newsletters,

life coaching, & horoscopes.

This Week's News of Interest:

May 2010 Horoscopes

All forms of the new forecasts were emailed, blogged, and loaded onto the website a couple of weeks ago.  If you did not get your copy, send us an email telling us which mailing list you are signed up for so that we can resend it to you.  It is no trouble at all, just make sure you tell us which full-length zodiac sign forecast you are signed up for or if it is the mini-freebie version that you need resent.

Also, do NOT hit reply to a newsletter or horoscope, because we use automated email addresses to send those out and it can be weeks before a human sees those emails.  Instead, send your feedback, requests, etc to CustomerService@TomorrowsEdge.net so that one of us can respond in a more timely manner.

Here are the links for those of you who like to read the forecasts online...

Aries May 2010 Monthly Astrology Horoscopes

Taurus May 2010 Monthly Astrology Horoscopes

Gemini May 2010 Monthly Astrology Horoscopes

Cancer May 2010 Monthly Astrology Horoscopes

Leo May 2010 Monthly Astrology Horoscopes

Virgo May 2010 Monthly Astrology Horoscopes

Libra May 2010 Monthly Astrology Horoscopes

Scorpio May 2010 Monthly Astrology Horoscopes

Sagittarius May 2010 Monthly Astrology Horoscopes

Capricorn May 2010 Monthly Astrology Horoscopes

Aquarius May 2010 Monthly Astrology Horoscopes

Pisces May 2010 Monthly Astrology Horoscopes

Quote of the Week:

Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of the day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period, and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers (administrators) too plainly proves a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing us to slavery. - Thomas Jefferson

Like its politicians and its war, society has the teenagers it deserves. - Joseph Priestley

The Golden Rule of Parenting is; Do unto your children as you wish your parents had done unto you! - Louise Hart

Feature Article of the Week:

Two-Year Olds:  The Original Freedom Fighters

We call him the Buddha Napoleon.  Anyone who has ever lived with a two-year old knows exactly what I am talking about.  He is this amazing blend of cosmic beauty, love, and peace while simultaneously making it crystal clear that he is the grand dictator of the known universe.  His little size never deters him from anything he sets his mind to.  I had forgotten so much since raising my first two children.  The ten and twelve year age difference allows for that.  Lucky for the Buddha Napoleon, I have had practice and am a lot more knowledgeable and patient this time around.  

This is probably the most important year for his social development.  During the first year of a baby's life, we are supposed to set a solid foundation of love and trust.  That first year puts in place a basic belief that the world is a wonderful place full of love and light, or it is not.  The second year, we teach them to believe in themselves.  Get up and walk, learn to speak, learn to manipulate toys, learn that ever-important can-do attitude.  

After the second birthday, it is all about personal power and boundaries.  How do we get what we want from others?  How do we stay out of trouble?  Why do all of these stupid rules exist anyway?  Do I have a right to tell you "No" since you say it to me all of the time?  What are the consequences if I give in all of the time?  And if I don't give in, then what?  Am I in charge of my life or are you?  

It is a miniature version of the same dynamics we go through with our teenagers.  They are just revisiting these same questions from a taller and more hormonal perspective.  Handle the two-year old stage well, and you will find the teenage years are not nearly so difficult.  

Remember back to when you were thirteen... did your folks answer your questions with, "Because I said so" or did they actually give you real reasons for their decisions?  Which had a bigger impact on your ability to honor and respect their viewpoint?  It is no different with two-year olds.  

Find the vocabulary that they understand and explain to them why they cannot scream at the top of their lungs just to hear the echo throughout the grocery store.  It hurts my ears.  It hurts everyone in the store's ears, and that's not okay.  Explain why they cannot kick and pound on you while you are buckling them into the car seat.  That hurts me, and I don't like it.  

Quite often, they will quit.  You will still have days when they will do it anyway, but they will completely understand why they are getting busted.  They will know that it is because they made a choice not because you are just being mean for the heck of it.  Over and over, you have to keep telling them why.  

They also need to see you enforce the rules on others too.  Role model for them that everyone in the house is being held by the same standards of behavior.  Conduct yourself accordingly.  Eventually, they will come to agree with the rules if they understand the reasoning behind them.  "Because I said so" isn't a reason that any self-respecting two-year old will ever embrace.

Self-respect is a very important aspect that I think too many parents downplay in raising their children.  How is someone supposed to come away with any kind of self-respect if they have been raised to never ever disagree or question authority?  My favorite is when I hear people say, "You don't say no to me - I'm your mother!"  The fact that people are capable of breeding does not make them right!  

If you want your child to respect you and to speak to you with respect, then earn it.  Children are very observant.  Do you practice what you preach?  Do you scream and yell at them - and then bust them for doing the same thing back to you?  They mimic your behaviors because you represent what it is to be a grown up in society.  Do you spank first and ask questions second?  Then they will too.  

Do you want a child who grows up to be a follower or a leader?  If you punish them every time they try to take the lead, then they will either avoid leadership, or they will punish anyone who gets in their way.  

Give your child the right to say "No."  Tell your two-year old it is okay to say "No, I don't want Uncle Johnny to pick me up and tickle me right now."  Then, make Uncle Johnny respect your toddler's personal space.  Later, when the child is in someone else's space, you can remind them of how it feels as you explain why they need to back off.

The key to this is to teach your child about presentation and about listening skills.  It's okay to disagree with me, but you can't scream and yell and kick.  It's okay to tell me no, but you also have to listen to my side of the argument too.  You then have to role model what it is you want from them.  You have to listen to their reasons and then they have to listen to yours.  Teach them negotiation skills.  Teach them how to say no so that it is not offensive.  

Sure, it is a lot easier to just deny them the right to disagree, but it will come back on you when they are teenagers.  Almost everyone disagreed with me when I gave my first two kids permission to question authority and to openly argue their point before they had even entered preschool.  I just made sure they were polite and respectful while doing so.  Their teachers and babysitters were not too thrilled, but communications were always open and honest.  They became diplomats, negotiators, and natural leaders as a result.  My older two have a solid belief in setting personal boundaries and not allowing others to take advantage.  And so does the Buddha Napoleon.

Need someone to talk to about life's challenges?  Skye Thomas is available for life coaching.

Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow's Edge

Tomorrow's Edge

...inspiring leaps of faith

www.TomorrowsEdge.net

Books, articles, newsletters,

life coaching, & horoscopes.

Skye Thomas is the CEO of Tomorrow’s Edge, an Internet leader in inspiring leaps of faith.  She became a writer in 1999 after twenty years of studying personal growth, motivation, soulmates, self-esteem, parenting, spirituality, metaphysics, family dynamics, dating, and astrology.  Her books, articles, and astrological forecasts have inspired people of all ages and faiths to recommit themselves to the pursuit of happiness.  To read more of her articles, previews of her books, and her astrology forecasts, go to www.TomorrowsEdge.net.  To read more about Skye and to sign up to receive one or more of her free newsletters, go to www.SkyeThomas.com.  

 

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