Helicopter parent

Lawrence says: Forgive me Ellen when I say that you are a helicopter parent. Helicopter parents are generally known to be overprotective and overbearing. And that's really you my dear friend.hehehe

Well, take note of this helicopter parenting...One common factor driving parents toward over parenting is an overwhelmingly irrational fear, whether imaginary or probable, about their child's ultimate security and well being in life. This parental fear manifests in various ways including fear for a child's physical safety and/or psychological distress. Parental fear also exists over a child possibly rejecting his/her parents and/or experiencing failure in life. Some helicopter parents only display a few signs of over parenting while others display them all.

The first sign of helicopter parenting is based on parents' fear over a child's physical safety. Examples of this are when parents do not allow children to play outside alone due to the fear of being abducted and/or when parents lobby to have jungle gyms taken out of playgrounds due to the fear of them experiencing death through injury.

The second sign is based on parents' fear of inflicting psychological distress upon their child. Examples of this are when parents overly praise or reward children for even their most trivial accomplishments, and/or when parents fail to properly discipline their child for misbehavior due to the unfounded belief that he/she will forever resent them for it.

Fitness Exercise Benefits

Ellen Says: I don’t believe every tip and pointer I receive in my e-mail inbox. But I always make it a point to save and re-post the sensible and useful ones.

Fitness Exercise Benefits

Life in today’ world is pacing so fast that it becomes difficult to care of our won health. It is definitely not the right way to live a healthy lifestyle. Thus, we need to spare some time for ourselves to build our health. Good health always helps in achieving our goal throughout the life. Your health can sneak away many important opportunities of your life.

You can gain good health by consuming healthy and nutritious food. Along with good food your body requires adequate amount of sleep and regular exercise. Exercise is the best way to improve your health. It does need some physical efforts to maintain good health. Our body gets numerous benefits from regular exercise. In this article we have shared some of the health benefits of fitness exercise.

Regular fitness exercise boosts the level of your energy. Once you start working out, your heart works powerfully to pump out the blood. With daily exercises, your heart will go stronger and thus it will pump out sufficient amount of blood. This process supplies more energy to the body.

This kind of training also improvises the overall structure of your body. While exercising, we concentrate on certain muscles, but this training involves all muscles of the body. As for example, if you are working leg rising exercise out to improve your abdominal muscles, the exercise will also help in molding your thighs.

Fitness training not also benefits physical health but also focuses on mental health. Numerous researchers have proved that regular physical exercise boosts your nervous system of the brain. It helps in building your attitude and enhances your focus power. Regular exercise also makes your mind strong and more organized. Since ancient era, physical exercise is associated with happiness and feeling of relaxation.

Regular exercise is very much effective in curing numerous kinds of diseases. People suffering from severe arthritis can overcome this trouble with regular exercise. It also helps in controlling high blood pressure. The level of cholesterol and sugar level in blood stream is also maintained with daily exercises. Even doctors recommend some exercise to overcome ailments.

Sharp growth of debt

Ellen Says: Numerous people borrow more money than ever for school tution ... since financial crisis, it is getting hard to pay tuition. The sharp growth is definitely above expectations. We are in economic situation that nobody predicted. The eye-opening increase in borrowing is largely due to the dire economic environment, which is causing more people to seek personal loans.

Debt has become common place in paying for higher education. The rising levels of borrowing may be contributing to the accelerating cost of college. Loans can give school an artificial sense of a family’s ability to pay tuition. To some extent, that false sense of security gets built into the assumptions schools make when setting prices. The idea is that as prices rise, families borrow more and more, spurring prices to rise further, which in turn requires more borrowing.

As far as i know, the fastest way to get some cash, no matter what do you need it for, is a loan. It's a fast and easy solution to your financial needs. There are numerous companies, who arrange a variety of loans for various personal purposes. It may be debt consolidation, wedding, purchase of car, personal loans for bad credit, low interest personal loans, personal loans for education or any other. Most people aren't taught the ins and outs of borrowing money. Before taking out a loan, you should understand the terms of the loan, consider your other options and know the hazards to avoid.

Excellent choice for window treatments

Ellen Says: When it comes to windows, it’s important to select items that allow for privacy when needed, yet open to easily allow light when desired. Window shutters add a nice touch to the exterior of our home. They cover our windows by night or in bad weather to keep out bad weather or cold air.
By day they are pushed open from the inside and secured in place to let daylight and the sun’s warmth into our home. I guess, shutters are especially important where there is lack central heating or air conditioning.

Choosing wood shutters ensures that our windows have the look that I prefer while being easy to operate. I know that there are many benefits and advantages in choosing wooden shutters. First, they are easy to clean and maintain. This makes us a great option with our busy schedules, the reason why we don’t intend on spending a great deal of time cleaning windows. Also, wooden shutters provide us plenty of insulation, keeping heat in or out, depending upon our needs.

For me, wooden shutters are an excellent choice for those who are looking for elegant, yet practical window treatments.

Good hygiene for teens

Ellen Says:When I think of my two teenage son, I used to think about how much they are growing and changing. Change happens very rapidly at their age and with that change comes the need for improved hygiene habits. For sure they know that they need a shower or need to brush their teeth, but they may forget or just not want to take the time to do it properly. So we need to make sure that our teens understand the importance of good hygiene habits.

At their age, their body are changing. They are going into puberty and this can cause noxious body odor. Even if they shower every day, it is still not enough sometimes.I need to make sure that my teens are not only showering each and every day, but also actually using a good deodorant soap, good shampoo and a good scent.

How many times has your teen stepped out of the shower smelling like a wet dog? Probably more times than you can count! Have you ever stepped into a high school classroom after recess or physical ed class? No wonder teachers love candles! Scent is also a must-have as our teens get older. Clean socks and clean clothes can also help our teens smell better, too.

How Stressed Are You?

Ellen Says: This questionnaire will help you recognize some of the signs and see where you fit on the stress continuum. Score one point for each "yes" answer.

Do you have difficulty relaxing?
Do you often feel irritable?
Do you worry about the little events of the day, and find that you are unable to shut off your mind?
Do you smoke or drink excessively (especially by other people's standards)?
Are you competitive and aggressive?
Do you find it hard to relate to people?
Do you find yourself impatient with others?
Do you eat quickly?
Do you take on too much?
Do you have difficulty delegating?
Do you have aching limbs, tense muscles, or recurrent headaches?
Do you have a dry mouth and sweaty palms?
Do you feel a lack of interest in sex?
Do you have problems sleeping?

Scoring
1-5: Like most of us, you could use some practical ideas on how to calm down when challenges arise. Or you may want to reach states of even deeper peace. If so, read on for some inspiring ideas.

6-10: You are quite stressed. Pay attention to these warning signs. This is the only body you have. Treat it well. You'll see how to do this in the following pages.

11-14: You are very stressed. Clean up your act before there are serious consequences.

Strong healthy body

Ellen Says: Personal health is one of the most important things a person can work towards. The condition that your body is in has a great impact on your happiness, personality, and quality of life. This, in turn, can affect how you go about your daily life – how effective you are at your job, how well you can handle problems, and how much you enjoy your life.

A strong, healthy body is capable of doing much more physically and mentally, and most importantly, is capable of warding off many diseases, illnesses, and inflictions that can be truly horrendous. The power of the human body to fight off problems is incredible, but it can only do so if it is in good shape, and has the right fuel to burn.

Luckily for us, most natural foods have completely taken care of our need for access to good fuel for our bodies. – But the key is eating these good foods. Even simple foods like carrots, broccoli and blueberries, research is showing can have amazing benefits to your health! Studies are showing that just good, healthy food can help your body to defend itself from all sorts of damaging agents and illnesses. –

Everything from weight-loss, cancer prevention, strengthening of the heart and the reduction in bacteria developing can all be achieved just by loading your body up with the proper nutrients from good, healthy food! These healthy foods are proving that instead of just treating issues once they occur, they’re actually preventing them from ever happening. – Imagine the medical bills they’ll save you!

The amazing and miraculous truth is that just by giving your body the proper nutrition it needs, it can handle most any of the severe illnesses that plague society today. The power of the human body to protect and defend itself while correcting internal damage is more incredible than anyone ever would have thought possible.

People today are unhealthy, and it’s no wonder they fear getting sick. – But just by taking care of your body and getting it all the nutrients it needs, you can drastically reduce your chances and prevent yourself from ever catching these problems in the first place!

How Does Stress Affect People at Work?

Ellen Says: Stress affects people at work in many different ways. If there were one single way of identifying it, then stress management plans and programs would be much simpler to operate.

However, unlike a physical complaint such as a broken leg that is easy to spot and identify, stress can have a multitude of symptoms and affects different people in different ways. When asking the question"how does stress affect people at work" there are some key features to look out for. This list is by no means exhaustive and different work environments or other external local factors may result in different symptoms.

The effects of stress can be broken down into three core areas.

Emotional
When people suffer from stress it is often their emotions that show the first signs that something is wrong. This might include people who don't normally cry becoming prone to tears or otherwise placid members of staff losing their temper or becoming irritable. While everybody suffers from a bad day every once in a while, ongoing changes in a member of staff's well being could very well be an indication of stress and the matter should be explored in more detail and any necessary action taken..

Motivation
Sufferers from stress may find making decisions difficult or have an erratic thought process. Ordinarily dynamic staff may become apathetic or disinterested in their work. This is particularly common in stress cases where the stress comes from a feeling that 'it is all too much' and a person is feeling overwhelmed. Line managers are in a good position to recognize these symptoms and should be trained in stress management.

Behavior
Changes in behavior can also be an indication of stress. This might include someone turning to drink or recreational drugs as a release, or extreme dieting or eating resulting in dramatic weight gain or loss. Sometimes the behavior can become destructive including cases of self harming in extreme cases. Self harming, fasting or other self destructive traits are often a symptom of someone trying to regain control over some element of their life.

Anger moods

Ellen Says: Anger moods can often appear without any warning. They can just pop up out of the blue from seemingly nowhere, even when you do not consciously choose to be angry.

Indeed, the vast majority of the time you do not decide to become angry, but anger moods can come to the surface without any warning, often for no justifiable reason at all. Many times, you don’t even have any idea that we are angry until you feel the anger taking over.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Gbex says: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of mental illness that causes repeated unwanted thoughts. Anxiety is its common term.

To get rid of the thoughts, a person does the same tasks over and over. For example, you may fear that everything you touch has germs on it. So to ease that fear, you wash your hands over and over again.

OCD is a chronic, or long-term, illness that can take over your life, hurt your relationships, and limit your ability to work or go to school.
What causes OCD?

Experts don't know the exact cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Research suggests that there may be a problem with the way one part of the brain sends information to another part. Not having enough of a brain chemical called serotonin may help cause the problem.

Some experts believe that a problem related to infections, such as strep throat or scarlet fever, can suddenly bring on the disorder or make its symptoms worse in some children.
What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder tend to come and go over time and range from mild to severe. Anxiety is the most common symptom. For example, you may have an overall sense that something terrible will happen if you don't do a certain task, such as check again and again to see whether the stove is on. If you fail to check, you may suddenly feel tense or anxious or have a nagging sense that you left something undone.

Symptoms of the disorder include:

* Obsessions. These are unwanted thoughts, ideas, and impulses that you have again and again. They won't go away. They get in the way of your normal thoughts and cause anxiety or fear. The thoughts may be sexual or violent, or they may make you worry about illness or infection. Examples include:
o A fear of harm to yourself or a loved one.
o A driving need to do things perfectly or correctly.
o A fear of getting dirty or infected.

* Compulsions. These are behaviors that you repeat to try to control the obsessions. Some people have behaviors that are rigid and structured, while others have very complex behaviors that change. Examples include:
o Washing, or checking that something has been done.
o Counting, often while doing another compulsive action, such as hand-washing.
o Repeating things or always moving items to keep them in perfect order.
o Hoarding.
o Praying.

The obsessions or compulsions usually take up a lot of time—more than 1 hour a day. They greatly interfere with your normal routine at work or school, and they affect social activities and relationships.

Sometimes people may understand that their obsessions and compulsions are not real. But at other times they may not be sure, or they may believe strongly in their fears.

How is OCD diagnosed?
Your doctor can check for obsessive-compulsive disorder by asking about your symptoms and your past health. He or she may also do a physical exam. It’s important to talk to your doctor if you think you have OCD. Many people with the disorder go without treatment because they are afraid or embarrassed to talk to a doctor.

How is it treated?
Treatment includes medicines and counseling. Using both often works best.

Antidepressant medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are most commonly used. Examples of these medicines include Prozac and Zoloft. You may begin to feel better in about 1 to 3 weeks after you start taking medicine. But it can take as long as 12 weeks to see more improvement. If you have concerns about your medicine, or if you do not start to feel better by 3 weeks, talk to your doctor. He or she may increase the dose or change to a different medicine.

Counseling for the disorder includes a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy called exposure and response prevention. This therapy slowly increases your contact with the thing that causes worries or false beliefs. For example, if you were worried about getting germs from things you touch, you would touch an object you believe has germs and then not wash your hands afterward. You would keep doing that until you could do it without feeling anxious. This can be hard at first. But with the help of a counselor, this therapy can reduce your symptoms over time.

Other cognitive therapy may also help change the false beliefs that lead to OCD behaviors.

Treatment can make your symptoms less severe. But you may still have some mild symptoms after you begin treatment.

healthy lifestyle demands a healthy source of income

Gbex says: Green Jobs That Make $30 an Hour. Here they are....

1. Regional sales manager. When companies create new, more energy-efficient products, it's critical that these products are accepted by customers. Sales managers for environmentally conscious companies make sure better products reach their target audience. With stimulus funds going to research and development of more energy-efficient goods, particularly in batteries, growth is expected in green sales-manager jobs.

Regional sales managers oversee sales within an entire territory, often supervising a sales team, providing training and guidance. Many are experienced sales reps who've worked their way up to this supervisory post.

Regional sales manager: $87,200 per year / $42 per hour

2. Environmental engineer. This engineering specialty focuses on developing solutions for better water and air quality. Other fields for environmental engineers include recycling, waste disposal and environmental cleanup.

Most engineers have a bachelor's degree in engineering from a four-year institution, and participate in continuing education or graduate school to deepen their knowledge or a specialty or learn about emerging best practices in the field.

Environmental engineer: $68,600 per year / $33 per hour

3. Computer systems analyst. Without systems analysts we'll never have a smart electric grid. Technological savvy will be needed to design systems that will allow electric transmission systems and broadband networks to operate with greater energy efficiency.

Demand is so great for this IT expertise that the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts nearly 50 percent growth in the field from 2006-2016, despite the fact that the existing labor force for this job is unusually young, with few analysts nearing retirement age. Most analysts have a four-year degree in computer science, information science, or management information systems.

Operating systems analyst: $63,000 per year / $30 per hour

4. Urban/regional planner. Urban and regional planners have a chance to dramatically impact the landscapes under their jurisdictions. They aid governments in designing and locating schools, roads, and other infrastructure in a city or rural area, with an eye to minimizing environmental impact. They can also design zoning codes to help support environmental goals.

Schooling is rigorous -- even entry-level jobs with state, federal or municipal agencies require a master's degree in urban or regional planning or a similar field. As regulations grow more complex for meeting environmental requirements, more urban planners will be needed, he adds.

Urban/regional planner: $60,600 per year / $29 per hour

5. Hydrologist. This scientific specialty centers on using your knowledge of geology to locate and study bodies of water and suggests methods for keeping it pure. Hydrologists use advanced techniques and instruments to assess water quality.

Many work for consulting firms and are often hired to solve water pollution, flooding or other water problems. Entry-level positions may be filled with candidates with a bachelor's degree in hydrologic science.

Hydrologist: $68,100 per year / $33 per hour

6. Construction project manager. A great move-up job for workers with construction experience, project managers coordinate and oversee large construction projects. The field of construction management is becoming one where environmental concerns play an increasing role.
They're using recycled materials in building new buildings, and then recycling the old building.

Construction project manager: $68,000 per year / $33 per hour

7. Non-profit executive director. This job recently topped a list of the Top 25 Green Dream Jobs. Chief executives at an environmental charity or advocacy group have the opportunity to shape their groups' agenda, organizing their constituencies to improve the environment, preserve land or ocean habitat, or change environmental laws. It's a chance to use managerial, marketing, and media skills for green ends.

At smaller organizations, volunteers may move up into this paying position, while larger nonprofits expect professionally trained executive directors who often have a graduate degree in either business administration, public administration, or nonprofit management.

Nonprofit executive director: $60,000 per year / $29 per hour

economic health towards emotional well-being

Gbex says: 4 things you should never do with your credit cards
1. Don't make only the minimum payments. This stretches out your payment and, thanks to the interest, significantly increases your overall cost.

2. Don't carry too many cards. Multiple cards make it easier to rack up debt because it's harder to keep track of your spending. Having lots of cards isn't necessarily bad for your credit, but misusing them is. So limit your plastic to two national cards (store cards often carry higher interest rates) that you manage carefully.

3. Don't miss payment due dates. Not only will you be hit with a late fee-as high as $39 on some cards-but your interest rate could also jump. Sign up for online banking or pay over the phone if you're up against the deadline. (You may pay a processing fee, but it will probably be less than the late fee and the possible interest-rate hike.)

4. Don't take cash advances. These advances generally come with sky-high interest rates and service fees, making them a far too expensive way to get cash. Avoid at all costs.

Dens of Temptation

Ellen says: Grocery stores can be dens of temptation if you go into them with your guard down. That's why I suggest you arm yourself with the Word of God when you go food shopping. Memorize today's verse because you may need to repeat it over and over as you push your cart up and down the aisles. If you are determined to "take your stand against the devil's schemes," you will stay away from high-fat, high sugar foods. You also need to make a list and stick to it.

One more tip: Don't shop when staved or even slightly hungry. If yuo do, everything that you will see will look tempting. If you need to eat, go to the bakery counter and ask for raisin bagel. This low-fat treat will sustain you for the task ahead and ward off excessive temptation.