Saturday, October 3, 2009

weekend




From the very beginning of our marriage, Adam and I have referred to Thursday evening as "Christmas eve"...we like Fridays just that much. We cherish our weekends; however, usually we have back to back activities...like most of you I suspect. I love empty calendar weekends. The kind that you can do whatever whenever--blissful.

Even though this weekend wasn't empty, it is still one of my favorites. It's conference weekend! We've got the cinnamon rolls ready to be baked in the morning, so we can all sit, take notes, and be fed...in every way. I look forward to this for a good six months.
This week, by chance, Adam and I came upon some good parenting tips from a lecture we watched on BYU TV. They were so good that I thought I'd share. Maybe it could help?
(They now have a permanent place on my bedside table...so they can sink in better).

So, the speaker talked about how important it is to balance rules/consequences and nurturing in our families. We need a healthy balance of both. As most of us have a good rule system in our homes, it is important to know how to nurture our children. He gave 4 suggestions to better-nurturing:

1) Give your children words of affirmation, appreciation, and approval. Tell them, regularly, what a good job they did on xyz. For example, even if you've told them a million times to empty the trash, just take their hand and escort them to finally emptying the trash. When they do (even though you practically did it yourself), say, "Good job! Thanks for emptying the trash!"

2) Create a positive environment in your home at these 3 critical times in the day, the crossroad times: in the morning, when they get home from school, and when they go to bed. Instead of a "Get up!" in the morning, replace it with "Good Morning!"

3) Spend time together as a family

4) Give your children physical contact. It's so important...especially at those 3 times. Hug, kiss, pat them on the back. They did a study that waitresses who had even the slightest contact with customers were given more in tips. We all need a good hug!

So, that's it. Simple. Sweet. Helpful (at least for me).

Today, I found a cute little Jack-in-the-Box toy at the thrift store. Instead of a 'Jack' it's a bunny rabbit inside. Joseph, looking for the toy said, "Hey mom! Where's the 'Bunny-Get-Outta-There toy?" When I started giggling, he added, "I mean, the 'Bunny-Box' toy." I giggled even harder.

8 comments:

The Leonard Four said...

i love everything that you said in this post and i couldn't agree more! you are a rockstar parent, lex! :) love you...

Suzanne said...

Love the tips! Love the bunny-get-out-of-there-box! Loved talking to you -- hope your house wasn't too much of a disaster when you got off the phone :). We do cinnamon rolls during conference, too! I'd love to know how you get them ready the night before. Do you bake them in the AM so they are warm? Yum! Hope your conference weekend was FANTASTIC!

Amy Lynn said...

What fantastic advice! Is this a BYU lecture that can be watched online? I could use lots of good parenting tips...just when I think I've got it down, the kids go and do something that I have no idea how to handle!

And I love that cinnamon rolls have become a conference staple for so many people. We love them! Hope your weekend was relaxing and wonderful!!!

cherie said...

thanks so much for posting those tips!! such wonderful advice that i just need to hear over and over!!

love you lots! can't wait to see you!

Rumsey's said...

Aww.. So cute :)

Savannah, Kate & Annie are so gorgeous! They really pull the "I just rolled out of bed and am going to go play soccer" look well :)

See you soon!

TM CLAN said...

I got your question about the rag doll. I don't have your email...so...

I took adult panty hose and cut the legs off. Then sewed red yarn on it in rows like hair. It was sooo easy. And I'm not a sewer at all. Good luck...post pics!

mo said...

Where were you when I needed those likd of tips? You are a such a sweet and cute mom!

mo said...

That was supposed to say those KIND of tips. Oops, my fingers slipped!