Children: The Challenge: A Book review

Children: The Challenge by Rudolf Driekurs is an excellent book. I highly highly highly recommend it. If you are a parent with children under 10, and you are constantly in one power struggle or another with your child(ren) then this is a book for you. I mean it! I have rarely, if ever, spent time that I thought was more quality while reading a book than the time I spent reading this book. OK, OK, so the scriptures don't count. But seriously, folks, this book ROCKS. It Rocks so much that I immediately bought three copies (I only meant to buy two, but when I accidentally bought three I did NOT send the third one back.) At the suggestion of my excellent mother, I borrowed this book. My Mom-in-law happened to have it. I'm very grateful that she did since my copies from Amazon took a little longer than usual since, in my exhaustion, I forgot to change my shipping address from my old house (which we no longer own.)

However, I borrowed this book, and I could not put it down. There are so many good ideas in it. I am loving the ideas. This book gave me such a sense of empowerment that I could again be the leader of my household. I need to work harder at taking my sails out of my children's wind, but at the same time, I am going to work to leave the power struggles behind. There are some ideas that the book shares that I don't like, but at the same time, the idea behind this book is to raise the child with respect. Teach the children respect for you, each other, and order. At the same time, I have gained more respect for Robert, my children, and order. If you know me at all, you know that giving me a respect for order is like trying to teach a bird to swim. So, helping me gain a more healthy respect for order is beautiful too. I love this book. Here is a link.

The Facebook Quandry

OK, so I have some really great ideas about some parenting posts that I want to do, and I have another post about conventional potty training (which, after ECing Jackie and working with Ben to potty train (because he isn't potty trained yet)) instead, I'm writing a post about Facebook. I know, strange, crazy, and probably stupid, but I think that many of my friends out in internet land have some good ideas on this one, so I'm hoping that you can help me.

I have some close friends who have a Facebook account, so I signed up mostly just to keep up with those friends and to play some of the games that you can play. However, I am finding that it's an incredible way to find out what some people, about whom I have been mildy curious to find out what has gone on with them, are doing with their lives. Like I said, I have added several of my close friends to my friends list, and I've added as many of my family members as I can find. However, here's the quandry: If I really want to find out about these people, (some of them are truly awesome specimens of human souls) do I just go try to add them simply because they have previously been an aquaintance of mine who I just admired from a far? Or do I just go on with life wondering about them?

Now, I know that sounds really stupid, and you're probably thinking, "Why do I care who you put on your facebook list?" But really, I want to know the opinions of people. I grew up in a tiny town where everyone knows everyone, and my parents still live there. New travels at about twice the speed of light there, so I don't really want to annoy anyone. I've been a big enough annoyance in that town for quite some time.

I'm also finding that, although I admired these people, I think that they were either indifferent to me (which is hopeful) or truly bugged by me, so if I try to add them to my facebook as a friend, I'm wondering if I will get some messages back saying, "Why in the world would I want to add you to my facebook page? Crazy. Go away and leave me alone." So in the end, I'm sitting here at 3:51 in the morning, wondering whether or not to add these people. It's probably not a big deal whether I do or don't, but still, I think I'll wait until I get some feedback.

On the other hand, it may be like blogging. When I read my friends' blogs, I go down their lists and look at other blogs to see if there are people I know and am interested in. If so, I go over, comment on their blog, and whenever I get around to it, I add them to my blog list. I figure, it's the internet. If they didn't want people looking, don't post it online. Maybe Facebook is the same? Anyway, I really do want opinions from people.

Hero of the Week

My friend Katie does a Hero of the week on her blog each Monday. I have been wanting to do this one since she started this. My hero in my life is my dad. I have yet to meet anyone with more patience in life than my father. Also, in his fight with cancer, I have not heard a single complaint from him. Really, not one. I have been so blessed to grow up with my dad for a father. I can only remember one spanking while I was growing up. My father heard me swear at my mother. I deserved it.

My dad was always there to listen when I had a question for him, and he is always good about really listening. He gets through to the heart of the problem. He also never lets others treat him unkindly either. He has found the balance. So, here's to my dad. This is short because I am planning on writing him a hand written letter, and I don't want to forget something important in it.

Comment At Your Own Risk

Lucky you! I saw this on my sister-in-law's and cousins' blog and wanted her to make me something bad enough to post the same offer here. Here's how it works! The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does, however, have some restrictions and limitations...

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year.
4. You will have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or maybe even some creation I haven't even invented yet (but Heaven knows it will most likely be totally fabulous and creative... :). I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure! (I know you're all hoping I'll paint you a picture or write you a poem. Too bad... you can't make requests!)
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange. (Not intentionally strange, but you may label it that way)The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so (and leave a comment telling me they did) win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! (If you don't have a blog, you can still leave a comment and win... we'll work something out. Maybe you'll just have to give all 5 of your homemade gifts to me! Sounds fair, right?)Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Missed my blogversary and my birthday

What with one thing and another, I just realized today that I missed my blogversary. It was in February, and since we were on our trip out west, it completely escaped my mind. Then, :yesterday was my birthday. It was a very busy day.

Just a note: Don't ever start out your birthday with a visit to the Dentist.

First, I got up late. Jackie has to be to school by 8, but no one in our house woke up until 7:50. I woke up at 7:50, realized that Jackie had to go to school, and I needed to be at the dentist's office at 8:15, and then got going. I woke Jackie up, found her some clothes, and then found some for me. It was 8:00 by the time we were out the door. I'm actually pretty proud of that. Jackie even had some cereal to eat on the way. . . Four minutes of dry cereal does not a breakfast make, but it was the best we could do under the circumstances. I ran her into her classroom and then ran back out to the car. I pulled into the dentist's office at 8:17. So, I found out something interesting. Did you know that stomach acid can tear apart dental filling composit? Appearantly, when I was pregnant with Daniel, my morning sickness tore apart the fillings I already had in my mouth. So, now, I have 14 cavities to have filled. 14! Do you know what that costs without dental insurance? 14 cavities!!!!!!! $2,212 and some change. So, Happy Birthday to me. However, I did get two birthday celebrations yesterday, so by the time I had eaten cake at story time and fondue at supper, I felt much better about my B-day. A little chocolate fondue makes me feel lots better. Chocolate fondue with marshmallows, strawberries, bananas, rice crispy treats, and cheesecake to dip in it. YUMMY! Anyway, I feel much better today after a night's sleep on a stomach filled by The Melting Pot. If you ever have a very special occasion that gets ruined in the morning. A meal at The Melting Pot is the way to fix it.