San Francisco Writers Conference

Hi All,


Chad and I attended the San Francisco Writing4Change Conference last weekend.

Mom and son at Fisherman's Wharf

We hoped to get some ideas on publishing our book, How to Break 10 Common Childhood Myths.   It has tips for both parents and educators to help encourage the growth of their children into responsible, independent young adults. We traveled all day Friday and Monday and had sessions all day Saturday and Sunday, from 8:30 until 6 including speakers during lunch. As we filled our heads with knowledge we gained new perspectives on how to go about this endeavor. Since we also have workshops for both parents and educators and Sassy Kids Home Parties for more individual behavior help, we now hope to build a market based on the needs of those parents and educators, and then try for an Ebook market and self-publishing. What do all of you bloggers think? Does anyone have any ideas for us?

We will adjust our blog to answer whatever questions you may have. Feel free to throw them at us, either by commenting below or through our email. Thanks for helping us grow in this new (for us) blogging community.

Next blog: San Francisco, past and present...a great place for families to vacation:)

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Fall Chores

Are you in a part of the country where raking leaves is a perennial fall chore?

Remaining November leaves

Yes, autumn leaves are so beautiful!! They have a distinct smell that brings back so many memories...the smell of burning leaves, ahhh...before the ban:(    They bring so much joy for kids to gather and play in. But -- in most areas people rake, pile up, and bag leaves. PUT THOSE KIDS TO WORK!   If you 'train' them when they're very young, they join the family (another key!) and have fun playing while working. As they get older, it's just natural for them to help the family in many ways.

helping with fall chores!

If you allow them to jump into the chore, get muddy, and make a mess they'll have fun and forget that it is a job! Encouraging the results of their work when they're young and the quality is not so hot leads to:

            keeping your expectations realistic

            keeping their enthusiasm high

and later allows you to further encourage higher standards in everything they do.

Please remember that family chores done together increase family cohesiveness. Have fun even when working hard!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Coming next: We attended the Writing4Change Conference in San Francisco this past weekend:)

The Holidays are Coming!

     The holidays are not about the table settings, delightful though they may be...

DC adding a touch of whimsey to the table!

nor about the food, as comforting and delicious as it is...

Chad and Scott with Thanksgiving turkey legs:)

The holidays are about those you love....

The Torch Lake adults

and the Torch Lake kids    

family and friends, both here and gone....

the group sends thanks to the veterans

Plan ahead to enjoy the holidays, beginning with Thanksgiving! Teach your children about the need for giving thanks, help them learn to honor the older people around them and those who have passed on, and practice those manners you've been thinking were lacking. Through your love and understanding, 

Bring joy to the table!!

Happy Parenting,

D and C

  

backpack troubles??

So now that you've had that parent/teacher conference, would you like some tips for organizing what goes in and out of that backpack?
Are you an 'everyday checker' or a 'whatever checker'?? There can be some scary things in that backpack if you don't stay on top of it everyday....late notes, study guides for tests, requests for information, and even some unrecognizable goo:(

a sample of backpacks in a hallway in an elementary school

This photo was taken after the kids emptied out the homework and snacks after they arrived at school. Notice how they're just hanging open?? Might you have put some important note in there for the teacher??? Maybe some homework is still stuffed in the bottom and doesn't make it to the teacher...anyway, just a suggestion to remind your children to zip their backpacks back up each time they leave them in their lockers or hallway.

something is about to fall out!!

Tip # 2 about backpacks:  Practice having 2 folders inside, one for work coming home and one for finished work and notes going back to school. If you start this organization early in the year, and if your child expects that you will look in that backpack sometime every night, your year should flow a little more smoothly...we hope:)

Finally Tip #3: When homework at night is completed and all notes have been signed, have your child zip up that backpack and put it by the back door for morning. The only thing left to do in the AM is add snacks and/or lunches and the day is off to a successful start!

Happy Parenting,

D and C

parent/teacher conferences

    Are you nervous, afraid, anxious, worried, angry, or calm, cool, and collected about seeing your child's teacher and hearing a progress report on both academics and citizenship in the classroom?


Prepare just a little, ahead of time, and you may join the calm, collected group!
     Step 1: Make a list of the things you want to remember to discuss.
     Step 2: Compose yourself into a calm, receptive adult who can listen attentively before becoming defensive.
     Step 3: Please! Assume that the teacher just may be correct about your child's grades and/or behavior.
     Step 4: Ask positive questions about how you can help at home. Keep your interactions totally about your child's actions.
     Step 5: If you are going to request that weekly progress reports be sent to you by email--ask instead if the teacher will reply to  emails from you requesting those reports. Most teachers will gladly reply to an email, but find it difficult due to the number of students they have to remember which child needs a report and how often to send it.
     Step 6: Be positive about the conference when you speak to your child about it. Remind them that small changes can bring great rewards in their school work or behavior.
     Step 7: Remember that a behavior report is often more important than an academic one. Kids' behavior and study habits, including manners and responsibility, lead to success or disaster in the classroom and in their future.


Enjoy your conferences. Enjoy your kids!


Happy Parenting,
D and C

Halloween candy, parenting

Candy, candy candy!!!
What to do with it when Halloween night is over and the kids are waiting to become "goodie monsters".... Are you just imagining the whines, the sugar highs, the resulting lows??? Yow! Who said this holiday was fun!? 

But wait!! It certainly can be for you and your kids.
When Chad and Scott were very little, Dad and Mom (that's me) would take turns going house to house with the boys and staying home to pass out the candy. When the buzzer rang at 8PM we settled on the floor in the living room with all the loot. We told the boys that we would pay them for any candy they didn't want.
           Pennies when they were small, turning into nickels, then dimes, and finally quarters for handfuls of candy as they grew older. Does that sound weird?? Maybe so, but they only kept about half the treats. The rest went to organizations that took the candy for others who might need it. The money the boys received was divided in half....half in the bank, half to keep for a treat. Lots of underlying lessons being taught in a non-threatening manner; that's always the fun way to do it.
        For the following days: Rules for eating the goods!!  One  (either candy or chips) for lunch and one for dinner. That's it!! Don't back down if they try to break you down...if you hold your ground, next time will be easier.  You...that's you, not them...could decide to give them an extra treat if they have done something nice. But!!!
not if they ask and not as a bribe.  That's what makes the treat extra special!
       If you have questions or comments for us at any time as we're learning how to weave our way through blogging please send us a comment or an email.


Happy Halloween!
D and C

Halloween Tips

Hi Everyone!!

Welcome to our new blog: SassyKids at Childhood Myths!    I am Diane, mother of 2 adult sons, and a teacher forever! My older son Chad, also a teacher, will join in now and then with his viewpoint also. Our hope is that you will find an occasional tip or technique to help you make your parenting more joyful and fulfilling for both you and your children.

Week 1, Tip #1:      ...here goes:)

Enjoy Halloween with your kids!!!

From going to that pumpkin patch:

Pick a kid-friendly one that encourages kids to touch and sit on the pumpkins---they will remember  and want to go to the same place year after year. Starting family traditions with tons of interaction leads to great memories. As the kids grow older, what you do at that pumpkin patch may change to include cider and donuts, corn mazes, hay rides, and even haunted houses.

To carving that pumpkin:

Get messy!!! Kids love the chance to decide for themselves whether to help get the "guts" out of the pumpkins. One of my boys was always ready to dive in, and the other one dug with a big spoon...at least when they were still little!

Let them use the kid-friendly pumpkin carvers. They love them!! They can use markers first to draw whatever face they want...scary, funny, happy...their choice. If you need a choice make sure you grab your own pumpkin!! Please, please use this as fun time for your family!

And also the costumes:

Using stuff you have at home and repurposing to make a costume was always my plan...I don't sew(yuck), and I didn't want to spend $ on one time use costumes. But using jackets, scarves, capes, pajamas, etc.---that was great fun that the kids could help with. And then make-up was always the added key!!











Next week: tips on what to do with all that candy:)


Have fun,
D and C