The driving forces behind the online education phenomena are convenience and demand. Two reasons you can obtain an education and “have it your way.” How are the terms demand and convenience important to online education? Let’s take a look. As we take the opportunity to explore the up-trending in online education you will easily see why these terms are important to it, and why so many Americans are turning to classes offered via the internet to fulfill there educational needs.

Demand.

Demand here implies that a need is being met. This is important because without the need for online education programs they simply wouldn’t exist. Schools are adding online educational opportunities at a rate of 10 to 15 a month. That’s quite remarkable considering

10 years ago, distance learning via internet was scoffed at. Neither educators nor students are laughing now! Hundreds of students are completing their e-classes online in virtual class rooms each month, they are obtaining an actual degree their own way, and upon doing so, receive their diplomas and transcripts as proof of their hard work.

Numerable online programs are awarding their students with earned authentic degrees that they will utilize to gain employment or improve and increase the wage they currently receive from their present employer.

Convenience, the second force that makes online education work is no less important. Because colleges online are so convenient, Americans can have education their own way, and students from all walks of life can be reached.

Distance learning degrees are available to the stay at home parent, the single parent, the working parent, working class men and women of all ages, and home bound men and women as well. If you are unemployed or under employed distance classrooms are just the thing for you. Did you think of anyone who wouldn’t benefit from an online program? An online degree can make a difference.

Today, potential students are not limited to community classes, universities housed on large campuses, or night school. The anywhere, anytime convenience of education online is waiting for you. Online degrees aren’t limited in subject content, either.

Virtually any subject you wish to study is becoming increasingly available on the internet. Do you have an interest in a foreign language? Have you ever wanted to study the arts or sciences? Is computer technology your field of interest? What are you waiting for? The market is right for you, employers are looking for someone like you, and there is a program that is convenient enough for you.

Now you can see how online degrees have become so prevalent. First, we need them. And, secondly, we want them. So many of us in today’s world require a user friendly way to obtain additional education, that it just makes sense. Investigate what an online degree can do for you. Search for a degree that interests you. Then see what everyone is talking about. Receive your online degree today, get your education and have it your way.

Timothy Arnold is a college recruiter and presently recruits college students via his college portal http://www.finding-a-college.com/ and http://www.choosing-your-college.com/

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Graduated Driver License programs can be found in 31 states around the country. The GDL program permits young drivers to safely gain driving experience before obtaining full driving privileges and are generally targeted towards 14 ? 17 year old teen drivers.

Most states require an adult with a valid driver’s license be present when the teen is driving. Additionally, the teen driver is required to enroll in a certified Drivers Ed course and must hold a learner’s permit for at least 3 ? 6 months before taking an "operator’s driving license" test.

It is during these 3 ? 6 months when teen drivers with learner’s permits mostly drive the family vehicle with their parents. While GDL programs allow the teen driver to gain experience in a family vehicle with a parent, other drivers are not aware who is behind the wheel of this vehicle.

Notifying other drivers will give them the ability to consider choices when approaching a vehicle operated by a teen driver. This can increase traffic safety and awareness. Car magnets have become a viable possibility as the notification tool. Easy to put on and easy to take off - no hassles or concerns about permanent bumper stickers that may not come off.

Auto Safety Magnets has a focus strictly on car safety for teen drivers, their parents and driving schools. Help keep the roads safe.

More information on the GDL subject can be found at the Center for Disease Control and this web page: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/research/youngdrivers.htm

Auto Safety Magnets http://autosafetymagnets.com

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A few resources on the web for parents are:

Parent-Teen Contract

You might also consider using a driving safety contract between you and your teen. This is an agreement that your child signs, in which he agrees to be a safe driver by following all restrictions you have imposed or risk losing his driving privileges. An example of this can be found at: http://www.ipromiseprogram.com/

Talk It Out

Work with your teen driver to talk through their thought process while driving. Let’s not over-do this to the point that they cannot concentrate on driving. More specifics can be found in the book for parents at: http://www.safeyoungdrivers.com/

Helpful thoughts for parents in brief are:

* Drive by example

* Watch your emotional response while your teen is driving

* Work with your teen on various driving conditions, not just dry sunny days.

* Large open fields or empty parking lots are good sources for practicing

Of course, while you’re working with your teen driver and their permit license, we have to keep the drivers around us in mind too. Auto Safety Magnets has a focus strictly on car safety for teen drivers, their parents and driving schools. Our magnets will increase road awareness and traffic safety. Help keep the roads safe for you and other drivers. We also invite you to sign-up for our free newsletter covering Driving Schools, Car Safety and Teen Drivers at our website.

Auto Safety Magnets http://www.autosafetymagnets.com

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Are you looking to teach an online course for the first time? Or have you already taught online but are looking for some tips to help you become more effective?

The world of online learning is expanding at a rapid pace.

More courses are being offered and more students are enrolling every semester. And while teaching an online course can be done while sitting at your computer in your pajamas, being an effective online instructor requires a good deal of practice and preparation.

Of course, teaching online does take away the face to face involvement with students. Nothing can take the place of seeing a student smile after finally understanding a difficult concept.

But online teaching can be even more rewarding than on-campus teaching, when done well.

What makes an effective online instructor?

While good teaching involves a large number of qualities and techniques, effective online teaching centers on three main points:

1) You must be clear about your expectations!

Since students are not sitting right in front of you, it is extremely important to be very clear. Since you cannot see the students, you cannot see them sitting with a puzzled look while nodding their head in agreement.

How do you know if you are clear enough?

• Ask the students.

• Carefully evaluate the quality of the work, and how close the finished product matches the instructions.

• Have a colleague read your material before the course begins.

If student evaluations are distributed at the end of the semester, you can use the feedback to help you improve your course and teaching techniques - but keep in mind that by then you can no longer help the students learn what you want them to learn!

2) You must communicate frequentlyand effectively!

Most students will expect you to be sitting at your computer whenever they send you a question by email. Of course, that is not practical, nor is it reasonable. So it is a good idea to give students a time frame in which you will respond, with 24-48 hours being typical.

And it’s not enough to just communicate frequently. You must also communicate effectively. While some students (especially new online students) will want you to “take them by the hand” through each step, if you already have clearly written instructions, you can direct them to the instructions.

Keep in mind that most students are not asking you questions to bother you - usually, they just want to make sure they are doing what you want them to do. So be understanding, even when you get questions that make you shake your head.

If you get the same questions frequently, it is a good idea to save the questions - and your responses - to create a “frequently asked questions” section.

3) You must let your personality shine through!

If students just wanted to read a book, they wouldn’t need you to read it for them. So, when teaching online, avoid taking the “easy way out” by simply posting a few readings and having students answer the questions:

• Add a little of your personality to your assignments and communications (but be careful when using humor, as it is difficult to convey online).

• Give real life examples that you have learned from being the subject matter “expert”.

• Create interesting and interactive assignments to help students really learn the material.

Good teaching, like being good at anything, takes practice.

If you are clearif you stay in close contact with your studentsand if you create an interesting learning experience, you will be the online instructor that students want to learn from!

About The Author

Kris Bickell is the director of distance learning at a small private University in Connecticut, and an experienced online instructor. He is also the owner of Hi-Speed-Internet.com, which offers tips to help you improve your computer speed. http://www.hi-speed-internet.com.

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One of these days you are going to graduate from high school and, hopefully, college. Either one fits the bill here - even if you don’t graduate.

A very small percentage of your peers are going to become very successful. Success in the U.S. is mostly defined as someone who makes a lot of money; that is our usual yardstick. From your graduating class there will be 2 or 3 who make it big time and 6 or 8 who will do very well. Most of them will end up owning their own businesses. Upon graduation you will have no idea who will be the next Bill Gates, Jack Welch or Warren Buffett, but he is right there in your old class picture. Just when you need him you have lost contact for so many years that he probably won’t remember you or want to help you.

People are assets. You can’t run any business without their input whether it is muscle, brains or money. You use them and they use you - and there is nothing wrong with that. This interaction is what makes the business world go around.

Wouldn’t it have been great if you had kept in contact with Bill Gates from the time you graduated? As he made strides with his company you might have become one of his key people, but he forgot you existed - and it wasn’t his fault. You let him go. Don’t squander your assets, your people. Here is a method that will work. No, not right away, but over the years it could easily change your life.

When you graduate take your yearbook and have everyone sign it. Even those you hardly know at all. Get their addresses and phone numbers and emails also. Every year on that graduation date you send out a yearly up date on what you have done during that year - got married, changed jobs, had a promotion, where you went on vacation, added a new kid to the family or what happened to your dog and your dreams and aspirations if you want to. Personal stuff. Ask them how they are doing? Every one is important. Do this every year and do your best to keep the list current. You may want to add others to your list.

Not much will be going on during the first 10 years, but as certain of your old friends start to move up the ladder they will be looking for people to help them and you will float up to the top of the list. Mr. Rising Star needs help and he knows where you are and all about what you have been doing. You might be just the one he needs to help launch his ship of state.

People are assets. This kind of investment can really pay off.

Al Thomas’ book, “If It Doesn’t Go Up, Don’t Buy It!” has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he’s the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.

Copyright 2005

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There are about 750,000 gang members in the United States, according to estimates by the U.S. Department of Justice, and one-third of them are under the age of 18. And while it’s still true that men account for the majority of gang members-more than 90 percent are male-gang membership among women is becoming increasingly common.

What Exactly is a Gang?

Every gang has its own requirements and characteristics, but the U.S. Department of Justice says that all gangs have one thing in common: “A group must be involved in a pattern of criminal acts to be considered a youth gang.”

Similarly, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines a gang as, “A criminal enterprise having an organizational structure, acting as a continuing criminal conspiracy, which employs violence and any other criminal activity to sustain the enterprise.”

Additionally, gangs typically:

* Develop around racial and ethnic lines

* Are typically male-dominated with some female members, though female gangs are on the increase

* Center on a specific territory

* Act as an organization that may be part of a larger group

* Display symbols associated with their gang through clothing, tattoos, graffiti, hand signals and language

Why do Kids Join Gangs?

According to a White House fact sheet for the new youth initiative aimed at protecting America’s youth from gangs, an overwhelming number of violent U.S. criminals like those in gangs grow up in single-mother households with no father around. It’s also been shown that kids who are involved with their family, school and community are less likely to be involved in risky behavior like joining a gang.

This may explain why, generally, kids join gangs to feel like they belong and have a sense of purpose. In fact, kids join gangs for many of the same reasons that kids join any group, like a soccer team or Boy Scouts:

* Looking for a sense of self-worth, belonging and commitment

* Seeking structure and discipline

* Companionship

* A need for recognition, higher status and acceptance

* Excitement and something to do

Gang Signs

Additionally, kids may join gangs because of a:

* Need for protection

* Family tradition

* Need for money (kids in gangs can earn cash from drug trades)

How to Keep Your Kids Away From Gangs

Since most kids who join gangs do so because they are looking for a social network, for a group to belong to, ensuring that your child gets plenty of love and support at home and through positive activities is key in keeping them away from gangs.

Such was the case with David Danisa, a young man who could have easily fallen prey to gangs himself as friends around him joined steadily. Instead, Danisa and friend Jurell Spivey joined school programs and even got involved into keeping younger kids out of gangs.

“There’s a lot of pressures in high school,” says Danisa. “If you have people who are helping you out in programs, you start having more self-respect. You can fight through the hard stuff.” And, to put is simply, after your day gets filled up with sports, volunteering and other activities, “You don’t have time to do anything bad,” Danisa said.

Aside from enrolling your kids in community or school youth programs from an early age, the following tips can also help:

* Encourage your child to think independently

* Take an active interest in his/her life: Be involved!

* Get to know your child’s friends and encourage healthy friendships

* Teach your child coping strategies to deal with hard times

* Support your child with words and actions to instill in them a sense of self-esteem and personal responsibility

* Discourage too much exposure to media influences that glorify drugs, sex, gangs and violence to kids

Resources That Can Help

If you suspect your child, friend or family member is in a gang and in need of help, there are many resources available. First, according to the Los Angeles’ County Sheriff’s Department:

* The member must think and believe that they can get out of the gang, and must want to do it.

* Reduce the amount of time spent with the gang. It’s best to do so gradually, rather than trying to sever all ties immediately.

* Replace gang activities with positive activities like sports, the arts, employment, religion, education, volunteering, etc.

* Remove gang tattoos and attire and modify language away from gang communications.

* Create a new set of friends and an alternative support system, such as boys and girls clubs.

* Help other youths in gangs to create a better life away from the gang.

Other helpful resources include:

* National Clearinghouse for Families & Youth

* Family and Youth Services Bureau

* The YMCA

* Your local youth community center

From the FREE SixWise.com e-newsletter, the Web’s #1 most read newsletter with original articles in all 6 areas of life leading to complete wellness.

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Fertility is such a delicate thing because it can be affected so easily. This is where feng shui can come help. Feng shui can help create a more balanced, harmonious ? and relaxed ? environment for conception to occur.

Obviously, the first place to look at is the home. Perhaps there is some kind of energy blockage. Another consideration is the personal feng shui are the parents. This is the feng shui that is related to gender and birthdate.

Unlike western thought, feng shui for parents places the most emphasis on the father and not the mother. The father must have what is called "descendant’s luck." This is where personal feng shui can be called upon to help improve this type of luck.

Renowned feng shui writer, Lillian Too, credits every book to her daughter Jennifer, whom she says was conceived after a feng shui master visited her home and saw that a tree was blocking her front door. The master told her that once the tree was removed she became pregnant.

True to his prediction ? and after nine infertile years of marriage ? Lillian’s daughter was born. This was also what launched her full study and practice of feng shui.

When it comes to enhancing fertility with feng shui, though, it would be wise to address both parents as well as the home. This way, a complete approach will be taken and nothing is overlooked. Fertility feng shui can’t create miracles but it can create a positive environment in which miracles can occur.

6 Tips for Improving Fertility Feng Shui

1. ACTIVATE THE DESCENDANT’S LUCK DIRECTION.

The northwest (NW) is the direction of descendant’s luck. It is also the direction of "heaven" according to feng shui (and aren’t all babies heaven-sent?).

By positioning the man to sleep with his head pointed in the northwest direction, sit at work facing the NW, eat facing the NW, etc., this will activate his descendant’s luck.

It might look odd, if necessary, couples should turn the bed so that the man is sleeping with his head pointing NW. If this makes the man’s head point toward the door or sleep with his back to the door, then try another method.

Another way to activate the descendant’s luck is to install a metal oscillating fan in the bedroom. Placed in the NW corner and turned on during the day, the fan produces a generous helping of descendant’s luck in the bedroom. Be sure to turn it off while sleeping, though, or this luck will be scattered and unable to attach itself to the couple sleeping in the room.

2. USE PERSONAL FENG SHUI.

Personal feng shui is a powerful method for creating good descendant’s luck. To calculate your personal feng shui directions, go to http://www.redlotusconsulting.com/KuaCalculator.html

Based on the KUA number, you can determine the man’s "personal descendant’s luck direction." The man should work, eat, and sleep facing this direction if the NW direction does not work for him.

KUA NUMBER

1 South 2 Northwest 3 Southeast 4 East 5 Northwest 6 Southwest 7 Northeast 8 West 9 North

3. REMOVE ANY BLOCKS TO THE FRONT DOOR.

It worked from Lillian Too, so it might work for you. Be sure that there is an open space out the front door and that there is nothing in direction line with your front door, such as a tree, street, or other object. The front door is considered the "mouth of chi" and is where all energy enters the home. Make this area clean, auspicious, and beautiful.

4. ENHANCE THE WEST SECTOR.

The west is the sector associated with the children. For that reason it is best to avoid having fire objects here, such as candles or bright lamps. Earth objects, such as vases are excellent fertility enhancers. Enhance this portion of the house, living, and bedroom with metal objects, such as fans, stereos, or other electronic or metal items.

Lastly, be sure to address problem areas in the west sectors of the home (and the west corner of your bedroom and living room) such as crowded closets or junk rooms. Work at getting these cleaned out to allow new creative (fertility) energy to enter your life.

If there is a bathroom in this sector, make sure bathroom doors are shut and to keep a bright light on in this room.

5. OBSERVE PROPER BEDROOM FENG SHUI.

Bedroom feng shui is extremely important when you are trying to conceive. Beds should never share the same wall as the door, a bathroom, or a kitchen. Televisions, work objects such as computers, mirrors, plants, and exercise equipment should be removed. Rest and romance should be the only activities in this room.

6. USE FERTILITY SYMBOLS AND ENHANCEMENTS.

Feng shui uses a number of symbols, many of which are thought to enhance fertility. Some of these would include:

Dragons: Placed on the side table of the man’s side of the bed, the dragon can add a little extra "oomph" in the bedroom. Make sure the dragon is small, otherwise, it will create too much "yang" energy in the room and make rest difficult.

Elephants: Place a pair of elephants on either side of the bedroom door. Elephants are associated with pregnancy. Or, place one statue of an elephant in the living room. Placed prominently in the bedroom, elephants are said to produce male children.

Double fish: The double fish is a symbol of marital union. Display this in the southwest corner of your bedroom.

Single piece of hollow bamboo: Place this in the north sector of the bedroom to enhance fertility. These are said to aid conception.

Red paper lanterns: hung on either side of the bed, these are believed to bring excellent yang (creative)energy to the bedroom.

When you are trying to conceive, it’s always worth taking a comprehensive approach. Fortunately, feng shui can help you make sure the environment supports your endeavors to bring that new addition to your family.

About The Author

Kathryn Weber is the publisher of The Red Lotus Letter feng shui E-Zine. For more information or to subscribe, go to http://www.redlotusletter.com

kweber@redlotusconsulting.com

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Following is a list of the most common poisons among children. Take note of them and make sure these items are securely out of your child’s reach.

1. Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

Cosmetics contain many chemicals, some of which are even toxic to adults, but because children are smaller, and their metabolic rates are faster, a small amount of chemical or toxin can cause a serious reaction.

Most poisonings occur when children are not being watched closely, such as when parents are busy making dinner or entertaining friends. Keep all cosmetics and personal care products in cabinets that children cannot reach or are locked with child-proof closures.

This includes everything from shampoo, shaving cream and toothpaste (the fluoride in a tube of toothpaste can be detrimental if swallowed by small children) to mascara, lipsticks and perfumes. Even if you don’t think it’s dangerous, play it safe and keep it securely stashed away.

2. Cleaning Substances

This one is a bit more obvious: cleaning products are ripe with caustic detergents, harsh chemicals and toxic residues. Should a child inhale cleaner fumes or put an object in their mouth that contains cleanser residue, the effects can be lethal.

Many cleaners also contain corrosive agents that can burn the skin on contact, and other products, like antifreeze, taste sweet so a child may not know it’s dangerous to drink. And, the bright colors are attractive to a child-Windex looks exactly like blue Kool-Aid, for example.

As with cosmetics and personal care items, always keep cleansers out of the reach of children. You can also quit using them altogether if you opt to clean your house with PerfectClean terry wipes and mops, whose ultramicrofiber construction enables the clothes, mops and dusters to reach deep into microscopic crevices (NO other cleaning tool available even comes close!) and remove everything in their path: all forms of dirt, dust, hair, dander, and the biological contaminants too small to see with the naked eye-without the need for chemical cleansers!

PerfectClean products are 100% safe, and are meant to be used dry or dampened with some water, which is ideal for homes with small children where poisoning is a major concern.

3. Pain Medicine/Fever Reducers

One study found that up to 40 percent of pediatric household poisonings occurred while a parent was using the product. Pain medications (or other medications) may look like candy to a small child, but their developing bodies cannot handle the adult-sized dosages and will process the drug much differently than an adult.

For this reason, it’s never a good idea to encourage your child to take a medication by saying that it “tastes like candy.”

If you take a medication, always be sure to take out only your necessary does and then put the rest in a secure location. The medicine cabinet is one of the worst places because children can easily climb up to them via the sink and open the door.

And don’t rely on child-proof containers. Studies have found that children can invariably get them open if given enough time.

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can also be dangerous. Never give your child any medication, even if it’s OTC, that is not specifically approved to be safe for children.

4. Coins and Thermometers

These objects present choking hazards to small children, who will often put small objects in their mouths immediately upon finding them left out on the floor or counter top.

If a coin larger than a penny is swallowed, an X-ray is generally needed to be sure it has passed through the esophagus.

Thermometers represent another hazard of mercury ingestion if they are broken. Mercury can emit a poisonous gas and is dangerous when swallowed, so be sure to clean up any broken glass thermometers thoroughly and safely.

5. Plants

Children may find the bright colors and different textures of plants irresistible, but some plants can be poisonous if touched or eaten. If you’re in doubt about whether or not a plant is poisonous, don’t keep it in your home. The risk is not worth it.

You can refer to the list in the box below for plants that should not be kept in homes with children. The list is not comprehensive, so be sure to seek out safety information on the plants in your home to be safe.

The following plants may be hazardous to your child, and should be kept out of reach or not in the home at all:

* Bird of paradise

* Bull nettle

* Castor bean

* Chinaberry tree

* Crocus

* Daffodil

* Deadly nightshade

* Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)

* Foxglove

* Glory lily

* Hemlock

* Holly berry

* Indian tobacco

* Iris

* Jimsonweed

* Lantana

* Larkspur

* Lily of the valley

* Marijuana

* Mescal bean

* Mexicantes

* Mistletoe

* Morning glory

* Mountain laurel

* Night-blooming jasmine

* Nutmeg

* Oleander

* Philodendron

* Poison ivy

* Poison sumac

* Pokeweed

* Poppy

* Potato

* Privet

* Rhododendron

* Rhubarb

* Water hemlock

* Wisteria

6. Diaper Care, Acne Preparations, Antiseptics

Children may suck on a tube of diaper cream or acne medication. These accidents typically occur because the items have been left out near a child’s reach.

Some topical products, such as those containing methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen)-ingesting1 teaspoon of some strengths of methyl salicylate can equal more than 20 adult aspirin tablets-camphorated oil, pennyroyal oil, oil of eucalyptus, and other concentrated essential oils can be extremely toxic to small children.

As with other questionable household items, keep all creams, ointments and preparations, even those that you use on your child like diaper cream, in an out-of-reach, locked or child-proofed cabinet.

7. Cough and Cold Preparations

Antihistamines, cough suppressants, expectorants and decongestants are often flavored like candy and may be mistakenly taken by children. Keep them, along with other medications, in a locked cabinet.

When giving your child cough or cold medicine, be sure that you are using the proper dose, and that another adult has not already given some to the child. If used incorrectly, cough and cold medications may cause agitation or drowsiness, and in large doses may effect blood pressure and heart rhythm.

8. Pesticides

Indoor pesticides, like mouse baits and roach traps, should be kept in areas where children and toddlers (and pets) are not allowed.

According to Dr. Mark McDonald, a pediatric intensivist at Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital, “Pesticides can quickly kill a child. Never pour pesticides into other containers,” he added, citing a case in which a parent poured plant fertilizer borrowed from a neighbor into a plastic soda bottle. The parent’s child took a drink from the bottle in the garage and, despite being rushed to the emergency room, was brain-dead in 17 hours.

9. Vitamins

Believe it or not, vitamins are a common source of poisoning for children. The pills can, again, look like candy, and the doses and concentrations of nutrients and vitamins can overwhelm a child’s system.

Treat all vitamins and supplements like drugs and keep them out of your child’s reach. And never give your child vitamins meant for adults.

10. Gastrointestinal preparations

Small doses or sips of these preparations, though perhaps soothing for adults, can poison a child. These are another category of household items that should always be kept in a secure location that your child cannot get into, and should be used immediately (not left out on a counter where your child may be tempted by it).

From the FREE SixWise.com e-newsletter, the Web’s #1 most read newsletter with original articles in all 6 areas of life leading to complete wellness.

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Dads are the solid foundation of our lives. They are the shore we swim to when our arms and legs feel increasingly tired. They are the strength we rely on as we take our first tentative steps into the world. Dads can be tender, tough, fragile or powerful but they are probably the most uncomplicated love we will ever know.

For daughters, Daddy is the first man they adore … the first man whose eyes shine with overwhelming amazement when they look at us. He is the first man to fall in love with us.

For sons, Daddy is the idol they first aspire to emulate … their mirror image of what will be and possibly the only man they will ever feel comfortable loving.

Daddy is the first man who held us, as a loving parent, with a lump in his throat so huge, only the joy of that love could erase the overwhelming pain of choking on unexpected raw emotion. I think when a father holds his newborn baby, he is touched by pure vulnerability for the first time in his adult life, leaving him forever humbled by the unexplained miracles of life.

For mothers, the father of our children is the one person we can trust to watch over our babies as closely as we would. We are secure in the knowledge of their love for our precious offspring. Dad is the only other person in the world as fascinated with every nuance and murmur of our babies. He is the one person on the planet with whom we can indulge our need to brag and carry on about our kid’s accomplishments and heartaches ad nauseum … one who will be just as interested and never yawn in the face of our devotion.

Without dads, we wouldn’t be moms. I would like to take the liberty of thanking them from all our hearts for this honor and for being our partners in this business of raising children.

Know how much you are loved and revered, guys! You are our trusted soldiers and we need you more than you will ever realize.

Copyright ? 2000-2004- Rexanne Mancini

About The Author

Rexanne Mancini is the mother of two daughters, Justice and Liberty. She is a novelist, freelance writer and maintains an extensive yet informal parenting and family web site, Rexanne.com. Visit her site for good advice, award-winning Internet holiday pages and some humor to help you cope. Subscribe to her free newsletter, Rexanne’s Web Review, for a monthly dose of Rexanne: http://www.rexanne.com/rwr-archives.html

rexanne@rexanne.com

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Now, if you’re a parent then you know there exists a certain ‘conditioning’ that occurs over the years when responding to questions from our children, especially if your attentions are focused elsewhere at the moment. They all have this tendency to ask questions at the most inappropriate times. For example, one time I was wrestling with a stubborn pipe while fixing a leak under the kitchen sink. To begin with, I was in a seemingly impossible body contortion trying to manipulate a wrench in a confined space so my frustration level was accelerating. At that moment a passing kid asked, “Dad, can I have ddgrfguff?”. I didn’t hear the last part of the question but I was safe in responding back, “Yeah, sure.” You see, it was a ‘can I have’ question which was usually food-related as opposed to ‘can I go’ which requires some passing thought to respond (later I caught holy-heck from my wife for letting my son eat something too close to dinner, but that’s a whole other story). But as the kids got older the ‘can I have’ questions became less about food and more about a request for money… lots of money.

So when my loving daughter asked, “Dad, can I have gufffunfgarble?”, (again being too sidetracked to hear the end of the question) my first fatherly instinct was to pause ever so briefly (while watching the TV screen fly uncontrollably past HBO and our local city council meeting and stopping at one of those shopping channels) and I reach for my wallet. Suddenly I realized as I was fingering the few singles left in my wallet that she was not asking for money. “You want whaaaat??”

Well, as you would expect, my daughter is “blessed” with rather predominant female accouterments (not sure who’s side of the family she got that gene from). She went on to express her reason for this request. “I’m tired of people not looking up at *me* when I talk to them, Dad.” Ahhh.. this was a deep human question coming from a 16 year old; an opportunity for lessons to be learned!

I could have blown this all off by simply telling her that when she is of age she could make her own decisions about that; and for now it was not something her folks were ready to consider. But these things always end up being something more. I was afraid her self-esteem would end up suffering somewhere down the line. So we talked about sincerity, understanding, guys, social attitudes, and personal appearance. We talked about reality… and expectations… and being self-confident. It was the proverbial quality time together.

She has never again asked that question because she has developed a pride in herself and how she looks.. and confidence in her natural instincts and social behavior. In the end my daughter asked a question that could have been answered with a simple yes or no. But what she was really asking was, “Help me, dad.” I nearly missed the boat.

About The Author

Doug Burkland is degreed in the behavioral sciences and writes articles regarding family life, parenting, human sexuality, entrepreneurship, and current events. An aging baby boomer raised in the Mid-West and having liberal-conservative attitudes, Doug is an admitted ’survivor’ of public education who thinks he has something to say that people might like to read; sometimes using a bit of healthy satire, mixed with friendly sarcasm, and at times tempered with thought provoking common sense. Along with being an entrepreneur (having had three businesses of his own), Doug has a broad perspective on balancing life and family.

http://www.dougburkland.com or email doug@dougburkland.com

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