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Have
you ever noticed that there are certain "unspoken" rules of conduct? Most
people in most circumstances adhere to these "unspoken rules," but for
those who don't, it's simply aggravating.
For
example, when we let someone merge in front of us in traffic or allow
them to sneak in ahead of us at a stoplight, the "unspoken" rule is to
receive a wave or some acknowledgement of this kind act.
To
me, one of the most common "unspoken" rules of conduct involves the ATM
machine at local banks. ATM stands for Automatic Teller Machine. It was
designed to dispense and deposit money in a quick, efficient manner. It
was designed for people who are generally in a hurry and aren't looking
for that one-on-one contact with a "human" teller. This is why I feel
the acronym for ATM should be changed to Acquire Then Move.
Acquire
Then Move - it says it all. Get your money, make your deposit, and move.
This concept escapes many, and it seems I'm always behind the one person
who hasn't heard of Acquire Then Move.
To
successfully adhere to Acquire Then Move, the procedure is quite simple.
First, be prepared. Have your ATM card ready, check signed, etc. and insert
the ATM card. Second, make your transaction. Third, retrieve money or
transaction slip. Fourth, move on. The problem, for some, seems to lie
in that fourth step - moving on. The fourth step should not involve any
rearranging of the wallet, speaking on the cell phone or rummaging in
the glove box. That's reserved for the fifth step: pull up enough to let
the person behind you access the ATM machine.
Now,
granted, Acquire Then Move was an epiphany to me during a trip to the
ATM when my air conditioning was out in the house during one of the first
hot weekends of the summer. I needed cash to take my equally hot and cranky
kids to the ice cream store, and there he was. The perfect example of
someone who needed this public service advise. He had to first find his
ATM card. Then, he had to sign the check he was depositing, but oops,
he forgot to get an envelope, so he put his car in reverse to get the
envelope, causing me to back up as well. Once his transaction was completed,
he futzed with the receipt. And finally, ten minutes later, he was on
his way. That's when it came to me, Acquire Then Move!
I
hope my new acronym works. Not because I'm always in a hurry, but for
the good of mankind and ATMs everywhere.
Kara
Kiefer is the Editor of The TowneLaker. She lives in Towne Lake with her
husband Mike and sons Brandon and Garrett.
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When
we first introduced our newborn to her three year-old big sister, we choreographed
the moment. Our script played out beautifully. We explained to our three
year-old that her new baby sister thought enough about her to shower her
with a brand new set of Princess Barbies. Thus, domestic diplomacy was
off to a good start.
Every
parent cringes at the words sibling rivalry. Nothing grates like bickering
children. "No, I want to sit next to mom," or "She has more ice-cream
than me." Tattle-tailing siblings can be far worse than fingernails on
a chalkboard. Were we really this selfish as youngsters? The answer is
probably yes.
Siblings
less than three years apart tend to have more rivalry, especially during
pre-K, while still dependent on mom and dad for nearly everything. It's
normal for youngsters to have trouble sharing, especially for the first-born
who is no longer the only show in town. Knowing that this is normal, however,
does not make it easier to overcome. Normal or not, how can we make it
better?
Like
most things, the challenge of companionship vs. competition among siblings
is an ongoing process rather than a simple fix. As parents we must take
on this challenge, as it can greatly impact our children's happiness into
their adult lives. Good parenting skills will determine, in large part,
whether our adult children love one another as best friends or become
competitive rivals.
Be
sure in everything you say or do so your children will clearly know that
your love and acceptance for them will never depend on their performance,
good or bad. Never encourage your children to compete with each other
for your love, affection, or attention. Avoid this common pitfall for
the future sanity of both you and your children. Such manipulation tactics
can quickly destroy love between brothers and sisters and replace it with
bitterness and jealously.
Under
the Anderson roof, our daughters know, without a doubt, our love for them
is unconditional. And, this is so important that we repeat it to them
every night when tucking them into bed. Understood and loved equally,
the girls have one less reason to become rivals.
Michael
G. Anderson, MD, FAAP is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics,
and the Director of Northside Children's Pediatric Center in Canton. You
can reach him at (770) 720-6963.
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