We know water is a big issue in the Western United States. The story of Hoover Dam situated outside of Las Vegas is a remarkable tale of vision and compromise between seven of these states sharing the water from the Colorado River. We have driven over this engineering marvel many times, when we lived in … Continue reading Learning Packets: Relationships Part 1
Setting Loving Boundaries
Educate Our Children About Unhealthy Substances
We know energy drinks aren’t healthy because of the amount of caffeine and the sugar added to mask the bitterness of the caffeine. Research has shown that energy drinks are consumed by 31 percent of 12-17 year-olds--One third of teenagers! Teenagers say they think of energy drinks as a healthy switch from soda. If it … Continue reading Educate Our Children About Unhealthy Substances
Essentialism vs. Minimalism
Everyday we are sifting and choosing through thousands of choices. Choosing what is essential will improve the quality of our lives. Choosing what is critical is not Minimalism, which is having less stuff. I looked up the definition of minimalism and wikipedia said: Minimalism is all about living with less. This includes less financial … Continue reading Essentialism vs. Minimalism
Why Do We Accommodate?
This is a story of new parents, and putting up with a fussy kid. My last post included the discovery of a new program--SPACE--Supportive Parenting For Anxious Childhood Emotions--that helps parents of anxious kids to stop accommodating their children's worries. When we make allowances for behavioral quirks our children have, they get worse. Owen is … Continue reading Why Do We Accommodate?
Stressed Out Parenting
A friend recently recommended a book called, The Coddling of the American Mind, by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt. It is so good! In this 4 minute video, one of the authors, Jonathan Haidt talks about over parenting, meaning the hovering and micro managing some of us do as parents. Some of his insights are … Continue reading Stressed Out Parenting
Parenting is a Win-Win
It was a beautiful, million dollar day--blue Utah skies with no clouds--yesterday on Park City ski slopes. Despite the incredible snow and weather, I couldn't help but overhearing well-dressed children yelling at their parents. "I am never coming skiing with you again!" and "I hate skiing!" I also watched a 5-year-old have a lengthy argument … Continue reading Parenting is a Win-Win
Hitting My Hot Buttons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmQw7NVZEmc I wrote about this show, Til Debt Do Us Part, in another post, here. This particular episode, above, hits all my passions-- teaching children to work, not being a mother martyr, doing big family projects together and paying off a mortgage. Unfortunately this couple was going in the wrong direction on their spending, adding … Continue reading Hitting My Hot Buttons
We’re Building, We’re Building…
In my last post I started a list on how to build a strong family. With all of the different ways to parent, some ways may be easier and ensure a win-win for us and our children. Our children can grow up feeling secure and attached, knowing the boundaries we have set for the family. … Continue reading We’re Building, We’re Building…
Screen Strong
Screenstrong.com is a website started by Melanie Hemp, a mother who was alarmed at the dependency on screens she was seeing from her children. She has garnered support and an impressive board of directors, and it has turned into a movement. Screenstrong boldly says on their website "Reclaiming our kids: rescuing a screen-driven generation". What are … Continue reading Screen Strong
Attach, Then Discipline
I still remember a discipline problem from twenty years ago, because it was such a disaster. I was in Las Vegas, and we were spending the week at my In-laws. They had a new pool and we were there to play with cousins and enjoy the sun and water together as an extended family. In … Continue reading Attach, Then Discipline
"Peace Like A River…" 