You Can Do It!

When I find something that is fantastic I just have to share. Take it or leave it, but if it is helping me, I am sharing it.

So, it may come as a shock to many that I am not the world's greatest mom. (Not really, oh well... :) ) My kids have been battling me on certain issues the past few week and I was wondering what was wrong with my mothering (and honestly, sometimes, them). General Conference was coming and I was really praying that even if there was no talk specifically about my need that I would at least be inspired with what I could do. The programming on BYUTV is always so great around conference time, so many times I just leave it running after or in between. While Mike was gone for the Priesthood session a program called You Can Do This: An Approach to Raising Wonderful Children came on and I was instantly intrigued. The parents on the program had struggled with parenting and had started to use the ideas taught to them and they testified that it was really working for their family. The BYU McKay School of Education has put together an awesome website to help parents in disciplining children in a positive way. Of course, when the kids went to bed that night I made Mike watch it with me and we started to look at the website together and identify things we could do immediately. It encourages positive discipline vs. just punishment, building relationships, focusing on what's important and much more. Surely there will still be frustrating circumstances, but we started using some of the tips yesterday and it has already made a difference in our home. I love my kids! This is giving me tools to keep the love there while still loving and disciplining them when it is necessary while not having it become a punishment for me as well. I still haven't made my way through the whole site, but I have a feeling it will become a good friend to me, possibly even more than my gobble bag that hasn't seen the light of day for awhile.