June 22, 2006

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

If you could share two pieces of advice for new parents, what would they be?
(Asked at Almaden Center)


“I have three children, they are 11, 15 and 29 years old. As far as discipline goes, if you have an issue or a disagreement, take the time to cool down before you address the issue. The second one is that you do things as a family: It's really important to do things together, to have family time."

Julie Ann Boehm
Almaden
Homemaker


“There's more than one or two, but the two most important are to always be honest and teach them to be a good citizen and the most important thing, to always respect other people.”

Joyce Woodruff, 55
Almaden
Homemaker


“I think it's very important for parents to spend more time with their kids. For the second piece of advice, I'd say that if parents can afford it, the best advice is to either find a way to make do with one income or somehow one parent should work a job that allows you to be home when the kids get home from school. It's a big sacrifice, but the reward is just as big.”

Livie Perez, 48
Almaden
Consultant


“Spend more time with your kids, and set an example for them.”

Herbert Lin, 38
Almaden
Engineer


“I helped my parents raise my little sister who is now 15. I think we did a good job. I taught her to be a leader instead of a follower. If you're a leader then you will always be on track."

Amir Shirazi, 28
Almaden
Entrepreneur


“Teaching children responsibility and always letting them know how much I love them.”

Helen Burrows
Almaden
Retired


"I know you have to really listen to them and active listening takes a lot of energy. You should also have fun with them. They have to be disciplined, but you should make it a point to have fun and laugh with them often."

Janet Smith
Almaden
Retired second grade teacher