Back-to-School Vol. 4, No. 1

A Time for Everything

New School Year Success

Supporting Our Teachers

STEM Education

Monitoring Your Teen’s Behavior

Leadership

Employment Tips

Financial Freedom

Kids & Nutrition

Easy Styles for

African American Girls

Dating Checklist

The NEW You

IN THIS ISSUE…

INVOLVED PARENT MAGAZINE

Fall 2015 Vol. 4, No. 1

Education 4 All’s mission is to help teens and adults be their best at home, school,

work, and in the community!

Education is a life-long process. Our customized individual and group training

sessions provide evidence-based strategies which can easily be incorporated into

your existing personal and professional environment.

4 places are impacted most by human behavior and interaction: home, school,

work, and the community.

All teens and adults can be their best when they have the appropriate tools and

strategies to do so.

For more information, to schedule individual and group training sessions, and/or

make a tax-deductible donation, please visit: www.education4allinc.com.

If you have a product or service that can be of benfit to parents, students, and

shools, please contact Dr. Carletta D. Washington for assistance in addressing your

advertising needs in our Winter 2015 issue: [email protected].

Upcoming publication dates: November 1, 2015; January 1, 2016; May 1, 2016

Follow/Like Us:

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© 2015. Most photos are from freeimages.com. This magazine is produced

through Education 4 All, Inc. P.O. Box 38722; St. Louis, MO 63138. No parts of

this magazine are to be copied or printed without express written permission. For

permission, please contact the writers or Dr. Carletta D. Washington at:

[email protected].

Education 4 All Involved Parent Magazine www.education4allinc.com Fall 2015; Vol. 4, No. 1

http://www.education4allinc.com/

mailto:[email protected]

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“A Time to…” by Dr. Carletta D. Washington

New School Year Success by Lydia Douglas

Support Exceptional Teachers Who Rock! by Dr. Shonta Smith

Facilitating of Learning in Science, Technology, Engineering,

and Math (STEM) by Billie Mathews, B.A., M.A.

4 Ways to Help Monitor Your Teen’s Behavior

by Abigail Brooks, LPC

Parents—Dynamic Leaders by Curlie McCalla

The Importance of an Educated Employee by Odie Smith

Financial Freedom & Flexibility for Your Household by

Jamila Barnes

Are We Making Our Children Stupid?

by Nathaniel “The Body-Fat Destroyer” Jordan

No Fuss Styles for African American Girls by Tierra Gerdine

The Dating Checklist for Single Mothers by Mary Bell

Eliminate These Excuses to Become the New You!

by Brenycka Smith



“A Time to…”

As our children settle into the new school year, let us remind them that there is a time and a

season for everything. Keeping this in mind, can prepare our children to effectively address

some of the tough issues they may face throughout their school year. Applying principles found

in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NKJV) is one way to promote appropriate student behavior and Godly

character:

A time to plant and a time to harvest. Students must understand that the time they spend in K-

12 and collegiate settings is their planting season. They are continuously learning new material

and how to apply those new concepts into complex future life situations. Our students need our

support and constant reminder that their time to harvest and reap the benefit of the time and

effort they invested into their learning will be within their reach at the appropriate time.

Motivating our young people to keep performing at their best in school is especially important

for parents of high school and college students. Parents’ level of involvement during these

years significantly impacts their children’s high school and college completion rate.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. Students will need letters of

recommendation from their current teachers/professors for scholarships, internships, jobs, and

academic/community programs. Therefore, establishing and maintaining positive relationships

with school personnel, coaches, and youth program leaders is necessary. It is equally important

for them to demonstrate a high quality work ethic: being present, being on time, actively

participating and taking on leadership roles when possible, having a positive attitude, getting

along with adults as well as their peers, appropriately resolving conflict as it arises, and adhering

to dress code and other policy expectations. Consistently building a professional network

begins early. When your son or daughter needs a professional reference, he or she will certainly

be able to gather those stones when the time is right!

A time to embrace and a time to turn away. Young people do not always associate with those

of similar values and belief systems. While our children may understand that there is a time to

embrace (i.e., accept, like) their peers, they must also know that there may be a time when they

will need to turn away from certain peers, particularly if their peers become verbally,

physically, or emotionally abusive; try to influence them to engage in bullying, cheating,

drinking, smoking, sex, crime, cursing, etc.; and/or begin to demonstrate traits that are not

aligned to their values and belief systems.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak. Unfortunately, our children voice their opinions at

inappropriate times. Learning when to be quiet and when to speak is extremely vital to our

children’s success as adults. Instilling values, belief systems, and confidence can be helpful in

determining when to keep quiet and when to speak. When students are confident in

themselves and their abilities, they are able to monitor their opinions and arguments. Students with high self-confidence are also able to easily determine the most

appropriate strategies for effectively addressing their concerns.

May the aforementioned tips and those presented within the rest of the

Involved Parent Magazine, contribute to you and your children’s success

during this new school year!

This article has been contributed by Dr. Carletta D. Washington.

Founder of Education 4 All; Consultant; Speaker; Author

[email protected]




New School Year Success Tips

This is a new school year, with new teachers, new friends, and new decisions to be made!

Parents, help your children to understand that before decisions are made, they need to take a few

minutes to realize they are making decisions that will ultimately impact them and their lives.

Here is some helpful advice to share when speaking with your children:

Since this is a new school year for you, just remember old things are passed

away and all things are about to become new in your life; therefore, the

chapter on last school year has been closed. It is time go back to studying, home work, and planning for your future.

Make sure you are taking the courses that will get you on the path that you

want.

You are accountable for the decisions you make for your life.

Whatever you decide to do with your life, remember “all things are possible

to those that love the Lord”.

No matter what you want to do, you can do it. So do it to the best of your

ability, giving it 100% of your time.

Always see into your future as far as you can because you will be preparing

yourself for the path that is for you.

We are standing on the shoulders of great leaders and we should not allow

anything or anyone to get us off track.

Remember that education is the key that will unlock any door.

You will be learning something new each and every day of your life;

therefore, keep an open mind in order to learn from whatever you encounter.

When others see growth in you, you will have more reasons to be more

inspired to go even higher.

Even though you might get bent, you will not become broken because you

are strong enough to do anything that your heart desires.

If you can help someone along the way, you do just that. Be understanding

and compassionate. Do not ever put yourself above others.

This article has been contributed by Lydia Douglas.

www.booksbylydia.com


http://www.booksbylydia.com/


“I ROCK!”

Supporting Exceptional Teachers

Who Rock!

Did you know effective teachers ROCK? They are the backbone of the

educational system. They are the reason the system works. Yes, you

heard me correctly—the system works! It works because

effective teachers do what they know best: teach. Now, one

might ask, What do you mean by teach? All teachers teach.

I want to let you in on a little secret, all teachers do not

teach. Just because you have the title teacher, it does not

mean you teach. Effective teachers teach. In a world of

accountability, everyone wants an effective teacher in their

school. Every parent wants their child in that effective

teacher’s classroom. Every community wants their school

to be filled with competent teachers.

What is it that effective teachers do? The answer to the question is quite simple, effective

teachers engage in instructional practices and methodologies that create a framework for

teaching and learning. Effective teachers are competent, caring, reflective practitioners. They

don’t make excuses and they get the job done by any means necessary. Effective teachers

understand the African proverb that it takes a village to rear a child. Using the mantra, One

Team-One Goal-One Band-One Sound, effective teachers march to a different beat. The beat

they march to makes teaching and learning spectacular. They stimulate a student’s imagination,

challenge their views, and encourage them to do great things. They motivate them through

tailored teaching practices to ensure that every pupil feels a sense of achievement and is valued

as part of the class community (Day et. al., 2006).

Need I say more? Effective teachers ROCK! “The Essence of Education” empowers effective

teachers to ROCK. Our children ROCK because effective teachers do what’s in the best

interest of children, they teach. Teaching in its purest form enables everyone to achieve

greatness. Effective teachers all over the world know that they ROCK.

Know that because of effective teachers, our school systems have a fighting chance. Let’s

appreciate all that they do! Our world ROCKS because of them and parents’ support of

effective teachers. Encourage an effective teacher to look in the mirror with a big beautiful smile

and say, “I ROCK!”

This article has been contributed by Dr. Shonta Smith

Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Shonta Smith International, LLC

P.O. Box 56646; St. Louis, MO 63156

(314) 454 - 1149 Office; (314) 454 - 3072 Fax

www.drshontasmith.com https://www.facebook.com/DrShontaSmithInternational https://twitter.com/DrShontaSmith

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/shonta-smith/1b/865/abb

[email protected]

I ROCK!


http://www.drshontasmith.com/

https://www.facebook.com/DrShontaSmithInternational

https://twitter.com/DrShontaSmith

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/shonta-smith/1b/865/abb



Education 4 All Involved Parent Magazine www.educationallinc.com Fall 2015; Vol. 4, No. 1

http://www.educationallinc.com/

Facilitation of Learning in Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Math

(STEM)

As I eagerly anticipated selection of a theme and title for

this issue of Involved Parent Magazine (IPM), I searched

my mind for just the right thing to write about. I have

been fortunate to be involved in many great life

experiences influencing education. One area that comes

to mind is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

(STEM). On a number of occasions throughout my 20

plus year career in education, I have collaborated with

colleagues to integrate learning in the area of science,

technology, engineering, and math into the curriculum.

My recent experiences as teacher of the Gifted have

presented me with the opportunity to come onboard

with another STEM elementary school to promote

STEM education.

The Age of Sputnik

Dating back to the 1957 launch of Russian satellite

Sputnik, the race to rising to the top in technology and

engineering in America became priority. Education

reform has served as a venue for the presentation of this

movement. America has put men on the Moon, sent

robots to Mars and other faraway places, traveled and

researched regions near and far, and strengthened what

we know about those areas (Woodruff, K., 2013). This

theme has waxed and waned over the years, yet it keeps

resurfacing. I feel that I am in a great place to facilitate

learning in STEM, and I am excited about being

involved as an educator in the 21st Century. This

excitement extends to students who are being

immersed in real world learning experiences that

inspire them.

STEM Education



STEM Rocket Challenge and the SeaPerch Challenge

My recent experiences in facilitating STEM learning include the STEM Rocket Challenge

(NASA, 2014) and the SeaPerch Challenge (SeaPerch, n.d.). While creating rocket designs and

constructing a variety of rockets, students conducted research and demonstrated their

reasoning skills in the classroom and in the field. Developing remotely operated vehicles

(ROVs), specifically underwater, students worked collaboratively to build ROVs and participate

competitively across age and ability groups.

I reflect on an end-of the-school-year collaboration with STEM educators. We celebrated our

collegiality and spoke about the geographic and demographic similarities and differences among

and between our students. A common thread that ran throughout, is the excitement for learning

and opportunity for student success. I encourage all those who have an opportunity to

participate in STEM education to become involved. You do not have to be a scientist,

technologist, engineer, or mathematician to be an important part of the process!

References

NASA (2014). NASA Evolves Student Rocketry Challenge, Enhances Ties to Space Launch

System. Accessed from https://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/february/nasa-evolves-student-

rocketry-challenge-enhances-ties-to-space-launch-system/#.VY296OuLR94

SeaPerch (n.d.). Accessed from http://www.seaperch.org/index

Woodruff, K. (2013). A History of STEM – Reigniting the challenge with NGSS and CCSS.

Accessed from http://www.us-satellite.net/STEMblog/?p=31

This article has been contributed by Billie Mathews B.A., M.A.

Professional Development

Curriculum Development

[email protected]

505-617-0543


https://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/february/nasa-evolves-student-rocketry-challenge-enhances-ties-to-space-launch-system/#.VY296OuLR94

https://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/february/nasa-evolves-student-rocketry-challenge-enhances-ties-to-space-launch-system/#.VY296OuLR94

http://www.seaperch.org/index

http://www.us-satellite.net/STEMblog/?p=31


4 Ways to Monitor Your Teen’s Behavior

Pre-teen and teenage years are tough times for

parents. During this stage, youth are more

influenced by their peers and society. Their

friendships are more important to them than their

relationship with their parents and family. Youth

are peer pressured to experiment with many

things to keep up with societal influences: drugs,

alcohol, sex, cigarettes, body image etc.

For many parents during this stage, it is easy to

feel that you’ve lost control and take a hands-off

approach. Though it is understandable why many parents feel this way, this is the time when

your child actually needs you the most!

Teens will need the consistency and guidance of their parents to work with them during these

difficult times in their lives. Here are four ways to increase monitoring and supervision in your

teen’s life:

1.

Be a good role model.

Whatever peer pressure your teen is facing, attempt not to practice the behavior in front of them

(i.e. using drugs or alcohol).

2.

Be positive with your teen.

Whatever progress your teen has made, praise the appropriate behavior. Decrease blaming and

put downs. For instance, if your teen hangs with friends who smoke cigarettes, but does not

smoke him/herself—celebrate this small victory, and more success may soon follow.

3.

Monitor your teen’s behavior and whereabouts.

Know what he/she is doing and with whom she/he is with. This point is really important!

Parents, it is imperative that you ask your teen questions that will help monitor and supervise

his/her whereabouts. When asking questions, always try to include: where, who, how, what,

where, and when to get the most detailed answers that you need.

4.

Get involved in your teen’s life outside of home.

Encourage and promote positive social and recreational activities. Explore the hobbies and

interests of your teen and encourage him/her to be involved in positive recreational and social

activities. This will help encourage him/her to increase positive peer socialization and help keep

him/her active.



Ask your teen questions such as…

Where are you going?

Who are you going with?

How are you getting there?

What are the plans when you get there?

When will you be returning home?

(Curfew expectations should already be set.)

Once you get the answers that you’re looking for, follow up with their

friends’ parents to maintain supervision and communication amongst other

adults. If you do not know your teen’s friends’ parents—this is a great

time to do that RIGHT NOW!

Parents, use the 4 tips as a guide to help improve and/or maintain your

relationship with your teenage youth! Adjust to meet your family’s needs. Once you stay

consistent with these guidelines—your work will become less stressful!

Reference

Adolescence Community Reinforcement Approach (ACRA) www.chestnut.org This article has been contributed by Abigail Brooks, LPC, Life Coach

Founder of Wifey Bootcamp

Family Therapist, Adolescence Drug and Alcohol Counselor

www.wifeybootcamp.com

"Helping single women pursue a God-honoring relationship through biblical

principles"

Ask me how to receive your FREE coaching session.


http://www.wifeybootcamp.com/


Parents—Dynamic Leaders

Are leaders born or made?

Let’s face it, if not for great leaders, the

world as we know it would be in chaos. We

must admit, not everyone possesses the

ability to be a great leader who influences

and makes a positive impact. A great leader

has a vision and creates buy-in to that

vision. As the Proverb says, “Where there is

no vision, the people perish” ~ Proverbs

29:18. Leaders are both born and made.

While some people are born with the innate

characteristics of great leaders, people who

fall in the middle of the bell curve of great

leaders and poor leaders can become great

leaders as well. Let’s explore a few traits of

great leaders.

To become a great leader, the first and

most important step is to inspire trust

with those whom we lead. This is called

building a relationship; it requires

understanding and clarifying the goals and

objectives of the leader’s vision. People are

inclined to follow those they feel connected

with through shared values. Steven Covey

states, “…to build trust this must be

demonstrated in a leader’s character and

their competence.”

Character is the leader’s integrity, motive,

and intention. Competence is the leader’s

capabilities, skills, results, and track record.

These two dimensions are vital to the

success of the leader and the realization of

the vision. The best leaders know that trust

with others impacts us constantly; it affects

the quality of every relationship, every

communication, and every effort where we

are engaged.

Another trait of a great leader is to focus on the people and be instrumental in their development.

Many get confused in managing versus leading others. Here are a few differences in the two:

Managers Vs. Leaders

Managers plan, organize, and coordinate.

Leaders inspire and motivate.

Managers maintain things and processes.

Leaders develop people.

Managers focus on systems and structures.

Leaders focus on people and help them to grow.

Managers rely on controls.

Leaders inspire trust allowing their people to take

initiative and develop their own leadership.



As you can see, leading and managing are

not the same; however, both are linked and

are complementary. The best leaders know

the difference and hone and harness their

skills to accomplish the mission.

So are leaders born or made? Well, great

leaders are both. All this can be learned.

They build trust and lead people versus

manage them. They create a culture around

their goal and involve others in that culture.

Leaders have an extraordinary amount of

curiosity about the world they're trying to

change. They use charisma in a variety of

forms to attract and motivate followers.

They communicate their vision of the future

and commit to the vision and make

decisions based on that commitment. They

become self-aware and make necessary

changes to grow themselves and others. The

best leaders lead by cultivating new leaders.

Parents—let us be leaders by example to

our children and inspire leadership

within them!

This article has been contributed by Curlie McCalla.

Intrapreneur Development Expert

[email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/empowerandsoar/



https://www.facebook.com/empowerandsoar/


The Importance of an Educated Employee

As a Job Placement Adviser and

Employment Assistant, the importance

of education is quite significant for

future development. There are a number

of positive aspects of being an educated

employee, such as, many more chances

of landing a good paying job, advanced

knowledge to the latest technology, and

being insightful to the changes taking

place within the world.

Whether you have a high school diploma

or a college degree, the experiences

collected can guide and prepare you for

the working environment. I embrace

both of my children and emphasize to

them the importance of higher education,

while priming them for the many

opportunities ahead and the challenges

of adulthood and employment. By

inspiring children early in life with the

high importance of learning in school,

each child will carry an effective

impression through employment and

throughout life.

Within many organizations, a great deal

of leaders, managers, and principle

decision makers are well educated. This

does not mean that a person has to have

a good education to be that type of

leader, but an education can truly help

attain employment goals and the on-

the-job achievements that one desires.

There is indeed a tremendous value with

receiving a good education. Not only can

an educated worker successfully excel in

the workplace, but also the employer

might take notice and appoint the

employee a leading position to help meet

the company’s goals, forecasts, and

expectations. The more knowledge and

education an employee has, the better

the chances, offers, and future

opportunities.

Parents:

If the desire is there to enhance your

employable skills or if you have the

interest to learn a new skill by

continuing your education, then it is

beneficial to consider enrolling in

school. For those who feel that they do

not have enough hours in the day to

go to class, consider the impact that

your future will benefit from your

education (and how your children will

support your decision). Maybe the most

important aspect of your decision

would be the example you set before

your children and how it may present

motivation for each of them to

continue their education!

We live in an ever-changing world with

new technology appearing each month

and if we want to keep moving

forward—we must keep up with the



world, which is moving fast. Without

education, it is difficult to adapt to all

these changes. Many employers consider

an educated person to be a great

candidate for employment, leadership,

and management roles. Many of us have

heard the statements, “College is not for

me!” or “Why is it so important for

me to continue my education?” My

response to these remarks is, “A higher

education can generate a higher

income.”

Students:

Education helps to make them wiser so

that they can make their own decisions,

realize all their dreams, and increase

their potential for becoming extremely

successful. The more educated they are,

the better career options they have! If

students want to lead a happy life and

enjoy the things the world has to offer—

education is key. Education also helps

them to…

Display equality

Acquire opportunities

Be mentally conditioned

Improve self-dependency

Serve many communities

Turn dreams into reality

Keep up with our world

Develop a stable life

Provide confidence

Create an identity

Be Professional

Education also gives the confidence needed to express your views and opinions.

Reference

Smith, O. C. (2010). Mr. and Mrs. Smith's Employment Survival Guide. Indianapolis, IN. AuthorHouse.

This article has been contributed by Odie Smith.

Nu Beginnings Employment Organizers

50 Black Jack Court; Florissant, MO 63033

M-F 9:00 AM-6:00 PM & Sat 9:00 AM-1:00 PM [email protected]; www.mynubeginnings.com

Phone: (314) 355-JOBS (5627)



http://www.mynubeginnings.com/


Financial Freedom & Flexibility for Your Household

As a parent and taking care of a household, it is important to practice healthy financial management. Saving and

planning for your financial future can result in: financial flexibility for the present, give you the opportunity to

do things you have always desired, and give you the security you need for a rainy day because things do come

up. Here are some saving tips that can benefit you and your family:

Practice having at least 1-3 months of monthly expenses in your savings

account for unexpected events, children’s necessities and expenses,

leisure, etc.

Have at least 1 or 2 credit cards with a minimal balance you can manage and

always pay more than the statement amount due (great way to build

credit).

Pay all loans on time (another way to build credit especially with a

mortgage or car note).

Have at least 1 investment account (even contributing $20 or $50 a month can help for the future).

Take your monthly income after tax, which is your annual salary, divided by 12 and allocate at least

20% of your remaining income to your savings account after your bills are paid. Put a dollar

amount on how much you will spend weekly on food, gas, entertainment, etc. to help create a budget.

Try to minimize shopping and leisure activities to a pay period or once a month.

PLAN AHEAD. If you know there are annual expenses or major purchases coming up such as

fees for your children’s activities or something for the house, start saving for it in the beginning of

the year. Even putting away $100 a month helps.

Try to limit debt; save to pay off smaller amounts that are only accruing interest which is really free

money given to your creditor.

Even if you aren’t able to pay off larger expenses such as a car note or mortgage, attempt to pay

more than the required amount when able; it can only help.

Did you know that if a person buys breakfast and lunch everyday at an average of $8.00 that is

$480.00 a month? WOW, more than a car note in some instances! Packing a lunch and eating

breakfast at home, can truly help cut down spending as well.

The tips listed above can serve as a great foundation for more financial freedom and flexibility for your

household!

~This article has been contributed by Jamila Barnes.



Flat Out TV

NOW available on Major

Christian Cable Network TBN

St. Louis native and former R&B crooner turned faith-based artist is gearing up to be

the next Tyler Perry.

Willie Moore, Jr. is the founder and servant leader of the youth empowerment movement

Young Fly & Saved. In 9 Months he has licensed his show on

3 different television networks:

NRB (Direct TV)

KTV (Dish Network)

TBN's Juce TV

For more information, visit:

www.williemoorejr.org


Inspire. Influence. Unite.

“I am extremely excited about

the opportunity to bring our

content to the masses.

God is leading and we are

riding. We do what we can

and He does what we can’t.

I’m grateful! Flatout”

***

Flat Out TV is a fun, inspiring,

faith-based talk show with

celebrity guests, comedy,

music videos, and

much, much more!

***

With over 60 Million weekly

viewers on Juce TV, Willie is

sure to make impact with

people of all colors, creed,

and economic backgrounds

all across the

USA and abroad.

http://www.williemoorejr.org/


Are We Making Our Children Stupid?

Yes, sad but true—the title of this article is full of truth. American parents are unknowingly

dumbing down an entire generation of students via the most deadly weapon of mass

destruction this world has EVER seen: The Standard American Diet (which could be

referred to as S.A.D.).

American children are consuming over 200 calories a day from SODA and 14% of all

calories come from fast foods. Soda and fast foods are some of the most poisonous substances

for the human brain. Like any part of the human body, the human brain requires nutrients to

function properly. The brain is powered by Omega 3 fats, DHA/EPA (Docosahexaenoic acid,

eicosapentaenoic acid) and the glucose (sugar) from broken down COMPLEX carbohydrates.

Refined sugar from SIMPLE carbohydrates such as soda, candy, white bread, and other white

flour and sugar-based foods, destroy proper brain function, and are believed to be behind the

cause of the ADHD epidemic we see in school-aged children today. It also limits proper

learning, primarily through the extreme fluctuations in blood sugar levels, causing brain crashes

during the course of the school day.

As if soda is not bad enough—American children consume loads of processed foods which

contain boat loads of salt, additional sugar, oils, and numerous toxic man-made chemicals!

These foods provide an enormous amount of Omega 6 oils, causing a disproportionate ratio of

Omega 6 to Omega 3 levels in the blood. This is dangerous to brain health! Too much Omega 6

and too little Omega 3 can further wreak havoc on proper brain function, and depending on your

child’s genetics—open him/her up to any of the numerous mental health disorders including

depression and ADHD. These mental illnesses were unassociated with children 100 years ago.

Today, teachers are being heavily burdened with the task of trying to manage a class full of

depressed, angry, hyper and attention deficit children, who are not mentally prepared to sit in a

classroom and be taught.

Of course, the drug industry profits from this chaos by swooping in to promote psych drugs for

millions of children which causes potentially harmful side effects. Sadly, many suicides are

committed EVERY MONTH as a result of the side-effects of various psych drugs. Parents

who feed their children junk food decrease proper brain function and cause problems in their



This article has been contributed by Nathaniel “The Body-Fat Destroyer” Jordan.

NFPT – Certified Personal Trainer

[email protected]

www.facebook.com/nathaniel.jordan.7545

314-443-8441

children’s behavior and/or learning ability. A puppet to the drug industry is the psychiatrist or

other doctor of some sorts who labels a child and convinces his/her parents to place him/her on

drugs does NOTHING, except to worsen the condition.

Good News:

Hundreds and hundreds of scientific studies

have definitely—without a shadow of a

doubt—proven that regular vigorous

exercise, regular exposure to the sun (aka:

put down the video game and go PLAY

OUSTSIDE), and an all-natural plant based

diet ELIMINATES ADHD, depression,

hyperactivity, learning disorders, and

other mental illnesses.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” - Hosea 4:6



http://www.facebook.com/nathaniel.jordan.7545


No Fuss Hair Styles for African American Girls

Hey Parents, let’s talk about hair! Hair care is so vital for African-American girls. It is important

for us to make sure that their hair is healthy, and well-kept because this helps to build self-

esteem.

For some, caring for African-American girls’ hair may come natural; for others, it may not, and

that’s okay. No matter which category you may fall into, I want to share with you 5 simple hair

care tips, and a few styles to help you with your daughters’ haircare journey. The following are

tips that every parent should implement on their daughters’ hair:

Tip #1

Moisturize your daughter’s hair every day. There are many great moisturizers that will work for most everyone’s budget.

Tip #2

Try to stay away from products that contain mineral oil and petroleum. They can create a barrier on the outside of the hair that will not allow water to

penetrate the hair, leaving the hair dry and brittle.

Tip #3

Avoid using synthetic oils (cheap oils). Natural oils penetrate the hair shaft and allow water to get through when a

moisturizer is applied.

Tip #4

Limit how often your daughters wear wool clothing.

Wool clothing can pull at and break their hair.

Tip #5

This tip can actually apply to both your daughters and sons.

Be sure that you are providing healthy meals for your children each day, and

that they are drinking plenty of water.



Following these simple tips, can help to promote healthy

hair for not just our African American daughters, but also

African American moms as well! As you incorporate these

tips into your daily routine, also consider some of the

following hairstyles (pictured on right). They are all

examples of how simple it can be to style your daughter’s

hair with little manipulation. Low maintenance is key.

Try to find styles that your daughter is able to wear for 3-5

days. We want to protect our African-American

daughter’s hair by giving it time and room to grow without over styling or touching their hair. For further

help with how to properly maintain your daughter’s hair,

or for hairstyle tutorials, visit www.youtube.com, and

search for kids’ hair tutorials, products for natural

kids, etc.

~This article has been contributed by Tierra Gerdine.



The Dating Checklist for Single Mothers

Single moms face many obstacles when

dating, finding a job, hanging out with

friends, types of movies they can watch

around the kids, and the list goes on. One of

the hardest things single moms face when

getting back to the dating scene, besides

needing a baby sitter, is who they can date.

A lot of moms start dating with a list of

what they are looking for in a guy, but

they list situations rather than standards. The list may look something like this: a guy

with no kids of his own, has a job, has a car,

knows how to dress, can afford to take me

out, etc.

I agree that moms should want a man with

his own car so they don’t have to worry

about getting around, but that is something

that can be worked on. Wanting a guy with

no child of his own is pretty selfish

considering you are coming into the

relationship with your own. Besides, you

may find yourself with a guy that instead,

acts like a child with no responsibilities, and

now you have two children to look after.

Having a man with a job is very important,

especially when you are coming together

with your individual expenses. Getting into

a relationship with someone who doesn’t

have a source of income and will be

dependent on you, can lead to unnecessary

pressure and stress for yourself. However,

with all of these in place—you are missing

a huge piece of the puzzle: a man with

self-confidence. Not an arrogant man, but a

confident man. A man should be confident

in his financial decisions, love, business, and

success, both present and future. A man

without confidence can be immature,

insecure, and unfaithful.

When a single mom changes her list to reflect standards, rather than situations,

her list may look something like this,

A man who:

is secure with himself

respects women and will show me respect, has goals and aspires to create a

positive and happy future for our family

allows me to be me

is my partner in everything we do like buying a house, raising the kids,

planning our family vacations.

A man aspiring to be more, do more, and create a positive environment will

acquire a car, have a good source of income, treat you out to lavish dinners, buy

stylish clothing, and if he has children of his own—his children will be your

children. Which one of these are you aspiring to attain, the man who meets the

requirements on your situation list or your standards list? Ladies, switch the

way you think to get more in your life and do not settle—go for great!



From personal experience, I had dated both:

I had the guy that fulfilled the requirements on my situation list. He had his own car, a good

job, no kids, dressed well, and yes, he could afford to take me out often. However, everything

else was missing. Additionally, he was arrogant, negative, and so insecure that he lied about

everything.

vs.

When my husband and I started dating, he had a beat-up car, a job he wanted to leave, a child

of his own, and we couldn’t go on many lavish dates. Yet, he was confident in himself. He

knew that the current situation was short-term so he had goals for a better and brighter future for

us and our children; he respected me and my dreams and business; I could be my crazy-self

around him; and most of all—he was my partner in everything—from planning vacations to how

we decided to raise our kids! It really feels good to know the person you are investing in has

your best interest at heart, too, and shows his appreciation for you EVERY day.

Ladies, single mothers, raise your standards.

Desire more from a partner rather than just a current situation.

Having standards will allow you to set boundaries; a person with boundaries

will gain respect.

Respect yourselves FIRST and anyone you bring into your life will have no

choice, except to do the same!

This article has been contributed by Mary Bell.

Personal Empowerment Coach

www.movewithmarybell.com

813-445-1148


http://www.movewithmarybell.com/


Eliminate These EXCUSES to Become the New YOU!

“I don’t have time.” We say this all the time. The truth is, we all have time to work out. It might, however, take some

adjustments to your schedule. Consider waking up an extra 30 minutes before work or even

using 30 minutes of your lunch if you have an hour lunch. Like the saying goes, “…make time

for what you want”. Even if you have small children, consider taking your kids with you—

especially if you are walking/running/jogging around the neighborhood. Some gyms even

have daycares for children.

“I just can’t lose weight; it takes too long.” When starting a new regimen, remember that it didn’t take a night to gain 10 pounds. You have

to make a lifestyle change. You can work out 4 times a week for 45 minutes and not lose any

weight. In order to make a change, you have to live by that change. You have to cut back, and

even eliminate fast food; eat more food that you find around the “perimeter” of the grocery

store. All of the healthy foods will not be in the frozen or center sections (shelves) of the store.

Keep in mind that in order to become fit, you must make a lifestyle change. Although you can

pick up a habit in one day, it takes 21-30 days to break that habit. Yes, it takes time to see

results; however, the results—once achieved—are here to stay. Remain positive and keep

moving forward!

“I will work out tomorrow.” Take advantage of today. Tomorrow will come and go and there will always be another

tomorrow. While you keep saying tomorrow is the day—you are not evolving to becoming the

new you. One of the most important aspects of fitness is having accountability. Although we

all have some type of self-pity, having someone keeping us on track is a plus. The person who

holds you accountable of your fitness goal must be the person who can say: “NO”, “you better



get up now” and/or “you can do it, I will even go with you”. Get motivated and never be

afraid of failing. If you don’t lose your 10 pounds in the time frame you would like, don’t give

up—keep pushing. The outcome will outweigh the sweat and tears you put in. Hard work does

pay off!

How can you begin your journey to becoming fit?

Set aside at least 45 minutes, 3-4 times a week. If you decide to break up the 45 minutes,

make sure you are giving it your all.

Tell friends and family about your fitness goals so they can help you stay on track.

Take before pictures. Although you might feel the same down the road, the pictures will

help you to see the change.

Your diet is just as important as your work out. Eat more foods that are not processed.

Sugar is your enemy; stay away!

If you become sore, make sure you take it slowly with your next work out so you can get

some fresh blood to the over-lactic muscles.

Lastly, baby steps are better than no step!

Read next quarter’s article on how to create your personalized work out.

~This article has been contributed by Brenycka Smith

Personal Trainer/BS Exercise Science

[email protected]



Back-to-School Vol. 4, No. 1

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