Understand one thing.  Some children are more sensitive than others,

	and will immediately pick up on your mood.  Therefore, it is easy for

	your child to misinterpret your attitude.  Say you have a routine, a game

	you usually play to greet your child each day.

	
	Then one day, you forget to do it.  You get busy with something.  Your

	child may feel rejection.  Thus, try to be more aware of this.  If you have

	to take care of a business call in the morning, try leaving a note for your kid

	by the cereal bowl.  Communicate.

	
	When it comes to child abandonment, it may be useful to keep a diary;

	then, you can look back on the week and see how well you did.  Just a

	brief note each day listing that you did communicate with your child - this is

	really all it takes.
	

	Now I am going to tell a story from my childhood, about my dad.  Sometimes

	he could be quite attentive, but then there were things he really bombed out on.

	
	Having quality time with my family meant the world to me.  In fact, I would

	even do chores outside (or inside, for that matter) just so that I could enjoy being

	with my father, or mother.  My dad really liked that I participated in outdoor

	chores.  He praised me for helping.

	

	High Achievement with Little Response

	
	Yet, there was a time that I worked my butt off to get straight A's - in the sixth

	grade, I achieved this.  I told him, yet got no response.  Not even a smile.

	This hurt to the core.  Then, the very NEXT year,  I got straight A's even though

	I was ill with Mononucleosis.  There was a prize for this - 2 tickets (Box seats)

	to a pro baseball game.  My dad would not attend, and even worse he didn't

	even explain himself.

	
	Needless to say, in my book I gave my father an "F"  for Communication.

	
	Some children are sensitive as I was.  Now, if your own child needs some

	attention, and he pipes up and offers to do something to pitch in (& you are

	involved), don’t say no
	

	You may miss out on an opportunity to spend quality time together.

	
	A Child’s Perspective (A Child’s Point of View)

	
	You may not remember what it was like to be a youngster.  Kids simply see

	things uniquely to adults.  And since you are so busy leading your life (and get

	“caught up” in it) you may not stop to acknowledge your child.
	

	Let this be a lesson.  That is, the fact you realize your child is rather sensitive,

	is a starting point.  Now, when your child performs well in school, please

	acknowledge or celebrate this event; provide feedback to your child.

	Positive feedback.

	
	This can be accomplished by doing something special together  (such as going

	out to a nice dinner, or getting together with special family friends, or relatives).

	*Note:  This will indeed resonate with your child - so have the celebration

	

	Build Your Child's Self Esteem

	
	In the end, it does a lot of good to praise your son or daughter.  It is an act

	which reaps rewards, definitely!

	
	You cannot know what positives may result from your intelligent, heart-felt

	acknowledgement.  Your daughter, or son, may feel great confidence due to

	your praise - and go out and conquer new worlds.

	
	So if your child makes the Honor Roll, spread the love.  Tell your kid, more

	than once, just how very proud you are.   Please put great weight to this.

	For these are the things in a child’s universe.  When you fail to notice your

	child's accomplishments, it stings.  It truly hurts .

	
	Yes, child abandonment is an abrasive term.   harsh. - Yet you need to HEAR it.

	Now you can begin to improve a bit, and start to look at things more  from your

	child’s viewpoint.  For further assistance on the subject of child abandonment,

	please come visit us at HealthyKids.