Did You Know?

Gracies Secret

Meet Grace. At nine years old she has a big secret. Grace knows first-hand that life can be difficult. Her parents aren't very happy. Their arguing is giving her a stomach ache.

She spends a lot of time alone, worrying. Are her parents problems her fault? Had she done something wrong?

Grace pretends everything is fine, but it's not. She feels helpless and has learned that making things up is easier than telling the truth. One big question haunts her every day.

Will her family ever be happy again?

This book is perfect for a child with a difficult home life. Divorce, addiction, mental health issues and more can cause children to feel alone, anxious and afraid.

Gracie's Secret addresses this by showing kids they aren't alone, and that they can feel better. With a workbook section for kids to understand their own issues and a message that talking to a safe person will help, Gracie's story can help kids cope.

A book written by Lorelie Rozanno and available on Amazon and is available in paperback.

Challenge Myself: Day #66 Family Projects

Today is Day #66 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today is to spend one hour working on a family project, or an arts and crafts.

What child doesn't like this idea?

Back when my kids were growing up we sent them to Vacation Bible School. Not just Bible School at our church, every church here in town. They loved the crafts and projects and for a time our house displayed macaroni picture frames and birdhouses made with popsicle sticks.

The book says,

After the dishes are done and the homework has been put away, turn off the television and turn on your creativity.

Get out the craft box and create something fun, whimsical, or beautiful with your kids.

Quality time with your children is never wasted. They need time with you to feel loved and wanted. Instead of allowing them to sit in front of the television and get bombarded with undesirable messages, establish an hour of family fellowship, and watch them thrive.

I've made homemade play dough for my grandson. You don't have to be artistic to be creative. If you have young children Lowes and Home Depot have projects for young children also.

Also if you live local don't forget the Be-Hive for kids 13 and under. Visit their webpage @ Be-Hive
The Be-Hive is great family fun. They do arts and crafts as well as learn fun and exciting things.

Just For Today: I will close my eyes, breathe and allow for some creative ideas to flow into my mind.

Here is a link to some kids project ideas:
23 DIY Projects For Kids

From the book: Live Happy

Grandparenting

Today's post from the Live Happy Challenge on respecting and interacting children with their grand parents brought up another topic of conversation. That is about Grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.


This post is about Grand Parenting which is happening at much higher rates around the country and particularly here in West Virginia with our out of control heroin and opiate epidemic and high overdose and death here in the Mountain State.

I found some links on Grand Parenting that may be of interest

Challenge Myself: Day #59 Grandparent Interaction

Today is Day #59 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today is about respecting grand parents

The book says,

If your children have grown up with grandparents around, they are truly lucky. Grandparents are repositories of memories and details of a bygone era and as such are often treasure troves of information for younger generations.

Encourage lively discourse

Challenge Myself: Day #58 Praise Good Behavior

Today is Day #58 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today is about praising good behavior with praise.

The book says,

It is human nature to repeat behaviors that get a lot of attention. When it comes to your efforts to build a strong happy family, the key is to focus on the positive behaviors you want repeated and not the negative ones.

Try also to lavish praise consistently for that particular behavior.

What do you do when a behavior is bad? You ignore what you can. Refuse to give it any attention. And pick your fights carefully. Because attention is usually what the other individual or child is seeking.

Your attention is the payoff for him/her acting out or doing something praise worthy. So, praise what you like, and ignore, if you can, what you don't like.

I notice that this applies also to our son who is recovering. I notice that when I stay positive and say positive things this helps him. And the days when he struggles I try to remain positive and if he falls I still say positive things instead of bashing and putting him down because for a moment he lost his way.

Just For Today: I will praise the good things.

pic from: Parent Training Promotional
From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #57 Be A Better Parent

Today is Day #57 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today is learning to be a better parent.

The book says,

If you want to be the best parent you can be, sign up for parenting classes. Such classes can often be found through parent teacher organizations, local adult education courses, the family court system and even online.

Learn what to expect from your child as he or she goes through the various stages to adulthood. Discover techniques for discipline