Teaching Your Child Self-Control

I recent did some research on teaching children self-control. I have been thinking that there has to be another way to go about this rather than repeating myself to my 3 darling children, OVER AND OVER AND OVER...

I stumbled upon the practice of "Conscious Discipline".

Here are a few notes I took and I'd love to share.

12 Ingredients of Conscious Discipline

1. Know your own boundaries and set rules.

2. Look at your own behavior to see what you're teaching your child.

3. Listen to yourself to make sure you are in charge and not your child.

4. Whenever possible, plan ahead; avoid difficult settings or circumstances.

5. See the situation through your child's eyes

6. Pick your battles.

7. Offer closed-ended choices.

8. Don't be afraid to say "no".

9. Nip undesirable behavior in the bud.

10. Praise good behavior and correct or ignore bad.

11. Don't rely on corpora punishment.

12. Remember that giving doesn't equal love.

I love this quote:

Most kids hear what you say;
Some kids do what you say;
But all kids do what you do.

Kathleen Casey Theisen

In this Photo is a Very Embarrassed Me

OK, this is a while back... yeah, the dress and the hair style did not give that one away, right? (be nice)
I was in a "Crimson and Blue Pageant" at my school. The winner of this pageant competed on a state level. The State Winner would then be the representative for our state in the Miss America Pageant.
Well, this a new level of competition at our school. We all signed up and went through the very strict interviews and regulations. My mom hired a very expensive hair dresser for that hair, (so, again...be nice). My dress is red and I adored the puffiness of the skirt. I'm done setting up the story....

On to the event.

Right before the competition we were all dressed up and ready to all take a walk on stage and greet the audience. You know, wave, wave, smile, smile...walk and all exit as a group like we entered. The reminder of what to do if picked for the top 10 were reviewed once again. I was not listening at this time to those instructions, because I was in it for fun of dressing up, and I was not as serious as some of the competitors who were very glamorous. I was a cheerleader and an athlete which means nothing to this story, but I, instead of listening, was chatting in the corner with my buddies.

The Winner is....

Well, those of us who were not top 10 were sent to the gym to join our family. I suddenly noticed a commotion and strange looks on my mother and neighbor's face as I walked out and began walking over to them. Being a teen, I just brushed it off as adults being weird. I mean, hello.... they ARE parents, weird comes with the territory!

The WINNER ISSSSS......Annette McGuire!


Wait wah? I'm not the winner.... there are people on stage... and I am not the winner... they are SO mixed up. I'm in the bleachers for crying out loud....

"Miss Congeniality is Annette McGuire"

Seriously?

Oh NO! I SO didn't listen to what the winners are suppose to do....

I got up, (ok, I was pushed out of my seat by my friends and mother) and started walking over to the stage to receive my award. Nooooo, that wasn't what I was suppose to do.... the coordinator "whispers" loudly at me...
OK, So I walk behind the stage and pop up next to the MC. take my award to run off stage. BUT noooooo, that is not what I am suppose to do either....She is now moving her arms in a sweeping way, motioning me to keep walking.

OK, Did I mention this is on stage in many bright stage lights? Spot lights. Judges who didn't pick me...are now laughing and put down their pens. Cross their arms and enjoy the comedy relief wondering how I'm going to get out of this one. Believe me, I was wondering the same thing.

I stood center stage... looked to the coordinator, she says STOP. My mom and friends are motioning.... get off the stage.
By now the whole audience is understanding my dilemma and NOOOOO one is throwing me a bone! What do I do? I stand middle stage...where this picture was taken, and just look straight out to the audience, smile and wave. I then twirl my hair and crack up. I still don't know where to go or what to do.

This was a "Teachable Moment" for me... It marks my sudden desire to listen and follow directions better in my life.

What about you? Oh, and believe me, I'm always getting myself into situations, but the embarrassment doesn't happen in the spot light. Well, wait there was that time in New York City when I was on stage with CATS... but that's another story.

I Believe I Can Fly

Ok, I really wish I could still do this. In my mind I can. However, my brain is not the muscle that is needed to do this jump. This is me the summer before my senior year in high school.

I have had three babies, and I am getting fit again. At the gym I have started to do my stretches and will begin yoga. But one day soon I will do this jump. I am Bound and Determined!

When I do...Film at 11!

What do you wish you could do? What are you doing to make that wish come true?

Knit Your Fall Wardrobe From Scratch

Ok, first of all those are not my feet. This was a picture attached to an email I got from InStyle Magazine. They suggest that we "Knit our own fall wardrobe from scratch" Some how this email has reached the iphone of the wrong reader. I love to knit...but there is no part of me that wants to start knitting my own clothes starting from the toes up, (toe up from the flo up). HA!
In my mind it is a tad bit mummy sounding...

Anyway, just wanted to share.

Everyone Knows

There is really no more I can add to this. I think this picture of the product says it all.

Who knows, maybe it would be a hit at a summer bbq party. You might have to pick your nose when you get to the party...I'm sorry this is only just asking for bad puns. Which again, might be fun at a summer party.