Romance doesn’t have to die or take a back seat just because you’re a parent with a busy schedule. No, I’m not saying it will be easy, but it can be done. Do you want it enough to make it a focus? Get some ideas from Jack and Diane with this article and make this Valentine’s Day a memorable one.

Romantic Tips for Busy Parents

Whether you are a soccer mom, a ballet dad, or a PTA parent, it can be challenging to keep up with the busy schedules of your kids, your work at home, at the office and any free time you might allow for yourself. What about romance and passion with your partner? “Yeah, right” you might cynically say.

Having a meaningful discussion that is not centered on who has piano lessons when or whether or not to call a plumber for a leaky faucet may feel like a thing of the past. And perhaps the spontaneity of kissing, holding hands and lovemaking whenever you want to seems like a distant memory.

If this sounds like your life, don’t despair. You CAN enjoy romance and passion in your marriage or love relationship-even if you have kids that still live with you. It requires intention, creativity and follow-through.

Here’s a little ditty about Jack and Diane. Fell in love, got married and had kids. A decade into their marriage, all seems fine. But in the midst of a bustling family life, there just doesn’t seem to be the time for the intimacy they used to share. Once everyone is fed, bathed, and asleep for the night, both feel exhausted and just not in the mood. Jack might feel resentful that he seems to come last and, while Diane misses connecting with Jack, she may also feel like she needs a break from being needed. Ultimately, they both want more from their relationship but just aren’t sure how to make it happen.

Here are some romantic tips for Jack and Diane and you and your love as well…

Tip #1) Make an Intention for Connection.

Either with your partner or individually, ask yourself how important is it to you to have an intimate connection with your mate? There are no right or wrong answers. Try to think and feel about this question listening only to your heart and not to the voices in your head that may be telling you there just isn’t time right now for that sort of thing.

If you decided that it is important to you to intimately connect more often, more deeply with your love, then make it your intention to do whatever you can to allow for intimacy and passion in your relationship. It can be as simple as affirming to yourself that it is just as important to give attention to your love relationship as it is to get to the gym twice a week.

Tip #2) It’s all about the quality.

It really doesn’t matter how many dinners or midnight lovemaking sessions you manage to fit into your life if you are not fully present. Yes, parents tend to survive learning how to multi-task, but when it comes to intimacy, there just isn’t room for divided attention.

Find a list of friends and family you feel comfortable leaving your kids with and then, when on a date with your partner, leave your kids there! When you find your thoughts and conversation turning to the usual topics of the kids, bills, house chores, etc., change the subject. Maybe you and your partner once enjoyed talking politics together or perhaps it was following a particular sports team. See if these interests still feel exciting to you both or perhaps there are new ones you just haven’t discovered yet.

It is the spark of connecting that is important here-not necessarily what you are connecting about. The same holds true when it comes to lovemaking and any physical intimacy. Do whatever it takes to clear your mind and be right there with your love.

Tip #3) Remember the Follow-through

So Jack and Diane made the intention to connect more passionately and more deeply. They even celebrated this decision by getting away for a romantic weekend and are back home with their kids feeling excited and in love. The tricky part is keeping that excitement going in the every day.

We suggest that while every day may not include passionate love making, every day can be the site for passionate mini-moments. Maybe Jack knows that Diane loves having a back rub at the end of the day and, without being asked, he gives her one regularly. Diane may stroke Jack’s arm or run her fingers through his hair as they pass by each other. Little or bigger touches, kisses and hugs can keep the sense of passion and intimacy fueled.

You might also make a weekly date with your partner for longer connecting time. This might involve lovemaking or just giving each other sensual foot rubs. Whatever you decide, try out different ways of connecting each time and pay attention to the space you are connecting in. A sensual foot rub can be so much more sensual if the stack of diapers and dirty clothes are first put away in a closet and replaced by candles and some favorite music.

The way passion, intimacy and connection looks will be different for every couple. What is important is that you are both fully engaged with and enjoying the romantic moments you create in your relationship. Have fun discovering that it is possible to be a parent AND a passionate partner with your love!

Susie and Otto Collins are Relationship Coaches and authors who help people create lives that are filled with more passion, love and connection. For more tips on turning up the heat in your marriage or love relationship, sign up for their free mini-course at Red Hot Love Relationships.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susie_Collins

Start the New Year off with a new routine. You’ve been busy as a little beaver getting everything ready for the holidays and guests. Now it’s time for you to get everything ready for you and the year you want to have. Get the year off on the right track with this article.

January Home Improvement – Get Back on Track After the Holidays

As the holidays reach an end, you might find yourself letting out a giant sight of relief. The holidays are busy, the holidays are hectic, and the holidays are often a time when we neglect our homes in an attempt to concentrate on things like shopping, cooking, and keeping the liquor key cabinet away from Grandpa Sal. To put it simply, the holidays and home maintenance don’t mesh.

But, now that the holidays are over, January is a time many home owners find themselves picking up the pieces, and getting back on the home improvement track. To get started right, consider the following tips:

Take down those Christmas Lights: We know, we know: it’s only January. Usually you don’t take your Christmas lights down until the summer solstice nears, but this year, do it early. As nice as you may think your Christmas Lights look hanging from the eves of your roof in spring, take it from us – and your neighbors – an undecorated house is better. There is a time for holiday decorations, and months after the holidays have passed isn’t it.

Return the items you got for the holidays: Whenever you open a present and utter the words, “Oh, you shouldn’t have” you might be overwhelmed by kindness or you might be being literal: the holidays are filled with presents we love and presents we hate. Instead of keeping the ones you hate for a long period of time, eventually going to return them only to realize that it’s too late, return your items now. Not only will this free your house from the space they are taking up, but it will also give you a chance to get something you really want instead of something you’ll never use.

Take any lessons you learned from house guests: As the holidays wind up, you might find yourself a little bit happy to see your house guests head home. After all, in-laws, cousins, and grandchildren can all wreck havoc on your everyday life. While it might not be so hard to see them go, you can use their departure to apply what you learned to home improvement. Did your Aunt Sally continually complain about a leaky window in the guest room? If so, get it fixed.

Chip away: There’s no way around it: if you live in cold weather, you’re bound to find snow during the wintertime. Some of this snow stays for a short while, quickly melting before you can shovel, but other storms leave snow and ice stuck on your driveway for three or four months. This not only is inconvenient, but it’s also dangerous. If you are unfortunate to live on the shady side of the street, and find that your walkway is a lawsuit waiting to happen, get out a shovel and start chipping away. Laying down salt and sand can help the process.

Get a jump on Spring cleaning: You just survived the holidays; the last thing you want to think about is spring cleaning. This may be the case, but while you’re already in “clean-up” mode, why not just go all out and give your house a good scrubbing. Clean out the garage, fix up the basement, remove debris from window wells. Whatever your spring cleaning entails, starting now will leave you thanking yourself come April.

Jennifer Jordan is the senior editor for http://www.etodoors.com. Someone who changes her mind every five minutes, her house is in a perpetual state of home improvement.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Jordan

OK, yes, we know in our heart that the holidays are all about love, family, and sharing. Wait a minute, let’s be real it’s all about the gifts. Not just gift getting them but also the thrill of gift giving. This year is the opportunity to think outside the box. How about giving something that will keep giving all year and all their life. Here’s an article to help with your gift giving decisions.

Holiday Health: Give Get-Fit Gifts

‘Tis the season to celebrate — and a time to eat! Most of us gain a few pounds during the holiday season. With family dinners, holiday parties and gift baskets loaded with goodies, who thinks of staying fit?

Instead of giving a pyramid of chocolate, a basket of tempting treats or a bottle of bubbly this year, why not be different? Give your loved ones a Holiday Health Kit to start out the New Year right.

With so many inexpensive or low-cost fitness products available, it’s easy to combine several items into a customized Get-Fit Gift. Louise Roach, marketing director at SnowPack, a New Mexico-based company that manufactures ice therapy kits, has several suggestions:

“If you have someone on your Christmas list who likes to walk or run, think of items like a pedometer, a gift certificate to your local running specialty store, energy bars, a water bottle, a portable CD player, books on stretching, sunscreen, and lip balm. Plus an ice pack just in case they overdo it. Put it all together in a nifty duffel bag and you have a very thoughtful gift.

“Maybe someone you know needs motivation to get up and get going. Why not give a ‘home gym in a bag’? A few suggestions to include are: free weights, a jump rope, resistance bands, workout videos, a yoga mat, a BMI scale, a heart rate monitor, sport drinks, and protein bars. Of course every home gym needs first aid in the form of an ice therapy product to take care of strained muscles. Then wrap it all up in a bright tote bag for giving.

“Several other themes for Get-Fit Gifts could be biking, hiking and backpacking. A visit to your local athletic store can offer many ideas such as a day pack, water carrying system, socks, hats, compass (or GPS system), utility tool, first aid kit, a spa product and destination books.”

With a little creativity, you can put together healthy, useful gifts that will be well appreciated throughout the New Year.

About The Author

Louise Roach has been instrumental in the development of SnowPack, a patented cold therapy that exhibits the same qualities as ice. SnowPack offers two Body-n-Ice Kits that make perfect Get-Fit Gifts by themselves. They’re a great idea for soccer families and active Baby Boomers, plus everyone in between. For more information visit: http://www.snowpackusa.com

snowpack@ix.netcom.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Roach

The holidays are coming – the holidays are coming! Yes, no amount of head-in-the-sand mentality is going to keep them at bay. You might as well suck it up and get ready for those pesky houseguests. Whether they be family or friends they bring with them stress. Which is the last thing you need more of around the holidays. That’s why early preparations are a must!

Read this article for some tips on helping with holiday guests.

Strategically Preparing For Holiday Houseguests

Whether it is family or friends that are visiting, it is important to make them feel at home and not like they are in your way. There are challenges and rewards to hosting a guest during what is the most strenuous time of the year. However, with a few early preparations, you can create an enjoyable guest experience as well as enjoy the holidays.

First of all, if you are not feeling ok, then before beginning any type of preparation, take care of yourself. You could be suffering from a back ache or migraine headaches that, if left unchecked, could wreak havoc on the entire holiday season. Holiday entertaining is serious business. One year, my back went out due to a stressful time at work, and it was no small picnic to get everything done in time.

The next thing to do is to thoroughly clean your house, especially the areas that get frequent traffic, such as the kitchen, bathroom, and living room; and of course, the guest bedroom. If the intended guest bedroom is in somewhat disarray and disrepair and cannot be remedied in time, then consider offering your bedroom to the guest while you stay in the other room. Sometimes simply decluttering a space makes a huge difference. It is about the guest feeling welcome, after all. It is also about keeping you sane. You do not want to spend a lot of time renovating a guest room that will not be used for another year.

While you are cleaning the house (and hopefully delegating some of the chores), get someone in your family to start hanging decorations on the exterior of the house. Although the outside patio will be too cold to hang out on, it might be a good idea to get any clutter out of the way in case your guest wants to indulge in a cigarette on the back porch. Creating an inviting guest experience is about not overlooking any details, however minor. Plus, with a porch (especially a covered one), you can store wine, beer and other items that are needed during the holidays. Food storage solutions are also a key factor.

At this time in the planning and preparation stages, draw up a list of non-perishable grocery and other entertaining supplies you will need and note some recipes you want to make. You will also be shopping for Thanksgiving at this time as well. There are many good sales during these holidays. Peruse the online store circulars and make your list detailed enough to show where else you can find a particular item should the item be out of stock in your usual store. Another alternative is to jot down a substitute for that item.

Once you have the necessary grocery items, start decorating as soon as you can. The day or the weekend after Thanksgiving would be optimal. Enlist the aid of family members. Do not go overboard if it makes you feel overwhelmed. A few smart holiday touches here and there, along with the Christmas tree, will make the statement. Take the opportunity to inexpensively put some understated holiday trimmings in the bathroom and guest’s bedroom. Little soaps and candles with holiday scents of cinnamon, clove and evergreen are classic accents. Placing a poinsettia plant or other winter flower in the guest’s bedroom will further add to the element of your holiday retreat for your guest.

Aside from a few other things to cross off on the list, the majority of the work is done. And hopefully, you have completed it by the first week in December!

Helpful resources to carry out the above steps can be found here. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stefanie_Enza

By Pam Golden 

“Like a drop of water falling on a rock, daily messages of criticism gradually, imperceptibly leave a destructive effect on children.” – Thomas Gordon 

“The problem with you is you don’t enjoy your food! Why can’t you just chew it slowly instead of gulping it down?” Josie said to her 11-year-old son. 

What’s wrong with the picture?

It sounds so simple doesn’t it? Josie thought she was giving good, well-meaning advice – constructive criticism. Yet the effects of those small comments often left her son feeling humiliated, angry and resentful. As with most “constructive criticism,” Josie focused on what was wrong with her son. I call this “Storm Cloud Criticism” because, just like a storm can devastate a community, certain types of criticism can devastate your child’s self-esteem and motivation. 

Over time kids begin to see themselves as bad, irresponsible, thoughtless, dumb, inadequate, unloved, and even unlovable. This negative self-concept can carry into adulthood, crippling them for a lifetime. 

What to do instead – Give Gentle, Appealing Feedback

When you take a wrong turn while driving, the last thing you need is for someone to tell you how wrong you are. What you need is help getting on the right path with a method that is inviting. You can do that with what I call “Sunshine Feedback.”

When giving “Sunshine Feedback.” 

1. Start with a friendly beginning – how you start is usually how it ends. Instead of: “I’m tired of you wasting time watching television.” Try: “It looks like you’re really enjoying that show.”

2. Express your concern and ask for their ideas. Instead of: “You need to turn off television and do your homework now!” Try: ”I know you have homework tonight and I’m concerned you won’t get it done. When are you planning on doing it?”

3. Agree on a solution-what they come up with themselves they are way more likely to do. Instead of: “Alright, you said you’d get it done right after your television show, you better do it.” Try: “That sounds good, you’ll do your homework as soon as this show is over. Enjoy!”

4. Calmly follow-up: This may be the most critical step. When you take the time to calmly follow-up, your kids soon begin to take you at your word and they also begin to take their word seriously. If you let it slide, they begin to lose trust in you and in themselves. Instead of: “What’s the matter with you? You haven’t even started your homework and your show was finished ages ago.” Try: “I thought we agreed you’d do your homework right after your show. Can you get to it now?” OR Try: “You finished your homework right on schedule. That must feel good.”

5. Have a Happy Ending: How you end the encounter will linger and probably be how you start the next one.  No matter what happened, find a way to leave a sweet taste with both of you. If it’s gone well, say, “Thanks.” If it hasn’t gone well, you can say, something like, “Well. This didn’t turn out as well as I’d hoped, but thanks for sticking in there. We’ll do better next time.” 

Also, did you know that one type of praise can produce self-defeating behavior and anxiety, while another can move your kids to positive action? Changing a few words can make a night and day difference in your child’s life. If you like to get started learning how to give praise that motivates positive action while building self-esteem and confidence in your child please download my FREE Report on “The Amazing Impact of Effective Praise” at: http://www.basiclifeskillsforchildren.com/amazingpraise 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pam_Golden

By Pinky Mcbanon 

A growing-up child should be able to develop their self-confidence since it is fundamental in helping them to becoming a complete and whole individual and what that is not afraid to strive for the very best in order to achieve their goals and aspirations in life. Clothing and food alone will not make your child have the confidence and courage. Instead, it is mainly factors that are non-physical such as spending time and encouragement that can help your child develop self-confidence.

Below are 4 tips to help your child gain self confidence.

1.    The children will absolutely look up to their mother and father as role models. Children mimic everything about their parents; from the way they talk, walk, behave as well as dressing and other ways. One example for this is that when they have misunderstandings or problems whether it is from work and or aspects. It is very important not to discuss negative problem-solving ideas in front of the child so that they will not inherit it.

2.    When helping your children with their studies or home work be sure not to spoon feed them. You can do some part of their assignments before explaining clearly enough for them to do it by themselves. Aside from that this will also help you keep tabs on your children’s ability to learn things which are very important when it comes to the child’s self-improvement and confidence.

3.    Make your kid gets involved in some form of sports especially team games. It is not only good to build upon their strengths physically but also able to add to the kid’s inertia or inner strength as well as self-esteem on believing in themselves. Aside from this,  it can also help them develop their camaraderie in one team and improving their sense of sportsmanship. It is also a way of making them learn how to accept defeat wherein they can stand up again and strive to do better in future.

4.    Next, always encourage them to meet new friends. It could either be your neighbors or new friends from the nearby park and such. It can help your child develop the self-confidence needed to socialize and to communicate. At the same time, it will also allow your child to display his/her talents when you organize fun-filled activities such as singing sessions or any talent-time among the kids in the neighborhood.

The above 4 tips, when practiced to the fullest, will go a long way in helping your child gain their self-confidence.

Pinky is a mom with 3 school children. A Systems Engineer, an Independent Medical Billing and Coding Consultant. Her blog focuses on stay-at-home moms, dads and students who wants to work at home, build homebased business or just browsing her blog with a lot of information to gain! Visit her useful blog at http://ezonlinebusiness.blogspot.com/ and website at http://www.mommyisworkingathome.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pinky_Mcbanon

By Will Ung
How I Reduced My Cost of Electricity in One Day
When my wife and I finally decided to look into ways to cut energy costs, we noticed that there are numerous ways to do so. The two biggest things we noticed were that you either implement alternative home energy sources, or you can find ways to reduce the energy you are already using.

You can purchase or make solar panels to store energy for small to midsized appliances. You can also use windmill generators to create and store energy for use like solar panels. I have even seen some setups where combinations of the two systems provide power to naturally heat water. The hot water and steam is then used to power turbine generators that produce even more power.

However, before you begin to budget for a set of solar panels or a windmill for your home, I highly recommend that you start by looking into the basics. There are so many different things you can do right now that will lower your next energy bill.

Here are easy ways my wife and I have saved energy and reduced our bills right away:

1. Control your thermostat
If you don’t already have one, then installing a programmable thermostat can help you manage your heating and cooling systems more efficiently. Turning down the heat or the A/C a few degrees while maintaining comfort can help make a little dent.

2. Turn off your computers and monitor
If you are reading this, then you most likely have a computer at home. When you are done, turn off your computer and monitor. Contrary to popular beliefs, turning them on and off will not damage your systems. If you use your computer intermittently on a frequent basis, try using your computer’s power save or hibernation functions.

3. Use power strips
When you are not using your appliances, you can turn off the power strip (or unplug it if possible) to avoid drawing unnecessary power. When appliances remain plugged in, they draw a constant trickle of electricity even when they are off.

4. Look for the Energy Star symbol when looking for new appliances or home electronics
Buy products that have the Energy Star symbol. Energy Star products meet strict D.O.E guidelines and can help you reduce power loads on a daily basis.

5. Use cold water for your laundry
You won’t need to use extra energy to heat the water, and most clothes won’t know the difference anyway!

6. Lower your water heater temperature
If you lower the temperature down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, your water will still provide enough heat to do shower comfortably and wash your dishes.

7. Use CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs
CFL bulbs last longer than incandescent light bulbs and use less energy in the process. They come in a variety of everyday color temperatures and lumens, so there’s most likely one out there that works for your home.

8. Window coverings
You’d be surprised at how much heat window coverings can hold in. Making sure all of your windows are covered are an excellent way to help make the most out of your heating in the cold.

9. Insulation for hot water storage tanks and piping
By retaining more of the heat, less energy would be expended to maintain a relatively constant temperature.

10. Attic or Wall Insulation
It can be a very big energy energy saver. It can also add to your home’s estimated value. With heat constantly rising, and energy being constantly used to produce more heat, it makes a big difference when your home can retain the most it can. That way there’s no need to produce the extra heat you would need if the energy were to escape through the roof of your house!

In the end, it is completely possible to reduce your energy costs by implementing some of these tips. If you go decide to go the next step and look into using alternative home energy resources, there’s quite a few ways to get into it. With proper planning, it’s even possible to go “off the grid” and never receive an energy bill again.

Good luck going green and off the grid!

Here is a website I have used to help me get started with implementing alternative home energy technology:
http://www.yourhomeenergyguide.com William Ung Thanks to http://www.yourhomeenergyguide.com and my friends at PECO energy for the tips! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Will_Ung

By Gareth A Williams
I’ve always found it strange how children born of the same parents and raised in the same household environment can have such differing personalities.

My two boys are a prime example. One has always been a more vocal, more aggressive personality; the other more mellow and laid-back. And I don’t believe it was the result of how they’ve been raised.

Even now, as teenagers, their differing personality traits are still evident. But it was definitely a challenge to handle and parent the more aggressive of my two boys when he was young. So, I thought I’d share some of what I found out about parenting such children.

First, it’s important to understand why children might display aggression or anger. It has to do with language skills, or lack thereof, in young children. Aggression, via actions and temperament, can result because young children do not have well-developed language skills. They may understand what’s being said, but they don’t have the ability to then express themselves verbally with the same degree of competence. That leads to feelings of helplessness, since the child’s feelings cannot be adequately expressed through language. As a result, they “act out” those feelings of frustration, helplessness and anger.

What can you do about it? First of all, you should make sure your child’s language skills are at a normal stage of development, as opposed to being hindered by some sort of disability (hearing, learning, etc.). Even though linguistic skills in children tend to develop at different rates, if you suspect your child’s aggression might be the result of a physical and/or learning disability, consider a visit to a speech pathologist or neurologist to rule out such possibilities.

When talking to your child about aggression, it’s important to use age-appropriate language the child can understand. Begin by first exploring the child’s feelings, and using the words he/she does know to express those feelings, rather than expressing them physically (hitting, biting, etc.). You may even try some role-playing with the child to demonstrate how you would like the child to behave when expressing negative feelings.

Also, be aware of two very important role models that may be working to instill the wrong behavior in children: your family, including any older children in the household; and, of course, the TV. There’s a great deal of conflict and violence on television, and it can often translate into emulated behavior in children. Similarly, the way you and your spouse express emotions and settle disputes can also have a big influence on your children, so keep that in mind. Even changes to a parent’s normal routine (a work schedule, for example) can trigger aggressive behavior in a child, so take this into account as well should you see a sudden change in your child.

Lastly, understand that, like adults, children need to feel they have some control in their lives. Aggression is often the normal approach a young child uses to gain or regain control, so instilling a sense of self-control in children, and consistently reinforcing this over time:

By Dr. Cheryl Guy
It is a fact that parent communication and teenage communication can be vastly different. When it seems as if neither party understands the other during the parent child communication process, especially between a mother and teenage daughter, I term this communication as momglish and teenglish.

The truth is, no one can better understand the plight of mothers as other mothers. Teenage girls feel the same comradery and security within their own friendship circles too. As mothers of teenage daughters, we have to be able to connect with our daughters on a more intimate-heartfelt level if we are going to maintain open communication.

If you are a mother and have been unable to tap into that intimate-heartfelt level with your teenage daughter and you find yourself questioning your sanity, intelligence, intestinal fortitude, and patience while attempting to communicate with her, you are not alone!

The parent child communication process reminds me of the dummy blocking sleds my husband’s football players used during football practice while coaching them. To teach the concept of effective blocking, the players would run up to the sled and push against it with all of their might in attempt to push the dummy backwards.

We as mothers sometimes feel that during our attempts of communicating with our daughters, we are the football dummy’s being pushed backwards, but on the same hand, we also have the ability to make our daughters feel the same way.

In the early stages of trying to reconnect with your daughter, choose a visual such as the football dummy blocking sleds or some other object. Not only is it important to form that mental picture in your mind, but print an actual visual picture of that object. Post it at your desk, beside your bedside table, in your vehicle or other locations where you will be sure to be reminded that you do not want to continue the same mode of parent child communication with your daughter.

The second way to improving communication is to actually talk with your daughter and explain how you have felt and how you intend to work towards a healthier way of communicating with her. Allow her to express her feelings as well. Give her a mental picture and visual pictures of your reminders and encourage her to either use yours or to come up with her own. Have her print her own pictures out for her use as reminders. You won’t believe how this concept can begin to move your relationship into a healthier place.

Don’t stop there though. There is no silver bullet or quick fix to sustaining change between a mother and her teenage daughter. The same can be said of the relationship between a husband and wife. It takes work and the payoff for your efforts will come in the form of life-long relationship changes between you and the one you love.

Dr. Cheryl Guy is author of “The Secrets to Having the Teenage Daughter You Actually Like” & Creator of the Relationship Renewal ProgramsTM. To learn more about her, her programs, services or to receive her FREE award winning “Parenting the Teenage Daughter” newsletter, visit her site at http://www.TheTeenageDaughter.com .
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Cheryl_Guy

By Robert H Davis
Habits – we are all too familiar with bad habits and the difficulty involved in trying to break them. For an action to become a habit, the action requires repetition. Thus, everyday life becomes a habit. Life becomes routine and unexciting. And, the stress that infiltrates all of our lives because of the current economic situation only makes matters worse. From the oldest family member to the youngest, everyone feels the crunch.

But, take heart. These difficult economic times are an opportunity to be creative, try new things, and create new habits.

Here are 5 simple suggestions to help you and your soul mate(s) weather the storm:

Say “I love you” to your soul mate(s) at least twice a day
Say I love you once in the morning to start the day, and once in the evening before going to bed. Hint: “I love you” can be used throughout the day, too: apply generously.

If your children are no longer at home, follow this same prescription. Get into the habit of contacting them twice a day either by phone or e-mail.

Make homemade pizza
Break the monotony with an inexpensive and fun meal that the entire family can help make. There are several pre-made pizza crusts available, but try the pizza crust mix. The simple mix allows you to be creative and make the pizza into any shape you can imagine. Try making a butterfly or a heart shaped pizza. Crust mix, spaghetti or pizza sauce, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, pepperoni or your favorite toppings make a delicious, fun and inexpensive pizza your family will love.

Plan a weekly ‘at home’ family night
Rent a movie the entire family will enjoy or, better yet, dig a game out of the closet. Hint: the sillier the game, the more popular it will be. Recent discoveries that we have enjoyed are “Candyland”, “Don’t Break the Ice”, and “SORRY”.

Limit phone time
We are becoming increasingly mobile and the communications technology available today encourages us to spend more and more time in idle conversation. This creates distance between family members and wastes opportunities for bonding. We can set aside specific times for phoning friends that will not interfere with the time we spend with our soul mate(s).

Encourage creativity in your home
We all have a creative interest or talent. Make exploring these interests and talents the past time of choice when boredom sets in. Is there a budding actor, actress, or artist in the family? Here are a few suggestions for entertaining and creative activities that will cost little or nothing: