By BARTON GOLDSMITH, Scripps Howard News Service

With the humblest of apologies to Sir Charles Darwin, I don't believe that survival of the fittest applies any longer. In the world today knowing how to handle failures -- and also how to use them to move ahead -- determines who goes the way of the Dodo bird and who evolves.

When a child is not able to get attention from his or her primary caretakers, he or she will do what kids do and act out by saying or doing something that creates some drama. Children do this because negative attention is still attention. We expect this because children are trying to figure out how to do life, and part of their job is to push their boundaries and our buttons.

When a child is not able to get attention from his or her primary caretakers, he or she will do what kids do and act out by saying or doing something that creates some drama. Children do this because negative attention is still attention. We expect this because children are trying to figure out how to do life, and part of their job is to push their boundaries and our buttons.

There are many people who are now suddenly unemployed. Here are 10 tips to help you deal with the turmoil and pain of losing a job you need and may even love. My wish for you is that you never have to use them.

Living in "overwhelm" is the norm for most families these days. If you don't agree, think about how many times you've rushed out of work so you can pick up the kids in time to get to the store, just so you can jet home to make dinner and then supervise homework while you get ready for the next day.

This Mother's Day might be a challenge for some children who are used to honoring Mom with a lavish brunch or dinner, and perhaps a lovely gift. Unfortunately, this year has put a crimp in the budget of many who would love to hire a limo and take their mother to her favorite restaurant.

Life is difficult. That's the way M. Scott Peck began his transformational book, "The Road Less Traveled." Problem is, most people don't want to hear this truth, but if you don't factor it in, your life will actually become more challenging.

Fulfillment comes from building the life you have dreamed of. To create a great and loving relationship, you first need a strong foundation. Making sure that the cornerstones of your love are solid will give you the ability to weather the storms of real life. Here are four areas that, with a little effort, will support your connection.

We all want to feel happy, and each of us has different ways of getting there. Here are 10 steps you can take to increase your joie de vivre and bring more happiness into you life.
1. Be with others who make you smile. Studies show that we are happiest when we are around those who are also happy. Stick with those who are joyful and let it rub off on you.

The current thinking is that because of the economy, families are spending more time together. Dinners around the dining-room table strengthen bonds, help kids feel emotionally secure and also save money.