POsitive Home ENvironment

Hey friends, thanks for the birthday wishes, only it was Nel's birthday. :) Jo's birthday is in August. Anyway, Nel turned 5. She had a totally wonderful week with celebrations and special outings which went from Monday till today! haha.... boy, she's been really happy. :) She received some really interesting presents. Her most favourite being a drawing board, a whole tool kit for collecting and studying insects and a really interesting game where you have to catch these fast moving mice by using a flat piece of "spatula" which vibrates! haha.... ok, so this mummy (ahem), is really interested in Nel's toys too! In fact, err...guess who went out and tried to catch the first insect?? haha...ok, ok, it was me. Well, I've promised Nel a trip to the stream soon, where there will be ample insects to catch and observe. :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On another note, I was supposed to do a class about "Creating a Positive Home Environment" for my small church group. well.....in the end, my super mum taught the class. However, while doing my bit of reading, I came across these things.........thought it'd be nice to post it up here as a reminder to myself..and whoever who reads this blog.

Creating a Positive Home Environment
Facts below taken from – Raising Positive kids in a Negative World. Zig Ziglar

- It takes team effort as family is truly a unit, it functions more effectively as a team.
Have family projects and family goals that everyone has chosen eg. Planning a picnic, building a pond etc. Working together on projects brings family closer together.

- Team must have a captain, a leader.
Usually this is the husband, father. Wife is second in command (not in importance, for she is very important too). Clearly establish chain of command. Even if wife is smarter than husband, it still doesn’t alter chain of command. (hahaha...some of us wife find this tough!)

- The winning team is mom and dad.
Both dad and mum must make contributions far beyond just paycheck. Eg. Dad can help with homework and talk with them while mum prepares dinner. Mum and dad can do dishes together, or mum do dishes, dad helps read bedtime story and put children to bed. Main point is, if both dad and mum are in home, they should both be involved in all aspects of raising children. In cases where parents don’t function as a team, often there is child neglect, abandoning of families, broken family relationships.

- Every family member must be taught and required to do a part.
Even your 4 year old can pick up toys, or take his dishes to the back. This approach greatly reduces the possibility of raising negative, overindulged, spoiled kids who only believe they should get all they can regardless of what it may do to other people.

- Respect- It’s a MUST.
If you show feelings of love and respect, you will receive obedience, loving responses from other family members (children & spouse). If there is a lack of respect, they will be rebellious and disrespectful. That’s why parents should conduct themselves in a manner that creates respect and builds love.

-Don’t break promises (unless circumstances are beyond control). Don't scream and shout at each other in public or even private. Treat each other with respect or you will destroy sense of honor and respect. Many relationships can be solved with kindness.

- Communicate and talk to one another –
that is we must learn to listen & communicate. Well guess what? Talking TAKES TIME! And SHUT OFF that distracting by TV, computer, phone n papers. Watch tone of voice. Do not ridicule.

- Love coz of who that person is, not coz of what they can do!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Facts below taken from "If Mama ain’t Happy, Aint’ nobody happy" by Lindsey O Connor

- Minimize strife (fighting and arguing) Parents solve your problems in private.
- Maximize time together. We connect when we spend time together. Relationships are nurtured
- Enjoy one another. Enjoy that time, not do your own thing. When you play with children, don’t read your paper or sms!

- Respect one another. A home where we respect one another is a home where joy can blossom.

Disrespect is a weed that chokes!
- Share a loving touch. Kiss your spouse and children.
- Make memories from mishaps. Turn problems into memories.
- Occasionally do the unexpected. Routine is good, but everyone needs a break.
- Practice J.O.Y. Jesus first, others second, yourself third.
- Focus on blessings