If a child acts up by poking, kicking or likewise attacks another child. The parent snatches, him or her by the arm and slaps him or her for hitting the other child. Hold up there’s something totally wrong with this scenario.

Spanking tends to teach children that violence is the answer, to behavioral problems. Basically when we talk about discipline we are talking about behavior that we would like to remedy in our children. What better way to teach our children then to behave in a manner that is considered respectful, fair and suitable.  Slapping or spanking a child is a behavior not considered respectful or civil therefore why would we subject our children to such “behavior”?

There are many advocates for corporal punishment (spanking) that argue that children who misbehave (or seriously misbehave) will only respond to spanking and that parents who do not spank such kids alledgely“spoil” them.  As mentioned above, spanking teaches kids that violence is all right.

As a matter of fact Dr. Phil McGraw, notes on his website (www.drphil.com) that research has shown that “long-term consequences of spanking can include increased aggressiveness, antisocial behavior, and delinquency.”

In many cases parents spank their children because they simply don’t have any ideas or approaches to stop the misbehavior that does not include spanking. Many parents simply raise their children in the manner that they were raised. Often times parents do things without even being aware that they are repeating a behavior they were taught as a child.

So how do parents break the “spanking cycle”?  A good way is to become knowledgeable about the alternative ways of discipline. These alternatives may be more time consuming and frustrating but no one ever said parenting was easy.

Take the time to talk to your child.  It may take a while for your child to respond to “talking” but with consistency and determination in your approach it can be a much more rewarding, and educational moment for both you and your child.{esspecially if you have never used the “talking method before”}

Whether the child is 3 or 9, taking the time to express and communicate your displeasure with a behavior problem is a rich learning moment.  It may not feel that way at the time, but by honestly and sincerely expressing your discontent in language that reaches your child, you are showing real concern and engaging your child in a way that teaches him respect and good communication.

The consistent show of respect and patience in listening to your child explain his behavior will teach your child the importance of dignity and compassion during those times when it matters most.

You don’t have to be perfect as a parent; you just have to be willing to take each disciplinary experience as a learning one for you and your child.
 

This recipe can be used as a topping for nachos or as a stew depending on how much liquid ingredients you add.

Step One - Combine the following ingredients in a slow cooker crock:

2 Cups Chopped Sweet Peppers (Red or Green or combination)
1 Cup Lentils (Dry - rinse and drain first)
1 Cup Chopped Onion
1/2 Cup Brown Rice (Dry)
4 Cloves Garlic
2 Tsp. Chili Powder
1 Tsp. Sea Salt
4 Cups Chicken or Vegetable Broth

Cook for 8 hours on low or 5 hours on high.

In last 30 minutes of cooking time, add:

1 Summer Squash, sliced thin

Serve on top of organic corn tortilla chips along with traditional Mexican side dishes such as cheese, salsa,
sour cream and lettuce.

Or, add more broth to make stew.

Serves 8.

We Stuff our feet into chic shoes, dog them around, stub their toes, ignore their nails and demand that they carry you around all day. No wonder they look a little lousy for the wear. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple, cheap tricks you can use to have your feet looking and feeling their best in no time at all. With so many elements of everyday living that are absolutely torturous for your feet. Standing all day, too-small shoes, stuffy boots, and exposing them to the locker room floor at your local gym are examples of scenarios to which most women can relate. Feet are often taken for granted until they start to hurt and reject the burdens you place on them, so think of taking care of your feet now as an investment against problems in the future. If you’ve ever had a professional pedicure, you know how amazing it feels to have your feet taken care of: soaking, exfoliation, moisturizing and maybe even massage. The best part is you can recreate this experience at home with only a small investment of time, money, and resources. Begin by removing any old nail polish with a remover-soaked cotton swab and then soaking your feet in a tub of relaxing, hot water. Toss in some bath or Epsom salts to increase the pleasant feeling. If you have a home foot bath with bubbles or jets, that’s even better. Soak for at least five to ten minutes; the heat will promote blood circulation in your feet and soften your skin and you can use the time to read, watch television or just lean back and relax. When you’re done soaking, use a small brush to buff one foot at a time, removing dead skin and softening your feet. Let each foot go back into the water after you’ve finished brushing. Use a dollop of foot scrub lotion (available at any department or drug store) to further soften any rough spots like your heels or the sides of your toes. When you’ve massaged the lotion into your feet, take a pumice stone to finish off any lingering rough skin. This is a great tool(
love mines), so take your time and rinse your feet when you’re done. Do you feel it? There’s more. Remove your feet from the water and dry them with a soft towel. Rub your feet with some of your favorite lotion. A peppermint lotion may be particularly soothing and relaxing, especially if you have willing partner to handle this step for you. Either way, it feels marvelous. After you’ve finished massaging your feet, it’s time to add a little style. Trim and shape your nails with clippers and a file, and then use a cuticle stick to gently push back your cuticles. If you have a cuticle trimmer, you may want to scale away excess cuticle skin, although it’s imperative to do this carefully to avoid damaging the cuticle. Once your cuticles are under control, you will want to even out the surface of your nail by applying a clear or opaque base coat. This will help hide any ridges or lumpy areas that might show up if you applied nail color directly to the affected area. When the base coat is dry, add a coat of your favorite nail color. Choose something soft and light for a conservative look or something bold and daring for more flair. Whatever your choice, it’s a good idea to apply several coats to improve the durability of your finish. Clean up any messy areas as you go, using a small cloth or cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover to dissolve stains that may have been deposited around the edges of your toe nail. An additional coat of clear sealer will prevent chips and scuff marks from harming your pedicure masterpiece. That’s it! Know strap on a pair of open-toe sandals or pad around the house in your bare, and extremely fashionable, flattering feet. Looking pretty is one element of great feet. The other part is keeping your feet healthy. Wear supportive, well-fitted shoes, wash and dry your feet carefully to avoid fungal and bacterial problems, and mention any significant problems, such as cuts and scrapes on your feet not healing well as that could indicate a more serious problem such as diabetes. Good Luck!
 

1 lb. split peas
1 onion, chopped
4 carrots, chopped
1 potato, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 bay leaf
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1 ts sea salt
pepper to taste
8 cups water, chicken or vegetable broth

Combine all ingredients in the crock of your slow cooker. Cook for 8 hours or more on low, or 4 hours on high.
You can also add a slice or two of natural, nitrite free bacon for flavor, or chopped leftover meat.
 

A lot of people assume that the secret to having strong, healthy nails is the way you care for them. Millions of women spend money on manicures and pedicures each week in an effort to keep their nails looking healthy and beautiful. In fact, the true secrets to healthy nails begins way before you set foot in the salon. The first step to having healthy, strong nails has to do with nutrition. Some people are surprised to find out that what you eat has a major impact on the way your nails grow. The biggest nutritional tip for healthy nails is to get plenty of vitamins. Vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B12 all have an effect on your finger and toe nails.
Vitamin A works to keep your nails strong. If you do not have a large enough intake of vitamin A as well as calcium, you could find that your nails become dry and/or brittle. Brittle nails often break much more frequently and easily than stronger nails.
Vitamin C can work to prevent those annoying and sometimes painful hang nails. Protein and frolic acid work with vitamin C to keep your nails healthy and void of any hang nail problems.
Protein also keeps your nails healthy in other ways. You may have noticed random white bands across your fingernails at one time or another. These are often caused by protein deficiency and making sure your intake of protein is standard can help keep your nails looking clear and healthy.
Zinc also prevents white spots from appearing on your nails as well. Vitamin B12 assists in keeping your nails from becoming dried out, much like vitamin A. Without vitamin B12 nails often also become darker and the ends often curve. Sufficient amounts of vitamin B12 can keep your nails growing healthy and remaining naturally colored and clear.
Another nutritional tip for healthy nails is keeping up your intake of hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid prevents nails from splitting and breaking. Keeping your nails strong is vital in the quest for healthy nails.
Even if you were previously aware of the affects nutrition can have on your nails, you will surely be surprised at how much of a difference a proper diet can make in the life of your nails. It is recommended that people consume a diet composed of fifty percent fruits and vegetables. This large portion of fruits and vegetables provides the large quantity of vitamins that keeps nails healthy but also helps in a variety of other ways to keep your entire body healthy and working right.
Dieticians will recommend that people drink at least eight glasses of water a day. It is extremely important that people remain hydrated and keep their intake of liquids high. Although water is the best for keeping everything from vitamins to toxins moving through the body correctly, almost any liquids are appropriate for keeping the human body hydrated. Fruit and vegetable juices are often good for healthy nails as well. In fact, carrot juice is thought to be the best liquid for keeping your nails healthy and strong. The high levels of calcium and phosphorus in carrot juice keep nails especially strong. There are a number of common problems that occur for many people in terms of their nails. Nutrition can often help in curing most of these problems. Discoloring is one common complaint that occurs in a number of people. In some cases these people have conditions such as anemia that may cause this as a symptom. In other cases discoloration can be attributed to heavy smoking. Dry nails are another often complaint of people. Dryness causes nails to break easily which can be a bothersome. Diet can have a huge impact on dry nails and should be considered for people who complain of dryness in their fingernails.
Hang nails and white spots on the nails are other complaints many people have that also can be attempted to be reversed through proper diet. If you have problems with any of these conditions consider changing your diet around, even if you make small changes. Eating right can have a huge impact on your nails. However, a proper diet can have positive aspects on almost every area of your life. In addition to keeping your nails strong and healthy, a proper diet can make your entire body feel healthy, rejuvenated and strong.