Parenting 101

A few months ago, I was asked to speak
to a large group of adults in our area.
My topic was "Successful Parenting"
If that wasn't intimidating enough-
the gentleman who asked me said,
"Now what we are really looking for
is practical tips and ideas that can be taken
home and implemented immediately into
the homes of those who attend. We want
them to feel empowered and successful."

Yumminess at Millions of Milkshakes

HOLY COW! I stopped breathing and
IMMEDIATELY had a non stop movie
playing in my mind of ALL the things
I've done to completely scar my children!

If you're going to fight, You're going to be glued together at the hip :) until you can get along

I've spoken to big groups before,
I've spoken about really sensitive topics-
but Parenting, this is a very personal topic!!
Parenting is one of those things that can stir
a lot of emotions- people can easily feel judged,
inadequate, defensive--
and when any of that happens,
lots of people just turn off and come up with
a million reasons why "that won't work at my house!"

He's FINALLY Home!!! Dinner at Chuy's

Man, this felt like a heavy task-
and I didn't want to get it wrong in any way!

I started with a great big prayer
(and a zillion little ones)
and thought about the wonderful gift
that parenting is to me!

Take Part in Fun Family Activities

It is hard, it is often thankless,
and it is always EXHAUSTING...
but if you can step back out of all of that
and realize what a gift it is to be able to influence
the direction, course and outcome of someone's
life- to be THE person that someone thinks of
when they think safe, secure and happy!

Graduation, NOW on to College

My friends,
I KNOW parenting is a gift.

Family Photo Shoot a Million Years Ago

After much thought,
I came up with a defining moment in my
own parenting journey.
It was the realization that my focus needs to be
on a "To Teach" list and not on my normal "To Do" list!

Fun and Happiness, No Matter where we are!

It was when I began to look at my role as a mother
in this way- as a teacher and guide of my children's life journey
that I realized nothing seemed burdensome or tedious anymore.
Nothing seemed trite or menial in my day,
I found an increased desire to help them GAIN something
out of our time together and we found reason to
incorporate joy, team work and beauty into every day-

More than Anything, my hope is that my children are Friends & Lifelong Support Staff for each other

Because let's face it-
"Men are that they might have joy" 2 Nephi 2:25

Relaxing Together & Working Together create a Family that Stays Together

I shared five suggestions that seem to have
made a positive impact on our family. Because
they are very general, there is plenty of room to customize
these suggestions for your home and family life.
Watch for more detail on each suggestion through the week:

 Suggestions for Successful Parenting

1. Create a Vision for Your Family

2. See the Potential in Your Children that they often
can't see in themselves

3. Create in Your Homes Opportunity for Children
to recognize the Spirit of the Lord early in their Lives

4. Hold Regular Family Councils AND Involve the
Children in Big Decisions

5. When BIG Issues Arise, Follow after the Parenting
of a Loving Heavenly Father- His ways will ALWAYS
show you what is needed in your home

Set The Example and They Will Follow

One sleepless night,
I sat up and browsed Pinterest-

You can easily tell when I have insomnia
because that is the only time I do my "pinning"
Instead of the random one or two pins after
I've searched for a yummy recipe,
I will have 6,000+ pins in a single day
(or night-
I often lose track during insomnia bouts)

Anyway,
One sleepless night,
I came across this quote

   
    

and this quote



and I have been thinking a lot about these for
the past few weeks!
 

My life is a whole lot different than
it could have been! I feel like there have
been several times in my life where I
had divine help to get me on the right track
and lots of helping hands that worked
tirelessly to KEEP me there.

I had an amazing mom who loved unconditionally,
and who touched everyone who came into her
circle of influence.
Though she passed away at a very young age,
she had a huge impact on the type of person I wanted
to be when I grew up.

At her funeral, and for years after, people
would recognize me as Paula Reese's daughter
and share stories of her love and kindness with me!

I wanted desperately to be that kind of person!!

So when I saw these quotes,
I really started evaluating how my influence
is impacting my own children.
I wonder if I am patterning my life in such a way
that they will have a desire to do good because that's
what they see in my life?

Though I can think of a zillion things I am ashamed of,
I do have a few habits and traditions that I know my kids
are very grateful for and hope to be able to maintain
with their own families.

It's a tall order to think that what we do today
makes an impact on the future-
not just our own children,
but their children and so on...

Go about and get busy becoming who you
want your kiddos to be-
that's my summer challenge!
We will have fun,
for sure,
there will be water, sun, movies and staying up late-
but I think,
this summer,
I will consider SHOWING my kids what
manner of people I want them to be!

I shouldn't have, but I did

I know better-
I really, really know better!

But I did it anyway-
and you know what,
I am DARN glad that I did!!

I bribed my 8 year old son

to try to eat healthy for ONE full week-
NO sugar,

The Makings of Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

NO artificial food
 
and LOTS & LOTS of
Fruits & Veggies

You see, we eat healthy-

at least mostly-

here at Chez Peterson,

But my two youngest-
well they are the shame of our Chez,
they are the pickiest of the picky-
so I got desperate and
I bribed him!!

In exchange, I offered a treat
at the local Yogurt Stop that he
has wanted for SOOOOOO long-

This is a treat I always say 'NO' to-
Not to mention,
in January, we stopped going for
store bought treats completely,
so he has been YEARNING to
go and get a big ole' yogurt smoothie!

I NEVER bribe healthy for junk-
I mean
REALLY- where is the logic??

But desperate times called for desperate measures-
and this mom saw NO other option.

He has been amazing-
He is bound and determined to succeed.
He has eaten veggies at EVERY meal,
he has tried cantaloupe, blackberries and green grapes-

he has eaten cucumbers, celery and avocado!

You don't live here, so you don't realize it
BUT this is BIG

Today is Day 4-
one more school day to go,
Next week we are going at it again-
we'll make it longer-
TEN DAYS!

There is hope yet that he won't turn to plastic
because of all the fake food he eats!

My Young Business Man

My youngest kiddo,

is an energetic 7 year old
with big dreams for his life.

First, I'd like to just say
I wish I could dream that big
and Second, I hope they all
come true for him-

He is ALWAYS,
and I mean
ALWAYS,
asking to go door to door
selling some type of ware-

Homemade art work,
lemonade, cookies-
you name it and he wants to
SALE it- none of this
giving away garbage!

And as his mom,
I am ALWAYS saying NO!

So when our neighborhood put up
signs about a neighborhood garage sale,
I decided it was the perfect opportunity
for him to have a small
business venture!
I told him he could have a bake sale,
offering Lemonade, cookies and our
famous cupcakes, but he had to help!

He took it very seriously!!
He researched recipes online,
decided on what he wanted to offer
and made the shopping list.

He made a schedule of when we needed
to start cooking so I we could get it all
made and prepared.

That morning,
he set some magical internal clock that
isn't available for school days,
got dressed, cleaned his bedroom and
bathroom and made breakfast for
everyone.
By 9 o'clock, he was out and ready to go!

"VERY IMPRESSED" says I!!

He had so much fun and all I kept thinking
was how easy was this-
OK, I know it wasn't easy like sitting on a
beach reading a good book is easy,
but it was "watching a boys dreams and desires
come to fruition, seeing his sense of
responsibility peak to new heights,
watching him experience pride, joy and
happiness each time he had a customer
purchase one of his wares" EASY!

He loved it and for a few hours one Saturday
morning, I realized that magic happens
when a dreamer and doer get together and
make hopes become reality!

Breakfast of Champions

I have three teenaged daughters in my home-
one is just naturally inclined to habits and routines
that create an environment for health and
personal well being-

The other two, well,
not so much!
Getting these two to eat breakfast,
and pack food for lunch,
or even a snack at bare minimum
is like trying to pull a tooth from Godzilla!

When we moved to Texas,
our morning schedule changed some,
and I immediately jumped on
the opportunity to eat breakfast together
each morning.
Who can skip breakfast when it is warm
and waiting for you?

I have been so grateful for this opportunity.
With the exception of weekends, holidays & summer
it's been a long time since we ate
breakfast together every day.

But now I have the challenge of making a
breakfast that is inviting enough to draw
everyone to the kitchen table in the morning
and spend a little time together before the
day starts.
Well, Challenge accepted!

Our Favorites are
Baked Oatmeal

Overnight Multigrain Hot Cereal

Puffed Oven Pancakes

Baked French Toast

Scotch Pull Aparts

& Struesel Coffee Cake/ Muffins

Everything is Better with a Hug

My littlest has definitely clued into
one of my secret tricks-

If I offer a hug to my husband
in the morning,
I can usually squeeze out a few extra minutes
of sleep in the morning-
even if I have begged him to push
me out of bed first thing-
"NO MATTER WHAT"

Well my Mr. KaiGuy
thinks he has me all figured out as
he wraps his little arms around my
neck when I come to wake him up.

Little does he know,
that I have him all figured out!

If I lay down for that little hug,
he is able to get out of bed
so much easier,
with very little arguing and cajoling-

That few minutes of hugging in the
morning just starts the day off right.

I think we all need a little hug :)

Puff Oven Pancakes

This is truly one of my
Go-To Breakfast Recipes-
it is fast,
hot,
filling and
Delicious-
plus it is one that with
a simple swap out,
using coconut milk
instead of milk-
ALL of us can and WILL eat this!
It is a MIRACLE!!!

Puff Oven Pancakes
(also known as Pop Eyed & German)

9 eggs
1  1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. milk
dash of salt
1 cube butter

Turn oven on to 425. Place the butter in an
11 x 13 casserole dish.

Place in the oven to allow the butter to melt

while you mix the remaining ingredients.  
Don't melt the butter
in the microwave or on the stove top,
melting it this way allows the pan
to heat up before pouring in the egg
mixture. I am convinced this makes a
difference.

Beat the remaining ingredients together.

Pour over melted butter.

Bake for 25 minutes or until
puffy and golden brown.

Serve immediately topped with
powdered sugar, syrup and
fruit (if desired).

Power Up the New Year

My daughter gave a talk today in our church meeting.
She did a great job,
and at her wise age of 15
she motivated and inspired me to put a little
EXTRA UMFFF
to my New Years Resolutions!
(I never get my Goals for the New Year
settled on until after I've recovered from
Christmas- this year I'm a few days behind)

She shared a great quote by a great speaker
and leader in our church-
Sheri Dew said
"... it is actually easier to motivate someone to do
something difficult than something easy. That's because
the status quo is uninspiring. Our spirits crave to progress,
and if we aren't moving forward, we're not happy.
We believe in progression, and progression is by design
difficult. How inspiring would it have been if our Father
had said, 'Be ye therefore mediocre'? Though our knees
buckle at times under life's pressures, none of  us wants
to stay just like we are."

I love this quote, but when I put it in context of setting
New Years goals, it makes me want to push a little harder,
set my sights a little higher. Of course I want to set my
goals to be attainable, but I want  more to push myself
to be better and stronger than I think I can be.

My sweet daughter also made a cute statement. She said
"goals aren't about TRYING to be better- they are about
BEING better. Jesus didn't teach the TRY to BE-atitudes,
he taught the BE-atitudes!!" I thought that was not only a
cute way to say it, but a statement loaded with wisdom.
So often we let ourselves out of succeeding by saying
"I will try...."! But when we decide only to TRY,
we set ourselves up to stop short of the success that
ultimately we crave and need for progression.

I love that I can be inspired by my children.
I am immensely grateful,
and a little envious,
that my children are growing up
a Quadzillion times better than I did-
they are wiser,
stronger,
and more capable than I ever dreamed of being
in my teenage years.

Happy New Years to all my friends,
Past, Present and Future!
And here's to pushing harder,
reaching further,
and aspiring higher-
Here's to Great Heights!!