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Control your time and life by unplugging

Mary Ann — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:24:43 +0000

Nuclear Air Raid Drills in the 50's

I like Kerry Patterson of Vital Smarts. He is a great writer and beside he is from my own era and so I can relate to everything he writes. In a world that seems to be passing me by so much of the time that is such a refreshing feeling.

In September Kerry wrote an article about unplugging from the workplace but I saw some amazing parallels to doing the same at home.

Kerry talked about the nuclear tests that America engaged in 1951, and all the craziness that went along with that. Students were sent flying to the floor to cover the backs of their necks in case of a nuclear attack from the Soviet Union. We had to practice this often. We saw American soldiers in newsreels, dressed in green fatigues, toting rifles, and holding their helmets tight to their heads, walking resolutely into a cloud of nuclear dust as the latest blast rolled across the desert.

It was all craziness because in 1951 we all knew about radiation, the danger, and yet the tests went on.

Kerry then asked the question “What similarly insane things are we doing today?” What modern inventions have we wholly embraced, which appear to have made our lives better, but are actually slowly killing us? In short, what “nuclear walk” are we taking today?

Kerry and I agree on one crazy thing that is happening today, our inability to unplug!

Can this really be a date?

Let me give you an example of what I am talking about. I live on the second floor of a two story apartment building. Below us is a wonderful family with two daughters. In front of their apartment is a large hedge that hides their patio from view. As I was coming up the walk one day I saw Lisa and Patrick’s heads above the hedge. I saw no children. I called out to them, “Hey are you guys having a date?” They both looked up and answered “yes”. As I rounded the hedge to the stairway I saw that they were both playing a game on their individual cell phones but…they were on a date.

I mentor moms often who complain that they have a hard time having structured learning time or family reading or even time to be present and listen to a child. When we actually track how they spend their time they are amazed at how much of it they spend on the computer answering email, checking Facebook and dealing with other social networking sites, as well as online games that they play.

They are also amazed at just how often they are interrupted during the day by calls on their cell phones. This loss of actual time leads to a sense of dissatisfaction in their performance as moms. They just can’t seem to keep up.

How much time do you spend on the computer?

This goes for dads as well who come home from work but bring it home with them on laptops and cell phones. Then they wonder why they just can’t seem to connect with their children or avoid becoming angry and frustrated with them.

I ask “What would happen if you unplugged once in a while. What if you turned the cell phone off during family learning time? What if you didn’t check email or Facebook until late afternoon or even the next day? Would disconnecting for even an hour make your life better?” They answer yes but I can see the addiction in their eyes. They don’t want to be out of the loop, miss anything. And frankly, for some, being thus engaged feels better than doing all the jobs that moms face every day.

But what would happen if we did unplug for even an hour a day? Would it make a difference in our feelings of satisfaction, in our health, in our ability to focus.

The answer is a resounding YES.

Take a look at some of the facts that Kerry shared.

Every time you stop your current task, deal with an interruption, and then return, you place the original task from short- to long-term memory, put the new job into short-term memory, and then reverse the entire process to get back on task.

Completing this conceptual lifting dozens of times a day creates stress, which just might lead to distress and all of its attendant health problems.

Frequent interruptions can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction. Instead of working continuously for periods of an hour or more on a task that’s challenging and solvable, we purposely interrupt our flow, add stress, and make our job far less enjoyable. Take family reading or school time for example!

When we use our time to stay digitally connected at the expenses of work we feel we must complete each day we extend our day beyond healthy limits. Instead of going to bed at 10 we go at 11 or 12 because we have to finish those chores that we didn’t’ get done. This leads to lack of energy, grouchiness and dissatisfaction with our children and life.

Too many disruptions creates a sense of dissatisfaction.

This happens a lot. I know one mom who plays three online games, and is a prolific Facebook reader and writer. Often her Facebook messages say things like “I just can’t keep up” or “I am too busy and my kid are so messy!”

With the release of each new innovation, there’s much to think about. As we invent and embrace new devices, we may not know the toll they’re taking on our mental, emotional, and physical health until it’s too late.

What can we do?

Take control of how you spend your time. Take control of your outside interruptions. Make it part of your family dialogue. When will you, your spouse or the kids be on the computer? How much TV will any of you watch? What family times call for silencing of cell phones? How much Wii or other electronic games will you play?

As Kerry suggests, “Talk openly about the two-edged sword of innovation”. Decide how and when you want to be connected and where and when you want to be interrupted. Make it a choice, not the natural extension of embracing what appears to be a helpful new tool.

And remember, it’s not an all-or-nothing proposition. You’re not required to take a vow of digital celibacy. You don’t have to chuck your devices; you just have to control them so they don’t control you.

I know a mom who realized that checking her computer first thing in the morning was the one thing that was messing up her day. She made a decision to turn the computer OFF each evening and then to NOT turn it on again until after 12:00pm. It has made a world of difference. When you make decisions about technology you make more time for your family.

What have you done to take control of the digital age and your time? Please share, we all need the help. : )

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A Tribute To Our Mother

Jodie Palmer — Sun, 13 May 2012 19:11:39 +0000

We’ve hijacked our mother’s blog for a surprise Mother’s Day Tribute. We wanted to share with all of you, her dear readers and friends, how honored we are to be her daughters and what she means to us. We are grateful for your joining with us to celebrate our mother and yours. We hope you enjoy this song HERE, in celebration of our mothers as you read.

By, Kate Housten

I remember one of my favorite things when I was living at home was sitting in our “library” with you talking about our love for books. You taught me to hunger for knowledge.

When I was young you showed me how to make a meal out of almost nothing, how to grow a beautiful garden, and how to REALLY clean. You taught me how to be a homemaker.

The summer I wanted to study abroad in Europe and we had no money, you spent the whole summer baking cakes and selling water bottles with me. You taught me how to work for what I want and be creative doing it.

When I wanted to be a varsity cheerleader my senior year of high school, even though I had NEVER cheered before, you were right there the day of try outs to make sure I stuck it out until the end. You taught me how to dream, and dream big.

Growing up you loved to teach us how to make sugar eggs, ginger bread houses, and frosting flowers for cakes. You taught me the importance of cultivating my talents.

When you were in your 40′s, you had seven children, an incredibly busy life and yet you finished your masters degree. You taught me the value of education.

When times were tough and family life was especially hard I’d walk past your open bedroom door and ALWAYS see you on your knees. You taught me how to have a relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Mom, it’s easy for us to look back on our time as a mother and wonder if anything we did gave our children what they needed to be successful in their life. Sometimes we look back and feel discouraged because as far as we can see, what we did wasn’t enough. But it’s the little things, the daily things you taught me that made all the difference. Because you were the person that you were, I am the person that I am today. Through your service to others, you taught me how to serve. Through your example of forgiving and being patient, you taught me how to forgive and be patient. Because you grew and blossomed, like the flowers out back in our garden, you taught me how to grow and blossom.

Now I’m getting ready to take my first steps into motherhood and because of you I am not afraid. You have already walked the paths down this unfamiliar road and through the wisdom you have gained, you will teach me what it truly means to be a mother. Thank you mom.

By, Marie Henry

Dear Mother,

There are so many things that I have learned from you but there are two things in particular that have forever changed me and how things have gone in my life. The first one was prayer. I remember always walking in on you praying. I knew Heavenly Father was your friend and that you trusted him.

When I decided to come back to the church I knew what to do. I knew I could talk to him about everything. That is was okay if I was angry, even at him, as long as I talked to him about it. That even if I sat their and said nothing at least I was in the right place. I knew I had to build up trusting him but I trusted you so I knew I would get there and that it would be okay. The second thing was to never ever give up, that change is possible and that it is very real. That you need not give up hope. There is a way to return to happiness, and it is through Jesus Christ.

The past 13 years have been quite the journey for me and my family. There were times I didn’t think things would ever turn around or feel differently, but then I would pray and get through the day. I knew from watching you that no matter what you don’t ever ever give up. You continue to fight even if the answer takes years to come.

Now look where I am at. I finally am loving being a mother, I feel content and peaceful with me and how things are going in my life, and I have the greatest man as my husband. There are many things I get to pass on to my children but the two things I continue to tell them about is to always pray no matter how you feel and to never ever give up, that Heavenly Father is there for us and no matter what you fight to stay on his side.

I know that one day you were praying, in the kitchen I believe, and you said to Heavenly Father that we would have all been better off if he had just sent us to someone else. He said to you that may be true but he sent us to you. Well I am proud that he did. I am very grateful to have you as my mother.

Our lives here on earth are meant to have trials in them. I left your home knowing how to make it through and come out the other side being a better me and closer to the Lord. Having less trials really doesn’t matter. That I know how to make it back home to Heavenly Father is what I came here to learn and learn it I did. I am grateful for the family I have and PROUD I get to say you are my mother. I love you

Love,

Marie

By, Jenny Johnson

I really love my mother. And it is one off those interesting loves; the bigger the love gets, the bigger my heart gets, and the more it makes me love the entire world. Amazing!

I remember being a child and mom would take all of her 7 children with her to the nursing home on Sundays just to visit the patients who weren’t getting usual visitors. It was the family’s volunteer work. That is how I now kind of define my life. I prioritize (highly) having volunteer work in my life that serves the geriatric population. Also, I just finished the endeavor of earning my Master’s degree. I will now start working as a professional in the skilled nursing home to serve the geriatric population with different modes of therapy. I feel so happy and grateful because I know that working in this environment and serving this population is really going to feed my life, daily! She has taught me that despite possibly never bearing children, there is a viable way for me to mother this world! I serve…and it makes me happy. It is how I run my life. This is the legacy my mother has left in my life. An ocean of thanks to you, my sweet mother.

A handful of years ago, when I was in a severe car accident and wasn’t walking, my mother flew to California and took care of me for 4 months. I mean REALLY was taking care of me. As if her 30 year old daughter was 3 again. Feeding me, cleaning me, helping me move from point A to point B, etc. That was such a wonderful blessing given to each of our lives because what came out of that intimate tragedy was that my mother became one of my dearest friends. I feel so supported, loved and valued and that, again, strengthens and augments my desire to serve and support this entire world, and it makes me love this world even more. A canyon of thanks to you, my sweet mother and friend.

What my wonderful, beautiful, vibrant mother is teaching me now about being a woman is that personal evolution never stops and it is never too late to become 10 times more than you have ever been. Beauty, wisdom, self-love, personal manifestation, grand service – these are things I am learning from her and really beginning to value because she is performing these things and becoming these things and mastering these things and it is all so amazing to watch! She is painting such a colorful masterpiece across the canvas of her life. She is leaving such a mark, and I feel so honored and blessed to be apart of it. I love you mom, to the moon and back! A universe of thanks to you for everything.

Jenny Rebecca

By, Jodie Palmer

I turned 40 years old a few weeks ago. It’s sort of a surreal experience for me, because it’s the only age that I distinctly remember my mother being. She gave birth to her last child at 40, and so have I. I am now where my mother once was, a place I remember her being.

A fascinating thing has happened now that I’m standing in the shoes I remember my mother wearing. She has suddenly transformed into something more than my mother. I’m connecting with her as a woman.

It’s been hard to try to put this transformation into words, or describe what it means to finally see my mother as a woman.

I hate to admit it, but my mother has never been a “real” woman to me. She’s been . . . my Mother. Something different than, “a woman.”

Through my life I’ve been walking these antipodal paths of both discovering who I am as a woman, and consciously putting myself together into who I want to be. But the change that has happened for me is that I am beginning to see my mother in the context of who I am as a woman—this complicated mixture of contradictions and messiness, grace and beauty, vices and flaws, backbone and tenacity, soft and tender places, guarded and hidden places, confusion and wisdom, fullness and emptiness and so much more all wrapped up in one heart.

I find myself feeling so tender towards her, not in a reminiscent way, as is usual for Mother’s Day, but in this current, primal, female, connected, Red Tent sort of way.

As I was attempting to write this tribute to her I came up with my usual celebrations of memories, the ones that have informed my whole worldview and way of being with the world. Like the time she packed us all into the car to return something that had recently been purchased because we needed the money. On the way out of the parking lot there was a man holding a sign asking for help. She rolled down the window and gave the man part of the change we had just received. She shared and gave, even when it hurt.

Or the time when she washed the body of a woman who had died who had no one in her life to give her that one last loving honor. She is a rememberer of the forgotten.

There are so many other memories that have served as the elements taken up as food by the beautiful garden of my life.

But, today I want to honor my mother differently than I have ever been able to before. I want to honor her as a woman. I want to honor her complicated, contradictory, messy, deeply beautiful, wise, lovely self. All of it is beautiful to me, and so needed by me, as a woman. All of her is so needed by the world. And the world is better for it—the little worlds of her children and grandchildren, the little worlds of her client families, the little worlds of her neighbors, and the strangers that cross her path. All these little worlds collide together in one big bang of goodness and beauty for all the rest of us.

That’s the beauty of women, we are wombs and birthers of beauty and goodness in the world through the complicated mixture of who we are. We are good for the world . . . And the Lord God looked and said, “It is good.”

I am honored to a woman born and grown from this woman. I am honored to have her blood and her bone, her spirit and her heart living in me.

I am grateful for these new eyes that have allowed me to not only see her differently, but see my daughters differently. I newly see, and feel, that we are sisters, we are friends.

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How we made Learning Inspiring!

Mary Ann — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:37:05 +0000

Books, books, books. The center was full of them.

The three year old walked into the room the second day, stopped and said, “This is awesome!”

A mom stopped me at the door to tell me her nine year old couldn’t sleep all night because she had been so excited to come back the next morning.

At 9:30 on Sunday morning the phone rang. On the other end of the line I heard a woman’s voice saying, “I know its Sunday but I just couldn’t wait to call you. My two kids haven’t stopped talking about the center since we left yesterday. In fact they woke me up early this morning to talk about it some more. We have been playing with their screaming balloons.”

Every now and then we have the opportunity to do something wonderful! I just had that experience with the Love of Learning Center. Last year it was new and I learned some things. This year was practically perfect!!

Designing a space for over 130 children, for two days, that will really be inspiring, is a challenge and I and a staff of about 35 other moms and youth took it on.

I have to say that I had the most amazing staff! It was such a delight to watch Dave Schugk in the under 3 station for a whole day! He is a natural – patient and fun. The littles just loved having him there.

We couldn’t have done it without our youth in the baby station. Grey Boyce, Maryn Taylor and Natalie Good rich played and played and played! I also want to thank two young men who just showed up and then stayed. Thanks guys, I wish I knew your names!

My hat goes off to Penny Robinson and Jodie Palmer who managed all these people and babies. These are amazing moms!!!

Our true blessing both days was Amber Wright who managed the bathroom duty and had her own staff of youth to get it done. Sara Rast, Chloe Tippets, Deija Schugk and Madison Boyce were terrific! Also Brittany Baron was huge help on Friday. With 135 kids you can imagine that they just about wore a trail into the carpet to the bathroom and the drinking fountain.

One of the most loved stations was the Performing Arts. Belinda Ballentyne and Beverli Haroldson were magnificent. They had children running, dancing, imagining and playing puppets. It was a blast.

Music and imagination go together!

Another station that really rocked for the kids was the Games station. Here is where kids were able to let off a lot of steam playing Red light Green Light, Hopscotch, Button Button and Duck Duck Goose among other games. Nate Pack and Carol Cripps were perfect in this station – high energy and fun!

Did you know that this year is the 100 anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC and that the trees were a gift from Japan? Well it is. The children had the help of Britta and Carter Schugk to make a Japanese painting of cherry blossoms and also experiment with origami.

We were also only one week away from Mothers Day so of course we had to have a Mothers Day station. Kelly Tippets and Penny Robinson helped the children make two beautiful cards for their mom or grandma.

Making a Mothers Day card

Do you know how many batches of play dough it takes to make enough for 130+ kids for two days? Well we in the center know. It takes a lot. Niki Brown and Beverli Haroldson helped the children make some cute creations from play dough, beans, macaroni, wiggle eyes and beads. Little guys that looked like the green monster in Monsters Inc were very popular.

Making play dough creatures.

Science was big in the center. We had a station that dealt with the senses. Ever heard a screaming balloon? We have and it is fun. That little project taught us all about friction, centrifugal force, sound and so forth. The kids also made their own kazoos with tape, newspaper and toilet paper tubes. They had a ball and made a mess experimenting with a bucket full of confetti. If you stop spinning it the confetti falls out. I have to hand it to Gordon and Melinda Boyce and Heidi Sorensen for their ability to stay on their knees demoing how to clean up confetti and keep smiling.

The screaming balloon was a BIG hit.

Another science station dealt with color. Spinning color wheels and color magic lava were a big hit. Ginger Silveira and Leah Cluff kept the eruptions in check and food color off the floors. Way to go guys!

My personal favorite was the coloring station. We had a plethora of markers, crayons, colored pencils and some of the most amazing pictures you can imagine to color. I might mention that the fabulous pictures and free coloring pages came from the Dover Free Sampler which I have praised before.

Sara Pack handled that station on Friday like any mom would – orderly, neat, with great picture results. On Saturday we had Aaron Hart with us and I have to say that the coloring morphed into some fabulous airplane making and flying. The difference between guys and gals!

Kym Peavoy, Suzanne Hanks and Savanah Hanks taught the children how to make their own books with needles and thread. The books were easy and turned out great. They also taught them to make monsters, germs and other unsavory creatures by blowing paint around with a straw.

Binding our own books.

In one station we had some very old art going on. I did these things when I was a girl in the 60’s. Joanna Maymon and JuliAnne Zabriskie helped the children to make pictures from crayons, erasers and toothpicks. AMAZING!

Its amazing what you make with broken crayons and tooth picks!

Another really amazing center was run by Monica Minney and her son Lee. They taught the children to draw on their own slates just like in a one room school. Lee was a real trooper for two days and did a ton of drawing.

My hat goes off to Rebecca and Nathan Dilts. They also did a couple of olden day crafts which took a huge amount of time to prepare. I do not know how many hundred straws and how many hundreds of bits of construction paper were cut. Rebecca’s mom and Rebecca had busy hands in front of many TV shows!

Also a BIG thank you goes to Kate Houston and Carrie Chouquette who weren’t even part of our staff. They cut straws and Carrie’s entire family spent a lot of time taking the paper off of crayons among other jobs. Thanks guys!

I can’t forget the wonderful people who came and did special presentations for us. Bill Peavoy who taught the kids to juggle and gave them crazy voice lessons. Ten year old Luke Sorenson who taught us all about raising bees and 16 year old Julie Robinson who taught us some Polynesian dancing. We had another youth Shannon Hess who taught the kids how to survive in the wilderness and our own Britta Schugk who taught us about bones and things in nature. These moments away from the stations was a blessing to the kids and to the adults.

Learning a Polynesian dance.

Helping kids to love learning takes just a few things –

• Being present
• Being Consistent
• Offering Variety
• Keeping it simple and
• Making it special

We were able to do that in the Love of Learning Center at the Salt Lake City Family Forum and it was a tremendous success.

If you need help making your Closet or learning time or even family time inspiring then the Rockin Closet Idea Packet can help. Check it out.

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Earn a Mentor Package with the Home School Coach

Mary Ann — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:54:11 +0000

What has happened to the Home School Coach? Where has she been the last couple of months? Did she stop writing, having Grandma School? Where in the world has she been?

You may have been asking those questions. For over two years I have been really consistent in posting new information on this site and in having and reporting on my Traveling Closet, among other things. Well, the last two months I have been really busy putting the Love of Learning Center together for the Salt Lake City TJED Family Forum. It has been a labor of love for sure. And just like real labor their has been pain and joy in the process. I am more than excited about the results, my fabulous staff and the many children that are coming. We are going to have a truly memorable time this year!!!

I also have a booth at this years Forum because I have a fantastic NEW MP3 download that I want to give away FREE to anyone who stops in and chats for a minute. I also have two amazing specials that will be offered at the booth. SO……I want to make sure that anyone who stops by is taken really good care of.

My handsome and really great "other half".

My handsome and creative “other half” is going to be there to take care of this issue for me. However, our newest son in law is graduating the same weekend as the Forum. I, alas, will not be able to see him walk across the stage and get that coveted diploma but my husband Don will do the honors for both of us. That leaves me with my current problem. Who can I get to replace him for a few hours at my booth?

Of course I thought of all of you! I am looking for someone who would like to meet and greet the terrific people who come to the Forum to become better and more skilled parents, students and people. I need someone who is really familiar with the concepts of the Closet, has atteneded any of my classes, lectures, or workshops and who would like to mentor with me.

If you fit that description please email me and we will talk. majcoach@gmail.com

What does the mentoring package look like you ask? Well, here you go.

We will talk about YOU and YOUR family: something I can’t do on a CD, from stage, or in a workbook.

This coaching package is an $700 value!!

I will help you take a deeper look at:

Being Present
Structuring time
Hearing and responding to your children
How to enjoy being with your children more
Using the Family Chunk Clock to get a handle on your day
Overcoming the sensation of overwhelm!
How to stop yelling at your kids
How to re-script for more successful relationships with your children
The necessity of relationship before teaching
How to play at 100%
The difference between 1% improvement and the 100% devil that keeps tripping you up
And much more that relates to YOU and YOUR family

Stop feeling guilt. Stop being overwhelmed every day. Stop blaming your kids for your chaos, stop losing your cool. Love being with your children!

Mentor with Mary Ann
6 personal appointments to be used within 6 mo of starting
Appointments are 1 hour
CD Be Present
CD Family Chunk Clock
Workbook
A “couples” paid ticket to the all day workshop - Parenting with Confidence and Joy

This coaching package is an $700 value!!

So if working with me one on one interests you come and “work” with me for a few hours at the forum. Email you desire to majcoach@gmail.com. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

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And the WINNER of the Character traits curriculum/activities is……

Mary Ann — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:54:23 +0000

My assistants, Matthew and Jacob Plain

Today is April 18 and time for the drawing for the awesome Character traits curriculum/activities by George Rogers.

Do you see that picture up there? Those are my neighbors, Matthew and Jacob Plain. They agreed to assist me to draw out a winner. I wanted you all to know that I actually wrote your names on slips of paper and I had a drawing.

The winner is….Leah Spencer. If you know Leah then give her a call and check out the books. Congratulations Leah!!!

This is a really supper give away because the curriculum is just so good. The two books, one for Grades 2-6 and one for grades 5-9 are together $59.90. George has them on special right now for $44.90 but he is giving all of you great parents out there a 25% discount at his website. That makes them $##.75 if my math is any good. (Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn’t!) The promotion code to enter at checkout is MAJ. If you haven’t gone to George’s site and taken a look at what he is teaching then now is a wonderful time to do it.

George Rogers is the the founder and President of ChoiceSkills™.

PS I am NOT being paid to tell you about this curriculum. I just like it and I like George too. : )

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GIVEAWAY!!! Teaching Character Traits Curriculum/Activities

Mary Ann — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:19:30 +0000

If you missed the article about George Roger’s wonderful character building curriculum better check it out! The big give away ends Wednesday at 6:00pm. Then I will be drawing a name and sending the whole deal to the winner. It could be you!!!

Just leave a comment and you will be entered into the drawing. Good luck!

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Teaching Character Traits Curriculum/Activities

Mary Ann — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:26:05 +0000

The Seven C's of Thinking Clearly

Teaching Character Traits Curriculum/Activities

“The ability to think rightly lies at the root of all human happiness and well being. It is the fundamental character trait on which all other character traits rely for their development. In turn, the ability to think rightly is dependent upon what Daniel Goleman calls emotional intelligence and social intelligence coupled with a set of highly developed thinking skills.” These are the words of a friend of mine, George Rogers.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I wanted to share some resources that I have found that I think are worth sharing. Here is number three.

Recently Don and I had lunch with George and his son, John. We talked about children, teaching and home school. George has developed set of parent-teacher directed activities, games and stories designed to help young people develop the emotional, social and thinking skills essential to making sound, responsible choices through character traits curriculum/activities. They’re published in a two book set titled “The Seven C’s of Thinking Clearly”, grades 2-6 and 5-9. It has been used in both public and homeschool settings throughout the U S and other countries for about ten years.

Teaches your child to think clearly while teaching good character traits

I really liked George’s program! It teaches your child to think clearly while teaching good character traits. A combination of biographical sketches, familiar and original stores coupled with reinforcing activities provide parents and teachers abundant opportunities to engage their young is conversations about things that matter most.

His goal is to empower young people with the tools and skills necessary to safely navigate the troubled waters of a rapidly changing and increasingly challenging world by providing their parents/teachers with the resources necessary to teach them.

Benjamin Franklin

The philosophy that George followed when he was creating his program comes from Benjamin Franklin –

“There can be no happiness but in a virtuous and self-approving conduct.”

“. . . .as the happiness or real good of man consists in right action and right action cannot be produced without right opinion, it behooves, us above all things in this world to take care that our own opinions of things be according to the nature of things. The foundation of all virtue and happiness is thinking rightly.”

If you are a parent who just wants some guidance and some great stories and activities to go with them that will help you help your children develop greater thinking skills, as well as emotional and social skills then I suggest that you take a look at what George has to offer. You can learn more about this character based learning resource at Choice Skills.

GIVE AWAY!

I want to give away a set of The Seven C’s of Thinking Clearly – Book 1, Grades 2-6 and Book two, Grades 5-9. If you would like to have this wonderful curriculum then just make a comment in the comment box and I will enter you for a drawing on April 18. Good luck. I know you’ll like it.

George Rogers

George has informed me that he will also offer a 25% discount to anyone in my tribe that wishes to purchase any of his products at his website. The promotion code to enter at checkout is MAJ.

George Rogers is the the founder and President of ChoiceSkills™.

PS I am NOT being paid to tell you about this curriculum. I just like it and I like George too. : )

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Monday – How to Mentor Difficult Books with youth

Mary Ann — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:14:50 +0000

Learn to mentor difficult books!

Recently I have been following a conversation on a home school Yahoo group, TJEDMuse. It began with a discussion of The Chosen by Chaim Potok . I wrote to say that I had read the book and hadn’t liked it. I knew when I read the book that because I lacked good reading strategies and skills I wasn’t getting the full story. At the time I had no one to discuss the book with. That has been well over 20 years ago. I have never stopped thinking about the book on occasion and wishing that I understood more about it.

I found it hard to follow the online discussion because I cannot read every day or every comment even when I am online. There just is not time in my day. So I missed a lot. It left me wishing for an actual conversation about the book.

Later this conversation began to talk about other books with difficult topics and evolved into a discussion on the Hunger Games, a book I had not read (I have no youth in my home and work with children under 12). I did recognize the title because I had begun to see trailer for the movie. I was astonished at the fire storm of comments both pro and con for letting youth read the book.

Through a divine : ) twist of fate I received a call from Olivia Votaw. She is an amazing woman who is an expert on telling our own stories, the value of classics and how to mentor a book. I loved our conversation and in the end expressed my desire to know how to better read a book and how to mentor a difficult book. I asked her to offer a class and I was prepared to pay to take it!

FREE online class – How to Mentor Difficult Books with Youth

Well, dear Olivia is offering a FREE one time class for adults who want to be able to mentor a book (trilogy) like the Hunger Games. (This class will take place on April 12, 2012 from 6:30-8:30 PM MDT. )

Whether you like the hunger games or not, whether you think youth should read it or not, learning how to mentor difficult books at the feet of Olivia – How to Mentor Difficult Books with Youth – is worth your time.

This class is coming up in just a few days and I hope that many of you will take the opportunity to learn from a master teacher/mentor and gain some new skills of your own.

Good Mentoring Matters

I just finished East of Eden. I didn’t like the book at first and knew I was not going to get past chapter three. There were just so many allusions to torrid behavior and so much conflict in the lives of the main charters. I was reading it because my son in law had said it was one of his favorite books (he is 23). So I talked to him about it. He pointed out that it was the best book on choice that he had ever read. So I kept reading. I never adjusted to the nastiness of some of the characters and felt so bugged by the conflicts; however, I was absolutely mesmerized by the truth of his words. It is a powerful statement on choice and that we all have choice and can wield it for good or bad no matter where we come from, what our parents were like or our life circumstances. The illustration of Cain and Able in the book was so striking that I had to copy the whole thing out on my computer because I know that I will use it in many a lesson to come.

So here is a book that of itself I would never have read; but some good mentoring kept me at it and in the end I felt that it was worth reading. This book changed my perspective on choice.

That is the point I am making, that without good mentoring, then books about controversial subjects, violence, conflict etc. may not be good to read. But with some good mentoring they can be life changing, as East of Eden was for me.

Click here to get more information on the upcoming class by Oliva Votaw and to register. This class will take place on April 12, 2012 from 6:30-8:30 PM MDT. I will be there!

Olivia Votaw

Olivia Saavedra Votaw is a passionate advocate of freedom. Since discovering Thomas Jefferson Education, she has striven to promote a freedom mindset in her home, her work as a mentor and her community. She believes that receiving a leadership education is crucial to understanding and embracing freedom. When she isn’t working on her own education, she can be found reading with her two wonderful children, working in the garden with her husband, or bottling Dove chocolate. Olivia is proud to mentor the students of Leadership Education Academy.

PS I am NOT being paid to promote this class. I just love Olivia, love the topic and want to learn!!

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Two Easter books for kids, toddlers, children – EVERYONE!

Mary Ann — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:56:08 +0000

I recall one Easter in my large family of origin. There were nine of us children and my mom and dad lived on a shoe string. This particular year my mom couldn’t afford baskets and so she made a nest of Easter Grass (very cheap) for each of us. To make it more exciting she hid the nests all over the house. I recall mine was in the bathroom shower. : )

I have another memory of Easter. I remember reading a great Easter book for kids, The Country Bunny by Du Bose Heyward. My mom never took us to the library. I just learned to use it by myself and for the most part I walked. So although this is a book for younger children I was probably in third or fourth grade when I read it. I didn’t care. I loved the book.

I remember that I really liked the pictures. They were just plain interesting.

I also loved the story. I really wanted to be that mother bunny. I love that little mother bunny; her wonderful helping children, her outwitting of the swift-footed, pompous hares, & her tender perseverance. I did grow up to have 7 children! (Heaven forbid 21!)

I was intrigued by the golden shoes. I wanted some. I knew that someday I was going to make one of those fabulous sugar eggs that she delivered with the help of the golden shoes.

I also had a question which has never been answered: How did they decide which children got regular eggs, chocolate eggs and those beautiful sugar eggs? Hmmmmmm!

Your kids will like this book and they might like making some beautiful sugar eggs.

Henri, Egg Artiste

Here is another very readable Easter book that is new to me this year, Henri, Egg Artiste by Marcus Pfister’s. I liked it because it is about art!

Henri is a true artist who has grown tired of decorating his eggs in the same old way. Your children will be led on an exploration of the art world as Henri creates beautiful works in the styles of celebrated painters of the past,Vincent van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, and Claude Monet are just a few of the geniuses who inspire Henri, Egg Artiste.

This is a delightful way to introduce children to a world of masterpieces. The book has applications that extend far beyond the obvious Easter promotions.

Put some books in your Closet that show more paintings by these artists. Have the materials for your children to paint a few of their own eggs. Then let them create an exhibit in their own back yard and invite the grandparents and neighbors over to enjoy their work.

What are your favorite Easter book and traditions? We would love to have you share!

For more ideas on inspiring your children through the educational tool, the Closet, check out the Rockin Closet Idea Packets, sent to you monthly via email. Take the stress and time out of inspiring!

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Have an Amazing Experience in the Love of Learning Center

Mary Ann — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:09:05 +0000

Making Inventions

If you missed the article about working in the upcoming Love of Learning Center at the SLC TJED Family Forum I am reprinting it here. We have made a couple of changes to the participation/rewards packages to make it easier for mom’s and dad’s to attend. So take a second look. : )

On May 4th and 5th, 2012 I am hosting the Love of Learning Center at the Salt Lake City TJED Family Forum. This is an exciting undertaking!! We are going to create a huge Closet for two days for over 100 children. It is going to be an experience to remember for them and for us. I am looking for a few amazing mom’s, dad’s and youth who would like to share this opportunity with me. Get all the details by watching the video. Then email me at majcoach@gmail.com You are going to LOVE this!!

The Love of Learning Center is for children ages 18mo. to 11 years old.

Rewards for two days participation:

Work with the Home School coach for two days!!
Get some personal and group mentoring before the event
Receive the complete 42 class download of the Family Forum and two keynote addresses, covering both the adult and youth Saturday classes
One of your own children attends the Love of Learning Center free of charge – two more of your own children come for half price!
Receive two tickets of your choice for a family member or friend
Attend a free Closet webinar just for the staff
Have a personal 30 min FREE mentor cal with Mary Ann (a $50 value)

Rewards for one days participation:

Work with the Home School coach for the day
Get some personal and group mentoring before the event
One of your own children attends the Love of Learning Center free of charge – two more of your own children come for half price
Receive one ticket of your choice for yourself, another family member or friend
Attend a free Closet webinar just for the staff
Have a personal 30 min FREE mentor cal with Mary Ann (a $50 value)

You can buy a ticket for yourself, your spouse and a youth to attend the Saturday classes at the Family forum and attend 5 classes with one keynote speaker. Or Work with the Home School Coach for two days and hear all 42 classes and both key note speakers, plus send your spouse and a youth to attend their own classes. AMAZING!!

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