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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Just LOVE them!

Just finished cleaing up after serving a big spagetti dinner to my family. My son is visiting from out of town and I decided to invite a few of the kids over that hadnt seen him yet. There were actually only 8 of us...but delightful all the same.

It does not matter how old or young a person is....they just need lovin'

A touch of the hand, a hug and kiss, an encouraging word...personal stuff All things that are so often overlooked in this busy life of ours.

Moms Lets be intentional today! Hug all the kids....Sit down with them and chat. Play a game together. Go out for icecream or better yet pick apples. Cuddle chase and tickle. Life is all to serious and sometimes it just sucks up all the joy and pleasure.

No one is more fortunate than you. You live in America, you have a roof over your head and some food in the fridge. Lets look at the blessings and just be thankful.

You are all blessings to me
See the back log of blogs at www.comeinandrest.blogspot.com
Blessings
Marnie
www.comeinandrest.com

Monday, September 29, 2008

Just get them through it...

I had the opportunity of meeting a new friend this weekend. She was telling me of the advise she has been given on getting her child through the teenage years.

These well meaning ladies have said:

Let them drink as long as they don't drive.

They can sleep around as long as there is no pregnancy.

Cheating is not so bad if they dont get caught.

If they're disrespectful they are learning to use their voice
and on and on...

THIS IS NOT CORRECT THINKING!
Moms you have a very important and serious job and it is WAY MORE THAN JUST GETTING THROUGH THE TEEN YEARS

We are training future adults, citizens, parents, and leaders. Discipline is key to training your children to be a vital part of society.
In past blogs I have talked about when there is an absense of parental involvment someone or something IS parenting your child. The television, music, peers, computer, games etc all have vital roles in your child's life....

Are you keeping track of what your kids are being taught ?

Are these true statements?
Its ok to drink
Its ok to spend all your money
Its ok to be disrespectful
Its ok to ignor authority
Its ok to be sexually active
etc

Are we just biding time.... waiting to pawn them off on someone or something else?

Take the reigns back...Read some good books and begin to train your child. It will be worth it and the world will say thank you.

Blessings
Marnie
www.comeinandrest.com

Friday, September 26, 2008

The OnLookers

What will they think???

Have you ever noticed how often we have a "crowd of witnesses" when we are diciplining our children!
It has been something that has been standing out to me lately.

The parent needs to discipline for something and when there are people around the scene. Often the situation becomes a comedy routein for the onlookers. The parent roll their eyes, say sarcastic things,(directed to the audience in ear shot) while always looking to see how they are being perceived.
The child feels like he/she is on center stage and many times can feel embarrassed, belittled and confused about what is happening.

THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT.

It is not difficult to remove the child from the onlookers, to step away into a more private setting where the child can have your undivided attention and you can have theirs.

"Johnny, Stop bugging that dog!" (parent looks around) smirks, makes a wise comment
"that dog is just going to chew your hand off if you don't stop...Youre going to be dogfood boy" heyhey
Johnny either watches the "show" that you are putting on for the crowd... OR he ignors you because he does not feel you are talking directly to him.

SIMPLY take Johnnie by the hand and walk away, behind a car, tree or go to another room. There take a few minutes to tell your son of your concern and that you are asking him to stop. You may need to tell the consequences of not stopping depending on your child. This needs to be eye to eye with a "Do you understand?" at the end.
Ask him to repeat what you have said and go back to what you were doing.

I want to let you know it does not look funny (although you may get some of the crowd to laugh) or mature when you put an act on for others. Most can see through what's going on: that you don't have a real grip on discipling your child.

Discipline your child in the most private setting that you can find at the moment. I have taken children to the car and even into a corner of the room. Make sure that you get on their level and that they fully understand what you are asking. Get up close and personal and stay private! Keep you voice low.

This will tweak the whole process and you will see your child take you more seriously when the time comes.

It's all part of the job!!
Blessings
Marnie

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

To simplify or not to simplify that is the question

Simplify WHAT???

I know for a fact that we still have 7 days in a week that STILL consist of 24 hours each with 60 minutes in each hour etc... Can anyone confirm this for me?

My dear friend Jan gave me a sign that says "Once upon a time there was time..."\

OK so where does time go?? Where does time hide?? How come it seems different now than years ago?
I refuse to believe that it is because I am old that time seems to pass so fast..even my children feel it buzzing by in fact they started school just yesterday and progress reports are due to come out tomorrow!!!

Is there a time thief??
What does he look like? Where does he hide? How does he operate?

What do terms like "sieze the day", redeem the hour make the day count...really mean? How do we pull this off?

Who is going to capture our time and bring it back to us?

Well, I feel confident to say that we are the only ones who can and are responsible for getting a hold of time.

I think that it has to do with being intentional. Thinking it through.... making a plan.
What are the "have tos" that will need to be done tomorrow. Write them down...Then how about listing the "would be wonderful ifs" down and then write a few whimsical "it would be a miracle if" at the end of the list.

Determine not to be side tracked. Tell yourself that you are not going to have lunch until a certain thing is accomplished. Have that second cup of coffee when the last of the laundry in put away. Determine to have the kitchen sink empty before dinner and then after as well.

You will be so proud of yourself! I will be proud of you!
Great job....When the day is done congratulate yourself and start the list for tomorrow. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish!
Remember,as well, that it is not ALL about "Doing" Call a faraway friend. Send out a card to someone. Leave a note on your husband's pillow and/or put a note in your children's lunch boxes.

Sit down to dinner as a family with the table set. It will make everyone feel special!!

Come on now ....send me some success stories!
Blessings
Marnie
ps How about a good meatloaf tonite? Put a few baking potatoes in the oven with it and add a veg and you will be good to go!....You might even add some of that homemade applesauce on the side!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Can anyone relate???

"she opens her eyes and off we go.... it's like when you're on a roller coaster and you're at the top waiting for the release (that is me alseep in my bed) then whoooah her eyes open and here we go loop after nauseing, head jerking, migrane making, loop until slam the ride stops and she is asleep again (16 hours later). I need help...."

Wow can you feel it parents? Can you relate?
Well, its time to "get off the merry-go-round" or in this case the rollercoaster!

The little one described in the above Help letter is around 3 yrs old. She is unleashed energy. Non stop...

So where do we begin?
Put on the breaks!
Start once again to build the walls of discipline and consistency.

First of all You MUST BE RESTED to take on this whirlwind....
You will lose it otherwise and be "under" before you know it!

Second think about and lay the "rules"

1. When do they get up? and how? and what do they do when they do wake up?
2. Whats next on the list breakfast? get them ready for the day? Now don't give up yet....its only 8:30 am!

3 Wear them out! let them play outside...is there a McDonalds play yard near by? Are there other children that they can play with? YOU structure the day NOT the other way around

4. Lunch make them sit down and eat... wash them up....read them a book and tuck them in for a nap!

Yah you say You have no idea!!! Well believe it or not I DO

But You need to be the boss.... " Honey you are going to lay down for at least an hour"....darken the room shut the door....
Now do I expect this to happen easily? The first time? Unlikely... But stick to your plan! The first few days will be hardest. But you must win whatever way that you can! ( you may have to rearrange your schedule to make this happen .... naps need to be a priority and a habit.)
Dont give up! You are laying the foundation! Does the builder just ignor the bricks that are crumbling from the wall because he is tired or just does not want to do the job over again?
Remember the childs WHOLE LIFE is being built on these foundational principles!
Win....This WILL NOT last forever Unless, infact, you ignor the issue and hope that it goes away....it won't
small problems will become big problems ! Do your self a favor and tend to business Deep breath now parents!

I had a week of cousin camp this summer 5 of the grandchildren came for 7 days of fun! The ages were 3,4,6,8,8 IT went soooo smoothly no major incidents they ate, they slept, they played. They did not fight . They did not have to be punished. I did not have to call any parents.....WHY? Well, first of all, I had a schedule planned from first thing to last thing...meals were planned, outings were planned, crafts were planned....I had thought it through and all I had to do then was execute the plan!

Well there are some hints in that paragraph! Plan Plan Plan She who flies from the seat of her pants usually wears out before she finishes!

Keep looking up The Bible says: I look to the hills from which my help comes.... Kind of looking out the window in the morning for the yellow school bus!

Blessings
Marnie

THE FROST IS ON THE PUMPKIN

I have a disease!

It tends to follow me wherever I go. I don't think that it is contagious though.

I LOVE TO decorate. I decorate inside. I decorate outside. My mind just starts to race...there is no rhyme nor reason....if there is an empty space...a blank wall I just have to "go there"

It's fall
One of my favorite times to exercise my sickness.
I find that children and adults alike will enjoy your efforts.
Now certainly you do not need to go to the lengths and breaths that I go to BUT how about making your entrance way welcoming with some fallish items.

A Simple weath of colored leaves on the door...a potted mum
a stack of cornstalks with a pumpkin or two perhaps even a haybale
Buy a scented candle and light it before everyone comes home at nite.
Collect some colored leaves and strew them on the table or put them in a bowl (you can have the kids replentish these as they dry)

My little ones loved the peel and stick decorations found at the grocery or department store. Or use the fall poster pictures that can be hung on the windows or walls.


By the way....have you ever made homemade applesauce??

If you have a food mill...wash apples (cortland or macs are the best)
cut in quarters, seeds and all, and put in a covered pot with just a skim of water in the bottom. Start on high until boiling and then turn it down and let it simmer until apples are mush and ready to put through the mill. I use a Foley Food Mill

If you do not have a mill peel and core apples, cut in quarters and follow the above directions This will be a lighter sauce but still will taste yummy.

Sweeten the cooked sauce with a little sugar and perhaps a sprinkle of cinnamon.
The family will love it cold or hot and its also great over icecream! I personally love it with graham crackers for a snack. Yum
Enjoy
Blessings
Marnie

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Its sniffle time again!

What is a parent to do?

All the over the counter medicines have been said to be of no help and we have been advised to not bother to buy them.

Yah easy for those guys to say as the little on sniffles and coughs and is down right miserable!

Things to do and to have on hand....

1. Give everyone in the family vitamine C throughout the year either chewable or non does not matter 1000 miligrams for older kids. You cannot overdose on this as it will wash through your body. A tablet in the morning and one at nite is a good routein. THIS HAS BEEN TRIED AND TRUE IT DOES WORK

2. Vicks vaporub. I love this and always have it on hand. One of my daughters swears that the advise in the circulated email about putting it on the soles of the feet under socks works to eradicate nighttime coughing.

3. Force (be intentional about) liquids. At the first sign of illness keep the water/juice/popsicles coming. They really do help to drown out that cold.

4. Baby aspirin to keep down a fever or Tylenol check with your Dr as to what he/she recommneds

5. A humidifier helps in the childs room cool air versus steam

6. Dress the child for the weather....Here in New England we often miss the obvious change of seasons and children are still wearing summer clothes as the fall comes rushing in with much cooler temperatures.

7. Plenty of rest/sleep. Illness is magnified with the lack of sound sleep that many times accompanies a cold/sickness.

Time with Mom and/or Dad adds that extra comfort that the child needs during this down time of not being up to par.

Its September and sniffles are coming...some is allergy related but I believe can be treated the same way.

Keep healthy and wash your hands often!
Blessings
Marnie

It might be time to get those cornbags out! and put another blanket on the beds!