Don't Play the Blame Game

"You broke my goggles!"

"You made me lose my turn!"

"You ruined my picture!"

"You're mean!"

You, you, you!!! When the kids get mad, "you" statements of blame fly freely at our house.

In heated moments like this, no skill is involved, just a lot of finger pointing and tempers flaring. Matters don't get resolved as much as decibel levels rise and I am called in to play referee. To say it is exhausting would be an understatement.

If we are going to get better at arguing, we HAVE got to learn a new approach!!

To start, you, you, and you will have to go - goodbye! - and in it's place, one little power word needs to be remembered.

I'll let the kids at Mosaic Project tell you all about it.

 

Remember, when you teach kids to use I Statements, you teach them to "take their power back".

 

Power up, sounds good to me - Happy Friday!!

For Arguments Sake...Power Up!

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

"You didn't argue enough as a child!"

That's what my husband has said to me on more than one occasion and you know what, he is right.  When a discussion starts to get heated or as he likes to say "good" or "interesting" I often back down or suddenly fall silent.

I've never been one that was quick or clever with my words but then again, I've always associated arguing with fighting and when you are a people pleaser, that trait goes right out the window.

It wasn't until I met David and then met his family that I came to see another side to arguments.

Over the years, I've watched them get loud with opinions, take challenges and remain so clever that I can't tell you how comical it all gets. That there is still smiles or laughter in the end, totally fascinates me!

Fifteen years later, I'm still learning but it's my hope that Ethan and Reese will pick up on these skills quicker and learn to argue with the best of them.

To be persuasive, compelling and funny - SURE, maybe even win a few arguments - but even more, to express themselves, their inner "I" and to know there's power in a good clean fight. 

More thoughts on why you should teach your children to argue...HERE. 

Power up!

July Art Inspriation

Inspired by video games, July's fridge art was easy-peasy to make for the kids.
They picked out some of the favorite gaming characters and we made a collage around the words POWER UP.

 

 

Granted, the little words, "no", "why", "I" and "ok" and the focus on language is still a little fuzzy for the kids but that's ok. We've got the month (or least till our little baby boy arrives) to chat and understand them more.

Wish me a LITTLE luck:-)

 

 

New Month, New Rule

OK, so this is the plan...this month we are focusing on language, particularly little words that make a big impact.

NO - WHY - I - OK, are these words a regular part of your vocabulary? They should be. Would you believe they are shots of wellness that can serve to keep you in check emotionally, physically and mentally with your everyday life?

This July we'll explore why we all need to say NO more, ask WHY, express our "I" selves and remember that no matter what, everything will be OK.

 

Okay? Okay.

HAPPY MONDAY!!