moms extraordinaire
"Every working mom needs a little me time!"
The importance of etiquette in our lives
By Cheryl B. Walker-Robertson
Your personal certified
etiquette consultant
Good manners and etiquette
used to be passed down like
good silverware. But today,
learning the right way to behave is increasingly rare. In the old days, when our lifestyles had clear boundaries, dining with the family was a nightly ritual, and showing deference to those senior to you was a given- the rules of protocol and etiquette, though unwritten, was understood by everyone.
If you ask 5 people today, young or old, what etiquette and/or protocol is, you will get 5 different answers. Some may say something about the table setting and others will say good manners and then some others may discuss how to remember names. Protocol and etiquette is more than just which fork to use and how to make a perfect introduction. Webster defines etiquette as “the system of conventional forms required by good breeding or to be observed in official or social life. Protocol is described by Webster as a code prescribing strict adherence to correct etiquette and precedence (as in diplomatic exchange and in the military services) Wikipedia’s description of etiquette is “one’s decorum, a code that governs the expectations of social behavior, according to the contemporary conventional norm within a society, social class, or group. Etiquette usually reflects formulas of conduct in which society or traditions have invested”.
If you have ever interacted with children who lack manners - someone who calls your house without greeting you appropriately, or uses their outside voice and demeanor inside, neglects please, thank you, excuse me, a child who doesn’t understand the protocol of interacting with an adult -you understand how important etiquette training is.
People make quick judgments based on the way someone behaves and if they are children then the impression applies to both the child and their parents. These impressions are tough if not impossible to change.
Educational institutions from
When parents take the time to ensure that their children are astute in the areas of protocol and etiquette they experience an enhanced awareness of how behaviors add and detract from their effectiveness. They can identify core behaviors that are universally accepted in today’s society and are able to map out the changes they must make in their appearance, attitude, and actions to achieve their desired level of success. They also gain a poised, polished and professional presentation along with greater receptivity and acceptance by others. Having courtesy is an asset and the most tangible results come from a rise in confidence.
Take our Etiquette Quiz. Email your answers to 4etiquette@optonline.net
1. When dining at a friends house, it is appropriate to..
___ A. put your feet on the furniture
___ B. help clear the table
___ C. use your phone while at the table
2. What is an appropriate manner for thanking someone for a birthday gift?
___ A. Just saying thank you when you receive the gift.
___ B. Assuming Mom will thank people for you.
___ C. Sending a Thank You card in the mail
3. Your indoor voice and your outdoor voice are always the same. True or false
___ True
___ False
4. When being introduced it’s OK to just say ‘HI’. True or false
___ True
___ False
5. When you are in the company of others its OK to stay focused on your video game
___ True
___ False
Email your answers to 4etiquette@optonline.net
and we will send you your results and the answers.
Warmly,
Your Personal Etiquette Consultant
Ms. Walker-Robertson has extensive sales and marketing experience. Her background includes the designing, developing, and implementation of strategic initiatives for a start-ups, healthcare and media companies. As an executive with Odyssey Media, Ms. Walker-Robertson develops and implements marketing and sales strategies targeting influential and multicultural women for four lines of business. She has been commended for record breaking increases in sales revenue and for expanding the major account base of Odyssey Media while organizing outreach programs which resulted in substantially increased market penetration, image branding, and retention. Ms. Walker-Robertson is recognized nationwide for her work with Odyssey Network and is responsible for recruiting women for an unprecedented national networking business retreat.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ms. Walker-Robertson is a certified Protocol and Etiquette Consultant and studied under the direction of Dorothea Johnson, Protocol Advisor and Liaison to the Washington Diplomatic Community for the Joint Military Attache’ She earned a BS in Business Management from St Augustine’s College, an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Harcum College, a Certificate in Management from Penn State Executive Development Program, a Certificate in Negotiation from University of Notre Dame and a proud graduate of Overbrook High School. Ms. Walker-Robertson also has extensive experience in protocol and cultural diversity from Pan-American Airlines. She has been an executive in the corporate arena for 25 years in Sales and Marketing. She is a contributing writer to various trade and business publications.
Protocol
The mission of Protocol, Inc. is to present contemporary, universally accepted etiquette and protocol programs in the highest professional manner; To offer tools that contribute to developing healthy working relationships, to use these tools to meet goals and objectives with grace, civility and style.
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How and When to Talk to Your Partner
By Dr. Hilda Hutcherson
For any couple,
communication is the
key to a healthy sex life.
Unfortunately, shame
and fear keep many
women from speaking
up. Partners need to talk
about their sexual needs
when they are both
relaxed—not when they're under pressure. Discuss sexual issues outside of the bedroom, and stress the positives.
For any couple, communication is the key to a healthy sex life. Unfortunately, shame and fear keep many women from speaking up. Partners need to talk about their sexual needs when they are both relaxed—not when they're under pressure. Discuss sexual issues outside of the bedroom, and stress the positives.
Dr. Hutcherson Recommends:
1. To get what you want in bed, speak up!
2. You can't expect your partner to intuitively know what gives you pleasure. Be specific in describing what feels good and what you'd like to try.
3. Why not read a sexy book or watch an erotic video together? According to Dr. Hutcherson, it might ease communication and you might run across some new ideas to try together!
Dr. Hilda Hutcherson
Dr. Hutcherson grew up in
Since completing her residency, she has held numerous positions and served on countless committees and boards. She is presently a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Associate Dean for Diversity and Minority Affairs at
Dr. Hutcherson's devotion to women's empowerment and education is supported by her monthly sexual health columns in Essence Magazine and Glamour Magazine. She is an online advisor for Parents Magazine and Glamour. She has been quoted in O Magazine, Heart and Soul, Cosmopolitan, Upscale, Allure, Health, Redbook, Parents, Self, and Marie Clair magazine, among others. She has appeared on Oprah, Montel, Rachel Ray Show, 20/20, Today, Good Morning America, the Early Show, ABC Nightly News, Nightline, and numerous others.
Dr. Hutcherson is the author of 3 books: Having Your Baby: A Guide for African American Women, What Your Mother Never Told You About Sex and Pleasure: A Woman's Guide to Getting the Sex You Want, Need and Deserve.
She was recently named by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of
She is married and has 4 children.
www.drhilda.com
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Pearls of Wisdom®… -The Shifting of Priorities
By Gwendolyn A. Faulkner
The spending habits in this country have been shifting over the last few decades in a dangerous direction. We spend more money on the “extras” then ever before. A million dollars doesn’t last as long as it use to and therefore we have to plan better for our future. Have you ever wondered how much you actually need for retirement based on how much you spend today?
Financial Service Professionals are able to help you determine the amount needed.
Example:
Current Age 35 - Retirement Age 65 - Yearly Income Today$100,000 - Assumed Inflation Rate 3%
20 Year Retirement Duration: to age 85 -
Need $2,806,398 –assumed annual rate of
return 10%
Current Age 35 - Retirement Age 65 - Yearly Income Today$100,000 - Assumed Inflation Rate 3%
30 Year Retirement Duration: to age 95 -
Need $3,299,880 - –assumed annual rate of
return 10%
A common question asked is how can I save that much money? Looking at just a few trends in today’s society that we have become so accustom to, you could really find ways to save. If we looked at the following items; bottled water, cups of coffee and gas cost for an SUV, we can find thousands of dollars to save. The dollars spent are shocking. The idea is if we stopped spending money on these items and invested it instead at a 6% hypothetical annual rate of return what would you have saved over 10 years?
Bottled Water - $1.25 average cost per bottle, 5 days a week
Savings $4,283
Cups of Coffee – Spending $3 on coffee and/or snacks 250 days of the years.
Savings $9,061
Gas Cost for an SUV vs. Fuel Efficient Car –
Assume current gas prices at $2.99, 30 miles commute to work one way (so 60 miles round trip), and 250 work days a year.
Savings $33,508.68
TOTAL: $46,852 (adding the savings of bottled water, cups of coffee and gas cost of SUV together over 10 years)
These items are just examples but the idea is to understand the importance of saving for retirement. We have all heard the phrase “pay yourself first.” By putting money into a regular monthly savings plan, you are paying yourself first and doing some much for your future. Anything from a 401(k)/Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to a saving account is fine. Just get started today. For non-working spouse, there are spousal IRAs you can contribute to as well. Most plans start as little at $50 a month. Everyone needs to prepare for retirement, don’t put it off because you think you don’t have enough experience or because you don’t understand finances. Remember that everyone has retirement dreams and it is our job to help you get there.
(Sources of calculators: http://www.hughchou.org/calc/; Gas Guzzler, Break the Starbucks Habit, Booze/Beverage saving calculator, Wealth Calculator 6/15/2007)
Gwendolyn A. Faulkner, Financial Service Professional. 856-673-4045 Registered representative of and offer securities through MML Investors Services, Inc., member SIPC. Supervisory Office: 2 Bala Plaza, Suite 901 Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004-1501 (610-660-9922) Insurance offered through Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and other fine companies. CRN: 200907-092334
Pearls of Wisdom and Never kissed a frog… Never had to! are registered trademarks of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.
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18 Hilarious Parenting Quotes to Celebrate Parents' Day
By Noel Jameson
These 18 hilarious parenting quotes are sure to crack smiles on the faces of moms and dads everywhere.
1. "A truly appreciative child will break, lose, spoil, or fondle to death any really successful gift within a matter of minutes." ~ Russell Lynes
2. "The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable." ~ Lane Olinhouse
3. "When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out." ~ Erma Bombeck
4. "Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope." ~ Bill Cosby
5. "You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance." ~ Franklin P. Jones
6. "Few things are more satisfying than seeing your own children have teenagers of their own." ~ Doug Larson.
7. "A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm." ~ Bill Vaughan.
8. "In the little world in which children have their existence, whosoever brings them up, there is nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt as injustice." ~ Charles Dickens
9. "It is amazing how quickly the kids learn to drive a car, yet are unable to understand the lawnmower, snowblower or vacuum cleaner." ~ Ben Bergor
10. "The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is because they have a common enemy." ~ Author Unknown
11. "Like all parents, my husband and I just do the best we can, and hold our breath, and hope we've set aside enough money to pay for our kids' therapy." ~ Michelle Pfeiffer
12. "The truth is that parents are not really interested in justice. They just want quiet." ~ Bill Cosby
13. "Mothers are all slightly insane." ~ J.D. Salinger
14. "The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found." ~ Calvin Trillin
15. "If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?" ~ Milton Berle
16. "Raising kids is part joy and part guerrilla warfare." ~ Ed Asner
17. "Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth." ~ Peter Ustinov
18. "Think of stretch marks as pregnancy service stripes." ~ Joyce Armor
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Single, Dating and My Sons Don’t Like It!
By Erica Jackson
When you are a single
mom trying to date it
seems that the people
around you have to make
adjustments. When I was
separated from my husband I used to go out on dates. At that time my boys were 3 years old and 7 years old. I found dating at that time to be very difficult. However, I was living with my mother and father so, when I went out on a date I had live in baby sitters. (Although my mother wanted me to hurry up and settle down.) I am here to tell you finding a suitable mate takes time.
The tricky part was the fact that my boys could not understand how I could have some where to go with out them. Up until I was separated I considered myself a "single married mom" for 7 years. I never got much assistance from you husband. And to tell you the truth, I never expected it. I felt like a super-mom and it was my duty to raise the children alone. Dad’s job was to work and provide. My job was to go to work, cook, clean, shop, take them to all doctors’ appointments, educate, bath, love, and be soccer mom with out requesting any help. If the house was dirty, of course, that was my fault and my mother-in-law agreed. Neither here nor there, now it was time for me to have some alone time and my boys were not excited about it at all. I would explain to them that I was going out. The who?, was not asked or explained until later. I found that I would get dressed to go out tell the boys bye and with sad faces they would reply “bye mom, can’t you take us with you”. It was rough but I would tell them “no”. It killed me to have to leave them behind and I thought about them during the whole date.
I was always told not to introduce the children to the men that I was dating because it would confuse them. As time went on I found it difficult to get to know and spend alone time with a guy since I had my boys full time.
Eventually I had to put my dating life on hold. Because I was noticing that the younger son was so bother by me not being home that he would wait up for me and greet me at the top of the stairs when I would walk in. One night I did not get in til 3 am. And I found him in his bed propped up on his arms trying to stay awake. At that time I decided that it was time to only date when they went to their fathers for visitation.
Now when is the proper time to introduce the children? I guess it is when you think that the relationship is getting serious. Sadly, I jumped the gun on introducing my children to my dates because every time I would introduce them to my children we would break up.
I am embarrassed to say this but my children who are now 12 and 8 have met 4 different men that I have dated in a short period of time. MOM he is a nice guy but……….
The new guy that I am dating now, I met him at church. The first time we went out with the children was to the church picnic. The children had a blast. They all get along for the most part. However, my eldest son, who is 12 and is in his pre-teen stage and not much makes him happy these days, is not happy about the new guy. My son explains it like this, I like him but do we have to see him all of the time. I think he is craving some alone time with me (in reality I think he misses our home computer LOL – Anyone with teens can relate). I enjoy spending all of my time with the new guy and we have even been talking about marriage and where we are going to live which introduces a whole new dilemma because my oldest says he doesn’t want to move out of his school and away from his friends. I am keeping all of this in prayer.
About Erica Jackson...
Erica Jackson is a quality Analyst/Process Engineer, supporting the FAA's mission to ensure air travel safety. She is a Christian mother of 2 sons, 12 and 8.
