Tag Archives: techniques

Modifying Behavior-Lesson 1, Part 2: Know Thyself

I decided I needed to back up the bus a little. I might have jumped the gun proceeding to Lesson 2: Trial and Error. I thought of something else that’s crucial to modifying a pets behavior before you get to this step. It’s determining YOUR style of discipline. As I alluded to in The Dog Whisperer: The Latest Craze in Doggie Discipline, I’m not too crazy for his techniques. Or, rather, I’ve never been too impressed with the people needing him on the few shows I’ve watched. I felt that using a little common sense in the first place would … Continue reading →

How Do You Train a Deaf Dog?

Yesterday I wrote about my friend who found out her dog is deaf. She had asked me if I knew anything about training a deaf dog, so I looked into it. I searched online for resources on the topic, and I also posted a request for help in the forums. The result? A wealth of information! Training Techniques TOUCH Both the replies in the forum and the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund emphasized how important physical contact, like pats and petting, is to training deaf dogs. Which makes sense. When one sense is out of commission the others have to … Continue reading →

Practicing What I Preach

Like most seasoned parents, I am often full of ideas, suggestions, and parenting advice. To hear me carry on, you would think that there is never anything that happens with my kids that I can’t and don’t handle with aplomb—well, that couldn’t be further from the truth… Recently I was chatting with an old friend of mine whose two children are in their late twenties. I have known this woman since her children were younger than mine are now so we have some shared parenting history! As I was telling her about some of my recent struggles, she started to … Continue reading →

The Role of Adaptation in Parenting

Sometimes I think that it is not so much ME that is raising my kids, but that they are raising me. There is definitely plenty of give and take and I have had to adapt to them as much as they have had to adapt to me. In the world I grew up in, I often heard “This is my house and I make the rules!” or “It’s my way or the highway.” Even though I am the one in charge, that isn’t really the way my family works. Over the years, there has been a definite need for some … Continue reading →

Making Use of “Trial Periods”

I have a tendency to be a results-oriented parent. I want to solve problems or at least come up with solutions that move us out of challenges and into more functional periods. You would think that after nearly two decades of parenting, I would learn that sometimes you have to go with temporary fixes and make the most of “trial periods” since kids and families always seem to be in a state of change and transition. Nothing lasts forever–and while I’m all for setting limits and working rules by which a family can exist, sometimes, we need to try something … Continue reading →

Tips and Techniques for Photographing Your Cat

Cats are finicky, they also love to move. Getting pictures is hard because of their independent nature. Here are a few quick tips on helping you take some pictures of your cat. Be patient – the first tip is simply to be patient. Cats are animals and animals, no matter how sweet and trainable, are not always going to be cooperative. Take photographs at a time when your cat is less active. Perhaps when it is first waking up from a nap, or right after it eats as it is cleaning itself. Tilt your camera slightly to an angle to … Continue reading →

The Land of Excuses

I have been at this parenting thing for long enough that you can pretty well imagine I’ve heard just about every excuse in the book. I keep thinking that eventually my kids will just give up. They too will realize that I’ve heard it all and seen it all and not even bother to offer up their ongoing feeble excuses—but, so far, that has not been the case. I have heard excuses for why messes didn’t get cleaned up or homework finished, as well as excuses for why so-and-so can’t help, make it home by curfew, etc. While I pride … Continue reading →

Don’t Be Vague

Communication is key. Or, at least it is mighty important when it comes to our interpersonal relationships. And, I would like to propose that nowhere is communication MORE of a factor than in parenting our children. Making sure that we get our “yeses” and our “nos” and get our point across in a crystal clear way is necessary—regardless of what age our child is. Our kids will pounce all over vagueness which is why it is so important that we make sure we are NOT vague in what and how we communicate with our children. Being direct does not mean … Continue reading →

Create Your Own Light Box for Scrapbooking

Light boxes can be expensive. In fact, they range so drastically in price, you almost wonder what the huge difference is, since they can so inexpensively be duplicated or created at home. Making your own light box or making something else work as a light box is really very simple. Here are my four most favorite ways to create your own light box. Windows This is so easy. Hold your papers up to the window, just as you would if you were placing them directly onto the light box. Go ahead and trace. You have a free light box at … Continue reading →

Scrapbooking: Put a Butterfly on it

My friend Grace is a die-hard quilter. Her work and the work of her compadres is beautiful, and every project seems to come out a masterpiece. “Don’t you ever make a mistake?” I asked her. “Sure we do. We just put a butterfly on it,” she answered. I looked at her with no understanding whatsoever. She went on to explain that they weren’t necessarily mistakes, but occasions for butterflies. Her appliqués were often not planned, but cover-ups! The same rule applies in scrapbooking. They’re not mistakes, they’re opportunities. In the example here, I screwed up the title. I tried to … Continue reading →