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Show B2 The Emery County Review, Tuesday, December 9, 2008 The FAMILY PAGE Horoscope Focus On The Family Crossword Figuratively Speaking Focus on the Family Children can be at their Worst on Family Vacations Dr. James Dobson Q Why is it that children are often the most obnoxious and irritating on vacations and at other times when parents specifically try to please them? On those special days, you’d think the kids would say to themselves, “Wow! Mom and Dad are doing something really nice for us, taking us on this great vacation. We’re going to give them a break and be really good kids today.” Isn’t that reasonable? Sure it’s reasonable, but children just don’t think that way. In fact, many boys and girls misbehave even more at these times. Why is this? One reason, I think, is because children often feel compelled to reexamine the boundaries whenever they think they may have moved. In other words, whenever the normal routine changes, the tougher kids often push the limits to see if the old rules still apply. A Q Our 15-year-old daughter is getting some rough treatment at the hands of her peers these days. She wasn’t invited to a party given by a girl who had been her best friend, and she cried herself to sleep that night. It’s just tearing me up to see her hurt like this. Will this experience leave lifelong scars on her mind? It’s all a matter of degree. Most teenagers experience a measure of rejection like your daughter is experiencing. They typically roll with the punches and eventually get beyond the discomfort. Others, however, are wounded for life by the rejection of those adolescent experiences. I suggest you give your daughter plenty of emotional support, keep her talking and do what you can to help her cope. I think she’ll get her legs under her when the pressure of these years has passed. Let me address the larger issue here. When we see our children struggling with the teen experience or other frustrations, it’s natural to wish we could sweep aside the A Horoscopes by Holiday Have you ever fallen for a robot? It’s a stretch, but it could happen during Venus’ trip through the freethinking realm of Aquarius. Her first stay in Aquarius was so terrific that she’s back for seconds within the same year. Venus in Aquarius is a friendly placement that bodes well for platonic love, as well as the sharing of ideas and dreams for the future. The spirit of invention thrives during this transit, and it’s not uncommon that people fall in love with devices such as computers, cell phones and satellite television. ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ve been so disciplined in one area of your life that another area might slip. You’re likely to dip into an old style of behavior that you don’t want to keep. Maybe it’s calling an ex or eating a food that’s bad for you. Whatever the infraction, you’ll get right back on track and be better off for what you learned. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re attracted to those who have achieved great skill in an area you would like to master. Your attitude of reverence toward these people is not only flattering to your subject, but it also helps you to learn. You listen better and pay attention to the minor details, which is where the real magic lies. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Sharing will reinforce your belief in an abundant uni- by even a moderate wind. By contrast, a mesquite tree that’s planted in a dry desert is threatened by its hostile environment. It can only survive by sending its roots down thirty feet or more into the earth, seeking cool water. But through this adaptation to an arid land, the well-rooted tree becomes strong and steady against all assailants. Our children are like the two trees in some ways. Those who have learned to conquer their problems are better anchored than those who have never faced them. Our task as parents, then, is not to eliminate every challenge for our children, but to serve as a confident ally on their behalf, encouraging them when they are distressed, intervening when the threats are overwhelming, and above all, giving them the tools they need to overcome the obstacles. (Dr. Dobson is founder and chairman of the board of the nonprofit organization Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995(www.family.org). Questions and answers are excerpted from “Solid Answers” and “Bringing Up Boys,” both published by Tyndale House. Copyright 2008 James Dobson Inc. Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate.) Figuratively Speaking John MacIntyre Week of December 7 Holiday Mathis problems and obstacles. Sometimes we have to be reminded that the human personality grows through adversity. “No pain, no gain,” as they say. Those who have conquered their problems are more secure than those who have never faced them. I learned the value of hard times from my own experience. During my seventh and eighth grades, I lived through the most painful years of my life. I found myself in a social crossfire that gave rise to intense feelings of inferiority and doubt. And yet those two years have contributed more qualities that are positive to my adult personality than any other span of my life. What I learned through that experience is still useful to me today. Though it may be hard to accept now, your child needs the minor setbacks and disappointments that come her way. How can she learn to cope with problems and frustrations if her early experiences are totally without trial? Nature tells us this is true. A tree that’s planted in a rain forest is never forced to extend its roots downward in search of water. Consequently, it remains poorly anchored and can be toppled verse and multiply your fortunes. However, this is only true when you feel fantastic about your donation. Grudging gifts do nothing for the giver or the receiver. Seek people and causes with which you want to be generous. You are rich in so many ways. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Work brings both elation and frustration, and most importantly it brings money. Whether it is enough to even out the equation will be your big question of the week. Bounce a few professional ideas around on Thursday and Friday. You’ll figure out how to get a more consistently positive experience out of your job. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). An act of benevolence comes easily because you really are the bigger person in a situation. You’ll probably come to the conclusion that your efforts have very little to do with the other person and are more about proving to yourself who you are. Your confidence grows as you touch the limitless breadth of your spirit. THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS: This year you learn to stop worrying about things that are beyond your control as you get into the habit of bringing yourself fully and completely into the moment. This month you meet many new people, and someone who will immediately contribute to your career Continued on Page B5. 24: Percentage of respon- according to an Endicia survey. dents who think travelers are ruder during the holidays, according to a survey by TripAdvisor. 40: Percentage of these 83: Percentage who said air 8.25: Estimated percentage travelers have gotten ruder over the past 10 years. 59: Percentage who said oblivious parents are the most annoying air travelers. Source: TripAdvisor 46: Percentage of the em- ployees hired over the holidays that managers expect will continue to work for them into 2009, according to a SnagAJob.com survey. 34: Percentage of managers who agree the most important thing is “a positive attitude and eagerness to have a job.” Source: SnagAJob.com 84: Percentage of small businesses that sell goods online that report they have seen their annual shipping costs increase this year, companies that have incurred a fuel surcharge from their shipping carrier. necessary to have fun, according to a study by Harris Interactive’s Youth Center of Excellence in collaboration with the founders of the Sandbox Summit. 1 (tie), 3, 4, 5: When age of shipping costs for air service of private carriers that is accounted for by fuel surcharges. Source: Endicia. asked what they enjoyed most about playing with their favorite toy, ranks of fun (22 percent), variety of ways to play (22 percent), pretend role play (20 percent), creativity and building (16 percent), and imagination (13 percent) as the top responses. Source: Harris Interactive. $134 billion: Estimated 23: Among consumers scal- of shipping costs for ground service of private carriers that is accounted for by fuel surcharges. 28.5: Estimated percent- amount of money American consumers will pour into the market across the six largest holiday spending occasions (Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween and the winter holidays) in 2008, according to the Packaged Facts report “Holiday Spending in the U.S.” Source: Packaged Facts. 62: Percentage of tweens who agree that toys are ing back on gifts, percentage of respondents who plan to cut back on gifts for their pets this season, according to a Consumer Reports holiday shopping poll. 40: Percentage who plan to cut back on buying for friends and families. Source: Consumer Reports. 58: Percentage of holiday shoppers who stated they were more likely to make gifts this year versus last year, according to a poll conducted for Michaels Stores Inc. 41: Percentage who said handmade gifts were the best use of their holiday shopping dollars this year. 42 million: Estimated number of U.S. households that craft for the November/ December gift-giving season, according to the Craft and Hobby Association. Source: Michaels Stores Inc. 48: Percentage of Ameri- cans who say they plan to reduce holiday food costs by celebrating at home instead of in a restaurant, according to a survey by Allrecipes. com. Source: Allrecipes.com. 59: Percentage of online shoppers who would be likely to make an impulse shopping decision if they saw something online that is perfect for someone they know, according to a survey conducted on behalf of GSI. 60: Percentage of women who are likely to make an impulse purchase online in response to limited-time offers. 4: Percentage of men who are likely to do the same. Source: GSI Commerce Inc. Idle Thought Puzzle answers on Page B5. “You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” -- John Wooden, basketball coach (Copyright 2008 John MacIntyre Inc. Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate.) |