Gilmore Girls Family Lessons
Do you perk up when you hear the words, Gilmore Girls? Are you still hoping that Netflix will put out a season two of A Year in the Life to answer all those loose ends we were left with? I know that I am. Gilmore …
Tag: relationships
Parenting Tip #4: Support Your Spouse
As my husband and I were discussing parenting (we often do) we realized that a large part of parenting is supporting your spouse. You may wonder “what does that have to do with parenting? Turns out it plays a large role. There are many ways …
Summer 2012 Issue
The Summer 2012 issue of Stance for the Family is now available! This issue covers important topics in education, relationships, death, and many more. The topics discussed are so important to our families, and the authors have presented the ideas beautifully. We hope you will find the information and inspiration you need to take a stance for your family, and for families everywhere.
The articles in this issue are
– An Unexpected Event
– A Sure Foundation: Coping with Infertility
– Does Father Know Best
– New Infants and Parental Relationships
– Taste the Bitter
– Engaging Family Literacy Practice
– Family Dinner
– My Brother’s Got a Bad Case of the Washingtons
We appreciate the time and effort the authors, editors, and designers have put forth to make this issue possible. We also thank our generous sponsors and donors. This issue is available to download by clicking on the image in the column on the right. To order a print version, please contact the editor at sftfjournal@gmail.com.
Realizing Love’s Loss
by Laura Nava The cultural ideals set for love relationships between men and women appear beautiful and enticing. Thousands of books and movies portray the most exquisite romantic situations. Holidays such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and the pinnacle of all romantic holidays—Valentine’s Day—suggest the …
How to Get Your Kids to Listen without Reminding or Yelling
by Caitlin Schwanger I recently attended Amy McCready’s Positive Parenting Solutıons webinar “How to Get Your Kids to Listen without Reminding or Yelling.” During the meeting, McCready, parenting specialist and creator of Positive Parentıng Solutions, explained a few basic principles to guide parents in their …
Camp To Belong
by Emily Smith
I couldn’t imagine a life without my siblings. Although they weren’t my best friends from my early stages of life, I have come to love and appreciate them for the people they are. Unfortunately, there are children who grow up without sibling support in foster homes across the United States. Lynn Price, a former foster child, has changed this for many children. In a New York Times article she stated, “I realized that my sister and I had no memories of when we were kids. There were no memories of birthday parties, sharing clothes, helping each other with homework, or talking about boys. I thought about the kids who will miss out on something that is so critical to their growth and feelings of unconditional love.”
Reading her account moved me to understand why she took action. My sister and I shared closets, stealing each other’s clothes; this often resulted in yelling at each other when we got home from school and had realized that one of us had taken the other’s favorite shirt and unwittingly spilled something on it. These confrontations were all part of the bonding experience; although we hated each other sometimes, we could not stop loving each other. The experience of growing up together usually ensures a lifelong connection of friendship between siblings.
To help establish that connection between siblings who aren’t able grow up together, Price founded “Camp To Belong” in 1995, which reunites siblings who have been separated in foster care. Statistics show that 75 percent of children placed in foster care are separated from their siblings. “Camp To Belong” is described as “an international non-profit organization dedicated to reuniting siblings placed in separate foster homes and other out-of-home care for events of fun, emotional empowerment and sibling connection.” There are currently nine of these camps that reunite foster siblings. During this week, siblings are able to get to know each other; they make crafts and are given gift cards to buy each other birthday presents. They also ask each other questions about favorite sports and hobbies.
Many of us are lucky enough that we don’t have to ask those questions. We are able to grow up with our siblings in the same household with our parents. For those who aren’t as fortunate, Lynn Price has created an amazing organization to benefit the relationships of siblings. Too often I take my siblings for granted; reading about “Camp to Belong” gave me perspective and a deeper gratitude for the experiences I shared with my siblings.
You can read Lynn Price’s autobiography here: http://www.lynnprice.com/biography.html
New York Times article:
Or visit Camp to Belong’s official website: http://camptobelong.org/