"What a strange power there is in clothing." -Isaac Bashevis Singer
February 7, 2019
Forty-third Edition
Greetings!

Everyone has heard the saying "Dress for Success". Most people think it only applies to work. It doesn't.

Dress for Success means to show off you : your personal branding and style. How you see yourself, how you face the day, how you take on the world.

It also doesn't just mean the clothes you put on, it means how you wear those clothes.

Here's my take on Dressing for Success for busy, tired therapeutic parents and their defiant, destructive little kiddos.

Enjoy!

With love,
Parents
Dress to:
  1. Maintain respect (including self-respect)
  2. Establish credibility
  3. Establish yourself as an authority figure

First things first: Get dressed. That's all - put on some clothing other than pjs.

Be comfy. Love what you wear. If you don't love it, get rid of it!

Dress spiffy. Not as in high-heels-and-a-fancy-dress; spiffy as in "I feel good about myself when I'm wearing this".

Have clean clothes. Do laundry a couple times a week and put it in your drawers. It makes a big difference on how you'll feel when you go to get dressed.

No wrinkles: You'll feel wrinkly all day. I hate ironing so I throw my wrinkly stuff in th e dryer for 5 minutes with a damp wash cloth, it co mes out looking fresh and smooth.
Personal Style
Everyone has their own personal style that they feel most comfortable and confident in. Find out what yours is and dress that way. If it really is pajamas, declare a PJ Day in your house and live that day to the fullest!
Kids
Dress your little people for success.

Give them clothes you like to see them in that bring a smile to your face.

Don't let them wear ripped or badly stained clothes - their self-image takes a hit (unless they're working outside or doing something messy). Some kiddos will rip and wreck anything - shop at the second hand store!

Teach them to care for their clothes: if they rip it they patch it. If they stain it they scrub it.

Give them clothes that fit. Too small or way too big and they feel like you don't know them or look at them to know what size they really are.

Give them weather-appropriate clothing. Warm ones in the winter, shorts and tees in the summer.
Personal Style
Your child's personal style may be to wear patched clothes, or socks inside out. Or mismatched outfits. Or no socks when it's cold. Or long sleeves when it's warm. Let it go and count it as personal style. Their bodies and brains will catch up to 'normal' dressing - I promise!

This site has some really great inspirational kids' tees. Check it out HERE .
Dress your child to inspire confidence and boost their self-image. Be aware of what you're putting on your child each day. Is it uplifting? Strengthening?

  • Choose soft, strong colours
  • Find motivational or fun sayings
  • NO violent characters - Ninja Turtles, comic villains, zombies, etc.*
  • NO princess characters that don't provide a good example*

*When looking at garments with TV or cartoon characters on them, think, "Is this character someone I want my child to grow up to be like?" No? scrap it. Yes? buy it.
Healing Hearts Family Bonding Camp is coming to Canada!
We're excited to announce that The RADish Ranch will be hosting their first camp for families with children with RAD this fall in Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba.

Check it out HERE to learn how you can start your healing journey or volunteer!
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE."
Jeremiah 29:11