Does your child have first day of school jittters? Do you?

Hopefully, you have been talking to your child about the first day of school and how exciting it will be. Well, maybe not so exciting for you as you dress your little one, holding back tears with a really big grin on your face. Not too big though, kids are smart. For most school starts in September, so you still have a couple of weeks to practice smiling and being cheerful about your baby taking that first step away from the nest.

    Here are some things you and your child can do to he lp make this transition smoother:

Two weeks before

.  Make a cute calendar with countdown days.  Any plain calendar page will do or make your own, show the daya/date and add small graphics; Smilies are fun to use. Try this site http://www.clicksmilies.com/ or check out one that is similar. When you find a site you like, print the page of smilies and let your child cut them out paste on a I’m a Big Girl/Boy calendar. Later you can keep the calendar as a keepsake.

• Start practicing with the alarm clock. Send your kids to bed at their regular school-night time, and start getting them up early. Explain that everyone needs to adjust to a new schedule.

• Practice the school bus run. Describe the bus route for your children, including where the bus goes and how long it takes to get to school. Talk about what they can do on the bus to occupy their time.

• Take a tour of the school. Make arrangements with the school, and show your children their classrooms, the cafeteria, and bathrooms.

The day before
• Lay your child’s school clothes out. With your child, select outfits for the first week so there’s no anxiety about clothes in the morning.

• Pack up the night before. Get your children’s books, lunch money, and school supplies ready to go before they go to bed.

• Send your child to school with a photo. A family photo or a reassuring note in a child’s lunch can help ease separation anxiety.

The first day
• Send a note to the teacher? This is a definate ‘maybe.’ This lets children introduce themselves to their new teacher. Talk about what they like to play and their favorite foods. Make this a short note. Remember, short note. You may want to include a picture. When your childs teacher calls him or her by name, there will be an instant bond.

• Get them on the bus. If your children will be taking the bus to school, don’t drive them the first day, wait with them for the school bus. Help them get used to the trip right away.

• Remember bus numbers. Calm children’s fears by going over the bus number and reminding them that their teachers will make sure they get on the right bus.

The origins of some figures of speech are obvious, putting the cart before the horse, putting all of your eggs in one basket, killing two birds with one stone. Others are a little more obscure. I wonder if Mr. Aesop wrote fables about some of the expresssions listed in Jeff Rovin’s book, The Unbelievable Truth! (Signet, 1994.)

   A former boyfriend who was a smart and interesting man, probably has a dog-eared copy of Jeff Rovin’s book. He was always the go-to person when bits of odd and often useless information was needed or desired. I have always had a soft spot and much affection for these over-load folks, even if I do scratch my head and wonder how and why they know these things. Take a look at the explanations behind three common expressions that we continue to use today:

Pulling the wool over their eyes. In the 17th and 18th centuries, thieves and robbers would yank their victims’ wool wigs down over their eyes so they couldn’t see who was attacking them.

Blackmail. In 16th-century England, mail meant “rent” or “tribute.” Debts that had to be paid in silver were called “whitemail.” A debt that could be paid in any other way from was called “blackmail.” Blackmail did not have a set value, and the person collecting the debt could collect (or extort) any amount or anything they wished from the debtor.

Red tape. For centuries, it was British custom to seal important documents with red wax and red tape. Cutting through it was the only way to get at the documents and read them.

Quote: Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge. — Kahlil Gibran

If you are managing older workers be sure to eliminate lingering stereotypes that may lurk in the back of your mind. Be mindful that any kind of narrow thinking on your part may cut into your productivity. You may have a lot of good younger workers, but that does not mean you can afford to neglect your older workforce.

Some baby boomers are the hidden gems of the work place, they may have skills and attitudes that younger workers have not mastered. Plus they may remember where that old file is stored

Just remember your ABC’s when managing older workers:

A. Address your attitude.  Eliminate stereotypes from your thinking, positive or negative. You may believe older employees are harder workers, or that they’re just waiting for retirement. Treat every employee as an individual without jumping to conclusions based on age. Stereotypes often keep us from tapping talent.

B. Give them feedback.  Many younger managers are a little hesitant to give older workers feedback. But remember that older workers need to know their value to a team or the importance of their work. And they need to know where and how they need to improve.

C. Consider making them mentors.  Older workers have a mountain of experience. Make use of it. They can help steer younger workers though minefields that are never written in the company policy manual, and they can provide insights based on their own successes and failures.

First impressions never count more than during a job interview.

CareerBuilder.com recently surveyed more than of 2,700 hiring managers about mistakes job applicants make. While some of the responses were to be expected, some were a bit strange and downright odd.

The mistakes are listed by ranking order:

1. Inappropriate attire
2. Boredom or lack of interest
3. Criticizing a current or previous employer
4. Arrogant attitude
5. Answering a cell phone or texting during the interview
6. Vague answers
7. Not asking good questions

The hiring managers were also asked for their observations and opinions on interviewee attitude and attire that belonged in the “Hall of Shame.”

1. One candidate wore a business suit and flip-flops.
2. A job-seeker asked if the interviewer wanted to meet later for a drink.
3. The candidate who applied for an accounting job said he was “bad at managing money.”
4. One hungry candidate asked for directions to the employee break room to eat after the interview.
5. A candidate recited poetry.
6. A candidate for a customer service job told the interviewer, “I don’t really like working with people.”
7. One person had to leave because his dog had gotten loose in the parking lot.
8. A job-seeker spent the entire interview staring at the ceiling.
9. Asked to provide an example of teamwork, one candidate cited his Dungeons and Dragons experience.

Regarding inappropriate attire, it is better to err on the side of caution, or do a drive by a couple of days before your interview and see what employees are wearing. If you decided to take a chance and apply on the spot, be sure you are properly dressed.  A friend told me that she recently saw and spoke with a young woman she had not seen in a while, the young woman told her she was going into the building to apply for a job. My friend, a long-time gatekeeper of a high ranking executive explained to the young woman that she needed to return to apply when she wore something more appropriate and business-like. I do not know the outcome, but I am sure it was better than it would have been.

Read Career Builder’s article Feel Like Giving Up On Your Job Search? 5 Way to Shake things up, here  http://bit.ly/apmws3

 A couple of things to remember about meetings: (1) don’t waste someone’s else’s time, (2) take care not to be the reason for a canceled meeting. In many cases, know that time equals money.

If you are asked to RSVP a meeting or event, do so even if you have told to the person in charge of the event that you will attend. I have found that it is the little things that can make or break good will. 

• Don’t arrive too early. More than 10 minutes early is wasting your time and perhaps someone else’s, if they must entertain you while you wait. Also, you can become fidgety and annoyed that other’s may be late, if it appears they may not arrive on the dot. 

.  Send in that RSVP. Then mark your calendar, if something comes up, make contact and let the proper person that you will not be able to attend the function. No one likes to be left hanging, and it is just plain rude. 

• Confirm your appointments the day before. Let people know you’re conscientious; they’ll likely follow suit in the future. This is also an extra nudge or reminder to you as well.

• Bring some easy to do work with you. If you must wait, it cuts down the wasted time if you bring something else you can work on in the meantime. Anticipate that you may be waiting at least 10 minutes.

Summer’s here, and that usually means it’s time to hit the road for a vacation.  

  Whether your idea of relaxation involves rock climbing or lounging by the pool, you can enjoy a stress-free trip (or at least minimize the hassles) with some basic planning:

• Involve your children. Whether you’re traveling with toddlers or teenagers, get them engaged in the preparations. Asking them what they want to see and do, and incorporating their wishes as much as possible, will lead to a smoother experience.

• By Air–pick your time/follow new rules. Flight delays and crowded airplanes rarely improve the quality of your trip. When flying, your best bet is to travel Monday through Wednesday, early in the day. Fly direct if possible to cut the chances of your luggage getting lost (or having to drag your carry-ons from one end of the airport to the other). Make sure you have checked airline rules and regulations. Follow all directives etc., to the Nth degree.

• By car or rail–pack some snacks. Kids and adults get cranky when they’re hungry. Carry along something healthy to eat: granola bars, raisins or other dried fruit, peanut butter crackers, and treats for when you or your kids need something special.

• While away–schedule downtime. Don’t try to cram too many activities into the day. Rushing through one museum to get to the next one, and the one after that, will quickly grow exhausting. Allow some time to relax, watch TV, read, or take a leisurely stroll. A afternoon nap while on vacation is the ultimate treat for me. 

• Don’t allow drastic change to normal routine. For small children specially, maintaining some elements of a regular routine will keep things running smoothly. Bedtimes, regular meals, and normal rules of behavior provide a comforting sense of structure. If you normally read at night, bring a book or two.

• Prepare to be flexible. Expect delays and mishaps, so they don’t stress you out. Break the schedule when something more interesting comes up. If you want to spend more time in a museum that intrigues you, do it. You may not have the chance again.

When answering questions or giving advice, be as open and honest as you can be without your advice or response turning into a lecture.

  1. Be sure you understand the question.  Miscommunication often occurs when you don’t pay close attention to what others are saying. Make sure you understand what you’re being asked before trying to answer. If you do not understand the question, repeat to clarify what you think you heard.

2. Please don’t ramble.  If you know the answer, provide it quickly and succinctly. Don’t spend a lot of time discussing irrelevant information. (“That reminds me of . . .”)

3. Keep in mind that you are the expert.  Don’t be intimidated when someone who has more responsibilities or may know more in a different area asks you a question. Give the answer then back it up with facts and details. You may want to put them in a note or memo to memorialize them.

4. Give facts and data, not opinions.  If you’re asked for facts or data, give that. Refrain from adding observations to your answer. If asked for your opinion, then give it.

5. Don’t guess at answering the question.  If you can’t immediately answer a question, don’t try to fake it. Let the questioner know that you will get the information and get back to him or her. Get the answer as soon as possible, when you have it, respond immediately

6. Never be condescending.  Do not respond to a question with a condescending remark. That includes facial expressions, ie; a credulous look with eyebrows raised, shaking of the head, deep sighs. This may make the person hesitate to communicate further with you. You will lose a valuable source/resource.

7. Admit what and when you don’t know.  Being an expert can sometimes mean that you don’t know the answer to the question, but you do know who does. Refer the person to good and proper sources who can be of better help.

Sharing a few thought-provoking quotes. I have gathered these quotes from many sources around the web. The first quote is from an unlikely source, but he reveals himself.* And no one was watching or listening, ”The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.” — Maya Angelou

 The nature of any human being, certainly anyone on Wall Street, is “the better deal you give the customer, the worse deal it is for you.” —Bernard Madoff*

If you surrender to the wind, you can ride it. —Toni Morrison

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. —Robert Louis Stevenson

I resolved to stop accumulating and begin the infinitely more serious and difficult task of wise distribution.—Andrew Carnegie

If your thinking is sloppy, your business will be sloppy. If you are disorganized, your business will be disorganized. If you are greedy, your employees will be greedy, giving you less and less of themselves and always asking for more. —Michael Gerber

Science does not know its debt to imagination. —Ralph Waldo Emerson

The whole history of physics proves that a new discovery is quite likely lurking at the next decimal place. —F.K. Richtmeyer

Don’t compromise yourself. You’re all you’ve got. —Janis Joplin

You’ve got a lot of choices. If getting out of bed in the morning is a chore and you’re not smiling on a regular basis, try another choice. —Steven D. Woodhull

Toss your dashed hopes not into a trash bin but into a drawer where you are likely to rummage some bright morning. —Robert Brault

What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. It is always the same step, but you have to take it. —Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man’s freedom. —Clarence Darrow

Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways. —Stephen Vincent Benét

In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future. —Alex Haley

A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.
—Carl Sandburg

The second week of March 2010, I received a short form letter from the Census Bureau stating that I would soon receive a census form that should to be filled out and returned as soon as possible. I do not remember any other information given to me in that first “Here comes the Census Form” letter. My thoughts were the announcement letter was unnecessary, the actual census form with a similar form letter attached would have sufficed. But enough of being a nitpicking drag.

Yesterday, I decided to do an online check to see if there was a hint to what questions would be asked, I typed “what questions will census forms ask?” The first listing was 2010.census.gov. Boy, that was easy, would the form be as easy to complete? I went to the site and was assured that this census form will be“One of the shortest forms in history - 10 Questions in 10 Minutes.” and allows you to download the questions you will be asked. You can find the questions here, along with detailed reasons for the questions.

Be sure to read, why being counted is important to you, your state and the U.S.

You will note the questions are straight-forward and do not require a lot of time or thinking. A postage-paid envelope will be included with the form.

You declutter your home and your office, but head and heart space needs to be cleaned, cleared and organized on a regular basis too.  

  What you carry and keep in your head and heart can stop you from being all that you can be (or just plain happy.) If you are miserable and can’t figure out why, it may to be time to declutter your mental space.

1. Learn to let go of old grudges. Life’s too short and uncertain to take grudges to the grave.

2. Unload or step away from your burdensome friends. Take an honest look at the people in your life. Break ties or change the friendship rules with those who don’t support you, or who are incompatible with your values and goals.

3. Take a break and stop being judgmental.Being judgmental can close you off from learning something from others. Don’t judge so quickly; listen to the whole story first.

4. It is OK to be wrong. You have to be willing to be wrong. Don’t be afraid to make the occasional mistake. When you do, acknowledge it. You can waste a lot of energy trying to be perfect or alway right.

5. Be willling to say I’m sorry.  Loosen up on stuborness. Don’t let a misunderstanding cost a  a relationship with a family member, friend or customer because you can’t say I am sorry.