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Show The Emery County Review, Tuesday, June 3, 2008 The FAMILY PAGE Horoscope Focus On The Family Crossword B3 Figuratively Speaking FOCUS ON THE FAMILY Toddler Years are a Brief, Delightful Time for Parents Dr. James Dobson Q My baby is only a year old and she is a joy to my husband and me. But your description of toddlerhood is kind of scary. It’s just around the corner. Are the “terrible twos” really so terrible? I think the toddler years are delightful. It is a period of dynamic blossoming and unfolding. New words are being learned daily, and the cute verbal expressions of that age will be remembered for half a century. It is a time of excitement over fairy stories and Santa Claus and furry puppy dogs. And most important, it is a precious time of loving and warmth that will scurry by all too quickly and will never return. Admittedly, the toddler years can also be quite challenging to a busy mother. Not the least of her frustrations is the negativism of that period of development. It has been said that all human beings can be classified into two broad categories: those who would vote “yes” to the various propositions of life, and those who would be inclined to A vote “no.” I can tell you with confidence that each toddler around the world would definitely cast a negative vote! If there is one word that characterizes the period between 15 and 24 months of age, it is no! No, he doesn’t want to eat his cereal. No, he doesn’t want to play with his dump truck. No, he doesn’t want to take his bath. And you can be sure, no, he doesn’t want to get to bed anytime at all. It is easy to see why this period of life has been called “the first adolescence,” because of the negatives, conflict, and independence of the age. Perhaps the most irritating aspect of the “terrible twos” is the tendency of kids to spill things, destroy things, eat horrible things, fall off things, flush things, kill things, and get into things. They also have a knack for doing embarrassing things, like sneezing on a nearby man at a lunch counter. During these toddler years, any unexplained silence of more than 30 seconds can throw an adult into a sudden state of panic. What mother has not had the shock of opening the bedroom to find Tony Tornado covered with lipstick from the top of his pink head to the carpet on which he stands? On the wall is his own artistic creation with a red handprint in the center, and throughout the room is the aroma of Chanel No. 5 with which he has anointed his baby brother. Wouldn’t it be interesting to hold a national convention sometime, bringing together all the mothers who have experienced that exact trauma? Yes, toddlerhood is challenging, but it is also a wonderful time of life. It will last but a brief moment in time. There are millions of older parents today with grown children who would give all they possess to relive those bubbly days with their toddlers. Enjoy these years to the fullest. Wanda Perry Copley News Service ARIES (March 21 - April 19): The news that you have been waiting on finally comes through. Take time to celebrate and share your report or update with peers. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Your financial picture looks promising this week. Act now to join an exciting business venture or to discover how to best invest your money. GEMINI (May 21 - June 21): You are feeling emotionally secure and confident from the inside out. Bury all doubts or fears and stick your neck out on a novel project or idea. CANCER (June 22 - July 22): Some very valuable subconscious information is made available to you. Tap in and uncover a wealth of knowledge that will enhance your life. LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Your judgment is somewhat clouded by unresolved feelings. Heed the advice of friends or associates who have a better view of the situation. VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): A business meeting or discussion brings important information to light. Pay attention, take notes and offer your insights or suggestions. LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 23): It is up to you to decipher a variety of opinions from colleagues or peers. Keep an open mind and shy away from prematurely passing judgment. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 21): Set the record straight about a family secret or plans for possible investments. Speak openly and graciously to clear the air. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Assert yourself with a partner or mate and get the last word in a discussion. Articulate your point and make sure that it is well understood. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): Your body will send special signals to you to indicate what is going on. Listen with a purpose and pay attention to how you are feeling. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): Camaraderie will bring you closer to goal achievement and success on the social level. Join forces with friends or loved ones and have a great time. PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20): Look for opportunities or assignments that will allow you to work from the comfort of your own home this week. Plan to relax and prosper beyond expectations. If your birthday is this week, smile and welcome opportunities for rebirth or new growth during the coming year. Do not hesitate to seize the moment and move forward to embrace many exciting, ideas and concepts. Educational pursuits are also encouraged as information or presentations are delivered with a special ease. Make note of lessons learned through relationships or friendly interactions on the social level. Also born this week: Charlie Watts, Lalaine, Angelina Jolie, Kenny G, Thomas Mann, Frank Lloyd Wright and Johnny Depp. For more information go to WandaPerry.com Our 24-month-old son is not yet toilet trained, although my motherin-law feels he should be under control now. Should we spank him for using his pants instead of the potty? No. Suggest that your mother-inlaw cool down a bit. It is entirely possible that your child can’t control himself at this age. The last thing you want to do is punish a child of any age for an offense which he can’t comprehend. If I had to err on this matter, it would be in the direction of being too late, rather than too early. Furthermore, the best approach to potty training is with rewards and encouragement rather than with punishment. Give him a sucker (or sugarless candy) for performing his duty. When you’ve proved that he can comply, then you can hold him responsible in the future. (Dr. Dobson is founder and chairman of the board of the nonprofit organization Focus on the Family, 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. A FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING HOROSCOPE Week of June 2-8 Q John MacIntyre 1: Rank of the U.S. among the world’s most competitive economies, according to a survey conducted by the IMD business school that ranked 55 global economies according to 331 criteria that measure how each creates and maintains conditions favorable to business. 15: Number of years in a row the U.S. has ranked No. 1. 2, 3, 4, 5: Ranks of Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Luxembourg. Source: IMD. 33: Percentage by which gas mileage is lowered by aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) on the highway, according to the Department of Energy. 5: Percentage by which it is lowered by aggressive driving around town. $0.20: For each 5 mph driven above 60 mph, estimated additional cost per gallon of gas. Source: Governors Highway Safety Association. 94: Percentage of married women who maintain a “honey-do” list, according to a survey sponsored by Mighty Putty. 71: Percentage of women who were likely to have between one and nine tasks on their list. 78: Percentage of those tasks that remain unfinished for weeks, months or even years. Source: Nature’s Pillows. $8.8 billion: Estimated amount of money given by U.S. religious congregations of all denominations to the developing world in 2006 for relief and development in poor countries (figure excludes support for evangelism), according to the 2008 Index of Global Philanthropy, which is published annually by the Hudson Institute’s Center for Global Prosperity. $23.5 billion: Official U.S. government aid in 2006. Source: Hudson Institute. 25: Percentage of the Silent Generation (born 1925 to 1945) who report that all of their childhood family vacations included some interaction with nature, according to a study by Vollmer Public Relations for Travelocity. 15: Percentage of families traveling with kids today who say the same. 13: Percentage of time that today’s families with children spend at amusement parks. 6: Percentage of time that the Silent Generation visited amusement parks. Source: Vollmer Public Relations. 55: Percentage of financial executives from oil and gas companies who think that the price per barrel of crude oil will drop below $100 by the end of the year, according to the KPMG survey. 21: Percentage who think that the price will close between $101 and $110. 15: Percentage who think between $111 and $120. Source: KPMG LLP. 33: Percentage of adults across the U.S. who enjoy grilling food outside, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 1920s: Decade when outdoor grilling became popular and when charcoal briquettes were first sold by Henry Ford, made from scrap wood left over from the body framing of his Model T’s. 62: Number of pounds of beef that each American consumes every year. 74: Number of pounds of poultry. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. 30: Percentage of em- ployees who say that they left their jobs to seek new challenges or opportunities that were lacking with their previous employers, according to a study by Right Management. 25: Percentage of respon- dents who reported leaving employers because of ineffective leadership. 22: Percentage who cited poor relationships with their managers. 300: Average percentage increase of an employee’s salary that it costs to replace an employee (this includes recruitment, training, severance, lost productivity and lost opportunities). Source: Right Management. Idle Thought See Page B8 for Puzzle Answers. “If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn’t thinking.” -- George Patton Copyright 2008 John MacIntyre Inc. Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate. |