Stories | Childhood Myths

more fun…

November 4, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

Another wonderful wedding this weekend….

Congratulations to Don and Laura!!!

aren't they cute?

Don, and most of his groomsmen, have been friends with Scott (and Chad, too) since elementary or junior high school!! Great friends for a long time!

Scott with 2 great friends...

Chad with the groom

So much fun…all night long…dancing, great music, talking with friends, young and old

woohoo!

groomsmen following the dj's steps....loved it!!

and the lovely ladies:)

the guys celebrating ... Friends in Low Places!!

By the end of the celebration very few of us still had voices left! I enjoyed being with so many wonderful folks who have shared many other memories over the years!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: beauty, being involved, carpe diem, family fun, family photos, fun, giving thanks, having fun, joyful, laugh, love, memories, parenting, photos, special friend, stories, weddings

Time

July 24, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

Spend time with those you love. One of these days you will say either

“I wish I had” or ”I’m glad I did”.

Zig Ziglar

No matter the weather…hot, cold, wet, or dry…inside or outside….find the time to make memories together! I think I can say, “I’m glad I did” !!!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: appreciation, beauty, behavior, being involved, carpe diem, children, families, family photos, having fun, love, memories, parenting, photos, stories

Joyful Thursdays #25

July 12, 2012 By Diane and Chad 4 Comments

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

Joyful Thursdays #25

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

1) having my sweet son paint the guest room…

a great worker

old walls, needed repair work

love the bright, sunny color:)

2) lovin’ some more old photos…Gallimores:

3) and lovin’ some more photos…Horns…

So much fun!! Happy!!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: families, family photos, giving thanks, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, joyful, joyful Thursdays, memories, stories

water, water, everywhere…

June 24, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

The thought behind sharing all of these ‘water’ photos with you is that children love water when given the chance to explore it. These final photos…no, really!…show the kids loving the water individually, with each other, and with groups of friends.

Isn’t that what we really want for our children? …to find happiness in their own lives both alone and with others!!

We do love the water….

Whether playing in a backyard pool or lake, skipping stones in one of the Great Lakes near a freighter or the Mackinac Bridge, playing in water anywhere is a way to encourage a love of water for life!!

Brothers still enjoying the water!!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: appreciation, beauty, behavior, brothers, families, family fun, family photos, family vacations, having fun, intentions, involve, memories, parenting, photos, stories

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

Road Trips are Fun!

May 20, 2012 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

I’ll share a few photos from the old slides today…all about traveling with kids on road trips!!

before we got a big van...packed and jammed...no, he didn't ride back there )

a lot of camping in tents...

playing in the leaves with buddies before the campfire starts...

stopping at Zubler's for souvenirs

traveling to the West...souvenirs are still important

getting to play at a 'tourist trap'

more souvenirs...Sea World often!

Mt. Rushmore, with cool sunglasses

at tahquahmenon falls

we love traveling near the water...

at the mackinac bridge

up North with TLG ....silly clothes party...

great trip to Cape Cod

my guys, hiking in the woods

Loved road trips….of all kinds….to lots of different places. They bring so many wonderful memories…and any difficulties fade as time passes:))))

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: beauty, behavior, brothers, camping, children, families, family fun, family photos, family vacations, fun, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, having fun, joyful, joyful Thursdays, laugh, love, memories, parenting, photos, road trips, smile, stories, tourist traps, vacations

48 Facts You Never Knew About Me

January 21, 2012 By Diane and Chad 6 Comments

We have a beautiful sunny weekend in Michigan with a little bit of shining snow on the ground. So…I thought I’d do something I have never done before….a survey about me! I stole this survey from a lovely blogger…Angie on Maui from Living Aloha. Go visit to see her beautiful thoughts and photos. She’s a gem!!

Goofy survey…now:

1. What time did you get up this morning? around 7

2. How do you like your steak? medium

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?: War Horse…an amazing story

4. What is your favourite TV show? Rizzoli and Isles and the new show, Alcatraz

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Right where I am with the chance to travel anywhere for short periods of time

6. What did you have for breakfast? A breakfast burrito from McDonald’s
7. What is your favorite food? Potatoes! Mashed, baked, roasted, French fries, scalloped…….
8. Foods you dislike? fishy fish, strawberries (weird, right?), brussel sprouts, cilantro

9. Favorite place to eat? Mr. Paul’s Chop House (near Detroit) or Grills (Cocoa Beach, FL)

10. Favorite dressing? depends on the salad, but ranch or raspberry/walnut

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Traverse

12. What are your favorite clothes? jeans and sweaters

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Tahiti

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? at least 1/2 full, usually way more

15. Where would you want to retire? I am…right here!

16. Favorite time of day? morning after the sun rises

17. Where were you born? Port Huron, MI

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Olympic Sports, summer and winter…gymnastics, diving, ice skating

19. What is your favorite fragrance? Chopard, love it! I have a sensitive nose…dislike many smells

20. What is your favorite face cream? Lubriderm

21. Favorite baby/kids products? safe ones!

22. People watcher? Yup!

23. Are you a morning or night person? morning…see #16

24. Do you have any pets? Beautiful, black cat…keeps me company every day

25. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share? book published for parents

26. What did you want to be when you were little? A teacher or secretary…became a teacher for 41 years!!

27. What is your favorite memory? college memories with my hubby and family vacations with the 4 of us

28. Are you a cat or dog person? cat

29. Are you married? this may seem like a strange answer since he died 15 years ago…but a very definite YES!

30. Always wear your seat belt? Always in the front seat, rarely in the back seat

31. Been in a car accident? one..other car kids who had been drinking, no one was hurt

32. Any pet peeves? people who are unkind, those who make decisions without all the info, neglect

33. Favorite pizza toppings? sausage and lots of cheese

34. Favorite flower? red carnation

35. Favorite ice cream? chocolate

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? McDonald’s every morning for drive-thru breakfast…even though I’m retired!

37. How many times did you fail your driver’s test? Never.

38. From whom did you get your last email? My buddy Bev

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? I love Target and/or Kohl’s

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? answered a ‘pay it forward’ email

41. Like your job? loved it…not sure I would like the politics of it now…teacher

42. Broccoli? Yes

43. What was your favorite vacation? Hawaii…have been 4 times…love it!!

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? part of the Torch Lake group

45. What are you listening to right now? nothing…cat purring, snow melting in the sunshine, peaceful quiet

46. What is your favorite color? red and yellow…warm, sunny colors

47. How many tattoos do you have? One. A memory angel. Got it at 65!!

48. Coffee drinker? yup, once a day

Well, that was kind of fun!! Want to join in?? Please do!!

Find things to make you happy!!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: fun, having fun, share, stories

300 followers…woo, hoo! Book Giveaway!

July 28, 2011 By Diane and Chad 7 Comments

How exciting for a blogger to get to 300 followers! I love it!! Thank you to all of you lovely people who actually visit this humble blog. I hope you take something helpful each time you visit…a parenting tip, a photo to make you smile, an encouraging word to get you through your day:)

yup! Wow...and grateful!!

So how about a book giveaway?? Would you like a free copy of How to Break 10 Common Childhood Myths ?? Then between now and next Wednesday enter the Childhood Myths giveaway! Steps to take:

1- comment below and follow if you don’t already:) =1 entry

2- head to Childhood Myths FaceBook page and ‘like’ us..be sure to let us know that you did:) =1 entry

3- check out the Amazon page (above) and ‘like’ our book:) =1 entry

4- if you’ve read the book already (and are entering to give the book to someone else..and we love that), write a quick review at the Amazon site:) =2 entries

This is it...check out Amazon for description and reviews:)

We will announce the randomly drawn winner next Thursday!

Enter to win as many times as you wish between now and then:) and…..in the meantime….

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: appreciation, book, giving thanks, parenting, stories

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

Happiness Tuesdays #26

June 28, 2011 By Diane and Chad 8 Comments

Happiness Counts!

I am beginning Happiness Tuesdays to tell you some things that make me happy and to share with you quotes, websites, and photos to make you happy!

Happiness Tuesdays #26

This is where I usually share three things that make me happy, but today I will share 1 thing three times that makes me very happy:)

WHAT did you say???

1) The book that Chad and I have been working on…for what seems like forever…has been published!!! The official publication date was June 22, 2011.

two high-fives:)

2) The book is now available on Amazon … how authorish does that make us feel?!?

3) We already have one lovely review at Amazon:)

Here is where you can find our book:

How to Break 10 Common Childhood Myths

by Diane and Chad Finkbeiner

our book

If any of you bloggers out there would be interested in doing a review, we will be doing a giveaway of 5 books. Mention in your comments that you’d like to review and you’ll be entered!

Here is the product description from Amazon:

Product Description

A little boy is passing by the toy aisle in the grocery store. His eyes light up and his adrenaline starts flowing. His mom can already see where this is headed. “Not this time Honey, we’re here for groceries today.” “BUT, MOM!!” Children, like this little boy, have an amazing gift of being able to believe in things that aren’t real- myths of all sorts. Might your children believe myths like “No Means Yes”, “Responsibility- What’s That?” , and “Don’t Worry, They’ll Say it Again”? How to Break 10 Common Childhood Myths, is based on a series of seminars, which aid parents and teachers in raising responsible and productive children in a non-threatening way. Parents and educators will be given tips and techniques to regain control in their relationships with their children. Through lighthearted family and classroom anecdotes, a mother/son teaching duo give real life examples of parenting, both good and bad. These anecdotes help bring the advice to life allowing parents to see how to embrace the art of parenting or teaching in a whole new way. It’s a unique blend of Supernanny meets Love and Logic with a touch of The Cosby Show.

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: book, children, education, families, General, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, improving the world, methods, parenting, stories