Nickie and her little sister Rachel!

When you have brothers or sisters, there are going to be some times when you don’t get along. There is no way around it! Sometimes they borrow stuff without asking and don’t give it back, or they just plain bug you. It doesn’t matter if your siblings are older, younger or the same age, sometimes you need to stop and think about how to handle your siblings. Read on for some helpful tips!

1. Don’t compare yourself to your sibling. Sometimes it seems like your sibling gets all the glory. They might have a special talent that everyone loves to talk about, or they just got another A+. But remember that you are your own person and have your own talents. So don’t let it make you angry or jealous, because you are just as special!

2. Don’t lose your cool. When your little brother or sister is stealing your things it can make you want to explode. But don’t! That will only cause a fight. When you feel like your temper is going to erupt, try closing your eyes and counting to 10, this will calm you down before you decide to scream.

Lara and her little brother at a museum!

3. Talk to your mom and dad. If you aren’t able to solve your problems with your siblings, talk to your parents about it. They will be able to help you better understand the situation and figure out the best way to handle it. They can also talk to your sibling about it, which will help them see your side of the situation.

4. Try to find something in common. It might be hard to believe sometimes, but your siblings can become your closest friends. Hang out with them and find something you like to do together. That way, there is less fighting and more time spent together having fun.

Even though they can make us sad, angry or jealous, brothers and sisters are wonderful. More often than not they want to make us happy and feel loved.

Fiona and her new baby sister!

Do you have brothers or sisters? What do you do when they make you angry or upset? Share your tips in the comments below.

Emily
New Moon Intern

Last Sunday, Japan stunned the world with its victory over the United States team. Japan won the final on a penalty shoot-out (3-1) following a 2–2 tie after extra time and became the first Asian team to win a FIFA World Cup.

Women didn’t even have their own World Cup until 1991, when FIFA president João Havelange launched the tournament. The first competition featured twelve competitors representing their countries in China. The 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup was the sixth tournament in history, but it certainly did not lack in excitement or passion.

Jada’s Side of the Moon (J.S.O.M.)

I was crushed by the United State’s defeat on Sunday. The team and our country felt it was our destiny to win the trophy ever since the upset over Brazil. However, when I took a closer look at Japan’s triumph, my attitude changed completely.

This year, Japan played for something much more than a trophy. On March 11 this year, a tsunami and earthquake devastated the entire country. More than 23,000 people were reported either dead or missing, and damage remains in much of the land. Coach Norio Sasaki instilled in the players they had a higher purpose this tournament.

After each of their games in Germany, Japan’s players carried a banner around the field that read, “To our Friends around the World—Thank You for Your Support.” The coach also showed the team pictures of the destruction before the game against Germany.

Japan will fly home with the trophy that will bring hope and glory to the country, if only for a moment.

Although the team was upset over the loss, the United States had a good attitude.. Abby Wambach, winner of the Best Player (Silver Ball) and the Top Goal scorer (Bronze Boot), summed up the game best: “All of Japan suffered so much… their country needed them to win more than ours.”

Any soccer fans/players out there? Who’s your favorite soccer star?

How do you feel about how the game ended?

What’s your side of the moon?

By: Jada

The benefits of riding are vast. Horseback riding can be recreational or it can be competitive, and it is always a good physical exercise…but there are many intrinsic benefits as well.

There exists the misperception that horseback riding is merely an expensive and exclusive sport. This is not true… any girl can ride! So for the girl trying to convince her parents to sign her up for lessons, here are a few tips to reach her destination—the horse.

If she dreams about riding, loves horse movies, would rather spend a day in a barn than at the mall, and doesn’t mind getting dirty, there is hope for her horse addiction!

First, she should find a good riding stable where she can take lessons and start learning the basics, by offering to help with chores.

She should start by cleaning tack, mucking stalls, watering down the horses, grooming them. Just being around the barn will teach her so much about the beloved horses.

She will learn a lot about horses by working around them. She will observe their body language, the sounds they make when they are happy, agitated, scared, or hungry.

Most riding stables will welcome the help in exchange for lessons, so she should be dedicated and show responsibility and reliability.

Getting involved with barn work and riding will make her strong and give her a sense of independence and confidence. She will come to rely on her body to perform the many tasks involved in this barn work and riding.

She will abandon thoughts of all the body image stereotypes the media flashes in front of her and learn to realize how her body allows communication with her horse, how her seat can influences its behavior, what her strong back and legs can do. When she is riding, her hair does not have to look this way nor does she have to dress that way. Horses don’t notice.

Instructors will tell her many times over, “Sit up straight!”, “Open your shoulders!”, “Squeeze!”, “Look up!” She will realize that these words will teach her to look at her body in a different light—at its strength and not perfection.

Her body becomes a powerful instrument for achieving her goals… be it lifting a heavy wheelbarrow, leading a horse from the pasture, riding on the flat, throwing hay, or jumping a fence.

There is nothing more rewarding than a successful riding experience, after she has worked so hard to achieve synchrony with her mount through body and soul.

Horseback riding provides her optimal challenges and emotional stimulation within a context of both independence and interdependence with her horse.

Nothing should stop her from achieving the goal of being near the magnificent creature of the horse, and nothing will if she doesn’t let it.

So…

Should she ride?

Yes she should!

Guest post by: Mercedes Rolandelli, proprietor of River Edge Farm