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Family Matters
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 30. 2021 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 3A
Difficult discussions can lead to teachable moments
By Mary Migliaro
Parent Mentor
One of the toughest jobs
of parenting is talking to your
kids about difficult subjects.
However, addressing the
tough stuff makes your kids
feel safer, strengthens your
bond, and teaches them about
the world. And when you
show them how to gather and
interpret information, ask
questions, and cross-check
sources, they become critical
thinkers.
When kids learn about
something scary or unset
tling, most parents get that
deer-in-the-headlights feel
ing. But it's always a good
ri
idea to use your kid's age and
developmental stage as a
guide to starting conversa
tions, because they absorb in
formation differently as they
grow from babies to teens.
During difficult discus
sions and teachable mo
ments, it is critical that
parents frame them in age-
appropriate and developmen-
tally appropriate tones.
Digging too deep into the
weeds with a five-year-old
will cut the conversation
short, for sure. On the other
hand, not diving deep enough
into the issues with a
teenager will turn them off
quickly as well. Here are
some tips to help.
fl
Clues Across
1. Religion native to some in
China
5. Nursemaids
10. Coats a porous surface
12. Garment of long cloth
14. Containing a broader mes
sage
16. University of Dayton
18. Patti Hearst's captors
19. Insane
20. Bristlelike structures in inver
tebrates
22. Taxi
23. Trainee
25. Comedian Carvey
26. Some couples say it
27. Belong to he
28. High schoolers' test
30. Young goat
31. You drive on one
33. Denotes a time long ago
35. Space between two surfaces
37. By and by
38. A way to sell
40. A line left by the passage of
something
41. Indicates near
42. Where wrestlers compete
44. Prosecutors
45. Body part
48. Soluble ribonucleic acid
50. Indicates silence
52. NFL's Newton
53. Ancient Roman garments
55. Drunkard
56. Expression of satisfaction
57. Thus
58. Noisy viper
63. Plants of a particular region
65. Communicated with
66. Latches a window
67. Swarm with
Clues Down
1. Split pulses
2. Brew
3. Ask humbly
4. Distinctive smells
5. Digressions
6. Partner to cheese
7. Father of Araethyrea
8. Made a cavity
9. Tin
10. Appetizer
11. Presenting in detail
13. Compound in guano and fish
scales
15. Cool!
17. “ than a doornail”
18. Popular literary form fi
21. Be the most remarkable
23. “Final Fantasy” universe char
acter
24. Buffer solution
27. Muslim physician using tradi
tional remedies
29. Fantastical planet
32. S. American plant
34. Domesticated animal
35. The tops of mountains
36. Expression of disapproval
39. Skeletal muscle
^0. Game show host Sajak
43. One’s interests
44. Identify the existence of
46. Partner to “oohed”
47. Does not accept medical help
(abbr.)
49. Hammerin' Hank
51. Lowest point of a ridge be
tween two peaks
54. Elaborately draped garment
59. Check
60. Car mechanics group
61. One point east (clockwise) of
due north
62. Austrian river
64. A command to list files
• Age 2-6 - Young chil
dren don't have enough life
experience to understand
some of the elements in
volved in complex, difficult
topics. They also don't have a
firm grasp on abstract con
cepts or cause and effect. Be
cause they and their primary
relationships (mom, dad, sib
lings, even the family dog)
are the center of their world,
they focus on how things af
fect them.
Do what you can to limit
small kids' exposure to age-
inappropriate subjects by
turning off or muting the TV
and choosing media that's tar
geted to their age. Address
feelings - yours and theirs.
Say, "It's okay to feel scared,
sad, or confused. Those feel
ings are natural, and we all
feel them." Break down is
sues to their simplest terms.
For violent crime, you can
say, "Someone used a gun to
hurt people." For hate crimes,
try, "Some groups of people
still aren't treated equally or
fairly."
• Age 7-12 Because kids
in this age group can read and
write, they get exposed to
age-inappropriate content
more often, but younger kids
in this range are still a little
shaky on what's real and pre
tend. As kids gain abstract
thinking skills, real-world
experience, and the ability to
express themselves, they can
grapple with difficult sub
jects and understand different
perspectives. Tweens also
need to be able to discuss
things without feeling shame
or embarrassment.
Create a safe space for
discussion. Find out what
they know. Ask your kids
what they've heard, or if their
friends at school are talking
about something. Answer
questions simply and di
rectly. Provide context and
perspective. Kids need to un
derstand the circumstances
around an issue to fully make
sense of it. Encourage critical
thinking and ask open-ended
questions to get kids to think
more deeply about serious
topics.
• Teens - Teens are en
gaged in media independ
ently by reading it,
interacting with it, and even
making their own and shar
ing it in the form of com
ments, videos, etc. They're
much more interested in what
their friends or online folks
think about an issue than in
your opinion, often scrolling
to the bottom of an article to
read user responses before
they even read the whole
story.
Encourage open dialogue.
Teens need to know that they
can ask questions, test their
opinions, and speak freely
without fear of conse
quences. Ask open-ended
questions and ask them to
support their ideas. Admit
when you don't know some
thing but ask their help in
getting the answers together.
Get them to consider the
complexities in difficult sub
jects.
Your kids will learn as
you employ these strategies
and better understand diffi
cult issues. By investing your
kids with knowledge, com
passion, and strong character,
you can give them all the
tools they need to make
things better.
[Mary Migliaro, M.Ed. is
an educator and Parent Men
tor. She may be contacted at
maiymigliaro@aol.com.]
Lawson Self Storage
Al Lawson
Office 706-253-1188
Cell 770-893-7221
FREE
free
1188 Talking Rock Rd
Jasper, GA 30143
allawson3@gmail.com
Effects of volunteering
on volunteers' well-being
A recent analysis examin
ing the potential correlation
between volunteering and
well-being found that volun
teering is associated with a
higher well-being as well as
a positive change in well
being. Authors of the study,
which was published in the
Journal of Happiness Studies
in March of 2020, acknowl
edged that evidence pertain
ing to the correlation between
volunteering and well-being
has accumulated gradually in
recent years, though they feel
their study offers the most re
alistic assessment to date in
regard to that link. That's
good news for volunteers,
many of whom may be quick
to point out that they get as
much as they give when vol
unteering. Recent analyses
support that notion and may
compel millions more to
make time to give back
through volunteering.
Though more studies are
needed, the Cleveland Clinic
notes that some of the health
benefits often associated with
volunteering include lower
blood pressure, increased
self-esteem, lower levels of
depression and stress, and
greater satisfaction with life.
P.O. Box 40 • 15 Sammy McGhee Blvd. & 65 Cove Road • Jasper, GA 30143
(706) 253-9600 • Main Fax: (706) 253-9612 • Cove Road Fax: (706) 253-9699
www. cbopc. com
County
“‘We can matte a difference’’
September 29, 2021
To our Valued Customers and Community Members:
As your Community Bank, we want our customers and our community members to know the
facts, especially when it relates to developments around public policy that expose your financial
privacy.
The Biden administration has proposed requiring all community banks and other financial
institutions to report to the IRS on deposits and withdrawals of all business and personal
accounts with a balance of $600.00 or more, regardless of tax liability.
This indiscriminate, comprehensive bank account reporting to the IRS can soon be enacted by
Congress and would create an unacceptable invasion of privacy. We work for our customers and
community, not the IRS. This IRS bank account profiling is intrusive and compromises your
privacy.
You can take action by going to the American Bankers Association’s website or ABA Secure
American Opportunity and clicking on the link Contact Congress Now: Oppose New IRS
Reporting Requirements. This will allow you to contact your Congressional Representative
electronically to let them know of your opposition. You can also contact using
#KeepMyBankingPrivate banklocallv.org/Drivacv.
Let’s work together to spread the word about this misguided proposal.
Sincerely,
Ryan Keeter
President/CEO
Member
srac
Help Wanted
Tour Guides, Greeters
Those interested in history
The Pickens Historical Society is looking
to expand hours and operations
at the Old Jail on Main Street.
If you like meeting people
and getting involved, con-
sider volunteering for this
fun, interesting local group.
gtMfy boan/h feM t/w, htitoTy,,
all tAat ttFquDm (A a
atttfLLd& and dcme-
omwi
pickenshistorical@gmail.com
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