Wanda Luthman's Blog, page 47

Notecards

Look at these awesome notecards that my sister, Susan Bolick, drew (she’s incredibly talented) and then had them printed into notecards for me!

Thanks, sis! I love you!

Family Vacation Safety

 

Hi, Everyone!

 

Today, I’ve brought some traveling tips to you from Dr. Valerie Allen (my favorite School Psychologist). Since it’s June and there will likely be a family vacation at some point this summer, read her tips to help your family stay safe.

Six  Tips for Safe Trips

 

Children enjoy the adventures of travel and the fun of family outings. They broaden their world by visiting other places and learning about things outside of their family, school, and neighborhood. However, a constant concern is the safety and well-being of children especially when they are in unfamiliar surroundings.

In the world of high tech gadgets, cell phones are the most popular way to keep in touch during outings. School age children have the advantage of a cell phone, if it is not lost, misplaced, or left behind in their backpack or suitcase, which often happens when traveling. There are electronic locators, which can be worn or pinned onto a child’s clothing; these are especially useful with preschool children.

However, less costly are good common sense strategies to use to be on the safe side when away from home with children. Whether you are traveling many miles, shopping at a mall, or going to a theme park, you should prepare a safety plan with and for your youngsters. Here are some basic tips to keep up with the kids while away from home.

Dress alike. Splurge and buy matching T-shirts for everyone. A bright color that will stand out in a crowd is a good choice, such as “shocking pink” or “neon green.” It will be easy to spot and if you are separated, you have on an exact copy of what the child was wearing.
Get orientated. As soon as you arrive, take a few minutes to determine where you are and what’s around you. Set a mental marker on where you entered, where the car is parked, what is to the right and the left, where the exits are, phones, and bathrooms. Point these out to the children so they can get a fix on where they are before they get too excited or head off in a new direction.
Set a meeting place. If you decide to separate, establish a time and place to meet or call each other with your locations. Be sure to single out a specific place that children can find easily or be directed to if they need help, such as the roller coaster, the hot dog stand, or the shoe department. Set an exact time to meet and remind them to stay there until you arrive.
Make a lost and found plan. Discuss with children what to do if they get lost or separated. Point out police officers, security guards, sales clerks, or other authority figures. Designate a safe place to go and stress they are to stay there. Set check-in times on the hour and the half hour at the designated “safe place.” Establish someone to call, such as a grandparent or neighbor, who can relay messages until you can find each other.
Have identification. Everyone should carry identification with his or her name, address, phone number, parent’s name, and medical information. It is also good to give the name of a contact person who can be called to provide additional family information as needed. Establish a secret code word. They are not to go with anyone without saying and hearing the code word.
Establish contacts. Tell others where you plan to be, when you will leave, and when you expect to return. Trade contact information and be sure everyone has a plan of action in case of an emergency. Write down your itinerary and leave one copy at your home in a conspicuous place. Give a copy to relatives, friends, and/or neighbors.

            A few minutes spent on establishing a safety plan before you leave home will give everyone peace of mind and lead to a worry free, safe, and enjoyable family outing.

 

Dr. Valerie Allen is a child psychologist in private practice. She presents seminars for parents and professionals in the field of child development and has published two childrens’ books, “Summer School for Smarties” and “Bad Hair, Good Hat, New Friends.” Oh yes, she has also raised six children!

Dr. Valerie Allen

Licensed School Psychologist ~ Rehabilitation Counselor

101 E. New Haven Ave                                                      Phone            (321) 722-3430

Melbourne, FL 32901                                                            FAX                      (321)  722-3431

ValerieAllenWriter.com                                                      VAllenWriter@cs.com

(Copyright Valerie Allen)

A Turtle’s Magical Adventure by: Wanda Luthman

aopinionatedman blog is hosting me for the month!

Check out A Turtle’s Magical Adventure by: Wanda Luthman in the Online Book Store or click the image below!

Also check out her blog at https://wandaluthman.wordpress.com/!

For more information on promoting your book through https://aopinionatedman.com please visit the following link! https://aopinionatedman.com/book-promotion-terms/

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Dad’s Day

 

Being June and all, it’s the month for Dad’s. You might think that’s funny because we don’t actually give the whole month to celebrate Dad’s, but we should. I mean we celebrate Mother’s Day in style, but Dads get a lesser celebration. I don’t know if Dads just don’t like all that fuss or we have some conflicting feelings towards our Dads. It’s no surprise given today’s world, where there is so much divorce and some aren’t as involved, that maybe we do have some conflicts. But, Dads that stick around and stay involved, well, they deserve to be celebrated all month!

Let’s take a look at how Dads help children develop. In the article “The Importance of Dads,” the author talks about how a father’s involvement can actually increase their child’s cognitive abilities as well as increase their child’s level of social-emotional stability leading to more happiness and feelings of security throughout life.

I know for me, having an involved Dad has made me feel more secure. There’s something about a Dad that comes home every night and plays with you and talks to you and genuinely cares about what’s going on in your life that had made me feel more secure throughout my life.

I know a tie or a shirt isn’t a fabulous gift to actually show all that you’ve done for me, Dad, but the thought behind it is one of celebration. You sacrificed for our family. You worked hard. You took us to the park. You made model rockets with us. You took us to the pool and the beach. You took us on vacations. You listened. You were there. For that, Dad, I’m incredibly thankful. So, for this month of June, let’s tell our Dads we love them and that they deserve to be celebrated!

Happy Father’s Day, Dad! I love you!

To read the whole article, which gives way more information than I shared here, go to the link below

http://www.boba.com/the-importance-of-dads

And if you liked this article, you may want to follow me for more at www.wandaluthman.wordpress.com

Author Spotlight: Wanda Luthman

I’d like to share an interview that Brent Arnold posted about me. Enjoy!

Welcome to Author Brent Arnold's website

Welcome to a new feature where I spotlight emerging writers from all genres as they embark on a rich and rewarding journey.

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Wanda Luthman is a children’s fiction author of 2014’s The Lilac Princess and her new book, A Turtle’s Magical Adventure. I found her energy to be so refreshing, and I was glad she could take time out of her schedule for this interview.

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Have I Got a Book For You! Leaving No Reader Behind by Susan Knell

Summer Reading, Find Something You Enjoy!

Nerdy Book Club

Finding the right book for the right child at the right time is probably one of the most life-changing things teachers can do for their students. For those of us who have always been readers and lovers of books, we may not be able to recollect exactly the one book that made us a reader. But for some students, current and former, for whom reading wasn’t easy, enjoyable, or relatable, if they were fortunate enough to have a teacher who never gave up searching for just the right book…well, I bet they could tell you!

I love the picture book, Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind, by Judy Finchler & Kevin O’Malley. Kevin also illustrated the book.

You can also watch and listen to the book at:

In this story, Miss Malarkey will not give up finding just the right book for one of her students if it takes…

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A Turtle Adventure

I really enjoyed the short walk along the boardwalk at Turkey Creek Sanctuary today. I saw 4 turtles, actually they were gopher tortoises which are endangered!

Happy World Turtle Day

Book Launch Day!

Today is Book  Launch Day!

That means A Turtle’s Magical Adventure is now available in all formats (Paperback $6.99, Ebook $2.99 or Free on Kindle Unlimited, and Audiobook $3.49) on Amazon.

A Turtle’s Magical Adventure is about a turtle who doesn’t like his shell because it makes him too slow. He goes on an adventure into Timberwood’s Magical Forest to ask the wizard to take away his shell. Along the way, he meets many interesting characters who try to teach him to accept himself, but, will he learn that lesson in time or will the wizard turn him into turtle soup?

Amazon reviews

“Perfect bedtime reading to the little ones”

“This is an excellent children’s book full of life lessons”

“a captivating story”

“the Turtle book is awesome!”

“I recommend this storybook to grandparents and parents everywhere”

 

Guest Blog Post

Today, I’d like to introduce to you someone very special,  Clifford Edwards. He’s an expert. This post is provocative and meant to be, but stay with it, you’ll find it very enlightening. Then, maybe you’ll see why I think Clifford is so special.

 

The F-Word – Why I Love and Use It Often!

Maybe You Will Too.

I Love the F-Word

I think the F-word has gotten kind of a bad reputation. It’s misunderstood, maligned and mis-applied too often. But I love it and use it for all kinds of incidents and situations, practically every day.

When I make a mistake, screw up or have an accident of some sort: F-word!
If I get into an argument with my wife or have a spat with a friend or colleague: F-word!
If someone cuts me off, treats me rudely, unfairly or does something else I don’t like: F-word!
For dealing with major heartbreaks, hurtful incidents, betrayals or victimizations: F-Word!

It’s flexible, useful and impactful. I can’t imagine giving it up. My life would be much less colorful, fun, potent and productive without it.

Okay, have I got your attention? Good, that was the point. Because the F-word I’m talking about is… Forgiveness. I love it and I apply it in all of the situations listed above – and more! I’ve learned to forgive myself and others as a means for experiencing less stress and anxiety, more freedom, clarity and greater peace of mind. You can too!

But frequently when I use the word forgiveness, people tune out or move on to something else. Because too often they think they know what forgiveness means and they don’t want it – or believe they don’t need it. They suffer under one or more of the common misconceptions about what it is, why it’s important and how to do it.

How about you, what are your notions and beliefs about forgiveness? What does this F-word mean to you? Do you love it? Do you use it, practice it and allow it to enrich the quality of your life? If not, are you open to considering it in a new light?

Common misconceptions and misunderstandings.

Probably the biggest one is that forgiving is for the benefit of the other person – often to the detriment of yourself. This is not true, forgiveness is best understood as something that you do for yourself! Others may benefit as a result, but act of forgiving is to support your own well-being.

It’s the way to relieve yourself of toxic burdens of negative emotion like anger, resentment, hatred, blame, guilt, regret and shame. It’s the way to free yourself from old limiting beliefs, noxious negative judgments and self-destructive habits or behaviors. It’s an effective way of cutting your ties to past hurts, wounds, grievances and mistakes, so that you can live freely and joyfully now and in the future.

Here are a few more common misconceptions. Forgiving and forgiveness mean that you:

Condone the actions or choices of the other and make them right.
“Let them off the hook” or absolve someone of any responsibility or consequences for their actions.
Have to forget what happened and go back to the way things were so that you’re left open to being hurt, used or victimized again!

Empowered Forgiveness

I’ve coined a term – empowered forgiveness. It captures the essence of the kind of forgiveness that’s available when you’re able to step out of the common misconceptions and misunderstandings. Empowered forgiveness is about claiming your right to be clear, strong and to feel great about yourself.

Imagine for a moment feeling light-hearted yet powerful, confident and self expressed. Imagine sharing and laughing with friends, family members and others free of resentments, guardedness, and judgments that used to bubble below the surface. Imagine speaking your truth, setting and holding good boundaries, while feeling love for yourself and others as never before!

That’s what the F-word offers to you. The ability to free yourself from mental and emotional burdens. True freedom of the mind and heart!

My primary mission in life now is to share about emotional education and this empowering, self-loving kind of forgiveness. Emotional education offers a set of perspectives and tools that allow you to understand and interpret the experiences of your life in personally responsible, healthy and serving ways.

The F-Word and You     

I’ve written a book called The Forgiveness Handbook – A Simple Guide to Freedom of the Mind and Heart. It’s designed to dispel the most common misconceptions, and answer some of the frequently asked questions about forgiveness. In every chapter you’ll gain new perspectives, useful tools and find journaling exercises you can put to use to feel lighter and more empowered immediately. You can also get a Companion Workbook to help you do the exercises in a simple, structured way. You can find out more about the book here or go get it right now on Amazon.

 

I love this F-Word and I hope that you’ll come to love it, use it and practice it too. Because for your happiness and well-being, it’s better to be Forgiving than…!