Thanksgiving week is a time for gratitude. That’s why it’s one of my favorite times of the year. Late fall brings a noticeable change in the weather and the anticipation of the religious and commercial holiday season. But “Thanksgiving Day” is a time for families, good food and bringing a focus of our attention to […]
Contentious Times in a Bipolar World
October 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Although we have always had disagreements with those around us, if we are to believe the “media” we live in contentious times in a bipolar world. I agree that many of us reflect this type of polemic existence, and yet, we say we long for peace. We experience this in our homes, in our societies […]
The Target as a Portable Model
August 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Let’s use the target as a portable model. Effective and portable models help in our understanding of just about anything and they enable us to pick them up and take them with us. A target, for instance, has a center that we refer to as the “bull’s-eye.” Any time we’re able to hit the target, […]
The Premack Principle a.k.a. Grandma’s Rule
August 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
There is a rather simple natural principle that is at the heart of many solutions to our problems. “Grandma’s Rule” is the colloquial name for the formal “Premack Principle.” It connotes a commonsense and practical natural principle…which it is. Simply put, it says that when you pair an activity of low interest and reward with […]
Childrearing the Power Parent Way: The Autonomy Principle
July 13, 2012 by 3 Comments
The Autonomy Principle is the natural law of sovereignty, meaning “supreme power.” As human beings, we are all created equal with the free will to make choices. This freedom is our highest power and it’s at the core of our very existence. Especially in democratic countries, we citizens are often willing to fight or die […]
Profiles in Principles: Hope and U.S. Ambassador Sichan Siv
July 3, 2012 by 3 Comments
Three years after the end of World War II, a boy was born to the daughter of a governor and her husband – a police chief – in a small village of the ancient land. This baby was the youngest of their children. It was the Year of the Boar, 2490. And the moon was […]
The State of Our Families Part I: The Crisis
March 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment
American families are in crisis. The evidence comes from the plethora of statistics produced by dozens of organizations interested in the welfare of children. In 2009, approximately 702,000 children were victims of maltreatment/abuse. Forty-four states reported that more than 3 million children received preventative services from Child Protective Services agencies. Almost five children die every […]