Great Book- Wonder by R.J. Palacio

I haven't posted anything in a long time. Life gets busy priorities switch but today I feel compelled to write about a great book I just read called Wonder by R.J. Palacio. This book moved me so much I need to share it with others. The story is great for so many reasons and I will attempt to share some it without giving away to much of the story. It focus is on a young man named August who like all of us is trying to fit in. He goes to a new school in 5th grade. There are people who are super kind to him and others that are mean and really for reasons that just don't make sense. We follow August through this year of school. What is great is we also hear from other characters in the book; two of August's best friends, his sister, his sister's boyfriend and one of her friends. This is a story about learning to accept people that are different but is about so much more. This is book is an easy to read Chapter book so it advertised as 8 and up. But I caution you that I would not let my kids read this on their own. It is a very emotional read and really needs discussion during some of the tough times. I cried 4 different times while reading it and I am an adult- it was tough to not have anyone to talk to about it (probably why I chose to write about it). Pick it up - you won't be sorry

Letting our Kids grow up!

A friend just sent me the link below to a blog that was an excellent piece on letting our kids grow up! It was perfect timing because I had just had an experience on Saturday that fits with the article. I had taken all three of my kids to the Library and then to my middle daughter's gymnastics class. When we got to the car my oldest daughter who is 7 realized she left her book in the gymnastics's building (it is in a strip mall that includes several businesses) . I was parked in the first parking spot of a row just down about 100 feet from the place, so I told her to go back and get it while I got her little sisters buckled in. As she was walking back she over heard two people comment on "who would let their little kid walk alone!" It was crazy! We are really damaging our children by not letting them live!

http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/ten-is-the-new-two/

The ups and downs of facebook

Lately I have been really struggling with the idea of deleting my facebook account. The only reason I got it was to be able to connect with high school classmates and plan my reunion. My reunion is done so now what? Do I keep it, do I shorten my friends list? I am so torn.

I like being able to connect with old friends- but I can't help but wonder- just because we connect on facebook - if we never see each other are we really friends? Also I post a lot about my kids, so much so that when I take a picture they ask " are you posting this on facebook" do I really need to over expose them that way?

Also I notice people post a lot about how busy they are, does that make them a better mom, person etc. The sad reality is busyness is not a happiness habit!

Also I wonder - what do I give up when I spending time on facebook: Time with family, time to exercise, time for myself?

Here is a great blog post from a high school student who is a guest poster on Rachel Simmon's blog (Rachel is the author of some great books if you are a mom of girls and also a founder of the Girls Leadership Insitute- a fabulous program!)


http://bit.ly/sxhEYY

I for sure do not want my kids on facebook anytime soon- but what am I modeling for them?

Video: Teaching Gratitude

Video: Teaching Gratitude

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving :)

Do we have too much Stuff?

One of the parents in my reading group sent me this Video of Graham Hill from a TED Conference. We had been reading the Book Raising Happiness. I think it fits perfectly into how we can raise happy kids.



Do you think you have too much stuff? How about your kids? What are ways that you are trying to cut back on stuff?

Raising Happiness

I have been leading discussions at the schools I work at on the book Raising Happiness by Dr. Christine Carter (http://www.raisinghappiness.com/community/blog/). I like reading parenting books because they help me in my work with kids and help me to be a better parent. But I think reading them in a group has helped me to get so much more out of it. We can discuss the ideas that Dr. Carter presents and how we relate to the idea, if we believe in it, if we think we can implement it.

I really enjoy the way this book is written. Dr. Carter admits to things she has done that might not be great parenting. But haven't we all had those moments. It doesn't take away from the fact that we are trying to raise happy kids. Dr. Carter goes over 10 steps that she has researched that will lead to happy kids. For me it has also lead to a more happy parent. Many of her ideas are actually about changing the parent. It is a little scary how much influence we have over kids behavior because of how we model things! If I model happiness, good problem solving, and positive ways to manage stress. My kids will learn that.

Here are the 10 Steps from her book: 1. Put on Your Own Oxygen Mask First , 2. Build A Village, 3. Expect Effort and Enjoyment, Not Perfection 4. Choose Gratitude, forgiveness, and optimism 5. Raise their emotional intelligence 6. Form Happiness Habits 7. Teach Self-Disipline 8. Enjoy the Present Moment. 9. Rig Their Environment for Happiness 10. Eat Dinner Together.

It is well worth the time to read this book! Dr. Carter also has on-line classes.

One Kind Thing

Check out this blog from Author Christine Carter- short but sweet :)

One Kind Thing