http://www.isnare.com/?s=author&a=Rita+Offen Education Rita Offen Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=209744&ca=Education When our children are born, we have already decided that we will raise them in the best way we can. This responsibility, however, involves us making choices for them, and one of the most fundamental choices we make is that of their education. You may be at the stage when you are choosing a first sch... Parenting Rita Offen Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=190875&ca=Parenting We’re adults so we assume we know best. We have the wisdom and experience to deal with what life brings along daily, so we’re the best people to deal with it, or are we? Children are born with the top skills for life, yet somewhere along the way, as we grow up, these valuable skills get lost. Her... Parenting Rita Offen Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=222744&ca=Parenting We often say ‘wealth and possessions are not important’ – true, but personal possessions are important to kids. Young children especially can become attached to their personal possessions. It may not seem important to adults, but small, simple and seemingly insignificant objects can have much sign... Parenting Rita Offen Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=229992&ca=Parenting Sometimes we feel that we are getting nowhere with disciplining our child. When a child just won’t adhere to what we say it can be frustrating and tiring. We sometimes feel that there must be something wrong with our child, who appears a tearaway compared to the other angelic children we see. All... Parenting Rita Offen Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=211833&ca=Parenting In the run-up to Christmas, we may not know it, but we’re already preparing ourselves for some stress. We’re getting together our ideas of what we want to do on the day, who we’re inviting, where we’re going, and what gifts we are buying. In all this, we’re developing expectations. Expectations of h... Parenting Rita Offen Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=217123&ca=Parenting Recently, Prince Andrew was reported as saying “I believe fundamentally that the family is the most important thing in life”. And this belief probably holds true for most people, but like the diet we have every intention on going on, or the cigarettes we have every intention on giving up, we just d... Parenting Rita Offen Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=221798&ca=Parenting Our children are born with some amazing qualities. They believe they can do anything, and won’t give up until they do, or get what they want. Unfortunately though, through life they pick up messages to the contrary, and their once exuberant confidence may dwindle. But there are ways that parents can... Parenting Rita Offen Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=230007&ca=Parenting Even though it may seem the opposite, our teenagers are still sensitive people who need to feel loved and significant. Whatever their behaviour, or how bizarre it may seem, it is how parents deal with it that is important. To be able to be firm and calm, rather than reacting or retaliating at diff... Parenting Rita Offen Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=198763&ca=Parenting As parents we want our children to be happy, and one of the most significant areas of their lives is that of friendships. Kids love to have friends, and, whatever age the child, it's a delight to parents to watch their children happy in a friendship, playing games, sharing activities. It can be equa... Parenting Rita Offen Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=190876&ca=Parenting “Parents aren’t interested in justice, they’re interested in peace and quiet” (Bill Cosby). Peace and quiet, ahh, if only. Yes, kids can be noisy, argumentative, fight like cat and dog, and whine like mad. That’s their way of communicating, negotiating, getting their own way, and we know that the...