RaisingFigureSkaters.com

Helping Mothers and Daughters Have Healthy Body Images

February 21, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 8 Comments

I'm mad .... again. Another person in the media is making it difficult for mothers and daughters to have healthy body images. So I signed another online petition: Rex Reed, at the New York Observer: Apologize to actress Melissa McCarthy about your comments on her weight. And I'm writing this post. This isn't my first post on body image. And it's too important of an issue for it to be my last. Although I'm focusing on females in this post, I realize that males can have problems with body … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Making a Difference, Parents' Role, self-esteem Tagged With: #realme, body image, Body Peace Treaty, helping mothers and daughters have healthy body images, make a difference, Seventeen Magazine

Obstacles and Goals Word Art Freebies

February 13, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 3 Comments

It's that time of year when you have to really focus on your goals to stay with them. I love this quote by Henry Ford: "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." To download word art (without watermark), click here, then right click on the image and choose “Save Picture As . . .” More Goals Word Art Freebies "Achieving Your Goals" Word Art Freebie (without watermark) “Hitch Your Wagon to a Star” Word-Art Freebie (without … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Freebies, Motivation, Word-Art Quotation Freebies Tagged With: "Obstacles are those frightful things", digital scrapbooking freebie, goals, Henry Ford quote, obstacles, word art, word-art freebie

Funny, Family-Friendly Super Bowl Commercials

February 6, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 4 Comments

I'm one of those people ... yes, those people who are more interested in the Super Bowl commercials than the Super Bowl game. I consider the Super Bowl commercials mini laughter vacations. (“Laughter is an instant vacation.” Milton Berle) This year, my husband and I were lucky to spend Super Bowl Sunday with our kids/kids-in-love in San Diego. Terry, Will, and Tom watched the Super Bowl while Christina, Chea, and I had some girl time. Christina, Chea, and I just saw part of the Super … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Fun Videos, Happiness Tagged With: 2013 Super Bowl Commercials, family-friendly Super Bowl Commercials, funny Super Bowl Commercials, laughter, Super Bowl commercials

Why Your Kids Should Know about Lance Armstrong

January 30, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 10 Comments

My family found that one of the most important benefits (maybe THE most important benefit) of sports for kids is the development of positive character traits. See "Raising an Elite Athlete" for more about encouraging those traits. See "What about Your Kids' Character?" for resources, including sports resources, on kids' character development. So, why should your kids know about Lance Armstrong, who has been given the infamous label by many of "most disgraced athlete" for his role in maybe the … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Character, Parents' Role Tagged With: character, cheating, Lance Armstrong, parents' role, performance-enhancing drugs

How to Become a Better Blogger in One Weekend

January 25, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 10 Comments

I participated in my first weekend blogathon last summer, and I'm still benefiting from it ... a lot! The free Winter 2013 Blogathon is this weekend, January 25-28! It starts at 8:00am EST today and ends at 8:00am EST on Monday. Although the blogathon runs for 72 hours, it's hoped that you'll commit to 24 hours of work on your blog during the weekend. If you can't spend that much time, that's fine, too. Just start when you can and do what you can. Don't Miss the Mini-Challenges! The … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Blogathon, Blogging and Networking Tagged With: become a better blogger, blogathon, blogging goals, improve your blog, mini challenge, Winter 2013 Blogathon

Kindness Project for Children and Adults of All Ages

January 23, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 3 Comments

This is the third year of the 100 Acts of Kindness Project through Toddler Approved! The project starts each year on Martin Luther King Day and ends on Valentine's Day. You can start at any time, though. And the 100 Acts of Kindness Project isn't just for parents with young children. My family has participated on some level each year, and my kids are adults now. The world needs some extra kindness, and this project is a wonderful reminder to be kinder to the people and world around us. There … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Making a Difference Tagged With: 100 Acts of Kindness Project, kindness, make a difference

How to Help Each of Your Children Feel Special

January 16, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 4 Comments

“Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same. Fairness means everyone gets what they need.” - Rick Riordan, The Red Pyramid If you have more than one child, you've probably worried at one time or another about whether you're helping each child feel special. I have two children who were born five years apart, so I had it easier than many families to be able to give plenty of attention to both. But, regardless of the size or spacing of your family, there are some things you can do that … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Parents' Role, self-esteem Tagged With: how to help each of your children feel special, parent's role, self-esteem

“Achieving Your Goals” Word Art Freebie

January 9, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 4 Comments

I always love to focus on goals at the start of a new year. Here's a word art freebie based on one of my favorite goal quotes by Zig Ziglar: “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” To download word art (without watermark), click here, then right click on the image and choose “Save Picture As . . .” For ideas on preparing for new goals and challenges, see "How to Find Balance after the Holidays" at my other blog, … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Freebies, Word-Art Quotation Freebies Tagged With: digital scrapbooking freebie, goal quote, goals, word art, word-art freebie, Zig Ziglar

Pause for Christmas Smiles

December 20, 2012 By Deb Chitwood Leave a Comment

It's been a sad and shocking week after the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. If you'd like resources for talking with your children or positive ways to make a difference, I've updated Wednesday's Day of Silence post with resources. It's especially difficult to have a tragedy during the Christmas Season. Sometimes, we just need to pause our grieving to experience the joy and fun of the season. We can return later to our grieving and, hopefully, to finding ways to make a … Continue reading -->

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: Christmas, Inspiration, Project Smile