Yesterday, New Year's Day, Jared and the kids went skiing. I opted to stay at home and have a little quiet time to think through what I want to do and be in 2014.
There's a lot I'd love to see happen this year and a lot I've learned in 2013 and need to more fully apply this upcoming year. But when I sat down to start the process of some self-assessment and resolution-setting, I just felt overwhelmed and stuck. Then I realized I needed to exercise, shower and take care of some of the holiday clutter and dirt around here before my brain could wrap itself around the whole resolution-setting thing. Yep, I needed to take the advice in this podcast I made with April. We really do have to get our space and brain cleared up a bit before we can really think about moving forward with goals and plans - otherwise, we can feel pretty disheartened and uninspired.
So after getting some exercise, taking a shower, tackling the toppling pile in my inbox, putting away the random things that have ended up in random places over the past couple weeks with everyone at home and all the presents that have been opened, doing a couple loads of laundry, and cleaning a couple bathrooms that have really been bugging me, I felt much better about my ability to actually move forward.
I did the self-assessment in the Bloom Game that I haven't done for ages, realized some areas I need to work on, and got some basic resolutions set (that I'll add to this Sunday when I've had a bit longer to think things through). Now I'm feeling like I really can move forward.
Today, a bunch of neighborhood kids are here playing games and enjoying a big snowball fight which would have totally overwhelmed me yesterday before I took the time to de-clutter my house and mind. I'm in a much better place today. Bring on 2014. I'm ready.
Showing posts with label great resources. Show all posts
Showing posts with label great resources. Show all posts
Thursday, January 02, 2014
Thursday, September 06, 2012
A couple announcements and some great links...
I keep forgetting to blog about this very important stuff.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL ORGANIZATION
I don't have any more piles that look like this:
My amazing Power of Moms partner, April, the queen of organization herself, has put together a new School Paper and Homework Mastery Kit that has made a huge difference in my home and 100's of other homes so far. All the papers my kids used to fling at me when they'd get in the car after school now go in a specific place and there's a nice simple system for dealing with them. Ahhh, the joy of it! And when my kids announce that they need to do a science project proposal or a book report (which they've already done), I know just how to coach them through figuring out what needs to happen when so it can be completed in a timely manner.
Here's a podcast I made with April sharing some of our best ideas on helping our kids get their homework projects done in a timely way:
Overcoming Homework Procrastination
And here's a great video April made with her daughter about the 5-step process for getting projects done.
Five Steps to School Project Success
Here's a post I did on school-day routines that lots of people are pinning on Pinterest and talking up on Facebook. Thought you might enjoy it (has some chart examples and a podcast by me, my mom and my sisters):
School Day Routines
And one last thing - if you're serious about getting seriously organized, there's a special price on April's comprehensive and seriously life-changing Mind Organization for Moms program through this weekend. My sister Shawni and I are working together on getting our lives more organized and productive and less stressful using this program. I love how it's set up so you can follow simple assignments and get all the way organized in two weeks following the suggested schedule. Join us if you like!
RETREATS
On another note, I get to be the key speaker at these two upcoming Retreats:
And in case you're wondering, Power of Moms is going very well - and not at the cost of my personal sanity. I've slowed things down a bit but I'm still often trying to cram in more than I should while the kids are at school and sometimes find a bit more work than I'd like trickling into after-school and evening time. There are still hard days when I feel totally overwhelmed. But in general, I'm keeping my boundaries pretty firm and feeling much more balanced than I did last year. Yeah for me!
BACK-TO-SCHOOL ORGANIZATION
I don't have any more piles that look like this:
My amazing Power of Moms partner, April, the queen of organization herself, has put together a new School Paper and Homework Mastery Kit that has made a huge difference in my home and 100's of other homes so far. All the papers my kids used to fling at me when they'd get in the car after school now go in a specific place and there's a nice simple system for dealing with them. Ahhh, the joy of it! And when my kids announce that they need to do a science project proposal or a book report (which they've already done), I know just how to coach them through figuring out what needs to happen when so it can be completed in a timely manner.
Here's a podcast I made with April sharing some of our best ideas on helping our kids get their homework projects done in a timely way:
Overcoming Homework Procrastination
And here's a great video April made with her daughter about the 5-step process for getting projects done.
Five Steps to School Project Success
Here's a post I did on school-day routines that lots of people are pinning on Pinterest and talking up on Facebook. Thought you might enjoy it (has some chart examples and a podcast by me, my mom and my sisters):
School Day Routines
And one last thing - if you're serious about getting seriously organized, there's a special price on April's comprehensive and seriously life-changing Mind Organization for Moms program through this weekend. My sister Shawni and I are working together on getting our lives more organized and productive and less stressful using this program. I love how it's set up so you can follow simple assignments and get all the way organized in two weeks following the suggested schedule. Join us if you like!
RETREATS
On another note, I get to be the key speaker at these two upcoming Retreats:
- Idaho Falls Retreat on September 15th (space still available - I get to bring the whole family and visit Jared's mom as part of this Retreat trip since it's in easy driving distance - love it when it can work out that way)
- Spokane, WA Retreat on October 13th (registration just opened - I've never been to Spokane - totally excited to check it out and to do this Retreat with my cousin Taunie as my co-trainer)
And in case you're wondering, Power of Moms is going very well - and not at the cost of my personal sanity. I've slowed things down a bit but I'm still often trying to cram in more than I should while the kids are at school and sometimes find a bit more work than I'd like trickling into after-school and evening time. There are still hard days when I feel totally overwhelmed. But in general, I'm keeping my boundaries pretty firm and feeling much more balanced than I did last year. Yeah for me!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
An Excellent Book (and a give-away)
Last summer at Bear Lake, my parents watched our kids while my sisters and I spent a full day working on a book our parents were trying to finish - a great book about how the unique beliefs of the faith we grew up with (Mormon) can and should influence our parenting.
Our parents wanted our help looking at what they'd put together through the eyes of our generation and they were excited for us to add in the extra ideas and examples we could offer thanks to our own families and the things we've observed in other families we know. We had a great time discussing the beautiful truths we were raised with and examining how those truths affected how our parents raised us and how we're now choosing to raise our own children. What an enriching and fun day we had! (And our parents had a great day with all the kids, bless their hearts - win-win for everyone.)
Anyway, our good parents took our piles of notes and ideas as well as all their solid, wonderful material and created a masterpiece of a book called 5 Spiritual Solutions for Everyday Parenting Challenges. It offers unique parenting insights especially for Mormon families and it's now available online and in bookstores (Amazon, Deseret Book, etc.). But there's a chance you can get it for free right here since I get to give away two books. So if you'd like to have this book shipped right to your door free of charge, please make a comment and include your email so I can contact you if you're one of the winners. I'll announce the winners next week! Don't you just love free stuff? Especially if it's something that could actually change your life a little bit?
Our parents wanted our help looking at what they'd put together through the eyes of our generation and they were excited for us to add in the extra ideas and examples we could offer thanks to our own families and the things we've observed in other families we know. We had a great time discussing the beautiful truths we were raised with and examining how those truths affected how our parents raised us and how we're now choosing to raise our own children. What an enriching and fun day we had! (And our parents had a great day with all the kids, bless their hearts - win-win for everyone.)
Anyway, our good parents took our piles of notes and ideas as well as all their solid, wonderful material and created a masterpiece of a book called 5 Spiritual Solutions for Everyday Parenting Challenges. It offers unique parenting insights especially for Mormon families and it's now available online and in bookstores (Amazon, Deseret Book, etc.). But there's a chance you can get it for free right here since I get to give away two books. So if you'd like to have this book shipped right to your door free of charge, please make a comment and include your email so I can contact you if you're one of the winners. I'll announce the winners next week! Don't you just love free stuff? Especially if it's something that could actually change your life a little bit?
Saturday, August 07, 2010
The Mormon Women Project
As many of you know, I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (otherwise known as the Mormon Church). I love my church. I love what it teaches. I love what it inspires me to do and be. But one thing I don't love about being a Mormon is the deceptive idea that all Mormons (especially Mormon women) embrace - or should embrace - some things that really aren't part of our church doctrine.
Our church teaches us the importance of family, but that doesn't mean we all strive for large families. We're not all conservative - politically or otherwise. We're not all white and middle class. We don't all sew and scrapbook and bake bread. We don't dress the same or like the same music or enjoy the same activities. Sharing the same faith, church leaders and ideology doesn't mean we share the same hobbies or get the same answers from the Lord about what is uniquely right for us and for our families.
Anyway, I was SO excited when my dear friend, Neylan McBaine (who helped me start CareerMothers which merged into Power of Moms) recently started a wonderful website called the Mormon Women Project. Neylan and her team of excellent interviewers have talked with scores of wonderful Mormon Women about their choices, their challenges and their faith. Each week, a new interview is posted.
I've loved reading about the lives of valiant Mormon women who've faced a huge variety of challenges and made very different choices in their lives while sharing the same religion. I love that the website seems to say "it's OK - no wonderful - to be different and it's so great to learn about each other and embrace our sameness and our differences."
I was interviewed by MWP a couple months back and my interview posted last week. Check it out here if you like. I think they did a great job with it.
Our church teaches us the importance of family, but that doesn't mean we all strive for large families. We're not all conservative - politically or otherwise. We're not all white and middle class. We don't all sew and scrapbook and bake bread. We don't dress the same or like the same music or enjoy the same activities. Sharing the same faith, church leaders and ideology doesn't mean we share the same hobbies or get the same answers from the Lord about what is uniquely right for us and for our families.
I've loved reading about the lives of valiant Mormon women who've faced a huge variety of challenges and made very different choices in their lives while sharing the same religion. I love that the website seems to say "it's OK - no wonderful - to be different and it's so great to learn about each other and embrace our sameness and our differences."
I was interviewed by MWP a couple months back and my interview posted last week. Check it out here if you like. I think they did a great job with it.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Car Trips 101
After our California trip last week (I'll blog about that soon) and prior to our big month-long trip to Ashton, Idaho and Bear Lake for all of July, this Question of the Week on Power of Moms has been very timely for me.
For any of you going on trips this summer (probably this would mean ALL of you), there are some GREAT tips on packing and planning and making your trip more of a vacation and less of a hassle right now at The Power of Moms. Click here to see everyone's great ideas. And here are a few ideas I've figured out over the years (or stolen from others) that work really well for us:
For any of you going on trips this summer (probably this would mean ALL of you), there are some GREAT tips on packing and planning and making your trip more of a vacation and less of a hassle right now at The Power of Moms. Click here to see everyone's great ideas. And here are a few ideas I've figured out over the years (or stolen from others) that work really well for us:
- Only bring 2 outfits per child (plus an extra shirt or two for younger kids) and plan on doing some laundry somewhere if at all possible. The less "stuff" we're lugging around, the better. And if the kids' clothes are only a little dirty, I spot clean. Super clean clothes just aren't worth the bother on vacations.
- Pack kids underwear and socks all together in a smaller bag inside the larger bag so it's easy to find. Pack all the pj's together (again in a smaller bag inside the larger bag) - you often need them so kids can put on their pjs in the car and fall asleep in the car and easily transfer when you arrive.
- Pack a bag with just everyone's sweatshirts (separate from the rest of the stuff) - then they can just stay in the car for when you might need them.
- If you need Sunday/dress-up clothes, pack everyone's Sunday stuff (shoes, socks and clothes) in one garment/hang-up bag. You'll just need that stuff one time so it's great to have it all together and put it away all together when you're done with it.
- When all 7 of us travel, we bring this: a large duffle with all the kids' clothes (2 sets of clothes each, a bag of 3 pairs of underwear and 3 pairs of socks each, a bag of everyone's pjs), a small bag each for me and my husband, a garment bag with everyone's dress-up clothes (if needed). My husband and I can carry all this in one load, easily. Works great. Of course, we used to have a stroller and port-a-crib (or two) and quite a few diapers and wipes stuffed into the kids' duffle bag - but still, we travelled relatively light and that made trips nice.
- Snacks in the car: we have a small collapsible cooler that we fill with fruits and veggies and a few other snacks. We give out the fruits and veggies to tide people over until a meal break, to be sure they're getting better nutrition than fast food or convenience stores alone can provide, and to keep them hydrated. Looslis don't get to drink very much in the car because drinks=bathroom breaks and we try to minimize those. If they're thirsty, an apple or carrot helps without making the bathroom break need imminent!
- We play lots of games in the car and try to hold off on DVDs until we're really needing them. We play "I Spy" and the alphabet game. We tell stories where each person adds onto a silly story. I read from chapter books or we listen to books on tape. Sometimes I sit in the back so I can do story time or a fun game and one of the big kids sits in the front with Jared to enjoy a little one-on-one with him.
Add your own ideas here or add them to the Question of the Week at Power of Moms!
Friday, June 18, 2010
A girls' night out that really WORKS
I keep meaning to write about my Learning Circle but life keeps getting in the way!
I miss the days when I'd discuss the meaning of life alongside other much less deep but very fun topics with roommates and friends back in my single days. I love a good conversation. And while my kids certainly seek out some conversation with me (everything from "Want to hear another knock knock joke?" for the 500th time to "Do you think aliens really exist?") and my husband and I squeeze a few conversations in here and there, I miss hanging out with other women without our kids crawling all over us. I do.
Thanks to my Learning Circle, every 3rd Wednesday night at 8pm, I can plan on a seriously uplifting, fun and idea-filled evening with some great women. We trade off meeting at different group member's homes. We all read a thought-provoking but pretty short article on motherhood (provided by Power of Moms) and then we get together to discuss the concepts in the article with the help of some great discussion questions (again, provided by Power of Moms).
Last night we talked about this article called "I was Cute, Fun and Smart - and Then I Became a Mom." We all talked about what we miss about our pre-mother selves - and what we've gained from becoming mothers. We talked about ways to infuse more fun into our lives, to feel a little "cuter" and to pursue our talents and interests in ways that work well with our current primary pursuit of motherhood. People brought up some great points. Then we all left with the challenge to make some resolutions that build on what we discussed - and share those resolutions with each other. Here's the resolution I just emailed to my group:
"I'm going to keep a list of all little things I do to make regular old life more fun with my family this month (as I go about my regular day, I'm going to keep asking myself in the moment, "how could I make this fun?" - like we talked about). Maybe I'll even blog about some of the good things I'll hopefully come up with. I can be fun. I can I can I can!"
And here are my friend Rebecca's resolutions - she's putting my lame resolution to shame!
"Hopefully I will be cuter after finally getting my hair done tomorrow (hallelujah!). Plus, I am going to smile more. I have just posted signs all over my house that say, "S.M.I.L.E." and I am hoping that my children will notice them, ask me about them, and then remind me of my resolve to smile more. In doing so, I hope the smile will resonate through my voice and interactions with my family.
I am also going to learn how to use one new option on my camera AND look into taking a photography class to start learning how to take better pictures of my cute kids!
Also, I have started a list of fun things that I do with my family and I'll keep adding to it.
Whew--wish me luck!
"
I miss the days when I'd discuss the meaning of life alongside other much less deep but very fun topics with roommates and friends back in my single days. I love a good conversation. And while my kids certainly seek out some conversation with me (everything from "Want to hear another knock knock joke?" for the 500th time to "Do you think aliens really exist?") and my husband and I squeeze a few conversations in here and there, I miss hanging out with other women without our kids crawling all over us. I do.
Thanks to my Learning Circle, every 3rd Wednesday night at 8pm, I can plan on a seriously uplifting, fun and idea-filled evening with some great women. We trade off meeting at different group member's homes. We all read a thought-provoking but pretty short article on motherhood (provided by Power of Moms) and then we get together to discuss the concepts in the article with the help of some great discussion questions (again, provided by Power of Moms).
Last night we talked about this article called "I was Cute, Fun and Smart - and Then I Became a Mom." We all talked about what we miss about our pre-mother selves - and what we've gained from becoming mothers. We talked about ways to infuse more fun into our lives, to feel a little "cuter" and to pursue our talents and interests in ways that work well with our current primary pursuit of motherhood. People brought up some great points. Then we all left with the challenge to make some resolutions that build on what we discussed - and share those resolutions with each other. Here's the resolution I just emailed to my group:
"I'm going to keep a list of all little things I do to make regular old life more fun with my family this month (as I go about my regular day, I'm going to keep asking myself in the moment, "how could I make this fun?" - like we talked about). Maybe I'll even blog about some of the good things I'll hopefully come up with. I can be fun. I can I can I can!"
And here are my friend Rebecca's resolutions - she's putting my lame resolution to shame!
"Hopefully I will be cuter after finally getting my hair done tomorrow (hallelujah!). Plus, I am going to smile more. I have just posted signs all over my house that say, "S.M.I.L.E." and I am hoping that my children will notice them, ask me about them, and then remind me of my resolve to smile more. In doing so, I hope the smile will resonate through my voice and interactions with my family.
I am also going to learn how to use one new option on my camera AND look into taking a photography class to start learning how to take better pictures of my cute kids!
Also, I have started a list of fun things that I do with my family and I'll keep adding to it.
Whew--wish me luck!
"Monday, June 14, 2010
The Big Retreat
Last week, things were SO crazy busy getting things ready for our Power of Moms Retreat that I found myself in tears and wishing I could just give up at a couple points.
But this Retreat turned out to be a truly magical weekend for everyone there - including me. Sure, it was stressful being in charge of presenting quite a few sessions plus dealing with various hiccups with the facilities. But as everyone arrived on Friday morning, this positive energy and beauty took over and I knew this was going to be an extraordinary Retreat.
The presenters all did a fabulous job and complemented each other very well (it was especially fun to present with my mom and sister Shawni). The agenda flowed even better than I'd hoped (ideas for taking care of "the person inside the mom" first then moving on to concrete ideas for effective family systems then capping it all off with tools for living lives with increased purpose and progress and decreased stress). The setting was peaceful and lovely (and thankfully, the super hot weather of last week turned into perfect 70 and 80 degree weather for the two days of the Retreat).
But what really made the Retreat amazing was the feeling.
The energy, motivation and sheer goodness of the women who came made for a thick feeling of love and learning that permeated every part of the Retreat. Every comment made and thought shared was inspiring. During meal times and free times, everyone helped solve each other's problems and brainstormed wonderful ideas. I came away seriously loving each and every woman there and wishing I could hang out with all of them for much, much longer. It was hard to say goodbye!
Check out all the great photos on April's blog here. My sister Shawni was the official photographer so she'll have some great stuff but she's in DC with her family right now so it may be a few more days on those photos.
During one of the last sessions, when I got to sit there as part of the group and listen for a while, I felt this welling up of hope and joy as I thought about the POWER of that existed in that room full of 35 valiant, motivated, deliberate mothers. No matter how much bad stuff there may be in this old world, the goodness of a few great moms can create ripple effects that never end. This quote came to mind:
At the close of the Retreat, we held a train-the-trainer session for those who wanted to replicate these sorts of events (workshops as well as full Retreats) in their own communities. We had 6 people signed up for this session before the Retreat - but by the end of the Retreat, 11 women had decided to stay for the session and certify as trainers. Now they can go forth and get these ripple effects going big time.
This weekend made the vision that April and I have for Power of Moms more real and imminent for me. The stuff we've put together for Power of Moms WORKS. I wish with all my heart that all moms could feel what we all felt at this Retreat. So I'll keep doing all I can to make that happen!
Here are a few quotes from moms who were at the Retreat, just to give you a few other people's thoughts on how things went:
"I'm leaving this Retreat not just with my fire lit but with it BLAZING! I have a passion for my role as a mother and now an extreme desire to bring this to others. I love the specific tools we got to implement all the great ideas...I feel inspired - truly inspired!"
"So enriching, enlightening, motivating and comforting! Great to bond with wonderful like-minded mothers. What a fabulous supportive atmosphere!"
"Amazing, empowering plus very useful and practical. I can't wait to change my life and my family
for the better. It was everything I dreamed of and more. I'm so excited to become the best me I can be."
"It was so enjoyable to be in an atmosphere of women who seemed to care about each other even before we knew each other's names. Just knowing we had the common goal of wanting to be better moms made us immediately accepting of each other."
"I loved the chance to take a break and soak up true goodness."
"Truly life-changing."
"Fabulous, fabulous, FABULOUS"
"Awesome, rejuvenating, educational, motivating and also realistic."
So yeah, I'm feeling pretty happy about how things went! Can you tell (at least a little bit) how amazing these women were from their comments?
This week, I'm excited to focus this week on my own motherhood and take a little break from so much Power of Moms work to enjoy my wonderful children more fully. And I'm going to "take care of the person inside the mom" a little better too (I'm TIRED!). I'm armed and ready after this last weekend!
But this Retreat turned out to be a truly magical weekend for everyone there - including me. Sure, it was stressful being in charge of presenting quite a few sessions plus dealing with various hiccups with the facilities. But as everyone arrived on Friday morning, this positive energy and beauty took over and I knew this was going to be an extraordinary Retreat.
The presenters all did a fabulous job and complemented each other very well (it was especially fun to present with my mom and sister Shawni). The agenda flowed even better than I'd hoped (ideas for taking care of "the person inside the mom" first then moving on to concrete ideas for effective family systems then capping it all off with tools for living lives with increased purpose and progress and decreased stress). The setting was peaceful and lovely (and thankfully, the super hot weather of last week turned into perfect 70 and 80 degree weather for the two days of the Retreat).
But what really made the Retreat amazing was the feeling.
The energy, motivation and sheer goodness of the women who came made for a thick feeling of love and learning that permeated every part of the Retreat. Every comment made and thought shared was inspiring. During meal times and free times, everyone helped solve each other's problems and brainstormed wonderful ideas. I came away seriously loving each and every woman there and wishing I could hang out with all of them for much, much longer. It was hard to say goodbye!
Check out all the great photos on April's blog here. My sister Shawni was the official photographer so she'll have some great stuff but she's in DC with her family right now so it may be a few more days on those photos.
During one of the last sessions, when I got to sit there as part of the group and listen for a while, I felt this welling up of hope and joy as I thought about the POWER of that existed in that room full of 35 valiant, motivated, deliberate mothers. No matter how much bad stuff there may be in this old world, the goodness of a few great moms can create ripple effects that never end. This quote came to mind:
"When I think of the heroism of mothers, I gather hope for poor humanity; and this dark world looks bright because, whatever else it is not full of, it is at least full of mothers."
-Charles Kingsley
At the close of the Retreat, we held a train-the-trainer session for those who wanted to replicate these sorts of events (workshops as well as full Retreats) in their own communities. We had 6 people signed up for this session before the Retreat - but by the end of the Retreat, 11 women had decided to stay for the session and certify as trainers. Now they can go forth and get these ripple effects going big time.
This weekend made the vision that April and I have for Power of Moms more real and imminent for me. The stuff we've put together for Power of Moms WORKS. I wish with all my heart that all moms could feel what we all felt at this Retreat. So I'll keep doing all I can to make that happen!
Here are a few quotes from moms who were at the Retreat, just to give you a few other people's thoughts on how things went:
"I'm leaving this Retreat not just with my fire lit but with it BLAZING! I have a passion for my role as a mother and now an extreme desire to bring this to others. I love the specific tools we got to implement all the great ideas...I feel inspired - truly inspired!"
"So enriching, enlightening, motivating and comforting! Great to bond with wonderful like-minded mothers. What a fabulous supportive atmosphere!"
"Amazing, empowering plus very useful and practical. I can't wait to change my life and my family
for the better. It was everything I dreamed of and more. I'm so excited to become the best me I can be."
"It was so enjoyable to be in an atmosphere of women who seemed to care about each other even before we knew each other's names. Just knowing we had the common goal of wanting to be better moms made us immediately accepting of each other."
"I loved the chance to take a break and soak up true goodness."
"Truly life-changing."
"Fabulous, fabulous, FABULOUS"
"Awesome, rejuvenating, educational, motivating and also realistic."
So yeah, I'm feeling pretty happy about how things went! Can you tell (at least a little bit) how amazing these women were from their comments?
This week, I'm excited to focus this week on my own motherhood and take a little break from so much Power of Moms work to enjoy my wonderful children more fully. And I'm going to "take care of the person inside the mom" a little better too (I'm TIRED!). I'm armed and ready after this last weekend!
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Introducing "The Power of Kids"
Yesterday I took Ashton on a little "mommy date" to the grocery store. In the car on the way home, I asked him about the best and worst parts of his life right now (best= "how awesome I am - just kidding - training to be on safety patrol next year" and worst= "that my cherry fritter is gone" - I'd just bought him a cherry fritter as his mommy date treat).
I told Ashton how much I appreciate what a great job he's doing as the oldest kid in our family. I told him that he's such a good example to his younger siblings and that a lot of what he's doing now in our family is really shaping what our family is and will be. I remember my parents having similar talks with me when I was about Ashton's age and feeling so glad that the efforts I was making were being recognized. I think my parents did a great job of really treating me and my sister Shawni (the two oldest in our family) as their partners and allies in the job of raising the younger children and helping things run smoothly in our family.
Then an idea popped into my head. "Ashton, do you think maybe you and Isaac would want to run your own little website or blog to help kids see what they can to help their families be strong? I mean, Power of Moms is helping lots of moms be what they want to be, but I don't think there are really any websites out there to help kids be the kind of kids and siblings that they want to be."
Ashton got all excited about the idea and we came right home and shared the idea with Isaac (who was even more excited) and started a new blog. The boys did most of the work to design a blog header and design and dictated exactly what they wanted the blog title and description to be. Then they started brainstorming ideas for posts. Between yesterday and today, they've written (or dictated, in Isaac's case) quite a few posts that I think are pretty good (I may be just a tad biased).
Kids really can make a huge difference in their families and communities. They have real power that can truly bring about wonderful things. I've always loved this quote by Emma Goldman: “No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education [or upbringing] should be to unlock that treasure.”
It's been so fun to see the light in my boys' eyes as they've felt excited about sharing their ideas with others. Isaac said a few times today, while we were doing other things, "It's so cool that we have our own blog now!" Ashton keeps telling me new ideas for posts. I'm so glad they're so into this. And it's been so interesting to see what information they feel is important to share with other kids out there.
So check out The Power of Kids - and share it with your kids - and have them share their ideas with my boys. Ashton and Isaac are so excited to hear all the good ideas your kids come up with and great things that they do to make a difference in their families and beyond. We'll see where this goes!
I told Ashton how much I appreciate what a great job he's doing as the oldest kid in our family. I told him that he's such a good example to his younger siblings and that a lot of what he's doing now in our family is really shaping what our family is and will be. I remember my parents having similar talks with me when I was about Ashton's age and feeling so glad that the efforts I was making were being recognized. I think my parents did a great job of really treating me and my sister Shawni (the two oldest in our family) as their partners and allies in the job of raising the younger children and helping things run smoothly in our family.
Then an idea popped into my head. "Ashton, do you think maybe you and Isaac would want to run your own little website or blog to help kids see what they can to help their families be strong? I mean, Power of Moms is helping lots of moms be what they want to be, but I don't think there are really any websites out there to help kids be the kind of kids and siblings that they want to be."
Ashton got all excited about the idea and we came right home and shared the idea with Isaac (who was even more excited) and started a new blog. The boys did most of the work to design a blog header and design and dictated exactly what they wanted the blog title and description to be. Then they started brainstorming ideas for posts. Between yesterday and today, they've written (or dictated, in Isaac's case) quite a few posts that I think are pretty good (I may be just a tad biased).
Kids really can make a huge difference in their families and communities. They have real power that can truly bring about wonderful things. I've always loved this quote by Emma Goldman: “No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education [or upbringing] should be to unlock that treasure.”
It's been so fun to see the light in my boys' eyes as they've felt excited about sharing their ideas with others. Isaac said a few times today, while we were doing other things, "It's so cool that we have our own blog now!" Ashton keeps telling me new ideas for posts. I'm so glad they're so into this. And it's been so interesting to see what information they feel is important to share with other kids out there.
So check out The Power of Kids - and share it with your kids - and have them share their ideas with my boys. Ashton and Isaac are so excited to hear all the good ideas your kids come up with and great things that they do to make a difference in their families and beyond. We'll see where this goes!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Nice People
Then I picked up the twins from preschool and was in such a good mood, I gave into their desire to go to the Family Center (do you have one near you? I love the place - there are all these great educational games, toys and books that you can check out for a week at a time). The twins LOVE going there - and it's not just because the promise of new toys and games and books every week is pretty exciting. I think one of the reasons they love going there is that the lady that works there is just so NICE. She really listens when the twins want to tell her about the things they're checking out and what's great about them. She looks right in their faces and listens and makes thoughtful comments. Not a lot of grown-ups do that when little kids talk to them. She always remembers my name (even though I haven't been in there forever - life has been pretty busy). She always looks so genuinely pleased to see us. And when we're late bringing something back (yes, it happens more than I care to say), she calls and says something so nice like "I bet you've been really busy and just haven't had a chance to bring those things back so I went ahead and renewed them for you." I like her a lot - and that's probably because she seems to really like us. After leaving there today, the twins and I decided we're going to make a thank-you note for her.
Then we went to the bank to make some deposits. The twins LOVE the bank because there are lollipops there plus there's one of those doors you can open with a button right at their height (perfect for people in wheel chairs and for 5-year-olds). As I tried to total up the checks I was turning in, the twins devoured their lollipops, asked for more, played with the automatic door, and messed around with the gumball machine, hoping for a stray gumball to maybe come out. These little guys of mine have to touch everything, don't hold still and, well, they're just generally exuberant. Some people don't see to appreciate their enthusiasm all that much. I felt stressed out about what they were doing as I was trying to add up the checks (I'm not so great with numbers - I really have to concentrate on these things...). I looked up at the lady behind the counter and was relieved to see that she was watching the twins with a smile on her face. She said, "When you're their age, automatic doors and candy are so exciting, aren't they? Your boys are just so cute - look at that beautiful hair of theirs! You're so lucky to have them." I agreed and we shared a great little moment watching these sweet boys of mine.
Thank you nice people. Thank you so much. I want to be more like you. And I will thank you more often. You should know that you make a difference - a big difference.
Have you read a book called "Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed" with your kids? You should. It's all about how one little good deed can create ripple effects that go on and on and on. It's a true book. And there's a great website to go with it here.
Plus I was just looking for a photo to spice up this post a bit and stumbled upon a blog that I love - it's all about celebrating niceness - check it out here:
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Mother's Day Videos and Gifts
At The Power of Moms, we had a video contest for Mother's Day and we got some great stuff! You'll love the 2 finalists in our Mother's Day video contest. Watch them (they're each about a minute long), vote for your favorite, and forward the link on to all your friends - makes a great little Mother's Day pass-along!
Mother's Day Video Contest Finalists
I feel like I'm back in college doing finals - only with 5 kids in tow. This week has been crazy busy with Power of Moms stuff in preparation for Mother's Day! But we've been blessed to get more done in a week than we really thought possible. I finished the front end and Jared has the complicated back-end of our Bloom Game 99.9% done (he's really amazing with what he can do and he's been sitting in front of his computer for over 12 hours a day getting this taken care of). I'm so excited to play this game myself! It's basically a fun way to set balanced goals and experience more accomplishment, balance and serendipity in life (I got the accomplishment going on but the balanced and serendipity are sorely lacking for me lately!).
And that's not all. We also helped April launch the amazing program she's been working on so diligently - Mind Organization for Mothers (M.O.M.). I'm excited to implement that program as well in my life - I need its promise of less stress by organizing and prioritizing time better.
And that's not all. We also launched a fun new section on our website called the "Question of the Week" and there's a quick, fun Mother's Day question you can answer to enter a drawing for a great prize.
So consider all this your Mother's Day gifts from me. My greatest desire in life is to be the mother and wife I can be and need to be. And right next to that in my heart is my desire to help other mothers do the same. I dearly hope that all this intense and hard work will translate into mothers around the world finding more joy and purpose in their lives.
So as MY Mother's Day gift FROM YOU - would you please take a few minutes to write an email to the moms you love and share some things from The Power of Moms that they'd love?
Thanks and Happy Mother's Day. Thanks to all of you who are such wonderful examples of motherhood to me.
Love, Saren
I feel like I'm back in college doing finals - only with 5 kids in tow. This week has been crazy busy with Power of Moms stuff in preparation for Mother's Day! But we've been blessed to get more done in a week than we really thought possible. I finished the front end and Jared has the complicated back-end of our Bloom Game 99.9% done (he's really amazing with what he can do and he's been sitting in front of his computer for over 12 hours a day getting this taken care of). I'm so excited to play this game myself! It's basically a fun way to set balanced goals and experience more accomplishment, balance and serendipity in life (I got the accomplishment going on but the balanced and serendipity are sorely lacking for me lately!).
And that's not all. We also helped April launch the amazing program she's been working on so diligently - Mind Organization for Mothers (M.O.M.). I'm excited to implement that program as well in my life - I need its promise of less stress by organizing and prioritizing time better.
And that's not all. We also launched a fun new section on our website called the "Question of the Week" and there's a quick, fun Mother's Day question you can answer to enter a drawing for a great prize.
So consider all this your Mother's Day gifts from me. My greatest desire in life is to be the mother and wife I can be and need to be. And right next to that in my heart is my desire to help other mothers do the same. I dearly hope that all this intense and hard work will translate into mothers around the world finding more joy and purpose in their lives.
So as MY Mother's Day gift FROM YOU - would you please take a few minutes to write an email to the moms you love and share some things from The Power of Moms that they'd love?
Thanks and Happy Mother's Day. Thanks to all of you who are such wonderful examples of motherhood to me.
Love, Saren
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Crazy Fun Power of Moms Planning Weekend
April and I are sitting here in April's kitchen planning tons of exciting things for The Power of Moms while our collective 5 boys are playing Monopoly and our 3 girls are making up a play - complete with props and dress-ups. April's sweet little two-year-old is (thankfully) sleeping, and our husbands are chatting about various business ideas (we're so glad they're such good friends!). We're getting lots of stuff done, even though we get interrupted with kids needing things or announcing that the play is almost ready from time to time. I wish you could see this crazy and crowded - but busy and happy scene - here's a glimpse:
We took our families to the beach and tide pools and went to a great arboretum (where we filmed the 100,000 moms video on our home page while our husbands tried to keep our kids out of the background of the video!). We've fed 9 kids and 4 adults lots of meals and had a double-family dance party. But crammed in between all the kids' needs and great excursions, April and I (as well as our husbands who've added lots of great ideas) have been talking talking talking and planning planning planning.
We've got lots of exciting new ideas, and armed with the feedback we've received from so many thankful moms (check out some of their great comments here), we're committed to "going big" and doing all we can do to help this website reach all the moms who could benefit from it. We're not in this for the money (our "salaries" are deep in the negative numbers right now) or the fame (I can't tell you how embarrassed I was when I watched myself on the 100,000 moms video we made! Cameras are NOT something I like to be in front of). We're in this because we need this and we hear again and again how much other moms need this community. We've reached the point where we can't NOT work on The Power of Moms.
But to make all our hard work and best intentions translate into wonderful things for all those who could benefit from it, we need YOU to let all your friends know about The Power of Moms. Almost everything on our website is absolutely free so you don't have to feel like you're "selling something." You're just sharing a resource that quite possibly could change someone's life for the better.
So take a minute (right now so you don't forget!) and forward a favorite article or write a simple email to all your mom friends and let them know about The Power of Moms. OK?
We took our families to the beach and tide pools and went to a great arboretum (where we filmed the 100,000 moms video on our home page while our husbands tried to keep our kids out of the background of the video!). We've fed 9 kids and 4 adults lots of meals and had a double-family dance party. But crammed in between all the kids' needs and great excursions, April and I (as well as our husbands who've added lots of great ideas) have been talking talking talking and planning planning planning.We've got lots of exciting new ideas, and armed with the feedback we've received from so many thankful moms (check out some of their great comments here), we're committed to "going big" and doing all we can do to help this website reach all the moms who could benefit from it. We're not in this for the money (our "salaries" are deep in the negative numbers right now) or the fame (I can't tell you how embarrassed I was when I watched myself on the 100,000 moms video we made! Cameras are NOT something I like to be in front of). We're in this because we need this and we hear again and again how much other moms need this community. We've reached the point where we can't NOT work on The Power of Moms.
But to make all our hard work and best intentions translate into wonderful things for all those who could benefit from it, we need YOU to let all your friends know about The Power of Moms. Almost everything on our website is absolutely free so you don't have to feel like you're "selling something." You're just sharing a resource that quite possibly could change someone's life for the better.
So take a minute (right now so you don't forget!) and forward a favorite article or write a simple email to all your mom friends and let them know about The Power of Moms. OK?
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Amazing Travels
I'm sure lots of you might already be following my parents' blog about all their amazing adventures traveling and speaking around the world. But just in case - here's the link:
http://eyrealm.blogspot.com/
And my brother Talmadge and his new wife Anita are spending their "honeymoon" traveling and doing humanitarian service in Africa, the Middle East and now India (where they've met up with my parents and sister Charity to all serve together at a school for the children of lepers). Here's their blog:
http://talandanita.blogspot.com/
The kids and I have loved participating vicariously in their adventures through their blogs. We've loved learning about people who are so rich they're worried about their kids turning out OK (my parents speak to some high-powered groups of parents as they travel) and we've learned about lots of people who are so poor they're worried about getting their kids the basic necessities of life. We've seen beautiful things (the Taj Mahal, the great architecture and art of various places, the beautiful colors of India, the faces of gorgeous children of all colors). We've seen sad things (the feet and hands of lepers, the humble homes, the dirty streets, the children in rags). I'm so grateful for this chance to give my children a larger view of the world through these blogs and I thought you might enjoy doing the same.
http://eyrealm.blogspot.com/
And my brother Talmadge and his new wife Anita are spending their "honeymoon" traveling and doing humanitarian service in Africa, the Middle East and now India (where they've met up with my parents and sister Charity to all serve together at a school for the children of lepers). Here's their blog:
http://talandanita.blogspot.com/
The kids and I have loved participating vicariously in their adventures through their blogs. We've loved learning about people who are so rich they're worried about their kids turning out OK (my parents speak to some high-powered groups of parents as they travel) and we've learned about lots of people who are so poor they're worried about getting their kids the basic necessities of life. We've seen beautiful things (the Taj Mahal, the great architecture and art of various places, the beautiful colors of India, the faces of gorgeous children of all colors). We've seen sad things (the feet and hands of lepers, the humble homes, the dirty streets, the children in rags). I'm so grateful for this chance to give my children a larger view of the world through these blogs and I thought you might enjoy doing the same.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Very Interesting New Website
One of my dear friends, Neylan McBaine, has just launched an exciting website that spotlights an array of wonderful Mormon women. I love how Neylan is using real stories of real women to help people inside and outside of our church see the depth and breadth of Mormon women and how their faith affects the choices they make and the way they live their lives.
Check this out - you'll love the interesting stories and inspiration!
The Mormon Women Project
Check this out - you'll love the interesting stories and inspiration!
The Mormon Women Project
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