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Overcoming Attachment Issues
In Adoptive Families Babies begin to develop attachment even before they are born. [i] Attachment is a special connection between the baby and their mother (and also their father, or caregiver), which affects the development of the baby’s brain. It is these “bonding,”...
Dinnertime “Rapport” Card
How to stir up conversation at the dinner table. Write Clues to Discuss at the Kitchen Table “How was School Today?” you ask your children as they come inside and drop their backpack. “OK!” is the reply you get—or some other one-word answer, leaving you wanting more...
Extinguish It!
Extinguish that Behavior My friend had a Big Problem! Her kids had picked up a naughty phrase, and they were using it All THE TIME! “Stinky Butt Head” was a little funny at first. But it quickly got out of hand! The kids were calling people...
On Their Level: An Explanation Point on Good Effort
A little child comes over and pulls on her mother’s skirt. “Mommy, Mommy!” she yells, not able to wait another second to tell her newest discovery! A little man has just perfected his ability to whistle—at last! He desperately wants to share his victory: “Listen...
Yay for You!
“Every family has at least one member who keeps score, “ noticed Grandmother one day. It’s the one who keeps track who gets what, when, and how much. They are always complaining that someone got this and they didn’t, or that this person got twice as much as that...
Hold the Scold
Don’t make the same mistake we did: It was the Gila Valley Temple Open house, and we had two younger boys along. The older one was 9 years old, and we let him and the older ones go at their own pace. The younger was only 5, and we told him he had to stay with us....
Emerge!
Help them Emerge from their cocoon! TIME TO EMERGE! A teacher recently remarked, “our kids are shrinking! They are used to hiding behind masks, and now they continue to shrink into themselves.” We have had them all wrapped up in a cocoon-like existence....
Teenagers, Drive Safe!
I had gone to California, to help my daughter with her new baby. From the Bob Hope Airport, I had to take a tram to Thousand Oaks where they lived. I remember scanning the schedule and choosing a tram for me and toddler Ryan to take. As it turns out, if I had chosen...
What if my child Hits?
What if my Child Hits? Two-year old Marcy went over and smacked her 8-month old sister Polly. “Marcy!!” Her mother called. “You must not hit the baby! It gives her an “owie”! But Marcy kept doing it. In fact, she seemed to be hitting little Polly more and...
Sick of Parenthood?
Sick of My Child? A couple of days ago, a young father asked me, “What do you do if your find yourself sick of your child?" “You have had lots of time with kids, he went on, “What do you do if you have had it?” I had to stop and think for a minute. Here's what I...
It’s About Time
Little Missy had poured her bowl of oatmeal on her head and it was dripping down her face and hair and onto her pajamas! Little Mister had turned on the hose, and ended up covered in mud! “Do you want to go take a bath?” their mothers asked them! “Would you like to...
Look Me In the Eye
A mother looks her newborn in the eye, head on. She smiles at her darling new baby and the baby mirrors her look. This little one smiles, coos, and kicks, as if begging his mother to continue. But the mother looks away. When she finally looks back, her face is...
Mealtime: Merry or Miserable?
A Family Council Approach Jacob and Anna Jones had a terrible problem. Mealtimes at their house had become a daily fight. It was awful, and they’d tried all kinds of things. Still, there was screaming and fussing, and kids who didn’t eat then were...
What if My Teen is Struggling?
Teach them Who They Are. Our teens have it hard these days. It’s tricky to do school online. It is frustrating to hear and understand the teacher. It is easy for attention to drift elsewhere! They are stuck at home so many hours of the day, that they...
Do-It Kids in a Don’t Touch World
Giving Children the Experiences that Help them Grow I remember when my little baby girl encountered grass for the first time. She was born in October, in Utah, and so the next spring when lawns started to grow again, it was a first for her. I sat her on a...
Olives for the Dress Rehearsal
What do Olives have to do with anything? As I have read the allegory of the Olive Tree in Jacob chapter 5 of the Book of Mormon, I noticed that several phrases were mentioned over and over. This time through, I counted how often three particular phrases...
Bad Habits: Helping Our Children Break Them
Breaking Bad Habits Some habits are super hard to break! How do we help our kids do it? Here are three different ways parent have found success stopping extra persistent habits: 1. Thumb Sucking...
Read the Best Books
For awhile, we get to choose what books our kids read. However, as they grow, they soon choose for themselves. How can we help our children be discriminatory readers? How can we help them choose the very best to fill their minds with? What a service we do for our...
You Go First!
One day Mark and I pulled up to a bus stop. Even though he had the right of way, Mark slowed and motioned for the bus to pull out from the bus stop first, before heading on down the highway. Afterward, I was looking at the back of the bus as we drove, at the...
Help Me SAVE FACE
A certain 10-year old child was somewhat socially backward and longed for friends. One day at long last, it was finally going to happen! A friend was actually coming over after school! The visit was still new when this friend made a comment about the...
My Daily Duel: Conversation as Ammo
These days, I am involved in a Daily Duel! I’ve taken it on: It’s Me or My son’s Cell Phone! You see, this year I have 20-minute drive to school with him every day. (Alas, no brother can take him anymore!) So I have given myself quite a...
Being There
Being There A Constant in their Lives I asked one of my older kids what was their favorite childhood memory. Turns out, it was when she had a terrible earache that woke her and kept her up all night. “You looked at photo albums with me for a long time,” this...
Rock Solid Faith
A Lifeline When We Are Sinking “Were my parents lying to me all those years?” There was a time when I asked that question. A young man I knew in high school was learning from our missionaries. I was so excited for him—I just knew he would find the...
No Comparison?
Be Like our Children! We know that comparison is the thief of Joy. But how can we stop looking at others and deciding who is better at this or that? The sun is different than the moon, which is different than the stars, but each has a certain time to...
Mommy, Please Be Happy!
Making Our Own Sunshine I remember as a little girl absolutely loving it when my Mommy was happy! My whole world was okay if she smiled and...
Making Mistakes
M Making the Grade Usually, you don’t have to be perfect to get an “A.” In fact, A’s are usually given for anywhere between 90-100% on a test. So if a student pushes for just 10% mistakes, he can still get the top grade. Not so with music. Musicians...
On a Plateau?
A Change of Outlook; A Change of Prayers There once was a good lady who had been sick for some time, and just wasn’t getting well. Despite all she could do and even blessings that had been give her, she wasn’t well yet. “What should I do?” she asked Elder...
Mom, I Owe You Bigtime!
“Mom, I Owe You Bigtime!” You were the Architect of my Brain We all realize that we are indebted to our moms for giving us life. We know they sacrificed time and comfort for nine months, and then visited the shadow of death to give us birth. If we think...
Don’t My Kids Need to be Tech Savvy?
Limiting Electronics May Be the Best Way! I came upon this research that I wanted to share: Do You Know A Child with these Symptoms? irritable moodspoor focusdisorganized or defiant behaviortearfulness, frustration, meltdownsanger that comes on easilyinsomnia or panic...
“I DID say it, Mom!”
Their Reality Have you ever watched the 3-year olds at a Primary Presentation? There they are standing there in front of the congregation in all their cuteness, with big eyes—and absolutely not singing. But they think they are! Many a Primary...
Born to Be Kings and Queens
Preventing Suicidal Tendencies “Many years ago, I heard the story of the son of King Louis XVI of France. King Louis had been taken from his throne and imprisoned. His young son, the prince, was taken by those who dethroned the king. They thought that inasmuch...
Please Be Happy, Mommy!
Finding Joy Daily Please Be Happy, Mommy! Recently, I was asked, “Is Motherhood Enjoyable to you?” It was followed up with, “You must have found It enjoyable since you kept having kids!” I remembered back to when I was a young girl and I discovered Cheaper By the...
What If My Child Doesn’t Want to Pray?
Teaching Desire for Prayer When she was just a toddler, my little daughter stuck her finger down her throat and made herself throw up! “Oh no!” I exclaimed, “My daughter is already showing signs of Bulimia! What should I do?!” Well, when I...
“Come, Follow Me”
Tips for Home-Centered Gospel Study The town of Paradise, California was recently burned to the ground. Most people were able to escape, but their homes were gone. As were both of their church buildings, I understand. What an ordeal, to find shelter...
Delete the Compete
Teamwork! The other day, my daughter called me, “Help! I made a big mistake! I need help fixing it!” She told me she had often asked her two young boys, “Who wants to be first?” ...
The Baby of the Family
Finishing with Wisdom and Strength My youngest child has a new part-time job. It is a big deal. It includes mowing lawns, landscaping, and taking care of a pool for a vacation house. The job requires competence and skill, it must be done well, and...
Reading Aloud to our Children
When we read aloud to our children, we are inadvertently teaching them that reading is fun! And since we are a pleasure-seeking people, kids will want to do what brings enjoyment and they will do it. After all, most of us do what our parents did. ...
#25 The story behind “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”
After great sorrow comes the Joy
#24 The Painting of a Son
It was the painting of His Son that made all the difference.