We were very honored to have them publish an article on keeping brothers and sisters closely knit.

Check it out here http://www.education.com/reference/article/nurturing-sibling-relationship-long-term/

And spend some time getting to know Education.com!

To get your copy of “Close Kids – Connecting Your Children For Life”, click below or shop at your favorite book seller.

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BY TRENT HILE

HIGH-FLYING karate sisters Bianca and Alexandra Gallo have taken the meaning of a sibling rivalry to a whole new level. Both own a swag of state, national, and international medals; both are amongst the top handful of junior fighters in the world; and both hail from Richmond’s Hawkesbury Martial Arts dojo.

But to be the best, it’s now likely one will have to beat the other.

15-year-old Alexandra has stepped up to the same 53kg division as 17-year-old Bianca, meaning for the first time, each’s biggest rival in competition lives under the very same roof. The pair first locked horns competitively at the Sydney International Karate Championships at Liverpool’s Whitlam Centre last weekend.

In the final of the Kumite (sparring) Female Junior 48-59kg merged division, Alexandra emerged with bragging rights, winning a nail-biting bout 1-0. Not to be outdone by her younger sister, Bianca squared the wager with a 1-0 win over Alexandra to take the gold medal in the final of the Kumite Female Junior Open division. While most parents would view this most unusual situation as an impending World War III, the girls say they enjoy squaring-off on the mat.

“When we fought we couldn’t help but laugh,” Bianca said. “One minute we were cheering each other from the sidelines, the next we realise we’re facing each other in the final.”

“We know exactly what each other is going to do so we have to try and trick each other,” Alexandra said. “If you are fighting another girl they always have something different – it’s not that we don’t have something different, we just always know what the other one is going to throw.

Speaking with the Gazette last week, the Gallo’s said their preparation remains the same whether facing each other or another opponent. That was until HMA Sensei Daniel Spice cheekily interjected with, “Bianca is scared of Alexandra,” which was of course vehemently denied by the senior of the two.

“It’s worse for me to lose to Alexandra than it is for her to lose to me, because it’s like, well your big sister beat you,” Bianca said.

“When people found out last weekend [that we were sisters] everyone was teasing me with ‘oh so your little sister beat you’.

“It’s like losing to myself, she fights like me anyway,” Bianca laughed.

Alexandra said winning meant more than just gaining one over her beloved big sister.

“Obviously Bianca is my biggest competition so it’s always good beating her,” Alexandra said. “But I felt proud to beat her because it is so hard for us to get a point on each other, so to actually win it was a great achievement.”

The girls are both working towards gaining a spot in the Australian squad for the World Karate Federation Junior and Cadet World Championships in Malaysia at the end of the year, which Spice describes as “the Olympics of karate.” Though with only one spot on offer for each weight division, Alexandra (being the taller of the pair) may look to move up to the 59kg division. Spice has faced a similar stalemate with fellow sibling teammates Aaron and Braden McMahon, with 17-year-old Aaron moving to the +76kg division to avoid clashing with 15-year-old Braden in the 61-68kg. According to Spice, all four are realistic chances of gaining the selectors’ vote.

“Our goal in the next few years is to get to the senior world titles,” Alexandra said. “Hopefully there we can knock out some of the big guns.”

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So my excuse for missing last week?

Last week was crazy busy for me.  But as I think about it, for most of us dads, every week is super busy, wouldn’t you agree?

And being a super busy dad is one of the gravest dangers to our families.

Something about being super busy, especially with our work, makes us feel productive, successful, a sense of accomplishment, purposeful.

To us, that is.

But not in the eyes of our children.

On more than one occassion, I am sad to admit that I have heard my oldest son scolding his younger sister or brother for interrupting when I’m busy working at my desk.

“Dad’s busy. Leave him alone.”

Oh how those words have cut to my heart like a knife. If there is one thing I don’t want my children to have memories of their father is that he was too busy for them.

If we are too busy with work to spend loads of time with our wife and children every week, then we are too busy — no excuses.

And the fallout down the road will be painful. Our spouse and children will look to other people or other things to fill the void that a husband and father’s love was meant for.

You are the only person on this earth that can meet that deep need your wife and children have. The need for their husband/father’s love expressed through his time with them.

Like a broken record, I will repeat it again…

We must show our love to our family by the time we personally spend interacting with each of them. Each week.

So from one super busy dad to another, let something go at work until next week. Keep one more thing “not crossed off” on your to-do list.

And go spend some more time with your wife and children.

You won’t regret it.

Blessings to you and your family,
Joey Watkins
Host of FamilyDads.com

P.S. – Having to practice what I preach, I spent several hours yesterday afternoon in the large field behind our house picking wild mushrooms the size of potatoes and having a “war” throwing them long distances at my children. Each time one hit the ground, my kids burst out laughing at the explosion it made. We followed that up with throwing a frisbee together for quite a while. They loved our time together, and so did this dad!

Anyway, for those who missed it, the interview on connecting your children together and how God might interject into the sibling relationship can be found here… Family Life Today International Broadcast with Brett Johnston

If we can help answer any questions or to set up a talk to your community group, feel free to contact me directly or talk to Jim Miller at Tate Publishing @ (405) 376-4900.

May every sibling find joy in each other!

Brett

Become a Fan – Close Kids – Connecting Siblings For Life on Facebook

Family Life Today is an awesome program that is really making a difference in families!

Find a station here

Get more information from FLToday.com here

Podcasts will be available after the show airs as well.  I hope you love it.

Also for those of you in the Fort Worth area (my hometown), I will be at Barnes & Noble this Saturday from 1-3.  Please stop by and say hello, I would love to see you.

Brett

Become a Fan – Close Kids – Connecting Siblings For Life on Facebook

Link to Article about preserving the sibling relationship.

Thank you for all the support, friends.

Brett

Become a Fan – Close Kids – Connecting Siblings For Life on Facebook

Here is a post from International Family Mazine about “Close Kids”.

According to the organization, their goal is “to be informative, identifying and humorous to those caregivers across the globe who work hard to create family in our lives.  It contains articles of interest, international factoids or Ifs, arts and humor, product coupons and consumer information, expert advice, a global directory for networking purposes and other interactive elements.”

It is a beautiful web space, so take a look!

Brett

How can we help our kids have a great relationship as adults?

That was the question and hopefully we are a step further today.  But this is only the beginning!  As our kids get older, there will be more pitfalls sure, but many great joys as well.  And many chances for us to influence their relationship.

I’ve always said to groups, I hope someone smarter than me writes a better book about having well connected kids.  That statement has never been more true.  The goal ultimately for us is to do the best we can to form a bond between our kids that is transcending.  Any help is always welcome.

Thank you to all that have helped and supported us along the way.  May you and your children find all the wonderful surprises God has put in your path.

Brett A Johnston
closekids.com

PS. If you have not had the opportunity to purchase a book yet, today is a perfect day.  Amazon is already hosting an amazing sale!  Click any link below to purchase from your favorite bookseller or talk to your local store today.

We have had so much positive news coming out of families making it a stated priority for their children to be close.  It is both gratifying and humbling that you share this dream with us.

Bless you all this holiday season!

Brett

PS. Pre-orders are also available as full version copies of the book on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, Borders.com and BooksAMillion.com!

Also $2 for every book sold on the web site until Christmas will go to Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation.  So if you have been waiting, now is the time!

From Maggie Cary – Classroomtalk.com

Are your sons gentlemen? It’s a word that we don’t use too often these days. The way we raise our boys today will determine the types of men that we have in our society in a decade or so. With more equality for woman and girls, we are now asking less of our young men and boys. Each day I see boys, and girls too for that matter, that are not held accountable for their actions. The older I get the more it scares me. All parents need to teach courtesy, manners and respect for others as a life skill.

Some might argue that, “ladies first,” is a phrase from the past. Maybe so, but as a parent and teacher, nothing pleases me more than seeing a boy with manners. Proper courtesy to others is a reflection of a family’s values. Teaching manners instills both a respect for others (including siblings), and respect for oneself, which in turn will help alleviate the impetuous behavior you describe. Do your sons practice the behaviors listed below? If not, perhaps it’s time to teach them these:

1. Open the door for others, especially women, mothers with strollers and older people;

2. Shake hands and look people in the eye when greeting them;

3. Assist seniors (grandparents, etc.) with getting in or out of the car and carrying groceries;

4. Take off hats during the National Anthem (any country’s) and Pledge of Allegiance;

5. Know not to interrupt adults or peers when they are talking and instead listen and have respect for what others have to say, even if they have a different point of view;

6. Accept responsibility for actions, good and bad, and;

7. Use “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” as appropriate.

Good manners should be an unconditional parental expectation. The best way to teach manners is to model them daily yourself. Although children often learn best by emulating what they see, it’s also important to make clear what your expectations are. Don’t wait for misbehavior to tell your boys what you expect, tell them when things are calm, tell them when they are alone, and tell them as a group. Without “nagging,” tell them often, and praise them when they exhibit good manners. Children want attention and will strive to get it. As you notice and praise one of the boys when you catch them doing the right thing, the others will catch on. If they get more attention when they are praised than when they are corrected, the good behavior will become the norm.

Of course all of the above goes for girls too. Although when they get older they’ll appreciate, “ladies first.” You can count on it!