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Whew!  It’s done!  Parenting with Positive Guidance: Tools for Building Discipline from the Inside Out is now available!  And here’s even more great news:  It’s available for the next five days at a discounted price for my favorite readers.  (That would be you, of course!)  Just enter “NotJustCute” as your coupon code and get it… continue reading

In my ebook, and in Monday’s post, I wrote about the importance of creating a positive family culture.  Christensen’s quote is obvious, yet powerful to me. “Those cultures can be built consciously or evolve inadvertently.” It makes me stop and wonder: What kind of culture is likely to evolve inadvertently in today’s world?  In what… continue reading

This is one of my favorite winter-time sensory activities!  Though it’s great any time of year, colder temps outside make it easier to freeze all those ice blocks!  Get your kiddos in on all the action by letting them mix the colors (I like to use washable liquid or powder watercolors), and letting them observe… continue reading

Everyone knows the excitement and satisfaction that comes from giving a gift  you’ve had a part in creating yourself.  It’s especially meaningful for children.  Not only does it give them the opportunity to create and to find joy in giving, but creating it themselves feeds their self-esteem and self-efficacy as well.  And as anyone who… continue reading

While ADD,  or attention deficit disorder,  is a term frequently referred to in educational and developmental settings (an intriguing article on which can be found here), I’d like to introduce another term, one directed at us as adults.  IDD, or Intention Deficit Disorder is not a disorder you’ll find the DSM-IV diagnostic manual, but it’s one I… continue reading

                    Spencer has too many toys!  He gets them from his parents, his friends, his Auntie Mim and Uncle Fred, Grandma Bobo, Poppy and Grandiddy.  He gets them at school, at the dentist, at the doctor, and at the drive-thru.  The Spencer I’m talking about is… continue reading

I’ve felt conflicted for some time about the role of Santa Claus in Christmas.  Here’s the source of my conflict.  I love the magic of Christmas.  I love that Santa embodies possibilities and dreams.  I know there is  a lot of symbolism that can be found in Santa’s story that further supports the true meaning of Christmas. … continue reading

We’re crossing our fingers, hoping for a white Christmas this year.  Looks like we may end up with rain instead.  (We may just have to head for the mountains!)  For those of you with plenty of the white stuff in your local forecast, you might want to try this fun recipe for ice cream.  The main… continue reading

This is an exciting time of year!  And sometimes that excitement, left unchanneled, can wreck havoc on your sanity.  If you’re finding that the nervous energy in your house is being directed into whining, fighting, or general destruction, consider ways you can redirect that energy in positive, productive ways.  To paraphrase from my e- book, it isn’t enough… continue reading

When you’re actively working to build a positive family culture, traditions can play a large role in establishing that culture. Traditions are another way of showing what you’re about as a family.  They are value statements in action.  Whether it’s a statement about how you work, how you worship, how you have fun together, or how… continue reading