When Parents Feel Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety isn't just for kids. A lot of parents feel acutely nervous when their child begins school or leaves for summer camp. You may worry about your child's adjustment, or just miss spending time with him. While this is completely normal, there are ways you can alleviate your stress when your child flies the coop.

• Stay busy. Those two simple words are the key to surviving separation anxiety. Plan ahead and schedule activities before your child leaves, so that you will be occupied in the days after her departure. Even if you don't feel like participating in these activities, go through the motions and allow yourself some time to adjust. Remember how important it is to fill your days, and don't allow yourself to mope around the house. Get moving!
• Get support from other parents in similar circumstances. Form a club or start your own Mom's Class or Mom's Summer Camp. Get together regularly to have some child-free fun, or just to share how much you miss your kids. Lean on parents who will understand and empathize.
• Enjoy your time! Think about all the things you always wanted to do but couldn't, because of your parental responsibilities. Now's your chance! Spend time with a spouse, get involved in yoga, take a class, or redecorate your favorite room in the house. Most parents have a running mental list of projects, but never have the chance to work on them. Consider this free time a golden opportunity.
• Never make your child feel guilty. It's very likely that your child will pick up on some of your nervousness, but try to maintain a positive attitude. Parental separation anxiety often transfers to children and contributes to their anxiety, which will in turn trouble you and lead to a cycle of guilt. Do your best to be enthusiastic and upbeat about your child's plans. You don't want your child to feel apologetic or to regret his leaving, so make sure that you express only optimistic thoughts.
• Exchange tokens with your child. Give her something that you made, or a small memento that has meaning for you. Explain the significance of this gift to your child and ask her to give you a small memento, as well. This way, when you are separated, you both will have a souvenir for comfort. Adopted from http://life.familyeducation.com/

Reel Quick Saving Tips

• Spend Less. This is not over simplifying the best way to save money! It is essential if you are serious about being a long term money saver and being able to save money every day. Review what you spend and look at ways you can save money. Consider making telephone calls for instance only at off-peak times. Do you really need to have newspapers and magazines delivered? Can you do without those coffees you buy at break time everyday - would a flask of coffee taken to work save you money? What about using the public lending library instead of buying books or music CDs? Once you start looking for little ways to save money and spend less you will quickly become an expert and really save money!

• Establish a personal budget. This is essential for families and individuals and can be the fastest way to save money. You will instantly see your incomings and outgoings once you create your budget. You will not be able to save money unless you know how much money you have coming in, and how much money you have going out. Once you have prepared a budget of incoming money and outgoing money, you WILL be able to identify areas where you can save. It is MUCH more difficult to save money over a long period of time (the rest of your life?) without a budget.

• Buy used. Sure, we all like to buy new. But there are huge money savings to be made in buying used. Typically cars lose one-third of their value in the first 24 months from new. Why not buy a car 24 months old? Other items such as clothes can be worth even less just the day after new. Look for ways to buy "as good as new" items and save money. Typical products you might consider buying used to save money include: cars, clothes, electrical goods, garden items... tools and sheds, household items... pots and pans, the list of used goods where you can save money is endless. Adopted from http://www.ieke.com
  

Recipe Of The Month! - Red Velvet Cookies

This red velvet cookie is so easy to make and is great to serve any time. Serve them plain or with the cream cheese frosting.

• 1 box Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix


• 2 eggs


• 1/3 cup oil
  

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Mix all ingredients together. This will make a cookie dough. Roll into balls and place on prepared cookie sheet. Flatten down slightly (depending on the thickness you desire). Bake at 375 degrees F until the tops crackle (about 8-10 minutes) or until desired doneness. Cool and then frost with basic

Cream Cheese Frosting: CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened


• 1/4 cup stick margarine or butter, softened


• 2 teaspoons milk


• 1 teaspoon vanilla


• 4 cups powdered sugar
  

Beat cream cheese, margarine, milk and vanilla in medium bowl with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar on low speed, 1 cup at a time, until smooth and spreadable. Frosts one 13×9-inch cake generously, or fills and frosts one 8- or 9-inch two-layer cake. Refrigerate any remaining frosting.

CHOCOLATE: Add 2 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, melted and cooled, with the margarine. Adopted From www.recipelink.com

Your Dog’s Moving Day!

Summertime is often moving time for families who want to relocate without interrupting the children’s school year. Since dogs are territorial animals, a move to a place filled with new sights, sounds, and smells - especially smells - can be a challenge or a trauma for the family dog.

Change of residence is a prime reason why families surrender dogs to animal shelters. Apartments say ‘no pets’ or restrict pets by number and weight; condominium and townhouse units have postage-stamp yards and restrictions on fences; many subdivisions and residential communities prohibit above-ground fences and kennel runs; and owners think Ranger will be unhappy if he can’t romp in a yard, so shelters and breed rescues get frantic calls about the dog that needs a home because “we’re moving next week.”

However, dogs can be happy wherever their family goes as long as their needs are met. They don’t need a yard to romp in, they need exercise, and a daily walk can provide enough. They do need patience as they adjust to a new home and training to help give them confidence and deal with nuisance habits, but they are very adaptable. The trick is to find a new home that allows dogs. Once that hurdle is overcome, the rest is a matter of planning.

Before moving day - Investigate local zoning regulations and animal control laws.
Investigate subdivision regulations - make sure you understand the rules and policies regarding pets.
Contact the department of health in the new city for information on specific laws about health certificates for entering dogs.
Make sure your dog is up-to-date on shots and has been treated for any problems several weeks before the planned move.
Ask your vet for your pet’s records and the name of a couple of vets in your new area.
Spend some time reinforcing basic obedience commands with your dog. A dog that can focus on obeying a command is more tuned in to people and more likely to settle down during the journey & to cope with the change of scenery & circumstances in the new home.
Make sure you have a secure crate for your dog so he can be confined while the moving men are packing your belongings and can stay overnight in a motel during the trek to your new home.

On moving day - If possible, send your dog to a neighbor, friend, boarding kennel, or day care center for the day so you do not have to tend to him while the moving men are loading the van. If you cannot send him out to visit for the day, be sure he’s securely confined in a crate and is taken out on a leash for exercise.
Make sure you pack some of your dog’s favorite toys and food for the journey to your new home. If he seems nervous, feed him small amounts until he is settled in the new house.
At the new house - If there’s a gap between arrival in a new area and moving into the new home, find a boarding kennel for Ranger so you’re not juggling dog, kids, and everything else in hotel rooms or other temporary quarters. When the furniture arrives and you’re ready to sleep in the new bedroom, bring him home.
Unpack Ranger’s bed, toys, and food and water bowls as soon as possible and put them in the same places they were in the old house. If he’s accustomed to finding a bowl of water in the kitchen, put it in the kitchen in the new house.
Introduce yourself to your new neighbors and tell them about your dog. Arrange for the neighbors to meet the dog while he is on a leash.
If your dog is micro-chipped or tattooed, call the registry to change your address and telephone number so they can reach you quickly if they are notified that your dog has been found. Be patient. Some dogs take several days or even weeks to adjust to new surroundings. Adopted From http://www.canismajor.com/dog/moveday.html

Monthly Stress Reducer - Poor Memory

An elderly couple had dinner at another couple's house, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen. The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, "Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great. I would recommend it very highly.
The other man said, "What is the name of the restaurant?" The first man thought and thought and finally said, "What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love? You know... the one that's red and has thorns."
"Do you mean a rose?" "Yes, that's the one," replied the man.
He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, "Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to last night? Adopted from www.writers-free-reference.com

Your Dream Begins Today!

What will your life be like when you've achieved your most deeply held dreams? Let's take a look at how you can start living your dreams this very day.
Do you have a dream, a vision of the life you wish to live? How specific is that dream? How clear is that vision? How do you intend to reach it? What obstacles stand in your way? Are your fears holding you back or are you using them to move you forward?

Your fears can actually lead you to success. Fear is an intense emotion. But that doesn't mean it has to control you, or even stop you. Fear can prepare you and push you forward just as strongly as it can hold you back. Fear heightens your awareness and increases your physical strength. Fear brings your mind to sharp focus. With all that going for you, does it make sense to just run and hide? Of course not. Fear gets you in shape to take action!

Are you waiting for things to get better before moving ahead? If you're serious about success, you need to start taking action today. If you're waiting for things to be perfect, you'll wait forever and nothing will ever get done.

The way to achieve is to bloom where you're planted, to do what you can, where you are, with what you have. It's easy to think up excuses for not taking action. "If only I had more hours in the day. If only I had a better job. If only I could meet the right person." But excuses won't bring you anything of value. You've got to change your "if only" into an "I will." "I will make better use of my time. I will work on improving my career. I will create and nurture my relationships."

Take a chance. Have faith in yourself. Your circumstances will improve when you make the effort to improve them. Start where you are right now. You have everything it takes to reach for whatever you desire. Stop wishing. Use your time, your energy, your thoughts and efforts to make it happen! You'll be glad you did! www.jimrohn.com

Funny Dog Owners - Points Of View

• "Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend." - Corey Ford


• "If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them." - Phil Pastoret


• "A dog is one of the remaining reasons why some people can be persuaded to go for a walk." - O.A. Battista


• "Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog." - Franklin P. Jones


• "Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear." - Dave Barry


• "The pug is living proof that God has a sense of humor." - Margo Kaufman"


• Dachshunds are ideal dogs for small children, as they are already stretched and pulled to such a length that the child cannot do much harm one way or the other." - Robert Benchley


• "The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog." - Ambrose Bierce


• "The nose of the bulldog has been slanted backwards so that he can breathe without letting go." - Winston Churchill


• "Did you ever walk into a room and forget why you walked in? I think that is how dogs spend their lives." - Sue Murphy


• "In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog." - Edward Hoagland Adopted From http://mysmelly.com
  

Benefits Of Boy Scouts

Scouting provides youth with an opportunity to try new things, provide service to others, build self-confidence, and reinforce ethical standards. These opportunities not only help them when they are young but also carry forward into their adult lives, improving their relationships, their work lives, their family lives, and the values by which they live.

A study by Harris Interactive found that 83 percent of men who were Scouts in their youth agree that the values they learned in Scouting continue to be very important to them today. Eighty-seven percent of men who remained in Scouting five or more years attribute some of their self-confidence in their work to their Scouting experience. Half of the group say Scouting had a positive effect on their career development and advancement, and 83 percent say there have been real-life situations where having been a Scout helped them be a better leader. As youth, Scouts are taught to live by a code of conduct exemplified in the 12 points of the Scout Law, and they continue to live by these laws in adulthood.

• Trustworthy: The majority of Scouts agreed that Scouting has taught them always to be honest (75 percent) and to be a leader (76 percent).
• Loyal: Eighty-eight percent of Scouts are proud to live in the USA, and 83 percent say spending time with family is important to them.
• Helpful: Eight out of 10 Scouts surveyed believed that helping others should come before their own self-interest.
• Friendly: Eighty percent of Scouts say that Scouting has taught them to treat others with respect and (78 percent) to get along with others.
• Courteous: Almost nine of 10 Scouts (87 percent) believe older people should be treated with respect.
• Kind: Most Scouts agree (78 percent) Scouting has taught them to care for other people, while 43 percent say their skills in helping other people in need are “excellent.”
• Obedient: Boys in Scouting five years or more are more likely than boys who have never been in Scouts to reject peer pressure to hang out with youth they know commit delinquent acts (61 percent vs. 53 percent).
• Cheerful: Overall, Scouts are happy with their schools (78 percent) and their neighborhoods (79 percent). However, because Scouting builds such high ideals in youth, Scouts are less satisfied than non-Scouts with the state of the world today (47 percent vs. 52 percent).
• Thrifty: More than eight out of 10 Scouts (82 percent) say that saving money for the future is a priority.
• Brave: Eighty percent of Scouts say Scouting has taught them to have confidence in themselves, and 51 percent rate their self-confidence as “excellent.”
• Clean: Nearly the same number of Scouts (79 percent) agree that Scouting has taught them to take better care of the environment and that Scouting has increased their interest in physical fitness.
• Reverent: Scouting experience also influences religious service attendance. Eighty-three percent of men who were Scouts five or more years say attending religious services together as a family is “very important,” versus 77 percent of men who had never been Scouts. Adopted from www.scouting.org

Reel Partner Of The Month!

Ask Mike A Questions: A Better Way to Score!

There are lots of tips and tricks to improving your credit score over time. But these nine simple steps will get you started and greatly help improve your credit. Just remember, it can take a few months for these actions to take effect, so if you're planning on applying for a big loan soon, we recommend you get started at least four months in advance for the best results. By paying attention to your credit score and implementing these simple steps, you'll be on your way to a higher financial GPA and a score that could save you thousands annually...

• Get your own credit report and find out your score - Call Mike Spiegel at 317 437-5182 and I will gladly create a FREE report that will include your credit score from all three agencies and your FICO score.


• Identify mistakes and repair errors - Twenty-five percent of credit reports have errors serious enough to cause consumers to be turned down for a loan or job, according to a survey by the U.S. Public Interest Group.


• Negotiate with debt collectors first - Dispute errors or problems directly with lenders first, but make sure to negotiate everything in writing. And be sure to get a letter from the lender or debt collector saying that they will delete problems on your credit report before you pay any bill in collection. Use this leverage to your advantage.


• Control your spending and reduce your debt - Generally, the lower your account balances on credit cards and loans, the better your credit rating. Try to get all of your credit card balances below a 30% debt ratio to improve your overall score.


• Ask lenders to report your credit limit - Ask your banks and credit-card companies to list your credit limit if it's missing on any accounts on your credit report. If you don't, Fair Isaac may assume that those accounts are maxed out even if you haven't borrowed to the limit. This simple step could improve your score by as many as 50 points!


• Limit credit card applications - Every time you apply for a new credit card, your report will be marked with a lenders' inquiry note that could have a negative impact on your score.


• Don't cancel your old accounts - If you close your old accounts, you're shutting down your credit history, which could hurt your score.


• Sign up for automatic bill payment - The best way to never miss a due date again is to set up automatic bill payment. Repeatedly paying your bills late is one of the main ways you can hurt your credit score.


• Monitor your report - Remember, your credit score can be improved over time. (monitor your credit reports at least once per year)
  

Reel Free Classifieds

Automobiles

• 2006 Suzuki Boulevard Motorcycle - 5,400 miles. The motorcycle also comes with 2 helmets. Price $5,900. Please call Joe at 765-215-7129.
  

Free Pets

• Free loving dog - 4 year old dog. I can’t keep her anymore since we just moved into an apt. that does not allow pets. 317 693-0140.
• Free kittens - cute and cuddly. Black and white markings, orange striped. Please call or text me at 317 371-5357.
• 2 year old female cat needs a home. She is very playful and friendly. nudjsyon@yahoo.com
• White coon dog - White with black spots. Very good dog. If interested call 317-341-5209.
• Standard Poodle Male and Weimaraner Male, Neutered.765 993-7846
• FREE KITTENS - Calico, grey, cream, a variety of colors to choose from. 5 left. Very healthy. (317)835-2776
  

Reel Deals

• ‘07 Dell PC w/ WinXP, Office, Warranty, Monitor +More! $99 317-413-0794
• AQUARIUM 55 Gallon, 12” Wide, 21” Tall & 48” Long, comes with hood. Good cond. $99. (317) 856-6264
• BABY CRADLE Swings, White, Wooden, in Good Condition, $75. (317) 873-6084
• BARCALOUNGER RECLINER Brwn w/ Different Colors in Diamond Shapes, Very Good Cond., $20. 317-727-3590
• FREEZER CHEST. White. In good working condition. No delivery. $75. Please call (317) 788-7829
• CARPET . Floral maroon, 7 x 10, oriental, made in Egypt, hardly used. Beautiful! $90. Call (317) 872-4613
• KING BED 3 Years Old, Modern with Dressers, Nightstand, Chest & Mirror, Dark Wood $95. 238-9278
• Microwave WhirlpoolGold Series 30" White Excellent Condition $70 317.523.6376
• Kitchen sink white 1 1/2 bowl never installed-like new; over-the-counter $80. 317.523.6376

Charities Events

• August 14, 2010 - PAWS Pool Party and Dog Dive Contest at Riley Park in Greenfield. Open swim for dogs and their owners 12-4 PM. Dog dive contest 10-11 AM. Dogs must be current on vaccinations. 317-467-1816
• August 17, 2010 - 11th Annual George Taliaferro Open at Woodland Country Club.A fundraising event to benefit the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA). Prizes, contests. www.cota.org — August 22, 2010 - 3rd Annual Harris Elementary PTO Golf Outing in Greenfield. $60 ($240 teams). Steak dinner, contests, door prizes. 317-498-3617
• August 29, 2010 - 9th Annual Reds, Whites and Blues Charity Event at the Ritz Charles. $75.00 benefit Prevail, Inc. (serving victims of crime and abuse) 317-773-6942
• September 11, 2010 - 2nd Annual Sickle Cell-abration Concert at Walker Theatre. Free admission. to raise awareness of Sickle Cell disease. 317-871-0000