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E M P O W E R E D P A R E N T I N G E Z I N E

Information For Today's Parent!

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VOL. IV : Issue 13 November 22, 2002
Editor: Joan Bramsch
E-mail: hijoan@joanbramsch.com

Common sense solutions for Today's Parenting Challenges!
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Empowered Parents = Strong Families
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ENJOYING OUR FOURTH YEAR OF PUBLICATION!

You must be the change you wish to see in the world -- Ghandi

EP PARENTS ON OUR PLANET --- Is your country listed?

The Empowered Parent Ezine now serves members in the following countries:
Israel, Turkey, Greece, United States, Canada, Australia, South
Africa, Great Britain, Islands of Fiji, Scotland, New Zealand, Panama, Malta,
Spain, Brazil, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Latvia, India, Nigeria, The
Netherlands, Croatia, Mexico, Namibia, Poland, Belgiu, Philippines.

Please continue to send in your location. Send to:hijoan@joanbramsch.com

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Welcome To The Empowered Parent Store
Be a proud Empowered Parent!
http://joanbramsch.com/store/store.shtml
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"First keep peace within yourself, then you can bring peace to others."--
Thomas Kampis

WELCOME!

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SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
They keep our service "priceless."

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THIS WEEK'S EDITION SPONSORED BY:

JB Information Station, publisher of Izidor Ruckel's autobiography. "ABANDONED FOR LIFE. The Incredible Story of One Romanian Orphan Hidden From the World. His Life. His Words." Available on CD-ROM. http://www.joanbramsch.com/romania.html Buy it Today!.
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INSIDE YOUR EP EZINE
<*> Letter to Parent
<*> Article
<*> Letters from EP Parents
<*> This 'n That
<*> Marketplace
<*> Subscribe/unsubscribe Information

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"You do what you know how to do; and when you know better, you do better."
- Maya Angelou

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<*> Letter to Parent

Hi dear Parent,

It's getting quite chilly here at night. Tomorrow we're supposed to be down into the low 20s F. There may even be a few snow flakes, according to the forecast. I think that winter must be on its way to Missouri, and here I am with yards and gardens blanketed with bushels of acorns and a foot or more of autumn leaves. But I have an idea to get the grounds clean and put to sleep.

I am going to hire my nearby Boy Scout troop to do the job. They get community service credit, the troop treasury will get my donation of $50, and I get a tidy lawn without a "broken" back. A win-win-win deal, all around, yes? :)

I wanted to also talk to you about another win-win-win deal and the fact that I have cut back publication of this free Empowered Parenting Ezine to monthly issues, with the addition of Bulletins when I had something to say inbetween. The major reason I did this was because, like you, I too have to make choices.

Several months ago I made a major choice to be Izidor Ruckel's editor and publisher. We were brought together by EP Parent Connie Simon - remember? She's the mama of Nick, another Romanian orphan now adopted by American parents. His "BackPack/CarePack" project for remaining Romanian orphans was sponsored successfully on a special EP web section. Many of you contributed gently worn backpacks filled with warm clothes for these children.

The name of Izidor's book, his autobiography, is: "ABANDONED FOR LIFE. The Incredible Story of One Romanian Orphan Hidden From the World. His Life. His Words." The PDF document is available on CD-ROM, along with the Adobe Reader and "Izidor's Photo Album."

I really want you to read his special page: http://www.joanbramsch.com/romania

After six serious surgeries by the doctors at Shriner's Hospital, Izidor is now 22 years old, walks with only a leg brace and is on scholarship at a California college. He also works two jobs to support himself And yet, he found time to write this book in English, his second language, and to continue his public speaking about the subject. Why? Because he has never, never, never, ever forgotten those children still trapped in that country's system or discarded onto the streets, untrained, unschooled, with no shelter or protection.

You saw the 20/20 program about the Romanian youngsters living in the sewers. Well, years have passed and now those, who are still alive, are having sick babies down in those sewers! Last year, just about the time I took my Bill back to Minnesota for the last time, Izidor returned to Romania with 20/20 for another program. They wanted him to see what had changed, and what had remained the same or grown worse. He found it all right, and he wrote about it in his book.

He also found his birth parents who had abandoned him and never returned, even once, to see how he was doing. Now if you don't think _that_ broke my heart, then you don't know me, dear Parent. They discarded this little baby with crippled legs and never came back! And that little baby grew, survived, and overcame. He lived in a kind of snake pit from hell, crammed together with 500 other special needs children... ALL kinds of special needs! But his Spirit was never crushed.

We could be related, you know? Like me, he never, never, never, ever gives up. And though we have yet to hug, I love him!

He has earmarked 25% of his profits toward the fulfillment of his Dream. He wants to help provide a safe, healthy home community for those orphan children living in Romania. In fact, news has just been revealed that the Hospital of the Irrecoverable Children, where Izidor grew up during his first eleven years, will be closed in June, 2003.

What he and hundreds of other abandoned children endured while being hidden in this "prison," brings back terrible nightmares; however, now that it's being closed, he envisions the possibility of changing that nightmare into his Dream - a safe home for the orphans.

May I please make a request of you as we enter the Season for Giving this year?

More than 1000 parents read this ezine. ONE THOUSAND! And that's not counting all the pass along copies. If you've appreciated almost five years of my service to Parents - free of charge and delivered with all my love - please consider purchasing Izidor's great story which is also filled with many, many photographs, some of which will shock you, others that will bring a smile to your lips. Go right now, please. http://www.joanbramsch.com/romania

If you celebrate Thanksgiving or another day of appreciation for the Harvest, say a prayer for Izidor's Dream, please, and know you can make a difference for a needy child when you purchase his story.

Also know that I value you, right here, right now, in all you do for your Family.

Enjoy the Season, dear one.

Love, Joan

P.S. GOOD NEWS! We believe in helping all we can, which is why we wrote KID SAFE. The BEST News is that we are offering the how-to protect your child and teen against molesters and kidnappers for $12, that's less than HALF PRICE. It's our Gift to your Family for the Giving Season.
http://www.joanbramsch.com/book-kidsafe.html

TESTIMONIAL: hi joan, i read the things that you had wrote about on the internet.it was very helpful i really enjoyed it.i have a child my husband & i asked him things like.if someone came up to you and said, your mom told me to pick you up would you go .his response was no.we give him examples all the time.the one thing that i really like that you wrote about was.kick out the lights if the kidnapper put you in the truck.i never thought about that.the only person he said that he would go with was a family member.that made me feel really good.to know that at his age he knows alot. thanks alot, a concerned mom

P.P.S. Did you also notice at the top of the EP home page, we now feature the Amber Alert for kidnapped or lost children? You can put one up on your web site too. http://codeamber.org/

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BLESS THE CHILD!

Some time back, a colleague of mine asked her students, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" One student wanted to be a police officer, another wanted to be president, another a doctor. Then she came to Malik: "What do you want to be?"

And Malik answered, "I just want to be possible."

She asked, "What do you mean, you want to be 'possible?'"

And he explained, "My mother always says that I'm impossible. I just want to be possible."

BLESS THIS CHILD!

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<*> Article

This story is from MountainWings

DOILIES

As a new bride, Aunt Edna moved into the small home on her husband's ranch near Snowflake. She put a shoebox on a shelf in her closet and asked her husband never to touch it.

For 50 years Uncle Jack left the box alone, until Aunt Edna was old and dying.

One day when he was putting their affairs in order, he found the box again and thought it might hold something important. Opening it, he found two doilies and $82,500 in cash. He took the box to her and asked about the contents.

"My mother gave me that box the day we married," she explained. "She told me to make a doily to help ease my frustrations every time I got mad at you."

Uncle Jack was very touched that in 50 years she'd only been mad at him twice. "What's the $82,500 for?" he asked.

"Oh, well that's the money I've made selling the Doilies."
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A question for the husbands and wives:
How much would your spouse have earned from their dollies?

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HAVE YOU EVER BROUGHT YOUR LIDDLE KIDDLES TO THE EP KID GAME ROOM?

Did they get to do the Special Halloween doggie puzzle that my friend Heather Colman, owner of http://www.ebooksearchengine.com made for you?

When you go to the safe game room, surf all the way down to the bottom for the SNOWBALL GAME, which was also created specially for your child by a good friend of mine, Nik, at http://www.BeKwik.com Betcha' can't perform on High Speed! ;)

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TOO ROUGH

A little girl asked her mother, "Can I go outside and play with
the boys?" Her mother replied, "No, you can't play with the boys,
they're too rough." The little girl thought about it for a few
moments and asked, "If I can find a smooth one, can I play with
him?"

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WHAT YOU PLANT!

If you plant honesty, You will reap trust.
If you plant goodness, You will reap friends.
If you plant humility, You will reap greatness.
If you plant perseverance, You will reap victory.
If you plant consideration, You will reap harmony.
If you plant hard work, You will reap success.
If you plant forgiveness, You will reap reconciliation.
If you plant openness, You will reap intimacy.
If you plant patience, You will reap improvements.
If you plant faith, You will reap miracles.

But
If you plant dishonesty, You will reap distrust.
If you plant selfishness, You will reap loneliness.
If you plant pride, You will reap destruction.
If you plant envy, You will reap trouble.
If you plant laziness, You will reap stagnation.
If you plant bitterness, You will reap isolation.
If you plant greed, You will reap loss.
If you plant gossip, You will reap enemies.
If you plant worries, You will reap wrinkles.
If you plant sin, You will reap guilt.

So be careful what you plant now,
It will determine what you will reap tomorrow,
The seeds you now scatter,
Will make life worse or better,
For your life or the ones who will come after.
Yes, someday, you will enjoy the fruits,
Or you will pay for the choices you plant today.

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"The day I worry about cleaning my house is the day Sears comes out with a riding vacuum cleaner." ~Roseanne

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<*> Letters from EP Parents

REMEMBER my letter in September about getting my last child into school? Here was another EP Parent's comment: Great letter. Never thought if it from the parent perspective of getting the kid finally into school. :>)

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GOLDEN BIRTHDAY Question

Here's a letter from: Neil
What do you get someone for their golden birthday? For example, my friend\'s golden b-day is Dec 29 and he will be 29. Help!!

JOAN'S REPLY
Why, that's simple! ;) 29 gold foil covered chocolate "coins." Lucky for you... you're in the season to find them. Then there's Gold fish and Gold Rush candy bars... the list goes one.

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The puzzle was great fun! Thank you so very much. We really enjoy your newsletters and notes. Best regards...The Falk Family http://www.joanbramsch.com/games/gamesindex.shtml

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DEEP MEDITATION.
I have been meditating, using the oldest tradition of using vibrational sound of the didgeridoo. The Australian Aboriginals have practiced the art of the "Deep Trance Meditation" for eons… Over 50,000 years to be exact. I have been experiencing this practice for almost three months. I feel somehow different. Improved. More clear. I encourage you to read about the fantastic effects of this fabulous ancient healing sound. http://www.meditationmusic.biz/
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Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a
headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle: "Take two
aspirin" and "Keep away from children"
~Author Unknown

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<*> This 'n That

FOOD FOR THOUGHT From William Shakespeare.

"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword.

It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind... And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded with patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader,and gladly so.

How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am. . . Caesar"

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PROPHETIC $20 BILL http://www.allbrevard.net/
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WHY YOUR KID IS GETTING FAT... NOT TO MENTION YOU!
http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/3606.1500
GIVE THEM THE NUTRITION AND KIDS CD GAME FOR FUN AND EDUCATION
http://www.joanbramsch.com/health/obesity.ppt
GO HERE TO TRY IT OUT!
http://www.nutritionandkids.net/10617/

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JUST IN TIME FOR HOLIDAY TREATS!
EP DID IT... GIGGLE FREE PACKS!
NO SUGAR!
This is an EXCLUSIVE CREATION designed for EP members and their families. JOAN'S NOTE: EP is pleased that Giggle Pack and Giggle Free Pack product sales will provide funds to better serve you and your family. WHEN YOU ORDER, write the letters -- EP -- after your NAME, like this: "Your Name EP." Then we'll get credit for it for new Children's programs. Please and Thank You! :-) http://www.gigglepacks.com/

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Is it true that a Rhode Island man is donating $5 to fight hunger whenever someone clicks on his website? Yes. Philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein is donating $5 for every person -- up to 200,000 -- who clicks on his website. Do your part to help. Go the website and click on the picture. Thank you! Click here: http://www.helpthehungry.org

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DID YOU WATCH DR. PHIL TODAY?

It was all about out of control parents, over-reacting in anger to their children. My dear Aussie friend Ron Huxley is imminently trained to help all parents overcome the Anger.If you need help, first, admit it! Then take the course. It's FREE! A child deserves the best.
Manage ANGER in 1 Week with our free ecourse >>>
mailto:angertoolbox@getresponse.com
http://angertoolbox.com/ecourse.html

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Joan, I found this wonderful site. No more feeling dumb when your kid asks for help with homework! Loads of great topics for parents and kids and a homework help line. wish ithad been around when mine were in school. Marcie http://familyeducation.com/home/0,1669,,00.html

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LISTENING TO THOSE WE LOVE

One of the deepest needs that we all have is the desire to be understood and to feel important. One way another person can truly feel understood is if you listen to them to connect rather than to react or respond. So this week we invite you to consider making listening to connect with others a priority in your life. If you do, you'll see and feel a positive shift in your relationships.

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There are powers inside of you, if you could discover and use, would make of you everything you ever dreamed or imagined you could become. `Orison Swett Marden

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AND FINALLY ...
If you've never experienced having five babies in five years before you were 25-years of age, this scenario will give you an instant picture of what it was like:

Picture this: Take one walker/stroller - the old fashioned kind that had a wooden tapered-shaped seat with a metal tray and wooden handle in front, a metal tray below for the footsies and a metal long handle behind for the pusher.

Now put inside the seat TWO liddle kiddles, Nancy/12 months, in front'; Peggy/2 years, behind. Seated on a cushion where the long handle hooked into the walker/stroller sits Mary/3 years, with tootsies stuck onto the metal foot tray below, and seated upon the metal tray in front, straddling the wooden "stick" handle sits "Captain" Billy, aged 4, while Mommy, aged 24, pushes the precious cargo while being pregnant w/ Patty/7 months in utero.

And you know what else? I wouldn't have changed a thing!

No regrets!

Love, Joan

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A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service,
his cousin asked him, "How many women can a man marry?"

"Sixteen," the boy responded.

His cousin was amazed that he had an answer so quickly. "How do
you know that?"

"Easy," the little boy said. "All you have to do is add it up,
like the Bishop said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer."

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<*> Marketplace

Check out special offers, deals and reviews

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HOW SMART DO YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO BE? A Course for Children, 2.5 to 6 yrs. Joan will give you what you need to help your child - Gifted, Average or Special - learn the skills for success in school and in Life. Let her help you. http://joanbramsch.com/tmiy.shtml

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THE SAFE MONEY REPORT is 100% satisfaction guaranteed Enjoy all the benefits of the Safe Money Report for a full year for just $99 … or better yet, get two years for just $198… It's risk free. Call (800)-236-0407 Ask for Doreen. This is HALF-PRICE for EP!

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"Nutrition and Kids Adventures" is a cutting edge computer game designed to help kids teach themselves about proper nutrition, healthier foods, and having a healthy body. This CD-ROM game is for our elementary age children to have fun as they learn about health and nutrition.
Http://www.nutritionandkids.net/10617/index.shtml

If I didn't think this program could make a difference in the health and well-being of Families I would not recommend it. Please, see for yourself, dear Parent. Then ACT! My grandkids love to play it.

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SUCCESS NET -- Michael Angier is the founder and president of Success Networks. Success Net's mission is to inform, inspire and empower people to be their best -- personally and professionally. Want help with your goals for this year?
http://www.1automationwiz.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=27610

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War cannot be humanized, it can only be abolished.
-- Albert Einstein

The ultimate oxymoron: "Holy War"

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FEED THE HUNGRY:
http://www.thehungersite.com
http://www.heifer.org/

FOR PEACE ON OUR PLANET: We are not going to be able to operate our
Spaceship Earth successfully nor for much longer unless we see it as a
whole spaceship and our fate as common. It has to be everybody or nobody.
-Buckminster Fuller

NEXT ISSUE: More of the best I can find for you, dear Parent. And those EP
Bulletins will continue, if sporadically. .

* . (\ *** /) * . *
. * ( \ (_) / ) * Guardian Angel * .
. (_ / | \ _) . * .
* . /____\ * . . *
In the meantime, here is an angel sent to watch over you for me...

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FROM BILL:
We are Angels born with but one wing,
In order to fly we must embrace one another.
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Till next time, don't forget -- Parenthood is Wonder-filled!
Fondly, Joan
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DISCLAIMER: The Empowered Parenting Ezine is intended to increase your
knowledge of the opinions and options in the fields that we cover. There is
no guarantee of validity or accuracy. Its contents should not be used to
replace professional advice. Empowered Parenting assumes no responsibility
for injury and specifically disclaims any warranty, express or implied for
any products or services mentioned. If expert assistance or counseling is
needed, services of a competent professional should be sought.

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© 1999-2002 Joan Bramsch/JB INFORMATION STATION.
All rights reserved worldwide.
ISSN: 1526-2154 - Library Of Congress, Washington DC, USA

Permission to download text is for personal use only. It is illegal to
reproduce or transmit in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, or by any information storage and
retrieval system, any part of this copyrighted text without permission in
writing from the publisher.
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http://www.EmpoweredParent.com

All material copyright © Joan Bramsch 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 (unless otherwise
noted)

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