Respect | Childhood Myths

Thank You, MOPs!!

February 26, 2013 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

Last night Chad and I spoke at a MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) meeting in Macomb. What a great bunch of ladies!!! Lots of fun, lots of discussion, and hopefully for them lots of hints! A couple of little ones were there to add to the atmosphere…baby talk is always welcome:))

This is what we love to do, so let us know if you’d like us to come speak to your group…

talking about family life is what it's all about:)

we actually sold some of these last night!!

Finding ways to share our message is always important to us. The meeting last night helped to invigorate us with some new energy…so thank you very much MOPs:)

lovin' them when they're little and lovin' them when they're bigger!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: behavior, being involved, book, children, education, families, giving thanks, goals, helping, inspiration, intentions, methods, parenting, respect, thank yous

Kids During the Holidays…kind, grateful??

November 27, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

Do your kids know about kindness and respect? How did they act at the Thanksgiving dinner table?

beautiful table, wonderful kids??

If your children sat at the table for the entire dinner, interacted politely with those around them, remembered to say Please and Thank You, and Smiled - Congratulations! You must have been doing something right for years!! If that did not look like your table – All of these things can be taught with you as the model. Practice now for a new look for the holiday tables:

1. Have your kids stay at the table every night until everyone is done with dinner…it’s only polite!! And then, have them ask to be excused. No…really!! It works – the boys’ grandfather is still impressed, 25 years later, that they said, “May we please be excused?” from a long ago holiday dinner.

with Gramma and Grandad Gallimore workin’ on manners

2. Kids need to practice talking to adults, being kind and respectful. Being able to talk to you on a daily basis shows how they will interact with others. Be kind in the family also since you are always being a role model, good or not so much…

3. Please and Thank You are SOOOO important!! It is so easy to teach at home if you are constantly modeling what you want and never relaxing your expectations. Kids do what you show them they have to do! Always say please to them (not asking as if it’s a request, but just being kind) and always expect a thank you in return. Remember to reply with a You’re Welcome to reinforce that you heard their polite response:) Always say thank you to them. If you hand your kids something, keep your hand on it until they ‘remember’ to thank you. Eventually a look from you will remind them of their required manners. Please help your children to find their manners

Practicing manners with Gramma and Grampa Finkbeiner starts early!!

4. Smiling can be taught!!! Try it…we told our kids that fake smiles were better than real frowns. Besides, your brain reads those smile muscles as happiness – it actually makes you feel better if you smile. HONEST!! Give it a shot!

Torch Lake kids being happy!!

If you concentrate on these few ideas for the next month, your future holiday dinners could be a breeze, and your children could learn valuable lessons for their future.

Good luck! Let me know how it goes:)

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: appreciation, behavior, boundaries, children, education, families, family photos, follow-through, giving thanks, goals, holiday gratitude, holidays, improving the world, intentions, manners, methods, parenting, please and thank you, respect, smile, table manners, thank yous, traditions

For the Teachers and Parents

September 4, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

In Michigan, by law, the kids can’t start school until after Labor Day….so for all the teachers and parents starting a new school year, here’s a little ha-ha for you:

different perspectives, for sure!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: behavior, children, education, families, goals, homework, methods, parenting, respect

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

How to Read a Report Card

January 17, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

“What do you mean…read a report card??? If I can see an A, B, or C or a 1, 2, or 3….doesn’t that mean I’m done?”

do you read this part of the report card?

how about this?

..or this?

maybe your card looks like this...

I have a few pointers for you to help you make the most out of the information available to you on that report card. There are many different types of cards…for elementary and secondary schools…types of reporting with grades and/or numbers. No one can know what that reporting system means without actually ‘reading’ the directions first. Yup, that’s what I said…you really do have to know what the +’s and -’s mean that are attached to letter grades. But even more than that, most cards have individual standards listed underneath each major heading (like math)…if you see x’s or checkmarks in little boxes there, do you know what they mean? I don’t either unless I ‘read’ the card. It’s the only way to know if those extra marks are encouraging or hoping for more attention! The more you read that side of the card, the more you can help your child to succeed academically.

here's my favorite part of report cards...

But, more importantly, at least in my opinion, is the other part of the card. You know….the part that talks about citizenship and/or work habits…. This area of the card is so important in telling you how your child is doing with traits that will be of benefit to him all through his life. Reading the card is, again, of utmost importance to see what the ‘grades’ are in these areas. If, for example, 1-5 is used to report a child’s ability to listen to and follow directions…what does that mean to you? Is a 3 for satisfactory okay with you?? In life…don’t you need to be able to follow directions in a better manner than satisfactory? I always wanted a 1 or 2 in every area in both citizenship and work habits for my children at home and for the students I taught at school. Less than that meant, to me, that the kids weren’t trying their best to be kind or work hard or finish things on time or whatever the skills were on that card.

are these important qualities for you to monitor?

social and personal growth?? Oh, yeah!

work habits are extremely important also...

Make sure you check with your child’s teacher about their methods of grading and what they expect, but then also remember to read and understand that report card before zooming directly to the numbers and letters. And because I can’t leave it alone…please encourage citizenship and work habits above all else. Our world definitely could use kind and responsible citizens now and in the future.

Just thoughts from a retired teacher…hoping to be helpful!

Missing Happiness Tuesdays?? Join us on Thursday for something new:)

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: behavior, being involved, children, education, families, follow-through, goals, homework, improving the world, inspiration, intentions, kindness, methods, parenting, report cards, respect

School Open Houses

October 1, 2011 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

Everyone is back into school and settled in, right? Have you had your school’s Open House or Curriculum Night yet…or whatever else it might be called? This is the night to hear the plan for the year, to hear from your child’s teacher, to find out what might be expected from your little darlings…this is different from conferences when parents get to discuss progress in academics and citizenship with their children’s teachers. Open Houses can be so helpful in beginning a satisfactory, successful year for your kids. I hope you can remember to attend with an open mind. So many times the neighborhood ‘rumor mills’ decide who the good and bad teachers are…don’t you feel you should be able to make your own assessment after interaction with the teacher personally? I hope you will give it a try.

Newsletters, whether printed or online, are an important source of information to keep you up-to-date with what may be going on in the classrooms. Calendars, assignments, notices of upcoming events and necessary paperwork are included to help you prepare for what your child may be bringing home.

If you want to speak with the teacher about something you feel is important before conferences arrive, please try email first. Teachers usually read and respond quicker than having to find the time to answer a phone call or schedule a meeting. When you do send that email out, remember that the teacher can’t see your facial expressions or read your mood, but they can see the speed with which you share your concern. Do you take the time to reread what you have written? Would you say the same things in person with others around you? Have you considered all sides to the question? Are you angry?? Please put the email aside for an hour before hitting that send button…sometimes just breathing will give you a totally different perspective on the issue, and if not, at least you will have given yourself the chance to cool down.

Most parents are lovely sponsors for their children, and their children will become lovely role models themselves. Others might be able to use some simple reminders of civility. If this post seems negative in any way, I’m only sharing advice after teaching for 41 years. I hope what you see is someone trying to help!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: behavior, being involved, children, education, follow-through, goals, helping, intentions, manners, methods, parent/teacher conferences, parenting, report cards, respect

A Perfect Baby Gift

July 21, 2011 By Diane and Chad 5 Comments

Maybe this would be the perfect find if you’re looking for a baby shower gift or new-baby-home-from-the-hospital gift:

This Amazon site: “How to Break 10 Common Childhood Myths” now allows you to look inside the book to see what tips might help you or those you know.

….and if by chance you are a perfect parent and never need any helpful hints to make your life easier – anyone? anyone? – copies could surely be shared with others:

- that sister or sister-in-law

- your children who are now parents

- teachers at your kids’ schools

- church groups

- day care areas

- dance studios

- anywhere that children and their parents congregate

Once you check out the book, or before, come check out our website and blog at Childhood Myths where you can learn about our workshops for parents and teachers and about our Sassy Kids Home Parties.

Have fun while reinforcing good habits!

We hope you'll love it and share it with others:)

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: backpacks, bedtime, behavior, being involved, book, boundaries, children, chores, education, families, follow-through, helping, homework, improving the world, intentions, manners, methods, parenting, please and thank you, respect, saying no, stories, table manners

More Truth in the Comics

July 9, 2011 By Diane and Chad 7 Comments

Here’s to more fun in our lives by way of the comics….the scary part is that they are all too often true-to-life!!

check these out:

It’s perfect, isn’t it??

Click on any if you’d like to see them larger….

love it!

we all wonder who's boss sometimes, huh?

kids definitely in control here...

losin' the battle...

whew...parenting is hard work!!

Sooo…do any of these hit a little close to home?? Laugh your way through them, but if there’s something you might be able to learn from the comics…why not??

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: behavior, children, chores, methods, parenting, respect, saying no

Respectful Behavior

January 29, 2011 By Diane and Chad 3 Comments

Respect is the most important quality for people of all ages to have.

amazingly respectful to their mom

If you, as a mom or dad or teacher, ignore bad behavior then you are encouraging further bad behavior. Kids are always pushing boundaries – that’s their job!! Our job as adults is to make sure the boundaries that we want are solid. If you think that some minor misbehaving is normal, you’re right! That is true. However, the reason it is called misbehaving is because it isn’t behavior that you want to have continue. So it is necessary – every time – to correct and redirect…doesn’t matter what the age of the child is. Kids will learn one of two things: either misbehaving is tolerated or misbehaving is not tolerated. Which do you think will help your children in the future?

It becomes a matter of respect. Do your kids listen to you and follow your directions? They should!! When they choose to disobey you, they are being disrespectful. It is normal for them to test your limits, but it should also be normal for you to reinforce the behaviors you do want.

As a teacher, I have often made “Gold Coins of Respect” to explain and give to kids at school.

Gold Coin of Respect

On one side of the coin is the word ‘respect’ surrounded by three words, ‘people’, ‘property’, and ‘self’. If kids can learn what it means -specifically – to respect other people, property, and themselves, then the idea of respect as a whole can be reinforced. I believe self-esteem comes from a healthy respect for ‘self’, not from other people patting them on the back for everything they do.

back side

The back side of the coin has three words from The Declaration of Independence: life, liberty, happiness. I tell the kids about the guarantee of life and liberty, but not a guarantee of happiness. We are only guaranteed the right to pursue happiness.

The Gold Coin of Respect is just a symbol to remind kids of how to treat others, how to behave, and how to go after their own happiness.

“It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life…that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Can you teach your children to respect themselves, to respect others, and to respect the boundaries you set for them?

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: behavior, education, parenting, respect, Slideshow