the art of parenting

This past weekend I finished reading a book called Parenting with love and logic.

It was a very helpful book. Actually one that I wish I would have read sooner.

Syndie and I have found that in life things like marriage and parenting are more of a art from than hard sciences. There are specifics or non-negotiable s  but there is also also of flexibility and a need to adapt to your spouse or individual child.

The two rules of love and logic are this.

1) Adults set limits without anger, lectures, threats, or repeated warnings.
2) When children cause problems, adults hand these back in loving way.

more info at Love and Logic website

Some of the ideas that the book presents may feel a bit a  counterintuitive at first but come from simple concepts that can be readily implemented.

Nice Weekend

This past weekend was great for the whole family!

Short re-cap of what we did.

Sunday… We all went to the library and the kids watched a Disney movie called, Meet the Robinson’s and Syndie and I sat in nice cozy chairs and did some reading. Then in was off to Meijer to do some shopping for the upcoming week and then we had a great dinner of spaghetti with our friends the Worth’s.

Saturday… We sleep in! Big weekend highlight when you normally get up at 4:00am. Did some cleaning and putzing around the house. Watched the U of M football game. Then we went out for dinner with our good friends the Hovey to Bahama Breeze. (without kids!!) We have not done that in forever. It is nice to have a daughter old and responsible enough to babysit for just such occasions. In fact this was the second weekend in a row that she has had a baby sitting job.

Friday… Was the annual Fall Festival at the kids elementary school. The get to dress up in costumes and go to game booths set up in the classrooms and win candy prizes. The kids had fun and we also won some yummy goodies in the cake walk.

great time with the cobalt season

Here is a picture of Ryan and Holly of The Cobalt Season. It was nice to hear them share their music. They are very talented and their passion real came through in their music. I will be able to have them again sometime in the future.
 

By the numbers

Westland has a population of 84,504

59,242 residents are registered to vote

on August 7th of 2007 only 5,785 actually voted

sleepless night

Last night I had trouble falling asleep despite being very tired. I was mulling over a lot of stuff in the back of the head. When I awoke at 4:00 am. Very short night! This is what I happened to read when I woke up.

If you want to live free,
take your time, go slowly.
Do a few things, but do them well.
Simple joys are holy.
Celtic Daily Prayer

night skies in october 2007 004

night skies in october 2007 004
Originally uploaded by jimmy_best.

awesome view out the backyard this evening at 7:00

The Cobalt Season

This Thursday!!! @ 8:00ish

The Cobalt Season

Live in Westland @ Casa de Best

Come or invite someone else to come

a bargin @ $7

op ed from ny times

OPINION | October 21, 2007 Op-Ed Columnist: Save the Planet: Vote Smart By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Whatever any of us does individually matters a tiny bit. But when leaders change the rules, you get scale change across the whole marketplace.

going solo

Syndie is away for a overnight getaway with her Mom and sister. So I am caring for our little flock all by myself. Tomorrow morning should be interesting. I will be getting all three of the kids up, and off to school by myself. I am a little out of practice for the morning shift. It has been at least four or five years since I have been around for the morning routine because of my work schedule. I am confident that I will have a deeper appreciation for what Syndie does every morning. I am glad that she is able to go away for this special time. The kids and I all prayed at bed time that she would have a great time and have a chance to recharge her physical, emotional, and spiritual batteries.

step up to the challange

Our family has signed up, how about yours?

From the Westland Observer

Bell ringers needed for yule season

The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division (TSA) has kicked off its
fourth annual online volunteer drive for the nonprofit’s Red Kettle
bell ringers. The Salvation Army needs to fill over 1,500 two-hour
shifts from Nov. 16 through Dec. 24 (Sundays excluded). The Salvation
Army is looking for people who want a simple and easy way to give back
to their communities by "ringing a bell" during its biggest annual
fund-raising campaign.

"Due to the increased need in the suburbs we are looking for a record
number of volunteers this year to help the Red Kettle campaign reach
our 2007 fund-raising goal," said Maj. Norman Marshall divisional
commander. Opportunities throughout southeast Michigan are posted at www.ringbell.org.
Anyone can log on, pick a preferred location and a two-hour shift that
is convenient. The volunteer will receive a confirmation e-mail just
prior to the selected date.