One of my favorite things to do when my children were little happened because VHS tape were invented. In my childhood, we had to wait a whole year for "The Wizard of Oz", or "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown". There was no owning movies!!! In the 1960’s we had to wait and wait and wait. In … Continue reading Movies Can Build character
Mental Models and Stories
Improving His Character
We read about John Adams last week, who was our second President. Benjamin Franklin was another Founding Father in the United States. In 1726 at the age of 20, he determined 13 character traits or virtues that he wanted to model his life after. He set about creating a daily and weekly system in order … Continue reading Improving His Character
The Book of Mormon Teaches Character
In the Book of Mormon we read how 2060 stripling [young like a new stripling tree] warriors were strengthened spiritually and emotionally for years on the inside of themselves, before they went into physical battle: "They were exceedingly valiant for courage and also for strength and activity but behold this is not all, they were … Continue reading The Book of Mormon Teaches Character
Character–What Is it?
You have agreed to make a trip in a boat. It would be a three or four hour trip across the harbor for a generous fee in order to deliver something. You have never sailed but the boat seems seaworthy, you like the water and so you push off from the shore. What seemed like … Continue reading Character–What Is it?
Understand the Differing Capacities and Seasons In Others
Sometimes we can't see or understand how stressed out our spouse is. Meridian Magazine is an online magazine for Latter-day Saints that has a Friday column where people can write into a therapist, Geoff Steuer, who will answer their questions. One week, a mother of four wrote in, worried about the birth of a … Continue reading Understand the Differing Capacities and Seasons In Others
Understanding the Importance of Feedback
My mother’s love language was praise. That was a wonderful gift as a child but that also meant that negative language in any way was hard for me to hear. I was so primed to hear praise that when I didn’t hear it I was deeply affected. I distinctly remember right after we got married, … Continue reading Understanding the Importance of Feedback
“Tiny Changes”
From a previous post 3 years ago: In the book, Atomic Habits, the author, James Clear, talks about making small improvements everyday. He talks about having structures around the goals you want to accomplish, with a series of tiny changes you want to make. James Clear gives a nod to the book The Power of Habit when he talks … Continue reading “Tiny Changes”
It Is Never Too Late To Start Reading
I grew up reading as my form of entertainment and self- soothing. I would rather read than watch any show on TV. I loved to read. I finally, as a young mother, had to discipline myself not to read all the time. When I had my fourth child, I distinctly remember thinking, “Okay, I have … Continue reading It Is Never Too Late To Start Reading
What We Can Do Right Now To Help Our Child Become A Good Reader
Getting involved in our children's reading is crucial to early reading success and future achievement in school. My first child Nico was a great reader. Usually first children get all of that ATTENTION, right, because they are the first and onlies. I tried with my second child, Ross. It doesn’t come as easy with most … Continue reading What We Can Do Right Now To Help Our Child Become A Good Reader
Family Stories Are The Gold Standard
I have been posting how much reading books will help our children. We know it helps their language skills, their mental models of how the world works and that reading at an early age will help them do better at school. Starting the love of books at a young age can help them love books … Continue reading Family Stories Are The Gold Standard
"Peace Like A River…" 