The power of positive thinking has gotten me thinking positive. It truly works. We've heard it before.
"If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you always got." If you continue to play negative tapes in your mind such as,"The house is always messy, the kids are driving me nuts, I can't seem to ever get on top of things. I am drowning in debt and so forth." We will play this tape and the world we see before us will show us what we are putting out there. We will continue to be in debt, in a mess and stay frustrated and overwhelmed. But if we consciously decide to change our tapes... what a wonderful world we can have.
Start today! Start thinking things like,
"Things always have a way of working out for me."
"My kids are super cool and fun."
"My hubby is a kind person."
"This too shall pass."
"I don't know how, but I know it will all work out."
"I love my home and the freedom I have to be in it."
"I am slowly working myself debt free."
"I am a strong powerful human being."
"I am a lucky person."
Take a look at your past, things you have wanted in the past that you did receive. What got you those things? Just hard work? Probably started with a thought, an idea and a positive mind set and attitude. Maybe you just always feel lucky or feel fortunate or feel blessed and things just 'happen' for you. The power doesn't have to be understood, just know it's there for you to use. What you think about most of the time is what you become or what you get."
Take time to think about your DREAMS instead of your despairs. Worry time is wasted time. Replace worry with dreaming. It does a much better job on your attitude for the whole day.
For example:
I had no idea how I was going to get to Vegas to see my friends get married, but every time I pictured myself on the plane and hanging out with my friend in Vegas, I would smile and giggle. The thought was so pleasant and so fun, I truly felt like I was already there. Then the night before everyone left for Vegas, the phone call came and I could go. I had no idea how, but somehow it all worked out perfectly and I was able to go in Vegas. The power of wishing and thinking about it got me what I wanted.
Truly, positive thinking works! We must choose to be happy everyday.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Signs of Signs
I've been watching Nashville and now that he is 11month and really engaging in trying to sign and learn new signs, his attention has been better.
He is still very active, much more than Geran, but he nows takes a min to watch my hands and his and copy me.
He likes to talk about PUPPY, BUGS, FLOWERS, FISH, LIGHT and constantly asks to go OUTSIDE. He also tries to say outside, bug and flower.
He uses both his hands to sign MILK. Super cute! Usually only when super hungry!
He can tell me when he's sleepy, dirty bum, and hungry. So helpful and reduces his whiney.
I love having a signing baby!
He is still very active, much more than Geran, but he nows takes a min to watch my hands and his and copy me.
He likes to talk about PUPPY, BUGS, FLOWERS, FISH, LIGHT and constantly asks to go OUTSIDE. He also tries to say outside, bug and flower.
He uses both his hands to sign MILK. Super cute! Usually only when super hungry!
He can tell me when he's sleepy, dirty bum, and hungry. So helpful and reduces his whiney.
I love having a signing baby!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Milestones
Been enjoying the many milestones of new motherhood. Nashville is trying to walk and communicating so well lately. He's mastered the request for MILK. Now I just ask what is wrong and he signs MILK right up in my face lol. So cute. He loves to 'talk' about TREES, BIRDS, OUTSIDE. This will definitely be my outside boy. He loves to wrestle and 'get moving!' My Geran on the other hand is book feign. He is now wanting to learn to read. He is on this reading program on the computer and loves it and keep asking to play reading! He is sounding out letters and can read small words like I, am and Sam. He can also make the sounds of most letters. I am positive this is result of signing with my son as a baby. He has over 120 signs as he was talking and I have lost count on how many he knows now. He now wants to learn the alphabet on his hands. I would love for him to pursue signing as a total second language! He enjoys teaching his baby brother to sign and sings him songs. So adorable!~
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Time Outs for Toddlers
Using a time out for a toddler is usually pretty ineffective.
Infants and toddlers are too young for time-outs. they are not developmentally ready to be in charge of self-soothing, nor can they make the connection between what just happened and sitting in a corner. The lesson of timeouts are really lost on young children.
Try this instead:
Remove the child from the 'scene' from whatever was upsetting or frustrating.
Help them to soothe and calm down by being with them or hugging them.
Don't waste your breathe on lectures or punishments, they just don't have the reasoning skills or life skills at this age that is necessary to understand what you are trying to say.
Redirect the child to another acceptable activity or show them the behaviour you desire.
Tell the child what they 'can' do instead of focusing on what they 'can't' do.
Some examples of this are:
DISTRACT:
-When on the phone and the child is 'acting up' or 'at your legs climbing up you... give them a 'new bin' with toys in it they have never seen. (rotate this with other new toys weekly you keep in their closet up high)
REDIRECT:
-Pick the child up from the 'dumped box of speggetti' and put them in front a bin of balls they can dump.
TEACH:
-When they hit their friend or pull the dogs tail. Go to the child who hit, pick them up and stroke their arm or hand over hand have them stroke your hand and say, "We pet the dog gentle, like this." "GENTLE" and repeat it, try adding a baby sign language word such as GENTLE and repeat. Practice with the child on the dog or his friend, and say, "SHOW GENTLE" Do hand over hand or show them.
Positive Time outs are only for children who actively participate in understanding the situations they are in and 'talk about it.' Time outs are a safe place to go to and calm down when angry or frustrated. They should be a safe, calming place and not a punishment.
Good Luck!
Infants and toddlers are too young for time-outs. they are not developmentally ready to be in charge of self-soothing, nor can they make the connection between what just happened and sitting in a corner. The lesson of timeouts are really lost on young children.
Try this instead:
Remove the child from the 'scene' from whatever was upsetting or frustrating.
Help them to soothe and calm down by being with them or hugging them.
Don't waste your breathe on lectures or punishments, they just don't have the reasoning skills or life skills at this age that is necessary to understand what you are trying to say.
Redirect the child to another acceptable activity or show them the behaviour you desire.
Tell the child what they 'can' do instead of focusing on what they 'can't' do.
Some examples of this are:
DISTRACT:
-When on the phone and the child is 'acting up' or 'at your legs climbing up you... give them a 'new bin' with toys in it they have never seen. (rotate this with other new toys weekly you keep in their closet up high)
REDIRECT:
-Pick the child up from the 'dumped box of speggetti' and put them in front a bin of balls they can dump.
TEACH:
-When they hit their friend or pull the dogs tail. Go to the child who hit, pick them up and stroke their arm or hand over hand have them stroke your hand and say, "We pet the dog gentle, like this." "GENTLE" and repeat it, try adding a baby sign language word such as GENTLE and repeat. Practice with the child on the dog or his friend, and say, "SHOW GENTLE" Do hand over hand or show them.
Positive Time outs are only for children who actively participate in understanding the situations they are in and 'talk about it.' Time outs are a safe place to go to and calm down when angry or frustrated. They should be a safe, calming place and not a punishment.
Good Luck!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Slow down mummy, there is no need to rush,
slow down mummy, what is all the fuss?
slow down mummy, make yourself a cup tea.
slow down mummy, come spend some time with me.
slow down mummy, let’s pull boots on for a walk,
let’s kick at piles of leaves, and smile and laugh and talk.
slow down mummy, you look ever so tired,
come sit and snuggle under the duvet, and rest with me a while.
slow down mummy, those dirty dishes can wait,
slow down mummy, let’s have some fun - bake a cake!
slow down mummy, I know you work a lot,
but sometimes mummy, it’s nice when you just stop.
sit with us a minute,
and listen to our day,
spend a cherished moment,
because our childhood won’t stay!
-R. Knight
I love this poem. It reminds me to slow down. I know we are all busy parents, but our children are not small for long. As cliche as that sounds I know it is so true. I have a 21 year old and I can't believe where the time went. I certainly don't remember doing the dishes or laundry as much as I remember taking a summer and filling my days with swimming, beaches, volleyball, museums and more. I planned a whole summer to do something outside the home at least 3 - 4 days a week and it worked so well. This is my favourite summer and best memories.
I now have two small ones and I never get mad when I step on small toys, or see the muddy ring on the bathtub after my boys have left it. I don't cry over the small fingerprints on my front french doors or scoff at the little things they say. I cherish instead, I value the small scattered toys and remember when I was sad when my eldest son no longer left action figures around the house. I smile when I wipe up the tub thinking about all the fun they had out back making a muck in the dirt with trucks and water. I even smile when I wipe down the high chair remembering how Nashy signed so many signs to me 'chatting' up a storm about everything he saw.
So slow down mom, slow down dad... revel in your moments throughout the day. Laugh a little harder at your little ones jokes and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
You will certainly gain more from your relationship this way. If you truly slow down and begin to study your wee one, you will see how much they want to communicate with you. Teach them some gestures, some sign, so that you can begin to build an amazing relationship. If you are observing and taking the time, you will soon see your baby/toddler communicating about the things they love to talk about.
Give it a try!
More signing information can be found at:
Twitter - @AmandaMinchau
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BabySignsStickyHandsAbbotsfordFraserValley
Website - www.stickyhands.ca
slow down mummy, what is all the fuss?
slow down mummy, make yourself a cup tea.
slow down mummy, come spend some time with me.
slow down mummy, let’s pull boots on for a walk,
let’s kick at piles of leaves, and smile and laugh and talk.
slow down mummy, you look ever so tired,
come sit and snuggle under the duvet, and rest with me a while.
slow down mummy, those dirty dishes can wait,
slow down mummy, let’s have some fun - bake a cake!
slow down mummy, I know you work a lot,
but sometimes mummy, it’s nice when you just stop.
sit with us a minute,
and listen to our day,
spend a cherished moment,
because our childhood won’t stay!
-R. Knight
I love this poem. It reminds me to slow down. I know we are all busy parents, but our children are not small for long. As cliche as that sounds I know it is so true. I have a 21 year old and I can't believe where the time went. I certainly don't remember doing the dishes or laundry as much as I remember taking a summer and filling my days with swimming, beaches, volleyball, museums and more. I planned a whole summer to do something outside the home at least 3 - 4 days a week and it worked so well. This is my favourite summer and best memories.
I now have two small ones and I never get mad when I step on small toys, or see the muddy ring on the bathtub after my boys have left it. I don't cry over the small fingerprints on my front french doors or scoff at the little things they say. I cherish instead, I value the small scattered toys and remember when I was sad when my eldest son no longer left action figures around the house. I smile when I wipe up the tub thinking about all the fun they had out back making a muck in the dirt with trucks and water. I even smile when I wipe down the high chair remembering how Nashy signed so many signs to me 'chatting' up a storm about everything he saw.
So slow down mom, slow down dad... revel in your moments throughout the day. Laugh a little harder at your little ones jokes and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
You will certainly gain more from your relationship this way. If you truly slow down and begin to study your wee one, you will see how much they want to communicate with you. Teach them some gestures, some sign, so that you can begin to build an amazing relationship. If you are observing and taking the time, you will soon see your baby/toddler communicating about the things they love to talk about.
Give it a try!
More signing information can be found at:
Twitter - @AmandaMinchau
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BabySignsStickyHandsAbbotsfordFraserValley
Website - www.stickyhands.ca
Saturday, May 5, 2012
LIfe
Sometimes life gets in the way of life. You get busy doing and you forget to sit, read and reflect. Life sweeps you away like a discarded candy wrapper on ocean waves. Babies have been doing well, except the 10month old has 5th disease, also known as Roseola. It's not complicated or dangerous or anything, just another worry for a mother. They get fever for a couple days and then when the fever breaks, they get one day of healthy and then a rash appears everywhere! He looks so cute, all spotty and giggly. His spirits are high and he seems back to himself, except for the rash.
Oh well, quarantine for a week may get me writing again.
April was very very busy month. Profitable and rewarding, I'm a bit worried about how May will pan out. I wonder what human trait causes one month to be so productive and the next to almost feel lethargic?
Until next time.
Oh well, quarantine for a week may get me writing again.
April was very very busy month. Profitable and rewarding, I'm a bit worried about how May will pan out. I wonder what human trait causes one month to be so productive and the next to almost feel lethargic?
Until next time.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Books, Babies and Baby Signs
Book provide an excellent way to bond with your baby. Not only does book reading help increase your child's literacy skills, it often will have words or pictures your baby can sign to.
Babies can then take a more active role in book reading, increasing the vocabulary used a conversations expand beyond just reading to a child. When you read with your baby and they are signing words back to you, providing you with more ideas and questions for each other, you will bond with your baby in a way that may not have been possible without baby signs.
Books are a great source for new signs. Animal signs are Nashville and Gerans favourite signs and a great book to do the signs with is Brown, Bear, Brown Bear, What Do you See? This book also provides the opportunity to practice colours as your baby grows.
Watch for things your baby likes as you turn pages, remember it is not as important to finish the book as it is to engage in conversation about the pictures and words your baby loves.
Repeat the same book over and over and watch how proud your baby will become as they start to turn the pages and sign the words they know, initially reading the book on their own!
Books seem to slow everyone down and invite cuddles and snuggles, what a great way to bond with your baby. Daddy's especially love this interaction, increasing their bond with baby sooner than waiting for verbal communication.
Babies can then take a more active role in book reading, increasing the vocabulary used a conversations expand beyond just reading to a child. When you read with your baby and they are signing words back to you, providing you with more ideas and questions for each other, you will bond with your baby in a way that may not have been possible without baby signs.
Books are a great source for new signs. Animal signs are Nashville and Gerans favourite signs and a great book to do the signs with is Brown, Bear, Brown Bear, What Do you See? This book also provides the opportunity to practice colours as your baby grows.
Watch for things your baby likes as you turn pages, remember it is not as important to finish the book as it is to engage in conversation about the pictures and words your baby loves.
Repeat the same book over and over and watch how proud your baby will become as they start to turn the pages and sign the words they know, initially reading the book on their own!
Books seem to slow everyone down and invite cuddles and snuggles, what a great way to bond with your baby. Daddy's especially love this interaction, increasing their bond with baby sooner than waiting for verbal communication.
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