Blog Talk Radio's Families Matter Show - Topic: Alone Together

Join Irene Roth and Virginia S Grenier every 3rd Friday of the month for the Families Matter Show here on BTR's Freatured World of Ink Network.

Each month the Families Matter Show will cover topics on the importance of family to empowering our children.

This months topic: Alone Together: How Technology has Separated Us from Each Other
We are all over-connected through cell phones and other technological gadgets. Even when we are together as a family with our children, we seem to be texting and playing video games. We are multi-tasking masters. But it is at the peril of teaching our children the true art of communication. Kids are having a harder and harder time to really connect with each other, be they friends, siblings or parents. We as parents should find ways to show kids the importance of empathic connection.  We could this in the following ways:

• Having unplugged times when we could related to one another personally and face to face;
• Having times when we are doing things as a family as opposed to watching television all the time;
• Going out for walks as a family;
• Doing family activities;
• Just hanging out as a family;
• Having a sit down meal at least a few times a week.

By taking these steps we could saving our children the hardship of not being to effectively communicate when they get older. We need to be parents who are not alone together but openly and empathically together.

Listen to the podcast at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/worldofinknetwork/2014/02/21/families-matter-show--topic-alone-together

The Families Matter Show 01/25 by WorldOfInkNetwork | Blog Talk Radio

BTR’s World of Ink Network show: Families Matter with hosts VS Grenier and Kecia Burcham.

Airs live 6pm EST - 5pm CST - 4pm MST - 3pm PST

The Families Matter show airs live once a month on the 4th Wednesday.

This months show topic is on Divorce.

We will be talking about tips for parents and children dealing with this tough life changing event. When it comes to divorce, everyone is touched by its awful power.

The idea of this show is to have guests and listeners (adults or kids) share information to help empower children and their families.

Please post any questions or stories you would like us to answer or share on the show. You are also invited to call in and join the conversation.

Listen at
The Families Matter Show 01/25 by WorldOfInkNetwork | Blog Talk Radio

Sept. 21st: The Families Matter Show

The Families Matter show on BTR's World of Ink Network is a monthly show for families where no issue is to small or great for us to tackle. We want to share as much information and true stories as we can to help uplift and strengthen the family unit.


Your hosts are Kecia Burchan and VS Grenier.

Joining us will be Irene Roth, wonderful Children’s Author and Stories for Children Magazine Nonfiction Editor. She will be our shows new Producer.

This weeks topic: Standardized Testing and How Teachers are Teaching to Tests.

Here are some links to articles about standardized testing by Kecia Burcham.
http://www.examiner.com/parenting-in-nashville/is-there-too-much-emphasis-on-standardized-test-scores

http://www.examiner.com/parenting-in-nashville/teacher-breakdown-teacher-suicide

http://www.examiner.com/parenting-in-nashville/test-anxiety-standardized-tests

This is a huge discussion going on all over the nation with No Child Left Behind and Teacher Accountability.  If we can get people thinking about it - many have strong opinions - maybe we can make a difference!

August 10th - Families Matter Show

Once a month the Families Matter show address topics families, teens and children deal with everyday.
Come join us this month as hosts Kecia Burcham and VS Grenier talk about Stalkers and Abuse. There is help out their and they want to share information so you or a loved one can get the help you need.

Drama does not keep boyfriends

By: Kecia Burcham

Teenagers are under extreme pressure largely by virtue of their age.  There is pressure from parents, pressure to do well in school, sports and to fit in.  This pressure is normal, and most teens are able to handle it.  After all, life itself comes with pressure.

I'd like to address the girls in this article as I have noticed personally and in the news that there are some young ladies who are feeling extremely desperate. Society and popular culture continues to promote beauty, sex and coupledom as the things to aspire to.  Sexual relationships are paramount in many of the most popular shows that teens do watch such as The Hills, Gossip Girl, 16 and Pregnant; even Sex and the City.

There is a particular subgroup of girls who base their entire self concept on being someone’s girlfriend.  You know these girls; maybe you are one of them. They compromise their values, put up with abuse and then, when things don’t work out, they resort to desperate measures.  These measures often include pregnancy scares, cutting and/or suicide attempts.  This is a very small population, and it is alway serious when someone goes to these extremes.  In most cases, these extremes are the result of true depression, lack of family support or some type of mental disturbance. 

When it is manipulation as a way to force another's behavior, the concern is the utter desperation.  What leads a young woman to believe that if she and her boyfriend break up; pregnancy, a dramatic attempt on her life or cutting herself will make him return?  Most young men are completely turned off by such behavior because it implies instability and a neediness that most young men don’t know how to deal with. Even if an extremely sympathetic boyfriend was temporarily pulled back into communication with an ex-girlfriend over such an event; it is highly unlikely to be permanent. If he is made to feel responsible for someone else's choice, he may stay until the dust settles, but his heart won’t be there, and he’ll move on eventually whether the girlfriend knows it or not. Then he'll be called a cheater. If someone no longer wants to be in a partnership, it cannot be forced. You cannot demand affection, nor can you blame someone for your own choices. If it’s over, it’s over, and creating some dramatic scenario to maniuplate the situation is not only unfair, but it is not going to bring someone back.  It is also going to damage your reputation. Someone else who might have been interested may view you as deeply troubled or a "drama queen".

Teen relationships end.  You are still worthy and valuable. They are supposed to be opportunities to learn; to figure out what you like, what you don't like; to decide what you value and what you don't. Some work out, some do not, but manipulating someone with dangerous choices is not healthy.  It is also very ineffective. 

If you or someone you know is considering something drastic as a means to an end, please remember that desperation is not attractive. If someone is not treating you well, or if they have decided to move on; Let Go! Find someone or help them find someone to talk to - parents, friends, coaches, teachers; they can all be supportive and help you realize that life is more than a boyfriend!

If reaching out is difficult, the below links might be helpful:

www.teensuicide.us,

www.yellowribbon.org

www.kidshealth.org

Continue reading on Examiner.com Drama does not keep boyfriends - Nashville Parenting | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/parenting-in-nashville/drama-does-not-keep-boyfriends#ixzz1UTQjFXKT