The recession has me worried. Sometimes I am truly concerned about how I am going to make ends make. Absurd as it may sound, the first thing that you should not do in a recession is panic. Panic is the opposite of logical, well planned preparation, which is exactly what you need in order to survive a recession.

Regardless of how you define a recession or how it affects national governments or international conglomerates, the meaning of recession on a personal or family level is fairly straightforward.\

In times of recession, there is considerably less money around than there would be when times are better and tightening the purse strings in this family has been necessary for a while.

Hence, on a personal family level, the first step that you can take to fight against the recession is to get your own house in order before it actually becomes necessary or critical to do so.

In order to start getting things sorted out, the first thing that you have to do is prioritize, and then you need to economize.

To begin the prioritization process, write down everything that you are currently spending on a piece of paper or create an online document for the same purposes. Then, put everything that you are currently spending money on into a prioritized list, with the most important aspects in the top slots and less important requirements further down the page.

Remember that this list is designed to be a prioritized list of things that you want to money on, rather than things that you would like to spend money on. Consequently, there is no place on a list like this for something as frivolous or unnecessary as upgrading your present 36 inch LCD TV to a 42 inch model when you got kids to send to university.

It may seem like it should be unnecessary to mention such a thing, as who would consider spending money on is what is non-essential, luxury item when money is tight?

Perhaps surprisingly, the answer is, quite a few people, because over the past few years, I think it is fair to say that people in most developed Western nations have convinced themselves that owning luxury goods is a ‘taken for granted’ necessity. It just isn’t especially if you have kids!

It is absolutely essential to get out of this way of thinking right now if you are to have any realistic chance of surviving a recession with your mental self esteem as well as your physical health intact.

In short, no matter how bad things might appear to be, panic is not going to help in any situation or under any circumstances, so don’t succumb to acting in unplanned haste!

If your child is hitting you, saying he hates you or telling you not to look at him you have a problem. This is how a feisty toddler uses rejection to control you.

If you have displayed any type of softness at all towards your toddler they know they can manipulate you emotionally. It is usually to get out of doing what is asked or to get their own way. It is astounding how very young children can learn this trick as well.

If you want to change behavior start by ignoring your child’s statements while maintaining your usual expectation that the child must do as he or she is told. Don’t discuss what the child is doing as it only reinforces the behavior. If your kid talks back to you or makes demands do not answer back. The key is to not get caught up in your child’s wave of negativity. Keep your attention on directing your child back to task.

If your kid does start behaving well try to give him or her all kinds of positive attention. This is also a good time to tell the kid you love him or her. If you submit the child willed up being the boss and not you.

If your child hits you should never ever hit back. Give the kid a time out instead. In a firm but quiet voice say, “no hitting.” Then take your kid quietly by the forearm and lead him or her to a step or a chair. Make him or her sit there for five or ten seconds more.

If your child is used to be in control of you and if you start to turn things around then be prepared for protesting. Your child will not like losing control of you. Our child will try harder to get you to submit to their will. They may tell you louder that they don’t love you, they may it harder and they may scream and throw a tantrum.

You child will protest and insult you and even get violent. Do not give in. Giving in while this going on can make everything worse. If your child is screaming and yelling while in a time out then watch form a distance. Ignore it until it is settled. This can take great patience but it is worth it when the child finally behaves.

The only time you should intervene is if the kid is going to hurt him or herself in order to get attention. If this is the case it may be time to seek professional help.