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(Aspen publishing) Obama Scholarships Are Making Grants Available for Single Mothers

By Fred Jackson

 Having to take care of their families on their own, single, working mothers have perhaps the toughest job of all. A wish or a goal for many moms that has to be put on hold in order to take care of other responsibilities, is higher education. President Obama, together with his new administration, is, however, encouraging moms to make their education a priority. Obama scholarships are offering working mothers a great chance to improve their futures.

With his Scholarships for Moms program, Obama, while encouraging people of all ages to seek higher education, is targeting working moms in particular. Building on The Scholarships for Moms program, is the federal government’s long-standing offer of Pell grants. Pell grants are the most commonly applied for forms of aid for students going to college, and are applied for through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Now the Obama administration is making some changes to encourage more mothers to return to school.

The biggest incentive for the Scholarships for Moms program is in the amount of money being offered. The maximum amount awarded through Pell grants is about $4,000 per student, but for mothers who apply to the program, that amount is increased to $5,000. The goal of these grants is to allow working moms to return to school and earn a degree that allows them to better provide for their families now and in the future. The administration also hopes that equipping mothers to earn more money as working professionals will also be a stimulus to the economy. Moms can receive an education without the worry of school costs or of repaying a loan.

An added incentive for moms considering this program is that it applies to enrollment in nearly any type of higher education institution. Four-year universities are covered as well as smaller community colleges. You have the choice of going to a private school or a public one. If staying on campus isn’t an option, busy moms can opt to study through online courses. The government’s Scholarships for Moms program really is a comprehensive attempt which attempts to get eager mothers back into the classroom.

The Obama scholarship basically takes a lot of the worry out of returning to school. Working moms can earn a degree in almost any area of interest so that they are fully equipped to provide for their families. Higher education no longer has to be an unfulfilled wish or an unobtainable goal. The Scholarships for Moms program is designed to help create a brighter future for mothers and their children.

So what’s holding you back? Take advantage of a $10,000 scholarship drawing. Registration is free if you visit http://www.scholarshipsformomsfinder.info/

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The Art of Listening and Talking to Children

By Marlin Rollins

 Our goal in conscious communication is not to change the other person . . . Our goal is to establish connection.

Andrew LeCompte, author, Creating Harmonious Relationships

A parent of three attended a workshop I gave on managing conflict. A few days after the workshop, she emailed me to say that she’d had an “opportunity” to practice when her 15-year-old daughter came home an hour after the agreed upon time. As my friend put it, “I had an opportunity last night at home…and I blew it!”

A colleague, in talking about conflicts at home, once said “Our family really knows how to push our buttons - because they installed them.” I laughed because it was funny and because it is so true. It’s more difficult to deal with family conflicts, because the patterns we’ve created with each other are so entrenched.

Conflict Does Exist

What happens to you when conflict arises? If your reactions are typical of most of us, you either prepare for a fight or do your best to avoid the situation.

We’d all like to be better at conflict because we sense the potential it holds - to strengthen our relationships; to teach our children that conflict can be an opportunity to learn and grow; and to learn and grow ourselves.

If you’re alive, you will have conflict from time to time. You can become more skilled at handling conflict and gain influence over the outcome by becoming aware of your conflict “habits” and changing the ones that are not useful or purposeful.

The Art of Listening

One time-tested conflict management skill is listening. The next time you get into a battle with your child, try asking for their point of view, listening, and paraphrasing what they said. Ask questions to which you really don’t know the answer, then listen again. State in your words what you heard him say. Step off your point of view for a moment and be curious.

Imagine your child just arrived from another planet. If ET really did land near your house and you knew that he was a friendly soul, wouldn’t you love to have an exclusive interview? You’d want to know everything, wouldn’t you? Pretend you don’t know anything about your child’s perspective (you really don’t). Stand or sit side by side and face the same direction. Try to find out what is really important. For example, parents and kids often fight over chores or homework, yet when we take time to find out what is at the base of the argument, it’s usually about responsibility, yours as a parent and your child’s as a maturing adult. From this place, it will be easier to talk about your mutual needs and concerns.

A nice byproduct of your aligning with them is that they may be more willing to see your position. Now it’s your turn to share the view from your planet. Talk, listen, talk, and listen again. Keep both viewpoints in mind as you search for solutions. Even when setting or reinforcing limits, you can acknowledge your child’s point of view and stand firm. “I understand that Kathy’s mom lets her stay out that late, but you cannot.” Avoid justifying and persuading.

Listening Does Not Equal Agreement

It’s challenging to take the initiative to learn where our children are coming from, because we risk losing authority. Remember that listening does not necessarily mean agreeing. Being willing to consider their cause demonstrates empathy, understanding and the willingness to look for mutually agreeable solutions. Taking the time to listen and talk shows them you care, builds self-esteem, and gives them appropriate ways to handle troubling situations of their own.

“Oh well. Maybe next time I can get centered first,” said my friend when we talked about the conflict with her 15-year-old. Reminding yourself to breathe and center before, during and after a conflict will have a beneficial influence on you and your child, while teaching your child a valuable skill. Be curious, listen and learn, and let your purpose be your guide. It may take two to tango, but it only takes one to change the dance.

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Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 5:20 pm and is filed under education. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.