Thank Yous | Childhood Myths

A Lovely Day

May 13, 2013 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

I had a delightful day yesterday with my favorite people in the whole world…these guys:

We had brunch where these two will be married this summer:

C and S:

with S’s Mom and Dad:

and her brother and sister (missing one brother)

S and L:

L’s Mom (missing her brother):

This beautiful day included brunch, flowers, wine and very special gifts that only my boys would know that I would LOVE…a weather station to replace a broken one and a very simple bottle of soap with a smell that I love…They always impress me with their caring, loving ways:))

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: angels, brothers, families, family fun, family photos, flowers, giving thanks, joyful, joyful holidays, love, parenting, photos, receiving gifts, smile, thank yous

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

Thanks, Santa!

January 6, 2013 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

Christmas is over…the giving, the receiving, the hoopla, and the excitement. Now is the time for the gratitude! I’m sure you and your children shared their thanks with those who were with them during the holidays, but what about those who sent their gifts?? Have your children written their thank you notes yet?

For some reason…I never seem to see the idea that kids could also send a thank you note to Santa! They are always eager to send out those ‘requesting’ letters before Christmas. But what about being grateful for what was received? The poor old guy gets left behind…I wonder why… Is it because we as little folks never wrote notes ourselves? I don’t remember ever writing a thank you letter to Santa, but now that I think about it, I think I should have!

So let’s start a grateful campaign…have your children write a sweet note to the ‘happy old soul’ and give them the idea that thank you notes are always a great way to go:)

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: appreciation, behavior, education, families, follow-through, giving thanks, goals, holiday gratitude, intentions, manners, methods, parenting, please and thank you, receiving gifts, thank yous, traditions

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

Joyful Thursdays #44

November 22, 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 #44

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

For this Thanksgiving Day, 2012….

1) family, near and far

2) wonderful friends…

(and many others!!!)

3) a Thanksgiving dinner….My favorite meal of the year!! I love all of it! I’m preparing it for the guys and their girls and will be sure to share some photos soon…if my brain allows me to remember to do that!!!

Enjoy a peaceful, joyful, and grateful Thanksgiving Day!!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: beauty, brothers, families, family fun, family photos, giving thanks, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, holiday gratitude, holidays, joyful, joyful holidays, joyful season, joyful Thursdays, love, memories, parenting, photos, thank yous, traditions

Late, but Joyful Thursdays #43

November 17, 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 #43

After a very stressful and surprising ‘vacation’ in Florida, I will still find things that make me happy and bring me joy! After 2 days there, my stepdad had a slight fall which we used as an excuse to head to the ER. He has been having some balance issues, memory problems, and other things we were concerned about. He was admitted to the hospital for tests and diagnosed with dementia. We had some very scary days there with over-the-top strange behavior for him…doctors said an infection was making the dementia worse. So, anyway, now he is in a rehab facility…lots of decisions and paperwork for my mom. Stress, exhaustion, scheduling!!

But, looking for the positive, which is what I try to do, here are three things that make me happy and bring me joy:

1) I was actually there at the perfect time for my mom…he would not have gone to the ER for her and she would have been more overwhelmed than she is now…

2) We have a blended family that works wonders!! We all get along so well and always have. This week has been nonstop phone calls and text messages between all of us, trying to stay on top of things. Thanks to all of you for being a loving family:)

3) Having support from my ‘extended’ family and friends has meant more than I can say. You are all the best!!

my stepdad, Carl

long ago with my boys

I am home now…Carl’s son and grandson are there for a few days. Then, we’ll see how Mom does for a few weeks before more folks are down to visit and support her. She has lots of friends to help her there, so we’re hoping all goes well:))

Thanks again for all of your support for me. It is so much appreciated!

Happy Parenting! Yikes!

D and C

Filed Under: angels, behavior, carpe diem, families, follow-through, Grief, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, helping, joyful, joyful Thursdays, love, parenting, thank yous

Joyful Thursdays #13

April 19, 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 #13

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

1) finding a pen that works for you from the amazing number that don’t…

only a couple of these work well for me...

I think I prefer the cheapest pens…no gel pens, and I like the skinnier ones. They just ‘fit’ better!

2) a lovely audience at the Rochester library for our workshop…thanks for joining us:)

3) a quote for you from Wisdom for Healing Cards by Caroline Myss:

“This is a day to practice the power of choice – choose the quality of mood you want.”

Happiness is all around you…go find it!!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: beliefs, book, happiness, Happiness Tuesdays, inspiration, joyful, joyful Thursdays, quotes, thank yous, writing

Remembering Manners + Christmas Share – Day 22

December 22, 2011 By Diane and Chad Leave a Comment

The Thursday before Christmas??? Are you ready? Are your children ready to be cheerful and happy with what they receive…no matter what it is?

are you grateful for each other?

Maybe a little discussion is needed…talking about the difference between wants and needs…talking about those less fortunate…talking about manners and making those around you feel comfortable! Lots of discussions, spur of the moment kinds of talks…what do you hear and see on TV and music…is that how you want your kids to respond to others?

Speak up…let them know how you want ‘your’ family to act and react during this crazy, festive, stressful holiday season! Kids will only go as far as you let them…so check for the coming meltdowns and distract and redirect to help them find something interesting to do.

Please and thank you are important lessons to pass on to your children…and they learn them from watching you and your interactions with them and others.

use any kind of thank you's...

How about thanking Santa for the goodies?

Loving the season, the reason, the family, and the day….be happy and joyful (even if it hurts)….

Happy Parenting and Christmas Sharing,

D and C

From This Mama Says….for Christmas share

http://yourmamasaidwhat.blogspot.com/2011/12/100-cheap-small-giftstocking-stuffer.html

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Christmas is just right around the corner and normally the last thing that everyone is shopping for are those small gifts and stocking stuffers. All those little things you kept saying to yourself that you’d pick up later….. Well ‘later’ is NOW!

Here is a great list of OVER 100 small and inexpensive gift ideas! I don’t know about you, but I hate filling stockings and buying small ‘filler’ presents only to be throwing away those things within weeks, because they were junk!

This year I’ve decided that instead of wasting money, I’m buying things that are either needed, useful or consumable!

Another great idea for coworkers, friends or family is to group some of these items together for a “theme basket”. I tried to group the items together as best I could! Here are a few suggestions… Baking, coffee, makeup, nails, art, golf, spa, electronics, car care, etc.

Also, considering that most of these items are $5.00 or less this would be a wonderful way to bless a family in need! We will be filling a stocking to send to our World Vision child, but you could also drop off with a charity, a church or a specific family that you know! What a wonderful blessing to someone you could be! And what a lesson it would be for your children!

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Filed Under: appreciation, behavior, children, Christmas, Christmas memories, families, family fun, giving thanks, holiday gratitude, holidays, improving the world, intentions, involve, joyful holidays, joyful season, kindness, manners, methods, parenting, please and thank you, receiving gifts, Santa, thank yous, traditions

Celebrate Good Times!

October 27, 2011 By Diane and Chad 2 Comments

Today is the first anniversary of our blog!!! It’s amazing that we have come so far….from very little tech knowledge and no blogging awareness last year, to a wee bit more knowledge in the way of technology but way more aware of workings of the blogging world! This has definitely been a journey…scary , but productive! Thank you to all our wonderful followers…almost at 400 right now And thank you to our friends on both our personal Facebook page and those of you who have ‘liked’ our new Childhood Myths page!!

Since last October we have done workshops for parents, attended a writers conference, and completed and published our book… How to Break 10 Common Childhood Myths… first in hard copy and then in ebook format. Another little plug…it is available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

having fun with parents!

We just completed our first book signing with nearly 100 lovely folks coming to see us…what fun that was. Thanks for sharing our excitement with us!!

our favorite book

Coming up: 4 workshops for teachers in the Warren Consolidated Schools and 2 parent workshops in Utica Community Schools.

If you are interested in speakers for parent or teacher groups, please email us at childhoodmyths@gmail.com

We are ready to host Sassy Kids Home Parties also. Let us know if you’d like more information

We will announce a giveaway next week so be ready!!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to share our ideas, hints, and happiness with all of you!!!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Filed Under: book, education, families, giving thanks, intentions, memories, parenting, San Francisco, thank yous, writing