|
Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Lifestyle
Wednesday, September 19, 2001
Luna, Casias announce September wedding plans
Norma C. Luna and Manuel Casias, Jr. announce their engagement and forthcoming
marriage.
Miss Luna is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Hernandez of Pecos
and is employed as an LVN at American Home Health of Fort Stockton.
The groom to be is the son of Ida Casias of Fort Stockton and the late
Manuel Casias Sr. and is employed as an assistant manager at K-Bob's Steakhouse
of Fort Stockton while attending Midland College.
The wedding will take place at 5 p.m., on Sept. 29, at the Church of
Christ in Fort Stockton.
Kids need help coping with terrorist attacks
In the wake of terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are struggling
with feelings of shock, fear and helplessness.
Children are most vulnerable during this time to the effects of the
violent images they see on television. It is important for parents to pull
themselves away from the news coverage, turn the television off, and talk
to their families, according to Dr. Steven Pierrel, a psychologist and
an associate professor with the department of family and community medicine
at Baylor College of Medicine.
"We need to listen to the concerns of our children and learn what meaning
they are attaching to these events," Pierrel said. "It is our responsibility
to talk with them, share our perspective and provide a place of comfort
and security as they come to grips with these tragic events," he said.
There are several ways parents and others who care for children can
help alleviate the emotional consequences of trauma, including the following
tips provided by the American Psychological Association.
Spend more time with children and let them be more dependent on you
during the months following the trauma _ for example, allowing your child
to cling to you more often than usual. Physical affection is very comforting
to children who have experienced trauma.
Provide play experiences to help relieve tension. Younger children in
particular may find it easier to share their ideas and feelings about the
event through non-verbal activities such as drawing.
Encourage older children to speak with you, and with one another, about
their thoughts and feelings. This helps reduce their confusion and anxiety
related to the trauma. Respond to questions in terms they can comprehend.
Reassure them repeatedly that you care about them and that you understand
their fears and concerns.
Keep regular schedules for activities such as eating, playing and going
to bed to help restore a sense of security and normalcy.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry also recommends
the following guidelines for minimizing the negative effects of watching
the news:
Make sure you have adequate time and a quiet place to talk if you anticipate
that the news is going to be troubling or upsetting to the child.
Ask the child what he or she has heard and what questions he/she may
have.
Provide reassurance regarding his or her own safety in simple words
emphasizing that you are going to be there to keep him or her safe.
Look for signs that the news may have triggered fears or anxieties such
as sleeplessness, fears, bedwetting, crying, or talking about being afraid.
"Parents should remember that it is important to talk to your child
or adolescent about what he or she has seen or heard," Pierrel said. "This
allows parents to lessen the potential negative effects of the news and
to discuss their own ideas and values. While children cannot be completely
protected from outside events, parents can help them feel safe and help
them to better understand the world around them."
Conference planned for September
A Life and Word Conference 2001 is scheduled for Sept. 28-30, at Abundant
Life Church, 1201 S. Ash.
The event will be held at 7 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 28; at 7 p.m., Saturday,
Sept. 29; 10 a.m., on Sunday, Sept. 30 and 7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 30.
Guest speakers will be Rev. David Humphries with Ambassador's of Christ;
Apostle Ian Chellan, City of Judah and Wilson Soko, Pastor of Abundant
Life Church.
Conference topics will include: technical transitions and finances in
the local church.
Music will be by the Abundant Life Praise and Worship Team and a nursery
and children's church will be provided.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail newsdesk@nwol.net
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 2001 by Pecos Enterprise
|