No Empty Threats

An empty threat is a threat that we never follow through with.

The more we give empty threats the less seriously we are taken by our children and the more power they take from us. 

Give threats, you as a parent, are willing to do. If you aren't willing to cancel your Disneyland trip, don't threaten with that. 

If by mistake it slips out of your mouth, give them an option to earn it back with good behavior.

Who is paying the price?

My mom said the other day, "The person that is the most frustrated is the one paying the price."

If we are the one suffering for our child's actions (every time they make a mess we have to clean it up) we are going to be the short tempered one. If they are paying the price the consequence (they clean up the messes they make) they will be frustrated one and ultimately will be learning from their mistakes (they will be more aware the next time).

Our children need to know their choices have consequences for good and for bad.

What do we throw M&M's at?

Every girl knows what makes their mamma proud. One girl said, "My mom always threw M&M's at me when I performed".
What are we throwing M&M's at? What are we encouraging our kids to pursue? Make sure you are a mamma that is encouraging and praising the BEST things.
Some mom's praise working or accomplishments as the ultimate success. I have a mom that has always thrown M&M's at me when I am being a good person and reaching out for others. She would hug me and smile and made me feel special for my accomplishments of being a dancer, a cheerleader, working through high school, playing on the Lacrosse team, or even graduating from college but she never 'threw M&M's at those things'.
I always knew she was truly happy for me but I have always felt that she is most proud of me when she hears my testimony of my Savior or sees me trying my best in motherhood! And that just feels right! Every child should have a mamma that makes him feel like the world for being Christlike. I believe that is ultimate success.

My Traditions

a combo of traditions from pat's parents my parents and ideas i love!

Birthdays-
                  A cake! Never forget. (Bake or buy)
                  birthday breakfast or dinner with hat.
                  birthday wreath
                  birth story (my mom always tells me my birth story and the blessing I am to her. I love it!)

Anniversary-
                  Temple sealings at Salt Lake
                   watch wedding vid
                   Fun activity together (2014- Wicked, 2013-  vespas through Thanksgiving Gardens, Snowbird (slept over, rode a mechanical bull and slides,
                 
             

Valentines-

*chocolate covered strawberries
*chocolate covered raspberries (cluster together in a cupcake filter)
*buy Peter's Chocolate (available at orson and gygi or a place by pa's work that sells wheat)
(first time I tried the strawberries and raspberries was when I was 16, Patrick surprised me with them in the trunk of his sleek silver civic. um ya i was in a total puddle of love)
*grandma's heart shaped sugar cookies with pink frosting and clear crystals
*14 day Countdown for my LOVE. (sticky love notes, goodies, surprises)
                   Chocolate heart PB cookies

St. Patrick's Day- signs of our leprechaun (foot prints, green pee in toilet, green milk, switch chairs)
                             Make a green dinner

April Fools-


Easter- Rent Easter Bunny Costume
            Savior FHE/ lesson


4th of July- wear red white and blue
                   BBQ and fireworks

Halloween- witches night
                    Boo our neighbors
                    give out squeeze-it's


Thanksgiving-  Thankful tree all month
                          thankful poster

Christmas- Track's and SL Temple
                   2 night's before christmas pull mattresses into front room- family sleep-over
                   Elf & popcorn
                  make fudge and toffee
                  Service Project
                  Sledding & Hot Cocoa
                  cut out snowflakes
POLAR EXPRESS PARTY: Hot Cocoa Bar, Book, Polar Express Ride, sledding game
                                                race to put on snow stuff, ski across with wrapping paper rolls
and tissue boxes, jump in sled and be pulled back to finish
               
         

Enduring or Enjoying

I read this and LOVED it! Good reminder and steps that I have tried to live by even before reading it. I'm not great but I sure want to enjoy my role and life as a mom rather than endure it because I know for a fact, the moments that can be wished away are coupled with moments that we will miss and try to relive (in memory, pictures, or video) once they have come and gone.

Living in the moment and keeping in mind that are kids are doing the very best that they know how are things I hope to always implement so I don't have any regret on how I spent my days as a mom… especially in their young years….

"Little kids hate sit-down restaurants, shopping and waiting in line at the post office. Little kids love crafts, making messes and trips to the park. These days I shop and eat out a lot less, and, as much as it pains me, I’ve stocked up on glue guns and glitter."

Link is here