Working Class Parenting: Motivation, Education and Inspiration For Parents

Found this good video from Babycenter.com  by financial expert Jean Chatzky  in which she talks about her top 3 myths about kids and money and they are.. 1-You should save for your kids college before you save for your retirement.     MYTH! There is financial aid for your child's college, but not for your retirement. Save for retirement first, then college. 2- Older kids(13-19) shouldn't have to many financial responsibilities or have to work.     MYTH! Children in high school can work up to 15 hours a week without hurting their grades. Working and taking care of the money they earned teaches financial responsibility. 3- Kids get cheaper the more you have.     MYTH! Some things get cheaper, but big items like college or summer camps add up quickly in a large family. Take time to think about that when planning a family. Question: Do you have a MYTH! about kids and money you learned by being a parent?

My wife asked what is " Humble Confidence "? I told her it is one of the 5 principles of Working Class Parenting. 1- Education 2- Family Finance 3- Faith and Compassion 4- Love and Discipline 5- Humble Confidence She said "That's great, but what IS....Humble Confidence?" I tried to explain that it is when parents teach their kids to be confident (Believe in themselves and who they are), but at the same time be humble (to know it's not all about them and they are not better or above other people). Found a good article by  Pastor Cecil Thompson about this subject and I like the scripture he starts with. Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. That is Humble Confidence.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone dealing with Hurricane Sandy right now. Working Class Parenting is located in Florida and we know how scary and devastating a hurricane can be. So please stay safe and know that God is with you tonight and tomorrow as you recover. This storm is such a large news story that a lot of parents are dealing with questions and concerns from their children about hurricanes. Here are 3 resources to help parents if your children want to discuss Hurricane Sandy. 1- ABC News - Good article on how to talk to your kids about this storm. 2- Red Cross - Ways to help people after the storm. 3- Sesame Street - For young children this provides tips, activities and videos about hurricanes in an age      appropriate way Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Today's theme: Faith and Compassion Today's post is by Jomary, wife of Kurt Schulz, Co-founder of Working Class Parenting. When my daughter was 4 years old, we started looking for a church that would have a children's program that my daughter could grow spiritually with. Finding one was not as easy as I thought. Some good churches do not put as much effort into their children's programs as I had hoped. We experienced everything from the lesson being through a television using a Christian video to an open play gym with no lesson. I realized that not every church has the means or the volunteers to support a highly structured children's church program. During the process of trying out different churches, I realized I was looking for 4 things:

So my daughter ventures of on her first missionary trip. The objective was to connect with resident missionaries in the shanty towns of South Africa. They would interact/evangelize with the locals and provide VBS for the little ones. Out of a group of approximately 30 people my daughter, fourteen, was the youngest by two years. Many hinted to the fact that she might be to young or the trip to intense (physically and emotionally). I spoke it over with my daughter and in her words, “If I’m going to do this dad, I’m going all the way”.

I am having a personal dilemma. How do you decide what to do with all your child's art projects (and there are lots of them)! I've listened to a few motivational speakers that talk about getting the belief back, that you can do anything by remembering when you were a child and thinking that every piece of paper was special. That you were special. Then the speaker asks, "When did we lose that feeling, when did you stop believing in you?" I have a fear that 20 years for now, my daughter will jump up at this imaginary conference and yell, "When I found a pile of my unicorn pictures in the trash, that's when!" Unrealistic, sure. Daily thought that runs through my head, Yes. So what to do. Every time I take one of her creations to the garbage am I throwing away the early work of the next Jackson Pollock . Kind of looks like it to me. Art! Art? I know most people now say take a picture and save it, and there is an app just for saving your

 This is the poster on my daughters play room door. My wife and daughter did it together after we got the book " The 7 Habits of Happy Kids" by Sean Covey son of Stephen R. Covey who wrote "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" The 7 Habits for kids: 1- Be Proactive     You're In charge 2- Begin with the End in Mind     Have a Plan 3- Put First Things First      Work First, Then Play 4- Think Win-Win      Everyone can Win 5- Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood      Listen before you talk 6- Synergize      Together is better 7- Sharpen the Saw      Balance feels Best I like that my daughter sees this before she goes in to play. Question: Do you have any inspirational pictures in your child's room? Would love to see some pics

The other day I took some time off work to drive my father to a doctors appointment. He had a hip replacement last year and was having some pain and wanted to get it checked out. My mother normally drive him to the appointments but she is dealing with pain in her knee, her doctor wants to do a knee replacement, and it makes it difficult to drive. It was a bit of a drive to the doctors office but we really didn't talk that much. As my parents get older, my dad is 77 and my mom 67, its hard to talk to them sometimes without causing a disagreement or a fight. I will say something wrong and next thing you know the cone of silence has come down on us and nobody say anything for a while. I found a great article on Agingcare.com with 9 tips on how to deal with this situation. 1- Don't Give Advice Unless It's Asked For 2- Listen to What Your Elderly Parent is Saying 3- Accept Differences of Opinions 4- Speak Distinctly 5- Don't Condescend 6- Choose the Right Enviro

I would like to thank the "Parmenter" family, Alan, Kristin, Delia and Ella, for sharing this poem and why it is special to them! Cleaning and scrubbing can wait for tomorrow, For babies grow up, We've learned to our sorrow. So settle down cobwebs, Dust go to sleep. I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep. "This poem is significant because it's a reminder that nothing is so important that our children need to be put on hold. Our time is short and the time we invest now will have an eternal pay-off." Question: Do you have any inspirational words that your family lives by?

I didn't mean to title this post to make it look like a battle-royale between these two groups, but my daughter wants to join a troop and as they say in the movies, "There can be only one." Working Class Parenting is about parents helping parents. So with that in mind, I am asking for your help with this decision. I am looking for any insight you might have, good or bad, that would help my family make an informed decision.

When do we initiate greatness, when are we cognizant of our children’s potentials. Do we dismiss the look in their eyes of childhood fantasies or capitalize on that enthusiasm? Would we give our young people (teens) the opportunity to explore within the confines of positive environments in order to exercise their abilities and curiosity? The energy and the desire to venture is not new to young adults. Remember when we talked about cross country road trips, smoky mountain hikes, ski trips or backpacking through Europe? She was only seven at the time, when a missionary came to her school. He talked about the beauties of Africa, but shared the desperation and need of the downtrodden. He spoke of the feedings and clothing of the less fortunate and the liberty of the captives through the power of God. She sat wide-eyed and mystified. “I will go to Africa when I get the chance", she said.

Today was a half-day of school for my daughter where she had to be picked up at noon. I was lucky enough to be able to take the day off and hang out with her. We had a good day and capped the night off by watching a movie based on a book she loves, "Ramona and Beezus". She loved the movie and loved to tell me what was in the book and what wasn't. But then came the part where Ramona's beloved cat dies, and quietly at first, I started to hear my daughter cry.

Today's Theme: Love and Discipline I read a good article this morning by Shana Schuttle, called The Wonders of Reality Discipline (She starts off writing about lipstick, but guys keep reading, it gets better.) Reality Discipline is based on the writing of child-psychologist Dr. Kevin Leman's article, "First things first", in which he says "..discipline your children in such a way that he/she accepts responsibility and learns accountability for his actions." There are two great examples of Reality Discipline in Shana Schuttle's story

It was the plans of Working Class Parenting to interview this family of 8 kids (with one on the way) when the time came. They are an example of a family working together and keeping family unity despite hard times. However our scheduled story on the Palma family has been moved up sooner due to a story just released about their families home. Imagine being told your family is living in a death trap. That is exactly what happened to the Palma family. An electrical fire in their breaker box discovered a danger that this family was not ready to hear...your house could catch on fire at any moment due to an inefficient electrical system. Due to the situation, they have been forced to move. They MUST find safe housing and need our help!! Dad is able to provide for their daily necessities, but due to a large salary cut because of the economy, they were unable to replace their old mobile home. It is now beyond repair and a hazard to them to live there. The mom stays home and homeschools

" Children are the most wholesome part of the race, the sweetest, for they are the freshest from the hand of God. "           Herbert Hoover-Father of 2nd- Republican Party " Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future. "           John F. Kennedy-Father of 4- Democratic Party Nice to know we can agree on something, I am glad I read a bedtime story to the most wholesome and most valuable child I know before I turned the TV on tonight.

Finished your Halley's Comet Commitment posters today and signed them check out the pictures..

So after coming up with the idea for a Halley's Comet Commitment with my daughter, we spent some time making our posters: First we decorated our posters . Then we came up with three questions we wanted to answer based on our goals and where we want to be 49 years from now when Halley's Comet comes back by earth. The 3 questions were.....

I’ve always been the more right brained one in the relationship. I love a challenge. I crave spontaneity and enjoy the uncertainty of flying by the seat of my pants. Oh, did I mention I’m slightly competitive? My lovely and very left brained wife, is as I call her, my Jiminy Cricket, the brakes and the voice of reason, in the whirl wind of my right brained mind. I have great ideas daily. Some are brilliant world saving, much needed antidotes, while others have been considered as dumb as jumping off the roof in a spider man costume. That’s a story for another time. So when I mentioned I wanted to do a 5k, 15 obstacle mud run as a family, I was given the “What you talking bout Willis” face and abruptly told no. I really thought this would be fun for the fam. After a month of persuasion, I convinced my wife and 14 year old daughter to run with me. Unfortunately my 10 year old son was to young. The rut of everyday life becomes mundane and an unnecessary evil on the working class familie

I can tell you we have no law in our house against child labor. My daughter has daily chores she has to do to get paid, and a chore chart so she can keep track.

So on Sunday I wrote a post about making a Halley's Comet Commitment with my daughter, I just wanted to give you all an update on how they were coming along. We should be able to finish them this weekend: Started our Halley's Comet commitment posters . The art phase is over. I love my daughter's confidence in her art, but unless stick figures becomes the new art craze, my confidence in my art is on shaky ground. We are both giving a lot of thought to our list. More updates to come. Question: Would you do a Halley's Comet Commitment or something similar with your children? 

My wife does a bedtime routine with our daughter; brush teeth, say prayers, and hugs and kisses. Then I take over for bedtime book reading, bible verse, and my hug and kiss. And as I leave the room, I like to tell my daughter: You are smart, You are strong, You are beautiful, You are priceless, You are cherished, and I Love You! I hope by putting those words in her head and that feeling in her heart, she will forget whatever troubles a 6 year old girl might have, and go to sleep feeling special. Question: What do you say to your children to make them feel special at bedtime?

Well played, Monday. Even when I decide to get up early and attack you full force, occasionally you knock me around pretty good and send me home a bit discouraged with a huge stress monster on my back. But I have a secret weapon..... My daughter, she likes to watch out the front window to see when I come home, because we have a deal. If I've had a bad day at work, I just knock on the door and then take a knee. Then she opens the door and runs into my arms with a big daddy's home hug. (My wife got a picture of it today.) And don't you know that stress monster gets knocked off my back for a while. It will still be there tomorrow waiting for me, but with that hug, my daughter isn't just saying she is happy to see me, she is telling that monster... YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!         Sorry I had to let my geek flag fly and you can't see it, but my daughter's hair is as long as Gandalf's beard. Question: What do your children do when you get

I don't want to raise my daughter to be a shooting star. I don't want to set her up to shine for a brief moment before falling back to earth, but I am fighting a culture that praises that bright shining light before moving on to the next star, hoping it will burn brighter. Where will the stars of today be forty years from now, the ones our kids look up to and admire? The average football player is in the NFL for only 3.2 years and a pop star at the top of the charts now, may be hoping for a come back in five years when their fans have moved on to the next shining light. I need to instill some long term thinking and planning with my child. So no more shooting star, I want my daughter to have a Halley's Comet Commitment. What I mean is, I want her to think about where she wants to be in the future and what it will take to get there. I do mean long-term future, the next time Halley's comet can be seen from earth will be 2061.That's 49 years from now.

The following post is by the Co-founder of WorkingClassParenting.com, Omar De Pablo: I hate to start out with a cliché; however, how often have we as parents thought to ourselves or spoken, “do as I say and not as I do?" We discipline our children on particular matters and expect, no, demand, consistent obedience. Meanwhile, we ourselves are lacks-a-daisy about the same issue. Multiple times in my sons early years I've stressed the importance of wearing seat belts. Before the car would row out, everyone was to have their seat belts on. After a while it became habit for him to get the seat belt on, but habit for me to leave it off. So with time, the tables turned. My son, now 10 years old, reminds me every time I get in the car to “get your seat belt on dad, what if we get in an accident dad, what if you get pulled over dad?" As soon as I was called out I would make some sly remark like, “oh I was going too, or, I forgot, I will now." (You know, trying to keep

I have done a little mountain biking in my time, and let me say this kid is awesome! Not just because he is such a good rider, but he is truly loving what he is doing. He probably fell A LOT before he got this good, but he didn't give up.  Listen to him in this video: That is Joy, that is Pride, that is the Belief that he can do Anything! I don't know this father, but it seems like he told his son, more than once, "Don't give up, you can do this!" "Yeah, Buddy!" Question: Would you let your kid do this?

The following post is by the Co-founder of WorkingClassParenting.com, Omar De Pablo: My daughter was our first. My wife is calm and collected, and I am playful, and a bit rough. My daughter's toddler years were spent wrestling and building cushion forts with dad. She was very independent and although we had a good relationship, she wasn’t much of daddy’s little girl. Once after comforting her when she had a nightmare, I was politely told to go back to my room. Mind you she was 2, maybe 3 years old. As she got older the wrestling and cushion forts faded and her interests changed. With that, so did the type of relationship we've had. Not in a bad way, but more in an emotional way. I quickly realized that daddy’s little girl was growing up. She is now 14 years old. Child psychologist, James Dobson indicates that a girls life will be influenced positively and negatively by the way she perceives and interacts with her father. Her self-worth and self-esteem hinge on that relat

If I could go back in time and give one tip to "Just found out I am going to have a child" Me, it would be to cancel your cable - NOW! This would have helped me in so many ways; 1) It would help me save money - and who knew you needed a lot of things when you find out your pregnant (crib, clothes, diaper, diapers, did I mention diapers?)  2 )It would help my daughter's development, so many studies show that t.v. is not good for a newborn's development. 3) I would interact more with my daughter when she was a baby. I used to come home from a hard day at work and get lost in t.v. -Lost in Survivor, Lost in football. I used to get lost in "Lost" and I missed so much that I can't get back. So "Just found out I am going to have a child" Me, Save some money, Help your child develop mentally, and Appreciate all the little moments,  by canceling the Cable! P.S. "Lost" isn't worth it, no one survived the plane crash, th

Parenting with P.E.A.C.E. is an article written by Juliay Tippett who is a licensed clinical social worker and a mother of two children. There are some great tips in here that we as parents need to remember, I know I do.   Parenting with P.E.A.C.E. By Juliay Tippett L.C.S.W. Parenting children from toddlers to teenagers takes a lot of work and attention. No one is born with perfect parenting skills nor can perfection be achieved. Although being a parent can be quite joyful, a few of the negative emotions involved in rearing children are frustration, anger, worry, and disappointment. These emotions at times are directed at the children initially then they may internalize within oneself causing feelings of doubt and failure. Don't give up. Remember P.E.A.C.E when interacting with your child. P = Patience: This is a key component in parenting because as soon as you lose your patience situation you are in can escalate. Take deep breathes, stay calm, and try not to raise