"Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers." -Harry S. Truman

The ABC's of Everything Blog

Guiding our children to become the best versions of themselves and our future leaders is a big job. It is also one of the most joyful and rewarding experiences of my life. Susan Arthur President, The ABCs of Everything, LLC MA, Counseling Psychology

Love Who You Are (And Who You Are Not)

43181478_l

We are often told that self-love is the foundation for our ability to extend love to others but sometimes that can be a challenge. Instead of seeing the best of who we are, we tend to focus on what we are lacking or our imperfections. I am never going to be good at math or figuring out social media (still don't know how I share ...

Continue reading
  2812 Hits

Happy Mother’s Day Worldwide

39769802_s

​The celebration dates may not be the same in every country but Mothers everywhere are celebrated. We moms are truly unified in our devotion and love for our children and families no matter where we live or what we do. Worldwide Mothers are honored for how much they mean to us. Mothers Day in Mexico Dia de las Madres, is May 10 in Mexico. It's a hu...

Continue reading
  4510 Hits

Every Day Is Earth Day

42903361_s

We hear more and more each day about the damage us humans are doing to our natural world and it may seem like little progress is being made to fix these problems. Perhaps we need to be reminded that the natural world does not need mankind to survive and flourish but mankind does need the natural world for it's survival. If we see ourselves as stewa...

Continue reading
  3064 Hits

Really Going Green

heartshaped-hands-1439591

"Let's pause to fully grasp within, This sense of living green, We hear this word so often said, But what does this word mean?"  This is an excerpt from my latest book, "The ABCs of Living Green" and one that I'd like to elaborate on. We've all been talking about going green, which for most people means recycling, composting and reducing our c...

Continue reading
  2644 Hits

Encouraging Imagination

kids-play-1524342

"Imagination is more important than knowledge" Albert Einstein ​It seems these days there is a lot of emphasis on structured learning and at younger and younger ages. Are our children getting enough unstructured time to engage their imagination? Much research has been done around the value of imagination for successful learning and found that child...

Continue reading
  2258 Hits

Does It Matter If Your Child Reads A Physical Book Or Reads On A Screen?

48505001_l

With kids facing so many distractions these days, reading is a great opportunity for redirection. It's a well-known saying, "first you learn to read, then you read to learn".As your kids grow older, they learn more enthusiastically if they love the act of reading itself when they are young enough to form a relationship with the written word. This s...

Continue reading
  2819 Hits

Getting Kids To Go To Sleep

65840993_l

As a parent, getting your kids to go sleep at night can be quite a challenge. Having a child that goes right to sleep at bedtime is like winning the lottery and probably about the same odds. As difficult as it can be it's still one of the most important things you can do for your child's well being and your own sanity. Every child is different in t...

Continue reading
  2483 Hits

Healthy Eating Habits Begin In Childhood

41693178_l

The eating habits we develop early in life tend to stick around. I have always eaten a diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables because that was the type of foods our family ate the most of while I was growing up. Not because we were particularly health conscious, but because we lived in an agricultural area and those food items were the le...

Continue reading
  2764 Hits

What Really Matters

67409219_l

​  Most of us welcome in the New Year with intentions to make some positive changes in our lives by setting goals and resolutions. This year I have a different kind of goal than in past years. My goal is to continually be aware of what really matters in my life. I live in Ojai California which is a lovely valley surrounded by beautiful mountai...

Continue reading
  2575 Hits

Simple Holiday Crafts

Simple Holiday Crafts

​3 fun holiday craft ideas! 1. Create a Centerpiece from your own yard This is the time of the year when holly, beautiful leaves and other fall foliage can be right outside your door. Cuttings from branches, pine cones, dried grasses and colorful leaves make great centerpieces for a holiday dinner. Combine with candles, baskets, gourds, or col...

Continue reading
  2890 Hits

Sharing The Holiday Spirit

Sharing The Holiday Spirit

The holidays are traditionally the time of year when we seem to put more attention on others and look for opportunities to be more giving and kind to each other. Of course this is a state of being that we really want to practice every day. A lot of research has been done around why we feel good when we are kind or giving to others. Researchers call...

Continue reading
  2674 Hits

Why Are Costumes So Much Fun!?

Why Are Costumes So Much Fun!?

​In our family, Halloween was our favorite holiday and a lot of time and thought went into planning our costumes. I'm not talking about the kids, I'm talking about us adults. Of course the kids were excited about what they would be for Halloween, but let's be honest, they can pretty much wear costumes whenever they want. Halloween is no longer...

Continue reading
  2593 Hits

Eating Dinner Together Is More Than A Meal

Eating Dinner Together Is More Than A Meal

I've always believed that food is love and sharing a meal together is a wonderful bonding experience. In the less hectic past, family dinners were the norm. However, with the demands of current work schedules, commutes and outside activities, getting everyone together at one time for a family meal is more challenging. It's challenging but not impos...

Continue reading
  3502 Hits

The Joy Of Doing Nothing

The Joy Of Doing Nothing

​The next time someone asks you what you are doing tomorrow or over the weekend, tell him or her you are doing nothing. The baffled look on their face will give you an insight into how confusing and uncommon it is to do nothing. To make no specific plans, have no obligations, no "To Do List" to get through, in other words no scheduled activities. W...

Continue reading
  2853 Hits

How About Some Good News

How About Some Good News

You don't have to look too far to find some disturbing news about some dreadful discovery or atrocious behavior going on somewhere in the world. Social media and 24-hour news networks keep you updated on the gloom and doom endlessly if you're willing to participate. That's not really the whole story. If you choose to look in another direction you'l...

Continue reading
  3493 Hits

Helping Kids Through School Transitions

Helping Kids Through School Transitions

A new school year is right around the corner and I remember how much time and effort was spent getting ready for that first day of school. Long lists of what needed do be done, getting new clothes, lunch boxes, backpacks, and school supplies. Then moving on to logistics – car pool schedules, bus passes and after school arrangements. This is the pra...

Continue reading
  2683 Hits

It's Just A Toy

It's Just A Toy

I recently attended an event, which was giving out little gift items to the participants. One of the items looked like a cute little doll action figure. I thought – great I'll give this to my granddaughter. When I opened the packaging and looked closer at the doll (this time with my glasses on) I was unpleasantly surprised. It was a little girl dol...

Continue reading
  2962 Hits

My Child Was So Disappointed - How Can I Help?

My Child Was So Disappointed - How Can I Help?

As parents, more than anything else, we want our kids to be happy. When something happens that causes them to be sad or disappointed, I think we suffer even more than they do. Our first impulse is to try to find a way to fix the situation and make them feel better. This is not always the best response. Disappointment is a part of life that we ...

Continue reading
  2808 Hits

Healthy Eating Tips When Traveling

Healthy Eating Tips When Traveling

Getting yourself and kids ready for a trip or vacation takes a lot of planning. When I travel, one of the things on the top on my list (other than what shoes to bring) is what snacks to bring for the journey. When you're traveling you don't always have a lot of food options. This is always a challenge for me because I am conscious about what I eat ...

Continue reading
  2638 Hits

When Is It Time To "Unplug" - Setting Limits On Screen Time

When Is It Time To "Unplug" - Setting Limits On Screen Time

There is an enormous amount of digital interaction available to kids of all ages. A lot of what is being offered is really great; it's educational, has positive messages and gives parents a little break. The challenge is in figuring out when too much of a good thing becomes detrimental. The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates ...

Continue reading
  2538 Hits

Shop the ABC's of Everything!

Products

The ABCs of Being Me

Coming Soon!

This book is currently being created and is scheduled to be ready by April 2017! Stay tuned.

The ABCs of Living Green

Coming Soon!

This book is currently being created and is scheduled to be ready soon! Stay tuned.

About Us

The ABC’s of Everything is a family endeavor the seeds of which were planted years ago read more...

Your cart is empty