The Power of Slow author wrote after read Dr. Pat Palmer's bestselling books: 

It's the Power of Slow for Kids! I almost exclaimed in delight.

The book identifies feelings and offers helpful tools for kids to get a grasp on their feelings. While my ten year-old daughter showed little interest, my eight year-old son sat on my lap as I read him bits of it at a time.

We tried some of the exercises; my son had a hard time identifying anything good about himself while my daughter made a long list immediately. I was discouraged, thinking maybe the book wasn't working. I mean I really wanted my son to feel good about himself. What mom wouldn't. Then, one spring morning it happened.

My son and I went to the center of our village to go to the bank. He rode his bike as I walked behind him. Suddenly, he stopped and gave the book the best endorsement any mother (or author) could ever hear:

"You know that book about the monster and the mouse, Mom?" He smiled into the sun. "It's like it was written just for me.How did the author know I struggle with stuff like this?" He started pedalling again as I wiped away a silent tear. You're one step closer to you, I whispered. inwardly thanking Pat Palmer and Dr. Hart for their efforts to fill my little boy's heart with all the joy he deserves.

Christine Louise Hohlbaum, Munich Germany, author of the Power of Slow

_ Kids are doing the best they can with the brain they have. Brain research can help parents understand what’s happening in their brain, leading to more effective interactions.  
 
Over millions of years of evolution, the human brain has developed a “negativity bias.” It acts like Velcro for negative experiences and Teflon for positive ones. That means that looking for what’s wrong, worrying about dangers, and being anxious about threats comes naturally. It helped humans survive saber-tooth tiger threats, but now gets in the way of happiness. Realizing the negative trance that’s affecting us, we can learn to level the playing field by tilting toward the positive experiences and facts.  

A paradigm shift is happening in how children are being raised!

More and more parents are becoming aware, intentional, conscious, mindful.  Operating less "on automatic," they are learning to be more positive, more engaged, and more effective.

In this presentation by Dr. Louise Hart — CONSCIOUS PARENTING: POSITIVE PARENTING — you can learn how to bring yourself and family to a whole new level of satisfaction and joy.  More presentation info here.

Where:  Oakland Center for Spiritual Living, 5000 Clarewood Drive, Oakland CA, 94618
When:  October 22 from 1 to 4 p.m. 
Investment:  $30 per person; $50 per couple

Call 510-625-0589 to register or write:  louisehart@sbcglobal.net.

The founder of OrganicBeautySource.com interviewed me about how self esteem relates to beauty.  Here's a sample:

Can those who have lower self esteem build it?
Absolutely!  As adults, we are in charge of our self-esteem.  In my book —On the Wings of Self-Esteem— I discuss many, many ways to do that.

What are the best ways to do that?
Perhaps the most important way is to become aware of your self-talk, the inner commentary on everything in life.  Once you notice the negative talk – the “stinkin’ thinking” – you can begin to talk differently, to encourage yourself and become your own best friend.  It’s a long-term undertaking that begins with paying attention, with becoming aware, with becoming more positive and uplifting.  With awareness comes choice.

Read the rest of the interview:   http://feelgoodstyle.com/2011/06/24/interview-with-dr-louise-hart/

Wings was featured in Personal Excellence, the May 2011 Magazine of Personal Leadership, in the company of Barack Obama and Seth Godin. Tons of great articles in this newsletter!

Children belong in families, which, ideally, serve as a sanctuary and a cushion from the world at large. Parents belong to society and are a part of that greater world. Sometimes parents are a channel to the larger society, sometimes they are a shield from it. Ideally they act as filters, guiding their children and teaching them to avoid the tempting trash.
—From The Winning Family

We live in stressful times. Fortunately, we can choose how to respond to tough situations. We have learned that "fight" and "flight" are the basic reactions to stress. Yet studies have found that women have other ways to deal with stress:  they "tend and befriend." Women first tend to the children to be sure they are okay, then they reach out to their friends. Talking things over can release stress, introduce different perspectives, and build connections. Caring for children and engaging friends also improves emotional well-being.

On April 18-24, children, families, schools, and communities around the country will turn off entertainment screen media (TV, video games, computer games, apps, etc.) and turn on life.  It’s a chance to unplug and read, play, daydream, create, explore nature, and spend more time with family and friends.

Since 1996, millions of children and their families have participated in Screen-Free Week (formerly TV-Turnoff).  Each year, thousands of parents, teachers, PTA members, librarians, scoutmasters, and clergy organize Screen-Free Weeks in their communities.

Liking Myself and The Mouse, the Monster and Me are now being published by Boulden Publishing!

Take a peek inside Liking Myself on the website of the illustrator, the incredible Sue Ramá! She says, "I have had the privilege of redesigning and illustrating this very wise book that has been helping children to learn to live more sanely for a generation. Not a fluffy feel-good book, this is the real deal, training children to  recognize, manage, and talk about their feelings. I think it would be wonderful if all children got to study these useful instructions for life on earth."

From Crazed Mind Reviewer

My self-esteem is not the best. I put on a great face of being open and brave, but inside I quake in my boots. I grew up with a troubled childhood that taught me to fear, hate and harm myself.  Improving my self-esteem is one of the most important things I can do to develop the courage to make good lifestyle decisions, set boundaries and even lose weight. I learn more and more that loosening the grip of the past, is the way to grow within myself.  

http://theysayimnuts.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-else-may-go-in-bag.html