Senior Pictures Becoming Big Business
- Statesman
"Our average sale for a senior is $1,200 to $1,500, but some parents have spent up to $5,000," Meyer said.

Study Claims Moms Mimic Daughters in Fashion
- CNN
"We live in a society that one of the main values is to look younger," Ruvio said. "Most of these women have kids, work and they don't have time to monitor the market and see what is cool and hip, so they basically take a shortcut. Through their teenage daughters, they know they're safe."

New York: Sex Ed Becomes Mandatory
- Fox News
It’s the first time in nearly two decades that middle and high school students will be forced to take the mandatory classes, according to a report first published in The New York Times.

A nation in mourning for Navy SEAL Team 6
- Washington Examiner
As the nation mourns its loss, just as it has the losses of 10 years of a war it did not choose and which it cannot avoid, the greatest thing that civilians can do is remember that their lives and the lives of their children and grandchildren are what they are because of warriors flying through mountain passes half a world away

10 Hidden Benefits of Having Children
- Fox News
Come along as we explore the top 10 hidden benefits of having children. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/08/05/10-hidden-benefits-having-children/#ixzz1USLudd6r

“Heroes” Sue Rescued Woman
- AP
Two Ohio men honored as heroes for their actions after a 2009 car crash are now suing the woman they rescued from a burning vehicle.

last updated October 6, 2011
Click here for more Side Orders

DinnerDialogue.com is a free service of Family Matters. Its purpose is to bring deeper and more open discussions to your family using news that opens up topics on moral, ethical and spiritual issues. Please look at How To Use This Site for great tips and some do's and dont's for dialoguing with your family.

June. 20, 2011

Valedictorian
- WABC New York

Winning an honor like valedictorian of your high school is quite an accomplishment.  It means that you excelled, above all others, in your studies for four years.  The best-of-the-best.  Does sharing the honor take some shine off of the achievement?  What about sharing it with someone who may not even deserve it?
Malverne High School in Long Island, NY announced earlier in the year that Aalique Grahame and Sarah St. John would be sharing the award, having achieved the same GPA during their time at the school; a third student, Xavier Bernard,  was awarded the honor of salutatorian.  Only months later did school officials realize that a mistake was made.  After factoring the grades from the first semester of their senior year, Aalique bested Sarah's GPA by a fraction of a point. What happened next would lead to cries of outrage, harassment, the hiring of lawyers and even the involvement of the NAACP.

• If you were given power to do so, how would you resolve this situation?  Would you allow Sarah to receive the honor with Aalique?  Would you give Sarah the salutatorian and strip Xavier of the honor?
• Would you feed the need to consult the students, their parents, or anyone else on the matter?

The Malverne High principal decided that the two should share the award after all. This didn't sit well with Aalique, nor many in the community. "The numbers are the numbers, you should go by the numbers. It shouldn't be about sympathy or compassion," Aalique said.  He hired a lawyer and received the support of the local NAACP chapter in his efforts.
Sarah, on the other hand, became the victim of criticism and harassment for receiving an honor some felt she didn't deserve, even though initially she agreed to accept the lower honor. "I found out who my real friends are," she concluded.

• Many felt the principle made the correct decision; that the mistake was made by officials, not Sarah or Xavier, and that taking away their honors would be unfair to them.  How do feel about this solution?
• Others followed Aalique's reasoning that the honor is awarded based on numbers and without consideration of compassion.  Which viewpoint do you feel is more valid?
• Aalique's family hired a lawyer, apparently to ensure that he alone would receive the distinction.  Does this action seem reasonable to you?
• What did Aalique have to win or lose, depending on whether he was forced to share the honor or not.

In Luke 14, Jesus comments on the assigning of places of honor with a parable.  In it He says that when invited to a feast you should not sit in a place of honor - lest you be asked to move for someone more distinguished and be shamed.  Instead, He says, "go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you." (v.10)  The principle is that seeking your own honor can lead to humiliation: "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (v. 11)

• In the case of Aalique and Sarah, how do you think their actions reflected the principles of humility vs. seeking honor? How would you have handled this situation?

[photo courtesy of Charline Tetiyevsky on flicker]

Monday, June 6, 2011
Finding money, but searching for fairness.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Wrestling with gender issues, and integrity.

Thursday, December 16, 2010
Most prefer "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays"

Wednesday - June 23, 2010
Looking for work? Unemployed need not apply.

Friday - June 18, 2010
Woman Follows Google Maps “Walking” Directions, Gets Hit, Sues

Thursday - June 10, 2010
'Returnaholics' cost retailers billions of dollars a year

Raising Kids For True Greatness

You want only the best for your kids. And you want them to be successful. Sure, there's nothing wrong with that. But what if there was something more? Could your definition of success be leaving out the most important part?

If you found an article worthy of being listed here submit the URL with your questions.

NOTE: Not all requests will be listed on this page. No response will be given as to whether your request will be used or not.

How do you define success for your child? "Graduates from a prestigious college." "Nabs a high-paying job." "Settles down with a nice family." Sounds good. But what if you got it all wrong?

What about greatness? Where does it fit in? "If you aim your children at anything less than greatness, you'll set them up to miss the whole point of their lives," says author Tim Kimmel. In Raising Kids for True Greatness, Kimmel turns the definition of success on its head and guides you in preparing your child for a life that will easily eclipse the goals of those who are merely successful. More Info.