Years from now when science finally locates the center of the universe, some people will be surprised to learn they are not it.

If you find yourself in an argument with your spouse and what looks to you like obvious logic does not seem to be making a connection, it's time to stop and regroup. This is usually a sign that there are emotions there that need to be dealt with first. Men often tend to get the correct order of this process reversed. Deal with the feelings first, and then you can talk about what makes sense to you.

Summer is the time of year when kids look for summer jobs as a way to earn some extra money. If you want to avoid the grocery store/fast food world or you are still too young to have a formal job, there are still lots of ways to earn money. Look around for all the things that people have to do but don't like to do. Find a way to do it for them for a fee. One kid who lived in a large apartment complex noticed that his neighbors hated taking their garbage to the Dumpster. He started a service where he would pick up their garbage at their door, charging 50 cents a bag. He cleaned up that summer, figuratively and literally.

While optimism is a good thing, ungrounded optimism is not a good thing. Ungrounded optimism can blind you to necessary realities.

Getting angry is always a choice. No one can make you angry. So saying, and believing, that "so-and-so makes me so mad" is giving someone way too much power over your life.

The January/February issue of Effective Clinical Practice has some interesting information for parents. According to a recent study, in families where there were no restrictions on teens viewing R rated movies, 46 percent had tried alcohol; 35 percent had tried smoking. In families where occasional R rated movies were allowed, 16 percent had tried alcohol; 13 percent had tried smoking. In families where R rated movies were off-limits, 4 percent of teens had tried alcohol; 2 percent had tried smoking. Parenting matters.

Another tip for parents of teens: www.azlyrics.com provides you with lyrics to songs that are being played into the brain of your teens.

You know you are an older parent when you have to put your glasses on while changing a diaper to make sure you don't miss anything.

Best quote I've seen in a while, from one of my favorites, Jim Rohn (www.jimrohn.com):

"What should a child do with a dollar? Here's one philosophy: It's only a child and it's only a dollar, so what difference does it make? Wow, what a philosophy! Where do you suppose everything starts for the future? Here's where it starts _ it starts with a child and a dollar. You say, `Well, he's only a child once. Let him spend it all.' Well, when would you hope that would stop? When he's 50 and broke like you?"