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Has Your Pet Taught You Responsibility?

June 29, 2011 By

Do you have a pet? Two weeks ago I received an unusual gift: two baby ducklings! They were loud and smelly and loved to make a mess in their swimming pool. They were also very tiny and very cute. They were so cute, I guess I didn’t realize how much work they would be to take care of. I have learned a lot about responsibility from those little ducklings.

Having a pet is a good way to learn responsibility. They teach you things like friendship, patience, kindness and how to pay attention. They also teach you how to work hard! Pets take a lot of time and energy to make sure they are happy and healthy. They need to be fed, watered, exercised and taken to the vet. Their cages also need to be kept clean, so that the animal does not get sick.

Even with all the hard work it takes, a pet can become like your best friend! Did you know that 63 percent of people in the United States own a pet? That is about 69 million families! Many New Moon Girls have shared their stories, photos and tips on how they take care of their own pets. Read below to see what they had to share.

But not everyone can have a pet where they live. Even if you don’t have a pet, there are many other ways to learn responsibility. You can learn about responsibility by doing a new chore around your house, or helping to take care of your younger brothers and sisters. You can also share this information with a friend or family member who does have a pet. They would appreciate your tips!

Have you learned a lesson on responsibility by having a pet? What else have you done that taught you how to be responsible, kind or patient? Tell us, and share your own tips in the comments below!

Emily
New Moon Intern

Filed Under: New Moon Girls News

Sister to Sister: Positive Self-Talk

June 28, 2011 By

Tip: Even if you don't feel like it, smiling can make you feel better!

Most of us have conversations with ourselves and, sadly, often times it’s negative. The thoughts that stream through your head are called self-talk. It could be where you talk aloud to yourself, but often times you just say it silently in your head. You might catch yourself doing this when you are practicing for a play, saying, “I can do this! This is going to be great!” Or even right before you start a test, running through the things you studied the night before.

 

Sometimes the things you think to yourself are negative – even if you don’t realize it. Have you ever caught yourself thinking that you won’t do well on a test even if you studied for it, and then you don’t? You might find that if you think negatively, how you deal with situations in everyday life can be affected! When you think something is “difficult” or “unfair” it can be more stressful than it needs to be, where if you try to think positively by saying it is a “challenge” or a “test” it can be less stressful!

 

Think about the number of times you say something negative about yourself each day, I’m guessing it’s pretty big. But you can turn negative self-talk into positive self-talk. For example instead of saying, “I can’t…” think, “Why can’t I?” or “I can!” Instead of saying “I’m so stupid!” say something more like “I know I could have done better, but I can work harder next time!”. Use nicer wording in every day life and you may notice a change in how your days go!

 

If you are constantly thinking about ways you wish your body were different, positive self-talk might help! If you can write down some positive statements like “I am a beautiful, strong girl!” and post them around your room and say them to yourself on a daily basis, eventually you’re going to start believing it!

 

Check out how to make your own Inner Beauty Mirror , and in 10 days you could be feeling better about yourself! As silly as it sounds to “talk” to yourself about how awesome you are, it works!

 

Here are some tips to help remind yourself to stay positive:

 

  • Stop yourself! If you find yourself thinking something negative, just think or say aloud, “Stop”. It helps interrupt the thought.
  • Write in a journal. Letting out what has gone on in your day, bad or good, can be a good release for stress and you can let it go.
  • Change the negative to positive. If you find out a friend can’t get together, instead of being upset, you could instead think of other things you can do during that time!
  • Instead of telling yourself you can’t handle something, ask how you can handle something!
  • Try not to compare yourself negatively to others. (For example, “Wow that girl is so skinny and beautiful, I wish I was that skinny and beautiful!” instead think, “That girl is beautiful, but I am beautiful in my own way too!”)
  • Just practice thinking more positively about yourself, even if you don’t believe it. After some time you will!

 

More positive self-talk can improve self-esteem and just how your everyday life is!

 

Continue this conversation on the Sister to Sister Message Board in Shout Out!

 

Love,

Hallie

 

 

 

Filed Under: Sister to Sister

Do You Dream of Being in the Armed Forces?

June 22, 2011 By

Do you know any women in the armed forces?  Loretta Reynolds made history last week when she became a brigadier general, the fourth-highest ranking  officer in the Marine Corps. This is a very important position, and one that a woman has never held before!

The Marine Corps is a  very important branch of the armed forces and is part of the Navy. They work closely with the Navy in training, transportation and security while Navy ships are at sea! To learn more about the Marine Corps, you can visit their website at http://www.marines.mil

Brig. Gen. Loretta Reynolds is the first female general at the famous Marine Corps training depot at Parris Island in South Carolina. (A training depot is a place where they instruct new soldiers.) The training depot is 96 years old, but they have never had a female general before. She is also the third female general officer in the entire Marine Corps, which has over 200,000 members! Brig. Gen. Reynolds is also known as the first female Marine to ever hold a command position in a battle zone.

Loretta has had a lot of experience before she was chosen for the job. She attended many respected schools that gave her the knowledge and experience she needs for this job. She has also held many high-ranking positions that are normally held by men. Loretta was also stationed overseas in Japan, Iraq and Afghanistan!

The Marine Corps has always had more soldiers who are men than women, and now a female has achieved a very high-ranking position in it! There are 12,330 females enlisted in the Marines, that is about 6 percent of all the soldiers. According to the Parris Island website, about 2,400 female Marines go through the same training as male Marines do every year.

Brig. Gen. Loretta Reynolds is an inspiration, and has proven that women can do anything they set their minds too, even become a general in the Marine Corps!

Do you know anyone who is a general in one of the armed forces? Can you think of other fields that women have made breakthroughs in?  Tell us in the comments below!

Emily
New Moon Intern

Filed Under: New Moon Girls News

Celebrate New Moon’s 19th Year!

June 17, 2011 By

 

Get 19% off a 1-year subscription on the 19th of every month!

This is a special year for NMG – as of June 6, 2011we were 19 years old!

 

To thank you for all your support, we’re giving girls who are members, and girls who want ot be members a special discount! (Hurry, there are only 3 more chances to get it! On June 6, 2012, we’ll be 20!)

 

picture of girls editorial board girlsThroughout the next year, on the 19th of each month only, you can buy unlimited numbers of 1-year NMG memberships for 19% off the current price! On March 19 that special price is only $28.30. That gives a girl 12 months of 24-7 access to our creative safe social network just for girls, plus 6 issues of the magazine.

 

Do you have friends who would like to join New Moon Girls?  There are lots of ways you can tell others about New Moon Girls and help them get this great discount!

 

 

Remember, in order for girls to get this special deal for a 1-year membership, an adult must order the new membership, or renew a membership by 11:59 pm (of whatever time zone you live in) of this Monday, March 19th!

Love, Luna

Filed Under: New Moon Girls News

Father’s Day isn’t only for fathers!

June 15, 2011 By

June 17 is Father’s Day, and on this day I will be giving my mom a big hug and thanking her for everything she has done for me. That is because I grew up in a single-parent home with just my mom and younger brothers. My mom has had to do double duty all my life and be both my mom and dad.

When I was younger, I used to feel sad on Father’s Day. When everyone got to bring their dad to school to make crafts and eat snacks, I brought my grandpa instead. I kind of felt left out and different. But when I look back on it today, I know that my grandpa was no different than any other girl’s dad — he loved me and supported me just the same.

Did you know that three in ten kids in the United States live in a single-parent home? That is about 20 million kids! About 12 percent of households in our country are run by only a mother. But this is also true the other way around: about 4 percent of households are run by only a father.

And there are also many children who grow up with their aunts and uncles, or even their grandparents, instead of their parents. In the United States today, over six million kids live with their grandparents!

You see, the role of a mom and dad is to love their children, support them and take care of them — and anyone who does this for you is worthy of the title mom and dad, even if they are not your mom and dad.

Father’s Day does not have to be reserved just for fathers. It is also an equally wonderful day to celebrate a grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle or anyone else that gives you the love and support you deserve!

Do you have a similar situation? Do you have any wacky traditions you do for father’s day? Tell us in the comments below!

Emily

New Moon Intern

Filed Under: Sister to Sister
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