By Rose DesRochers

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through! ~Author Unknown

Christmas used to be my favorite holiday as a child. I loved everything about it, the decorations, food, carols, family and of course, presents. But as I became an adult, I found myself disappointed with the holidays. The true meaning of Christmas was somehow lost.

Somewhere the joyous day that I remembered as a child was traded for a big commercialized nightmare. Jesus had been forgotten. No room in the inn has been replaced with 'sold out' signs. Society has taken Christ out of Christmas. I remember when it was a day of giving, prayer, kindness, and helping those less fortunate. But the horrible reality is Santa has become the only symbol of Christmas.

By Claudia Joseph

With the constant influx of new trends, styles, media hype and crazes, kids in this day and age are quite fickle. Their opinions change with the latest character on TV, styles and trends. This could make decorating your child's room seem like an almost impossible task. A style you give their room this year could be 'so last year' in a year or so. Fortunately, there is a quick and easy way to transform a room instantly and wall decals are the answer.

By Jennifer Carpenter

Over the last thirty-five years I have noticed the role of parent somewhat changing. From strict to more lenient, from nurturing to smothering, from encouraging to fearful. I think back to the things I did as a child and a teen and compare them to the things I allow my kids to do and what other parents seem to be letting their children do. Frankly, I don't know how my mother wasn't a complete nervous wreck.

By Marcia Sirota MD

An essential part of being an adult involves taking responsibility for ourselves. This means making conscious, empowered choices on our own behalf. Children aren't capable of doing this because they are too unformed and helpless to understand or deal with all the things happening to them. Children need the adults in their lives to care for them and protect them from harm.

By Dr. Diane Hoffmann

Some years ago, I worked for a company as a contract person, where the weirdest communication manager I ever came across performed. This senior manager who was responsible for marketing and communication never said good morning first or initiated any kind of communication. She didn't know anything about me when I first started and had no interest in finding out. Communication in the workplace is first a manager's responsibility.