Reading | Childhood Myths

Joyful Thursdays #59

April 11, 2013 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

What brings you joy, makes you happy, gives you peace? Here are some photos, quotes, and thoughts that make me joyful.

Joyful Thursdays #59

Here are three things that make me happy and bring me joy:

1) celebrating Scott’s birthday at Mongolian BBQ…hilarious!

yum

grillin' up the food..

poor Scott...ha, ha...foil helmet and singing "I'm a Little Teapot"

at least he was rewarded with a free sundae!

oh, no...poor puppy was afraid of the new look!!

2) being able to help teachers with their unending testing….I brought home some theme tests to grade at home

stacks of them

3) had book club this week…book was Fall of Giants by Ken Follett, next month The Kitchen House and then The Forgotten Garden

thought this was hilarious!!

I hope you are having a delightful Thursday:))

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: beliefs, birthdays, book, book clubs, brothers, education, family photos, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, having fun, joyful, joyful Thursdays, love, methods, parenting, photos, quotes, reading

Gift Ideas ;)

December 10, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

Just a couple of book ideas to share…

For parents, grandparents, teachers, childcare providers, and babysitters:

How to Break 10 Common Childhood Myths

sorry...can't help sharing:))

And…for all of you fans of Fifty Shades of Grey:

Fifty Shades of Chicken

This is a seriously funny parody…with ‘Miss Hen’ and ‘Mr. Blades”….actual recipes, with naughty dialogue between the two main ‘characters’. Throw it in the stockings of your friends…great surprise!!

Have fun!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: behavior, book, book clubs, carpe diem, cooking, education, families, follow-through, giving presents, holidays, inspiration, laugh, methods, parenting, reading, smile

Thankful Thursdays #34

September 13, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

What brings you joy, makes you happy, gives you peace? Here are some photos, quotes, and thoughts that make me joyful.

Joyful Thursdays #34

Here are three things that make me happy and bring me joy:

1) The absolutely gorgeous weather we have been having…lovely during the day, windows open and covered in blankets at night…ahhh…I feel a fall breeze coming. Here are some summer pretties!

2) ha, ha…to prove that our book club is not full of ‘book snobs’…we decided to read “Fifty Shades of Grey”!!! The discussion was definitely hilarious….embarrassing, but funny:) These shirts are only worn at book club…one of us chickened out and another was working….but the 3 of us thought we were brave even though the waitress at the restaurant looked down her nose at us telling us about her lofty literary choices…. here’s the proof of our bravery:)))

3) having the time to read…anytime and anywhere…I love to go to the metropark to read or the outside mall, people-watching while reading, or just in the back yard…the cooler weather makes it so enjoyable!

Enjoy your days…find time for fun, for you and your kids!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: beauty, behavior, book, book clubs, education, fun, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, having fun, joyful, joyful Thursdays, laugh, parenting, photos, reading

Joyful Thursdays #21

June 14, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

What brings you joy, makes you happy, gives you peace? Here are some photos, quotes, and thoughts that make me joyful.

Joyful Thursdays #21

Here are three things that make me happy and bring me joy:

1) waking up to a cool breeze blowing in the window and a loving cat snuggling close…

2) attending a 50th wedding anniversary for some wonderful friends!

3) nearing our one year anniversary of having our book published….check here to see the reviews ! How to Break 10 Common Childhood Myths would be a great Father’s Day gift for a new daddy but would be a fun read for helpful hints and/or funny stories for anyone!

Spring is springing!!! Are you, also….fly, people, fly:)))

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: beauty, behavior, book, cat, children, families, follow-through, goals, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, joyful, joyful Thursdays, methods, parenting, pets, reading, stories, sunshine

to my students…

April 29, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

I’d like to let all of my students…many of whom are now my friends…know what a privilege it was to have been your teacher!

You learned so many things, not only academic – but social and emotional, too. You have had so much growth over the years:

Not only math, but the ability to solve problems that will improve our world…

Not only English, but the will to write intelligently – even if only on FaceBook and blogs…

Not only reading, but the joy of learning – hopefully, reading those chapter books have led to reading for both knowledge and pleasure…

reading for knowledge and pleasure...

In all other ways – I hope you have learned to be kind and honest. I hope you love to help others and delight in giving what you can. Compassion, respect, belief in others, and wonder in the world around us…I hope you have them all!

so important!

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey! Best wishes in all that you do,

Mrs. F.

Filed Under: book, children, education, giving thanks, goals, Goodness Gorillas, helping, improving the world, inspiration, intentions, kids' book, kindness, memories, methods, reading, respect

Joyful Thursdays #2

January 26, 2012 By Diane and Chad 2 Comments

What brings you joy, makes you happy, gives you peace? Here are some photos, quotes, and thoughts that make me joyful.

Joyful Thursdays #2

Three things that bring me joy:

1) the ability to visit a beautiful museum during the middle of the day with friends…at the Detroit Institute of Arts

2) learning…that life-long learning thing definitely appeals to me:)

3) this lovely gift from my 2 guys many years ago when I moved from 6th grade to 2nd grade teacher…a chair, a rocking chair, a soft-cushiony chair…for groups, reading (loved reading to students)…and now, at home…I can sit in the sun with the cat on my lap, still reading!!

And because I can’t help myself, here are a few more favorite ‘found’ slides:)))

I love photos like this, holding hands, looking away!

excitement!

me with my guys

Dad with his guys

Lots of things bring me joy and happiness!! How about you? Look hard and share them with your family:)

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: brothers, education, families, family photos, goals, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, having fun, joyful, joyful Thursdays, memories, reading, share

End of the Year Checklist

December 31, 2011 By Diane and Chad 4 Comments

Did you accomplish what you wanted to this year? Did your children? How about checking a few things to see if you kept on track….

Did you clean and organize? Did your kids help you and learn to do their own?

clean out that dresser!

removing wallpaper can be hard....

Did you learn a few new recipes and get the kids involved with the measuring and chopping? Great for math and reading skills:)

making Christmas cookies

Did you choose some things to donate to others? Did your children get to do that with their own toys and clothing? The ‘giving mentality’ lasts a long time!

how many toys can I find in here?

Did you read, read, read to them and with them? You will never regret the time you spend with your children, no matter how old they are….

Did you show the kids how to take care of their things by letting them help you take care of yours? Cleaning garages or houses….fixing cars or sewing clothes…dusting, baking, vacuuming, learning to use screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches…tools of all kinds. When kids are very little, they really want to help. As they get older….not so much:) But if they are already in the habit of helping, it just comes more naturally.

helping in the basement

learning how to mow the lawn:)

helping build a trailer

workin' in the yard

Can I do it???

always fun...washing cars

Now is the time to check out what you and your children have done this year. Have you both learned what you would have hoped for?? Great…keep it up! Every little bit of learning will show up in their futures! Have fun with them and teach them what you want them to know!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: behavior, brothers, children, chores, education, families, follow-through, goals, helping, involve, methods, parenting, reading

Just Have to Share:)

September 22, 2011 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

We just need to share our latest…and greatest…information with all of you (so you don’t feel left out of the loop)…

How to Break 10 Common Childhood Myths

If you open the above link, you will head directly to our Amazon page where you can peek inside our book, check out the table of contents, order, review or like our book for parents and teachers. Plan ahead for Christmas or shower gifts

Have you ever been to a book signing? I haven’t! - but Chad and I are holding a Childhood Myths Open House and Book Signing at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, MI on October 17 from 7-9PM. If you live in the area we would love to see you there…just stop in and say hi!

bring your own copy or buy one there...isn't it pretty?

If you will check out our home page you will find out about workshops that we offer to any size parent or teacher group anywhere in the US and Canada. We would be happy to answer questions you might have on workshops or individual parenting questions through our email… childhoodmyths@gmail.com

We love what we do…take advantage of us )

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: appreciation, book, book clubs, children, education, families, follow-through, methods, parenting, reading, share, writing

Happiness Tuesdays #37

September 13, 2011 By Diane and Chad 4 Comments

Happiness Counts!

Happiness Tuesdays are here to tell you some things that make me happy and to share with you quotes, websites, and photos to make you happy!

Happiness Tuesdays #37

Here are 3 things that make me happy:

1) this may be weird, but….I like the ‘sound’ of the color - asparagus green!

2) helping the teachers at my former school check reading and spelling inventories…they have so much paper work, and I….wait for it….like it!!

3) learning how to catalog new books in the media center at school…I’m very much a newbie at this, so I hope I can be helpful! Books like these should always be in the hands of kids, instead of waiting in boxes to be put on the shelves:

great lessons in these books

hilarious lessons here

checked in a bunch of these beauties:)

What makes you happy may not be what makes me happy, so find what that is….and do it! Share with your kids what makes you smile. Find out what makes them smile. Smiling is a choice, so go smile today:))

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: book, education, families, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, inspiration, parenting, reading, smile

Book Club Pick!

August 25, 2011 By Diane and Chad 4 Comments

Are you looking for a new book for your book club? Are you a parent…or a teacher…or a grandparent….or someone looking for a baby shower gift, preparing for Christmas gifts….birthdays, or just looking for a fun read?

I got to be a guest speaker at a lovely book club gathering last night. These wonderful ladies had chosen How to Break 10 Common Childhood Myths as their book for August and invited me to discuss it with them. How exciting is that? It was so much fun because the message of the book isn’t negative about what we don’t do as parents, but positive about what we do right. Everyone can use a hint now and then, right? Our book hopes to enrich your parenting experience by sharing silly and/or serious stories from our family and classrooms, giving you ideas to use or share with others.

If you wish to see a couple of sample pages from our first ‘childhood myth’….”No Means Yes”… just head to Amazon at the above link and you can check it out:)

Maybe if you choose a certain book for your book club a certain person might come join your discussion:))

Thanks, book clubbers, for making us feel that our adventure has been worthwhile. It means a lot to us!!

hurray!!

If you have any questions about book clubs, workshops, home parties …anything to do with parenting and/or teaching…send them along, and we’ll be happy to answer them:)

Happy us….and Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: appreciation, believing, book, book clubs, education, families, intentions, parenting, reading