Articles written by Natalie Sparks

What is Helium

About me - Natalie Sparks

I love a good friendly argument. There are so many gray areas in life. I like people best that can take a step back, not only to see the big picture, but is willing to move and view from another perspective.

That's why writing is fun. It allows the writer to

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Parenting & Pregnancy > Helping Kids Cope How to help your child control his/her temper: 3 of 20
The temper of another is not for us to control, but rather guide whether that other is an adult or child. Teaching children to control themselves is an art that many adults haven't mastered. The first step is to be a responsible adult modeling appropriate behavior.All other steps depend on ages and stages of the child. The ty... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Gifts & Gift Ideas (Other) Best gifts for newly met friends: 3 of 13
Recently I was invited to a birthday party of an acquaintance. Baffled at what to buy this woman, I pondered what the perfect gift is for someone you don't know. After asking a close friend what she does in this situation, I got the normal response of "gift cards." Certainly sounds like a good idea since it allows the birthda... More..
Sciences > Psychology How to achieve a higher level of self confidence: 5 of 18
Confidence is trait that can be faked until the mind has been tricked into believing it to be true. How do you fake self-confidence? The answers are astonishingly simple and will change your life once incorporated all together. Want an amazing day? Try this out and see what happens.Dress well.Everyone has at least one suit or... More..
Education > Educational Philosophy Evaluating the educational system in your area: 4 of 14
While finishing my teaching certification four years ago, my professor talked about school categories and how they ranked. Students that attended Department of Defense schools did just as well on standardized tests as students from private schools. Of course it was no surprise that overall, public school students were in the ... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Celebrations & Holidays (Other) Your most meaningful family traditions: 116 of 348
To be honest, keeping traditions is a lot of work. We don't have too many for that particular reason. Since I'm being honest then I'll confide that we didn't make our Halloween cookies this year until two days after Halloween, for a party. It just made sense to wait for a party instead of adding more sugar to our systems just... More..
Personal Finance > Smart Spending Money-saving strategies for shopping luxury goods: 18 of 27
Life's deck of cards didn't hand me a wad of cash. Instead, I'm forced to come up with clever ways on how to afford nice things and keep my dignity. You won't find any unconventional wisdom here.First, when shopping online, you really must know specifics. What is it that you're looking for? You can't save money if you're just... More..
Education > Special Education What is an individualized education plan (IEP)?: 12 of 16
The IEP is an acronym for Individual Education Plan. Every child receiving special education services must have an IEP as mandated under the Individual with Disabilities and Education Act. A free, appropriate, public education (FAPE) for qualifying children between the ages of three and twenty-one is also outlined under IDEA.... More..