ART

 authentic expression of unique personal perspective

ART

Society needs more arrows in their quiver for conflict resolution - seems too many have only one: violence

 When training dogs or children, it's quite obvious scolding and punishing do not work. All that is learned is avoidance and temporary compliance - and how to scold and punish.

It's possible to train differently - to use redirection (rather than DON'T, give a DO). When the dog chews the rug, bring him an acceptable alternative (his chewy toy).

With kids it's a little different - they are testing what works and what doesn't work. If you indulge when whined at - whining will continue. If you calmly state as reality certain protocols (wash hands before eating, use the restroom before traveling, etc.), you are creating reality rather than controlling behavior.

Setting limits need not involve anger or punishment. Limits are extremely important and ultimately create security - but they need to be clear, unemotional and consistent.

We seem to have a society that knows only anger and destruction as an outlet for frustration or dissatisfaction. What if, instead, we created the opportunity for all our young citizens to be exposed to and experience a culture of courtesy. Guess what... we demand each one of them to attend public schools. If they are not learning civility there, we are wasting our taxpayer dollars.

Culture of Courtesy

 Children have a developmental need to see themselves in their future role as an adult - hence traditionally playing with trucks, kitchens, etc.

Children also deserve -- in the environment we require them to experience (i.e. public schooling) -- the opportunity to experience participation in a culture of courtesy. No amount of test-taking will help more in preparing them to participate in society with self-respect and respect of others.

Peach tree pruning

 Peach trees "are not long-lived" so plant a new one every 5-6 years...

Prune in spring.

https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-prune-peach-trees-4125536

Private Thoughts

 It's been crushingly lonely to be married 41 years to a man who refuses to argue -- bypasses differences, then occasionally explodes.

Capacity for personal responsibility considered impossible for the "deplorables"

 Dr. Wen’s positions “assumed a capacity for personal responsibility that was not available to vast swaths of the population,” Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation epidemiologist David Swedler told Inside Higher Ed.

You don't have to change who you are to be who you are...

 I remember when feminism was about freedom from gender-specific expectations. Just because you're a woman, you don't have to be responsible for housekeeping. Just because you're a man, lawn mowing is not innately your job.

Today it seems that diversity within is unacceptable - that if you feel a variance from the external expectations for your gender, you must change your gender in order to be liberated.

This is the opposite of freedom and acceptance.

Pride in the diversity within - not only the diversity without.