【推荐1】The Motz family of Katy, Texas, says their lives changed after a visit to the dentist’s office.

Mason Motz, 6, was at Dr. Amy Luedemann-Lazar’s office to get ________ pulled when the pediatric dentist noticed a different issue. Mason had suffered from speech delays his whole life. He was born with Sotos Syndrome(综合症), a genetic disorder that affects growth and ________. The family thought his speech delays were due to the disorder, but it turns out that he was tongue-tied. The condition caused ________ range of motion with his mouth.

Since birth, Mason had suffered from breathing and sleeping issues, which ________ behavioral problems. When he ________, there were choking challenges. He also spent years in speech therapy.

Within hours of undergoing a minutes-long laser procedure to ________ the tongue-tie, Mason started talking in full sentences. These days, life is ________ different for the little boy. “He’s got a vocabulary now. He’s able to put together letters and words,” said Mason’s dad, Dalan Molz. The ________ is giving all the credit to Dr. Luedemann-Lazar, who specializes in treating special needs ________ and tongue-tied children.

In a home video ________ on his mother’s cell phone, you can see and ________ Mason reciting the events of his day and ________ science class. Mason’s parents say he is now thriving. “Words can hardly express our ________,” Motz said gratefully. Meredith and Dalan Motz say they’re eager to share their story with other families in a ________ situation. They encourage parents to ________ a second opinion, sometimes, a third or fourth opinion.

【推荐2】I was working at a primary school as a therapist (治疗专家) many years ago. One day I was talking with a second-grader. At some point during the conversation, the student appeared _______ and asked me, “Mr. Smith, does what I’ve said really _______ you?”

I learned that this second-grader was living in a big family. His _______ of talking with adults had been mostly limited to _______ his behaviors when he was doing something they didn’t like. Outside of that, he didn’t _______ any extended conversations with them.

After hearing the student’s question, I _______ him that I was absolutely lost in what he had said. Gradually, the student became _______ and willing to express his thoughts and feelings. Our six-month treatment _______ transformed this student: he turned from a shy, barely speaking child into someone who felt his voice _______.

I also had first-hand experience of ________ teenagers at adolescent treatment centers. One of the most common ________ these teens had was that their parents didn’t listen to them and they felt ________. The feeling of disempowerment (被剥夺权力) hurt them emotionally, which could also ________ their destructive behaviors.

Listening to our kids can bring them ________. It can help strengthen emotional connections and boost their self-esteem (自尊心). Therefore, let’s give up this ________: As long as you live under my roof, you must do as I say. Instead, try to listen to kids.

【推荐3】Believe it or not, I hate birthdays. First of all you keep getting ________, and second you always get presents you can’t ________. If I could just have a nice chocolate cake all to myself, I’d be very happy. But no! I have received more ties, pajamas, umbrellas, and gloves than you can imagine. I keep all my unwanted gifts piled neatly in a corner of my closet. If I need one of the items, I draw from my stock, but that is a ________ occurrence. The result is that my pile is quite large.

One day, my Aunt Gloria called me.

“Hello, Shelley,” she said. “We’re having a surprise birthday party for Cousin Stove. Will you be able to come on Thursday the 29th at 2p.m.?”

“One minute, while I look at my ________,” I said.

“Too ________,” I thought to myself. “I’m free. I guess I’ll have to go.”

To Aunt Gloria, I said, “Yes, that day looks O.K. to me. I’ll be there. Should I bring anything for the party?”

“No,” answered Aunt Gloria, “just bring yourself.”

The morning for the party arrived. After some thought, I ________ that it would be proper to bring my ________ a little gift. I thought it would please her. I had a good stock of gifts in my ________, so I could simply rewrap one and offer it to her. It was getting late by the time I got around to wrapping it. So I ________ the first box I saw and wrapped it in a hurry.

My ________ were all-there when I arrived. They were glad to see me, and if the occasion hadn’t been a birthday party, I guess I would have been glad to see them. Uncle Joe told me I had ________. “You look wonderful,” he said.

I plowed my way through the crowd to Aunt Gloria. “Here,” I said cheerfully, ________ my gift. “A little something for you.”

“Oh, that’s very kind of you,” said my aunt. She began to ________ the gift. “I wonder what it could be,” she murmured. Then she began to read a ________ that was enclosed, which I didn’t remember having put in.

“Dear Shelley,” she read, “hope you enjoy these ________. They’ll keep your fingers warm in the winter. Love, Aunt Gloria.”