May 25
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Failure Michael: Eight ways to make Michael Phelps scandal pot in a valuable teaching moment for their children
Michael failure: Eight ways to turn the scandal of Michael Phelps pot in a valuable teaching moment for their children
He was a national hero parents and children both loved. Now, with a compromise making news photo holder, parents wonder what they should tell their children about the fall Michael Phelps' grace. Parents should not let this great opportunity to talk with their children ignored. There are many lessons we can learn from big mistake Michael.
By Kelly Johnson
Fully Olympics we heard some rather surprising facts: Its wingspan is greater than its height! His feet are like flippers! He eats over 10,000 calories a day! It's twice the lung capacity of a normal human being! These exclamations, some more true than others were used to help explain the superhuman feat of Michael Phelps winning eight gold medals at the Olympics, an achievement that made him a hero for many, especially children. But as the result of an unfortunate picture, superhuman Olympian is now having to face their actions very human.
While parents dissatisfied with Phelps-loving children might want to throw under the proverbial bus, go after him will not help their children to process what is happening to their American hero. Instead they should take this opportunity to teach some valuable lessons about their own integrity.
In particular, recently has been particularly difficult to protect our children of celebrities who misbehave there. With a famous baseball player to admit using steroids, a famous singer be charged with domestic violence, and of course Phelps, parents have had a lot of explaining to their children recently. For me, the behavior of Michael Phelps hits a little closer to home than many other celebrities because I think it became a national hero for the country. Someone, for once, we were happy for our children to idolize.
Upon hearing the news coverage and consider what we would do if we were at Michael's Mom's shoes, Johnson says it is a unique opportunity to talk to your kids about what happened and what everyone-children and parents alike can learn from the mistakes of Michael.
Let honest. This could have happened to any of our children. And while my first reaction would be to bring the hammer with force, once that had happened, I would my own son to know that there was a way to fix things. We must remember that the role model or not, Michael Phelps is entitled to the same compassion, forgiveness and encouragement that you would like to extend our own children. And I think for many parents, it is easier for us to forgive Michael if we can use to teach our children valuable lessons about life.
Read on for eight ways to maximize this teachable moment rather than letting the opportunity pass that:
Talk about the history of Phelps because their children can relate to it. When news of the night consists mostly stories deal with the financial crisis that is causing difficulties, and wars abroad, a story about an Olympic swimmer pot smoking may seem negligible. But the history of Phelps is that their children relate more easily, as it experiences the pressure to drink or use drugs in their own lives. The inability to speak with them about the decision of Michael Phelps made and the ramifications it can have is a huge missed opportunity.
As parents, we did not care that our children Phelps looked. But now it is time that we sit with our children and tell them what I dislike about the situation and listen to them give their opinions. It is also important to use this opportunity to explain to those who Phelps is redeemable. That, of course, he made a mistake, but we all do and now must do what he can do well.
Remember their children that should separate the pool Michael at Michael's on the mainland. American consumers are nothing if not optimistic, and no matter how many athletes and "heroes" we are disappointed in the past, continue to hope that the next will live up to our expectations. Michael Phelps Enter. We wanted to believe that the skill and maturity that we saw in the pool was reflected in the very young. The truth is that swimmer Michael Phelps is a singular talent, but his superhuman qualities are limited to the pool. On land strong, he's not better or worse than most children her age, and really can not be angry with him for that.
The trick in a situation like this is to help their children find the qualities of Phelps, or any favorite athlete, they should emulate. Talk about your drive and dedication, or the fact that was never defeated. Tell them it's okay for them to search for famous athletes, provided they do not try to be exactly like them. Identify best qualities of that person and explain who is who should try to be.
Explain that when commitments are made, things change. As a result of his superstar status, Michael has paid millions of dollars as the spokesperson for big brands like Speedo, Kellogg's, and Subway. He also is a favorite in primary schools and, of course, is the most recognized face in the U.S. swim team. There is nothing wrong with that. It has achieved extraordinary levels of success in their sport and is entitled to the benefits that come from those achievements. The problem lies with the responsibility he had to maintain their good image and make good decisions, because brands it represents the market for adults and children. By promoting products that are popular with children, no matter what your image clause says we must remember that you are presenting yourself as a role model for kids, someone looking for someone whose actions and to imitate. Phelps should have thought of that.
A great way to explain this concept to their children is to tell them no different from running for student council at school, or join the Girl Scouts. When they become a part of a larger organization, they immediately become a representative of that organization, and is their responsibility to represent the organization well. When you take in a title, or wear a uniform, you are making a promise of that organization to represent him in a positive way. Through its recent actions, Phelps broke his promise of the brands it represents, the children spoke, and the U.S. Swim Team. Their actions are a great way to remind their children what means to be trusted and what it means to have integrity.
Teach them how their decisions affect other people. When mistakes are made, can be easy to forget that we are not the only ones affected by the ensuing consequences. Phelps For his decision had far reaching consequences. Each of his fans, companies that sponsored him, his teammates and coaches his own mother was forced to endure the negative effects of the scandal. Talk to your kids about think before acting, and remind them that their actions can affect people outside his inner circle.
Sit down with your kids and have them make a list of all people in your life: friends, family, teachers and coaches and explain how their bad decisions can adversely affect people on your list. Explain to your daughter that if she gets into trouble at school, their bad decisions affect more than her. Explain that you and your parents will be disappointed, and his teacher is good view of her would suffer. And if the land she would be unable to meet their commitments to their football teammates and coaches. When you start thinking in the broad affect your options may be, it will be more likely to stop and think more carefully about their actions.
Explain that may be famous, but people are seeing, too. Like most of today's celebrities, Michael Phelps has been followed by cameras and reporters regularly from their huge success last summer. It turned out, was not a paparazzi camera that caught him in a compromising situation, which was a telephone camera, allegedly belonging to a classmate who was attending the same party. While your child can not be compared with the paparazzi on their way to school, or have to dealing with the media of control over what I had for lunch, it is important for the case that people are watching their actions, and can make a more assertive about who is that everything we ever say publicly.
The children see each other closely, and realize the things that happen when no one else seeing. Tell your child that decisions taken every day, and the way it carries himself at school, on the football field, and even the impact of origin around him. Teach him to try to set a good example at all times. Even if no one realizes 99 percent of the time, put it to success when someone does take note.
Teach your kids that not everything is relative. celebrity news is more popular than ever, and one can hardly turn on television or browse the store without being bombarded by the latest celebrity scandal. Sadly, after seeing repeated trips to rehabilitation, allegations of steroid use and domestic violence and other incidents of drug use, your kids can be desensitized to news like this and may even think no big deal. When you talk with them, make sure they understand that what Michael Phelps did was wrong, no matter how much more press of the A-Rod's steroid scandal be accepted.
The fact that smoking marijuana is not the worst offense of celebrities out there do not make it any less serious. It is indeed sad that the bar is so low that you can quickly find the worst crimes known. Now is the time to explain to their children that wrong is wrong: If your child is caught in the trap a test does not mean he is in any less trouble just because Tommy was caught fighting at school. Teach them that counts only crimes are his, and should be their own test for what is right and wrong.
Remind them to admit mistakes and apologize says a lot. With the sponsorship agreements, future training and, of course, his reputation all on the line, can be a great temptation for someone like Michael Phelps want deny the story, explain, or try to fly under the radar and not a comment. However, he admitted that making a bad decision on national television and apologized. Although you can not change what happened, is a step in the right direction and is a demonstration of humility on behalf of Phelps, who speaks of his character more than a photo cell phone ever compromising.
It is important to make sure your children understand that an apology is not an immediate solution, but it is a first step necessary to make things right. If you avoid or deny the things he has done wrong, you can do more damage to its global character. Admit mistakes and apologize to the people that has affected is the first step in restoring faith and confidence they once had in you. And you also should remind their children that simply aa apologize not erase their transgressions. Tell them you have to live each day his apologies for not repeating the mistakes of the past.
Remember them that everybody deserves a second chance. Yes, Michael Phelps made a bad decision, and, yes, should have known better. That does not change the fact that Superstar swimmer or not, still human being. That means you're bound to make mistakes occasionally, and he deserves the opportunity to overcome. Explain to your children the fact that Phelps made a mistake, this does not automatically write to him. Just as they should forgive a friend who has apologized for a mistake, we must allow Phelps the chance to admit their mistake, apologize, and to show that should not be defined by this unique event. And more importantly, when is your turn to make mistakes, they want the others to forgive them too.
Much of the outcome of a crisis is not determined in the crisis itself, but how to handle the situation. And this is a great opportunity to teach their children not to rush to the sentence when people make mistakes in life, redemption is always available to the seek, and everyone deserves a second chance.
If there is a real good thing that comes out of it, may be the number of parents who sit with their children in coming weeks to talk about drugs, models of money and fame. These are difficult conversations to have and, however unintentionally, Michael Phelps has provided parents with an opening. At day's end, I am sure that these discussions will continue with our children as any sequel to infamous Michael Phelps scandal media marijuana.
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About the Editor:
Kelly H. Johnson is a lawyer, writer, and mother / stepmother of five sons and one daughter. She holds a degree from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from the College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Right. He served as law clerk to the Honorable Harry L. Carrico, then presiding judge of the Supreme Court of Virginia, before entering private practice in the firm Williams Mullen Clark & Dobbins. He stood in the litigation department of the company into a full-time mother.
An occasional singer in a local rock band, Ms. Johnson has written for parenting magazines, both local and national, including Woman on-line Richmond, Memphis Parent Magazine, Charlotte parents V Magazine for Women, Fifty Plus, and Family Fun. She is a frequent contributor to the wide distribution Richmond monthly parents, and his work appears on the compilations The Imperfect Mom - Candid Confessions of Mothers living in the real world (Doubleday) It's a Girl "Women Writers in increasing Daughters (Seal Press), and victories of Love (SmileyBooks).
The Ms. Johnson lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, Fred, and their children, who outnumbered three to one.
For more information, visit href = "http://www.abettermanbook.com/"> www.abettermanbook.com.
About the book:
A Better Man: True American Heroes Talk Youth about love, power, pride and what it really means be a (man Brandylane Publishing, Spring 2009, ISBN: 978-1-883911-84-3, $ 24.95) will be available in bookstores nationwide, major online booksellers, or directly from the publisher by calling 804-644-3090.
About the Author

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Historic Print (L): Washington Girl Scout Council
$57.00
This is a museum quality, reproduction print on premium paper with archival/UV resistant inks. Date: [between 1920 and 1925]Subject: Girl Scouts of the United States of America--People--1920-1930. Women--Social life--Washington (D.C.)--1920-1930.Notes: National Photo Company Collection.Format: Portrait photographs 1920-1930.Group portraits 1920-1930.Photographic prints 1920-1930.SOURCE: Library o...
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Historic Print (M): Washington Girl Scout Council
$37.00
This is a museum quality, reproduction print on premium paper with archival/UV resistant inks. Date: [between 1920 and 1925]Subject: Girl Scouts of the United States of America--People--1920-1930. Women--Social life--Washington (D.C.)--1920-1930.Notes: National Photo Company Collection.Format: Portrait photographs 1920-1930.Group portraits 1920-1930.Photographic prints 1920-1930.SOURCE: Library o...
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Historic Print (S): Washington Girl Scout Council
$24.95
This is a museum quality, reproduction print on premium paper with archival/UV resistant inks. Date: [between 1920 and 1925]Subject: Girl Scouts of the United States of America--People--1920-1930. Women--Social life--Washington (D.C.)--1920-1930.Notes: National Photo Company Collection.Format: Portrait photographs 1920-1930.Group portraits 1920-1930.Photographic prints 1920-1930.SOURCE: Library o...
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