 “Making friends might take a bit of time, but I’m not going to panic. I can join a school team or I can talk to someone who can help me come up with other ideas.” This thinking can lead them to feel more hopeful.
When it comes to young people starting secondary school, it is worth noting that they are at a very particular stage of psychological development. Renowned theorist Erik Erikson refers to this stage of development as the stage of “identity formation”. This working out of identity that happens during adolescence means that young people often tune into what others, particularly their peers, may think of them. And so, as secondary school begins, it can coincide with an increase in the amount of time young people spend engaging with social media.
This can ameliorate the identity formation process as young people take the opportunity to get masses of feedback from others. Because the beginning of secondary school is happening at such an important point in a young person’s psychological development, focus needs to be given to how they are managing and taking care of their minds.
1: Encourage the idea of viewing the mind as a muscle. Explain that if they develop the habit of tuning into their thoughts and how they are interpreting events, they can gain more control of how they feel. If negative, self-critical thoughts, such as “I’m not able for this academic work” or “I’m letting people down with these results”, are left unchallenged, such thoughts can become toxic to self-esteem can turn into facts in a young person’s mind, which is further damaging to their self-worth – it needs to be pointed out that the way they think about something will directly affect how they feel about that issue.
2: Before day one arrives, set a specific time aside to talk about their expectations for secondary school. Whether they feel excitement or dread, it is important that they know that it’s okay if it takes the whole of first year to settle in. Some young people expect to settle right away and when it doesn’t happen quickly, they can feel anxiety or frustration. Even if they are excited and not at all stressed about the prospect of the change, validate those feelings but still be clear that it’s okay if it takes a while to settle in. Say it is that way for many. Talk to them about how it’s going once they begin. As expectations can often be at the root of stress and anxiety, it is a conversation well worth having.
3: Encourage a small amount of mindfulness practice from the time they start secondary school. Even five minutes in the morning spent focusing on their breath can increase mental fitness and you can join in too as a gesture of support.
4: Increase their level of emotional awareness by asking them to check in with themselves about how they are feeling. Explain how being aware of how they are feeling will help them if they begin to feel overwhelmed. Ensure they understand that all emotions come and go, even if they feel something intensely (such as worry or stress); all emotion is okay and can be talked (with you) about.
5: Ask your child to make a list of all the things that might be good about secondary school as a way to focus on the positive aspects of the transition. Remind them not just of the opportunities but it is their level of effort that will matter, more than any results.
No. I bought a very nice chair for grad school. Can't remember how much, probably at least $500. A couple years later, I dropped out, it sat in storage for a while. I took it across the country and at some point a piece of it broke or something. These chairs usually aren't forever. The chair was discontinued and I couldn't get a replacement piece. So I threw it out.

Currently using a $200ish chair I bought a couple years ago. Or maybe 5 years ago. Can't remember.

Things break. These are USD prices I'm mentioning though.

If you want to invest in something that will help your back etc., get a good mattress.1 / 5000
Fragmented View
2015-04-17
I did a lot of errands today, but only managed to take one that wasn't a casual snapshot of our baby (it's pretty much a guarantee that I take at least a dozen of those every day). This is one of those decorative glass balls that was at a garden store. It's reflecting some of the store, and a nearby building through the broken glass.
[ last year - ]
2015FragmentedViewabstractarmstrongbuildinggardenglassreflectioniPhone 5jawsnap, fromPlease help me find a name!
Here are the names I like. I’m having a hard time coming up with the perfect name.
[name]Ava[/name]/[name]Avery[/name] [name]Grace[/name] - it IS very pretty, but keep in mind how tremendously popular [name]Ava[/name]/[name]Avery[/name] is, and also how many little girls have [name]Grace[/name] as a middle name. Avelina, [name]Ivy[/name], [name]Avalon[/name], [name]Aviva[/name], [name]Evelyn[/name], [name]Rhea[/name], [name]Leah[/name], [name]Ivory[/name], [name]Aura[/name] and [name]Lyra[/name] seem kinda similar to [name]Ava[/name]/[name]Avery[/name]. As for [name]Grace[/name], if you like the elegant meaning and short sound, hows about [name]Pearl[/name], [name]Vera[/name], [name]Amity[/name], [name]Charity[/name], [name]Patience[/name] or [name]Verity[/name]?
[name]Daniela[/name] is a bit dated, how about [name]Fiorella[/name], Rosabella, [name]Arabella[/name], [name]Annabella[/name], or [name]Rafaela[/name]?
[name]Kyla[/name] sounds a bit too passing trend, what about [name]Lyla[/name], [name]Mila[/name], [name]Cleo[/name], [name]Skye[/name], [name]Gemma[/name], [name]Romy[/name], [name]Willa[/name] or [name]Isla[/name], for a similar name that’s a bit harder to pin point.
Thank you so much for your ideas so far!! I love and adore my husband, and he has many wonderful qualities, but his taste in baby names (and his resistance to agree w/ any of mine) is like an [name]Achilles[/name] heel in our marriage. haha!!
I left off one name by mistake…[name]Alyssa[/name]…what do you think of this name??
any other ideas for good middle names?
For more on how Iran is reshaping the Middle East, read Filkins’s recent article on the operative Qassem Suleimani’s involvement in the Syrian civil war.
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Andrew Royal
Vice President and General Manager
With over 14 years of experience in the direct selling industry and extensive experience in global sales and operations, Andrew joined Saladmaster in 2018 as the Director of Business Operations. In just a few short months, Andrew was promoted to his current role as General Manager and Vice President of Saladmaster.
Andrew helps run the company’s day-to-day operations, holding teams accountable for results, driving the execution of business plans across each of the functions, and ensuring that we continue to uphold our core values of integrity, passion, empowerment, family and excellence. His goal for Saladmaster is to continue to positively change lives around the world through both our products and our business opportunity.
Favorite Inspirational Quote:
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Andrew Clarke
Senior Vice President, Americas Division
Andrew Clarke serves as the Senior Vice President of Saladmaster’s Americas Division, which includes North, Central and South America. Andrew is responsible for driving the growth and financial performance of this Division, leading strategic planning, fostering a team culture, executing divisional projects and initiatives, building and strengthening growth in the division, as well as thought leadership. Under Andrew’s leadership, Saladmaster has implemented multiple worldwide programs and initiatives that have led to the solid growth of Saladmaster.
Prior to joining the Saladmaster Corporate Team in 2015, Andrew & his wife, Kim, built a strong Saladmaster Dealership that was consistently in the top 10 dealerships every year in operation. Andrew and Kim achieved the highest recognition level as a Saladmaster Dealer earning the title of Master Dealer, 8 consecutive years. Andrew has earned various Saladmaster awards throughout his many years with the company, including the Most Valuable Life Changer Award, which is a company-wide award given to select individuals that dramatically impact Saladmaster in a significantly positive way.
Andrew was born in Vancouver, Canada and now lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife Kim, and their three children. Andrew enjoys working, traveling, watching hockey, and being with his family.
Favorite Inspirational Quote:
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
Mark Jones
Senior Vice President, European/Middle East/Africa Division
Mark started with Saladmaster in 2006, when he was brought into the company through Ayo Olaseinde. Mark quickly became a Saladmaster