WHEN A WALK IN THE PARK MEETS PERSEVERANCE

OK. So this is the last in the perseverance series-- at least for a while. As you know, I view it as a character trait up there with integrity, loyalty and honor.
Then again there is a fine line between persisting with perseverance and being pesty about it!

Sunday morning I decided to walk in the park. By 3/4 around the first time it was blisteringly hot--90+ according to my car thermometer at 10:30AM. It felt as if I was walking through a long, oval pizza oven.

The sweat had formed several layers on my skin. I could have shaved without cream. My shirt looked as if someone sprayed me with water. Someone could have water skied on my brow. I was dripping perspiration in pores that hadn't opened in years.

Much of my mind said, "Give it up! Go back to your car and have a cold drink and then head home." The more stubborn/persistent part of me prevailed. "Look at the guys playing soccer or even full court basketball. Look at the guys playing baseball in their jerseys and heavy wool sleeves," it said. That part of me pushed me to continue. Of course, that part of my mind forgot they were half or less my age.

Continue I did. That's perseverance!

Whether it is in the park or in other areas of your life I encourage you to keep pushing yourself to rise to the challenge and continue. I survived. The liklihood is you will too. It feels so good when we do. GO GALS, GO GUYS!

Bye For Now,

Bill

www.williampenzerphd.com

954 475 1371 x 1
561 361 1898 x 1

check 3/17 blog to know our goals

Raising Children in a Recession

Real families experience normal, daily stress that a recession can intensify. Not that long ago, I was a single parent who drove an old car that consumed too much money in repairs every month. Frequently, it was difficult to focus on parenting. Economic survival, rather than parenting, threatened to dominate my thoughts. Eventually, I returned to school, graduated, and recently reviewed the research on the relationship between economic loss and parenting. The research concluded that a recession does not necessarily impair parenting skills, but economic losses are associated with reduced discretionary spending, on expensive toys, vacations, and private schools.

Children may challenge such decisions, stimulating parental reactions of inadequacy, frustration, and defensiveness. Similarly, anxiety and depression concerning economic loss can distract parents from focusing on child rearing. The research further suggests that, if spouses are similarly stressed, more regular support from friendships or a professional can bolster parenting skills by improving the parent’s capacity to focus on childrearing.

Remarkably, emotional support was regarded as more beneficial than free groceries or child care. At times, my adult son has reminded me of our lean times by reflecting upon our progress. I reacted defensively until I realized that he had recalled his own resilient spirit. Our children may whine for expensive toys, while we promote their frustration tolerance and creativity by attending to their emotional needs, rather than their whims.

Childrearing in a recession requires the pursuit of a vision of the future without the immediate gratification provided by child approval or the economic guarantees typically provided by society. However, by prioritizing and adhering to our goals, we actualize our dreams. A resilient spirit is priceless, or so many children may realize by following their parents’ example.

Dr. Marilyn Katell