Hello dear friends! I’m sorry I have been away so long. Even though I haven’t popped in to clear my head, I have been working on the site. You may notice some changes regarding the look of the pages. I also added a page titled “Early Childhood Articles”. The articles are those that were published at Bellaonline.  I resigned from Bella about 2 weeks ago and since I hold all rights to my work, decided to post the articles here. They are available for reprint for any publications interested and can be viewed as soon as they are live on the page.

 

When my new freelance business began gaining momentum, I had to eliminate some gigs to make room for paying clients. I try very hard to maintain a balance between time with family, time for my writing, time for clients and time for housework. When I sign a new client, something has to give. The only option is to resign from no pay and low pay gigs.

 

Preschoolrock.com was first to go, then Bella. It was very difficult for me to leave Bellaonline; the site is a fantastic community of talented writers, my first gig and shares a name with my darling daughter. I will always reflect fondly upon my time there.

 

As far as work goes, I have been blogging 5 times a week for my client Baby Dagny, which is a high-end baby supply store that sells some unique infant products. Check out the latest LAMom blog “Memorial Day Thoughts” when you get a chance. Hillcrest Christian School has signed me on as their Public Relations representative. This has been an exciting opportunity to hone my writing skills in a new arena. I have also been in contact with a new local paper whose first edition is slated for distribution on June 29. For this first issue I have been asked to write the feature story, launch my column and write an additional article. Lastly, I have received my second assignment from iparenting to write a story on adoption. My first story “Everything but the Breast”, an article about pumping breast milk, was well received and they were happy to sign me again.

 

In addition to these assignments, I’m recommitting myself to give some time and attention to my own site. Blogging twice a week, adding live articles to my Early Childhood page, adding a client list and testimonial page, designing a page with my services and rates and updating photos in my album (link located on my blog page) are all on my daily “To Do” list.

 

As always I love to get feedback, I’ve just added a new guestbook if you are interested in sharing comments, asking questions or offering suggestions!

 

 

 

Who knew teenagers could be so shiftless and lazy? I guess I should have since I distinctly recall having those very words flung my way when I was growing up. It happens quickly, this metamorphosis from loving, willing “I want to help Mama” child to “do I have to?”, “am I getting paid?”, and “Why isn’t (fill in the blank) helping?” teenager.

 

So how does a parent motivate an almost adult? Threats of Santa not bringing presents and promises of chocolate chip cookies do not carry as much weight as they once did. As a matter of principle, most teens would rather forego all those niceties of family life if it means they are able to spend most of the day in bed sleeping. What does work? Guilt. Although I had hoped not to resort to guilt tactics, I have found in my desperation that it can be effective.

 

A closer look at guilt allows us to study why it works so well in parenting situations.  

The http://Dictionary.reference.com definition of guilt is:

1.	the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, esp. against moral or penal law; culpability: He admitted his guilt.

 

2.	a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.

 

3.	conduct involving the commission of such crimes, wrongs, etc.: to live a life of guilt.

 With this information, how do we make guilt work for us?

• Children love their parents, even teenagers. If you approach the situation with “Do you really want to see your mother doing this task? Because she will have to if you don’t” You may elicit a protective response in the teen.
• Teenagers are overly concerned with what other’s think of them. It is easy to exploit this by suggesting that naked baby photos and personal weakness can be publicly exposed.
• Reminding your teenager the pain and suffering of pregnancy, childbirth and the effort expended thus far on raising them occasionally brings the desired result. However, if your teen is in a particularly resistant mood it may backfire. If after employing this tactic, you are met with the response: “I didn’t ask to be born”. Abort the mission.

Disclaimers: Even though guilt has proved a reliable motivating factor in our home, it may not in yours. Not all teenagers react to guilt in the same manner. Your efforts may be met with resistance and in some cases, extreme disobedience.Commando guilt tactics are not intended to replace good old-fashioned disciplinary measures; doing so may result in familial mutiny.

Google me this….who is occupying the #8, #9 and #10 spots on page one of Google search for “Cynthia Peterson?” You guessed it …..MWAHHAHA! Out of 1,220,000, I landed on page 1! Three times! The first is from my Suite101 biography, the second highlights my new business site and the third reflects a review for Munchkin’s icrib.

 

Not bad for a little homemaker/freelance writer from Granada Hills. I do not usually toot my own horn but….TOOT TOOT! This time I think I will! When I first checked for my “Google status” in November, I was nowhere to be found. I think I got to page 15 before giving up. I decided to check again yesterday now that I have had content available for several months and…YIPPEEE there I was!

 

I am so excited I have Google bumps!

 

Don’t take my word for it, check it out for yourself…..go on, Google me! Make my day!

 

All hail le grand Googlebot!