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I’ve never been much of an Oprah person. That doesn’t mean I didn’t watch her show—it was something I caught only once in a while. However, I have picked up some “Oprah-isms” along the way, one of those being the “ah-ha” moment. I can totally relate to that concept, because I’ve had several of those moments throughout my life.
My most recent “ah-ha” moment came while reading an article for this issue. Writer Kathy Stump sent me her article on tips for keeping tabs on kids who want freedom. In the article she writes, “Strive for influence, not control.” It was one of those moments when I wanted to slap my head and say “Duh!” I often feel like I am working to control my girls and their behavior. Even the word control has a somewhat negative connotation when used in relation to someone’s behavior. I’ve been going about this all wrong. Instead of trying to control what they do, my words and actions need to be a positive influence on them. That way, as they grow and want more freedom and time away from home, they will be guided by the positives I am trying to impart, rather than the control I am trying to exert. Now this won’t be easy as I like the control, but I feel strongly that this is something I need to work on.
Moving onto a lighter subject…it’s still summer! Which means you’ll find more summer fun packed into this issue. In addition, our calendar is chock-full of great events to keep you busy every single day of July! We’ve even given the calendar a little face-lift for July. Pick up a copy of the July issue and let me know what you think!
It does pain me to mention “back to school” in July, BUT you will want to pick up our August issue when it hits the stands as it will have all you need to know for a great start to your year!
Happy warm, sunny days, KC!