What Is It, Who Has It, and How to Get It

First, realize that although each of the following children are all bright, they have not developed the emotional skills necessary for success in these life situations. Such skills, many of which we often take for granted, thankfully can be taught, and have most recently been coined emotional intelligence (EQ) by Daniel Goleman in his best-selling book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ.

Many of our thoughts about parenting are outdated. Used by others before us, they have been passed on as worn-out hand-me-downs that no longer fit the time, the place, or us as uncommon parents.

Maximum learning results when the learner goes through all three of these activities. If you want your children to learn and retain a new skill or concept, what way of teaching that skill or concept do you think works best? Look over these teaching strategies and pick the one you think would have the greatest impact on retention.

"Mom, we've got to have a family meetingand vote. We need to send our charity money to the children right away." 

Those excited words were uttered by eight-year-old Madison Willow, who was moved to action by viewing the tragic outcomes resulting from the recent Asian tsunami. Madison, like millions of people from around the world, had been touched by the suffering, loss, and grief of the survivors she saw on TV.

Are you concerned about how you look in your bathing suit?  Do you worry you don’t look as good as you did last year, or ten or twenty years ago?  Are you struggling with friendships or business ventures that once worked for you, but do not offer the reward they once did?

If so, George Bernard Shaw might show you the door to peace: “The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me.  The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them.”

...you can control how you talk to yourself, regarding what others say to you.

Matt, age six, came into the house crying hysterically. Tears flowed down his cheeks and he couldn't catch his breath. I put him on my lap and held him close. His breathing slowed as I rubbed his back, but the tears continued.

"Randy," he blurted out between sobs

"Randy hit you?"