So far, I have not gotten any sort of Q&A going for this series but I believe it is going quite well. She has got almost a full month of stickers built up, which she is very happy about because she knows that means she gets to have a friend sleep over. Surprisingly, there has only been one night were she came to my bed and was successful, it was on a night after her father went back out of town for work. I gave in at about 4 a.m., but made her do extra chores the next day to earn her sticker.
Wait, this is not true, she was successful another night, just last week.
She was sneaky about it though.
Here's the deal. I have been having trouble sleeping with her father being gone during the week, and the most sleep I get is when he is home for the weekend and I get to fall asleep in his lap around 9 p.m. but this last weekend we had family in from out of town, so I didn't get those extra hours of sleep because we were visiting with them. So by nearly the end of the week I was running on E! My son wasn't feeling good and he went to sleep around 5:30, and well as awful as I feel about it, I turned on some cartoons for Sleepin Beauty and I crashed on the couch around 7pm. I vaguely remember her asking to wear one of my shirts to bed, in which I responded "sure, let me turn on my light" which I did, but immediately fell back asleep in my bed. I wake up to her turning off the light and climbing in bed with me at around 11pm, I look at her puzzled and say " What are you doing in my bed?" Her response " You told me that if I cleaned my room all up then I could sleep with you just this ONE time!" I said, "When did I say THAT?" " When you were sleeping of course." she says...I got up and locked the house up and checked her room, and Yes she did clean it, even made the bed. But I went to back to bed amazed at how I had been taken advantage of in a very weak state by a 5 YEAR OLD!!
Other than that, I am pleased to announce that Sleepin Beauty has stayed in her bed almost 1 full month now, and besides been sneaky the only obstacle I have observed is that she has bad dreams and says that she needs a "Bad Dream Catcher" like mommy has so she won't need to send her dreams to my room!
Also, her rewards have been: Baking Cookies, Decorating cupcakes for our family and friends for V-Day, and staying up 30 minutes late to play a few rounds of Dominoes with Mom, Dad, and little brother.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Day 9 - Love makes good impressions.
"Learning to demonstrate aspects of love like patience, kindness, and encouragement are not always easy but are certainly crucial to a healthy relationship. So dealing with the way you greet your spouse each day may seem inconsequential, but this small issue carries surprising significance.
You can tell a lot about the state of a couple's relationship from the way they greet one another. It's probably something you don't think about very often-the first thing you say to him/her when you wake up in the morning,the look on your face when you get in the car,the energy in your voice when you speak on the telephone. But here's something else you probably don't stop to consider-the difference it would make in your spouse's day if everything about you expressed the fact that you were really, really glad to see them.
When someone communicates that they are glad to see you, your personal sense of self-worth increases. You feel more important and valued.
That's because a good greeting sets the stage for positive and healthy interaction. Like love, it puts wind in your sails. A loving greeting can bless your spouse through what they see,hear,and feel. Think of the opportunities you have to greet each other on a regular basis.
It doesn't have to be bold and dramatic every time. But adding warmth and enthusiasm gives you the chance to touch your mate's heart in subtle,unspoken ways. Even when you're not getting along too well, you can lessen the tension and give them value by the way you greet them.
Remember, love is a choice. So choose to change your greeting. Choose to love.
Today's Dare
Think of a specific way you'd like to greet your spouse today.
Do it with a smile and with enthusiasm.
Then determine to change your greeting to reflect your love for them
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Day 8- Love Is Not Jealous.
The book says:
"Jealousy is one of the strongest drives known to man.
There are actually two forms: a legitimate jealousy based upon love and an illegitimate jealousy based upon envy.
Legitimate jealousy sparks when someone you love, who belongs to you, turns his or her heart away and replaces you with someone else...
.we will shift our focus to the illegitimate kind of jealous that is in opposition to love, the one that is rooted in selfishness. This is to be jealous of someone to be 'moved with envy.'
It has been said that people are fine with your succeeding, just as long as it is not more than theirs. Jealousy is a common struggle. If you're not careful, jealousy slithers like a viper into your heart and strikes your motivations and relationships.
When you were married, you were given the role of becoming your spouse's biggest cheerleader and the captain of his/her fan club. Both of you became one and were to share in the enjoyment of the other. But if selfishness rules, any good thing happening to only one of you can be a catalyst for envy rather than congratulations.
A loving husband doesn't mind his wife being better at something, having more fun, or getting more applause. He sees her as completing him, not competing him.
A loving wife will be the first to cheer for her man when he wins. She does not compare her weaknesses to his strengths.
It is time to let love, humility, and gratefulness destroy any jealousy that springs up in your heart. It's time to let your mate's successes draw you closer together and give you greater opportunities to show genuine love.
"Jealousy is one of the strongest drives known to man.
There are actually two forms: a legitimate jealousy based upon love and an illegitimate jealousy based upon envy.
Legitimate jealousy sparks when someone you love, who belongs to you, turns his or her heart away and replaces you with someone else...
.we will shift our focus to the illegitimate kind of jealous that is in opposition to love, the one that is rooted in selfishness. This is to be jealous of someone to be 'moved with envy.'
It has been said that people are fine with your succeeding, just as long as it is not more than theirs. Jealousy is a common struggle. If you're not careful, jealousy slithers like a viper into your heart and strikes your motivations and relationships.
When you were married, you were given the role of becoming your spouse's biggest cheerleader and the captain of his/her fan club. Both of you became one and were to share in the enjoyment of the other. But if selfishness rules, any good thing happening to only one of you can be a catalyst for envy rather than congratulations.
A loving husband doesn't mind his wife being better at something, having more fun, or getting more applause. He sees her as completing him, not competing him.
A loving wife will be the first to cheer for her man when he wins. She does not compare her weaknesses to his strengths.
It is time to let love, humility, and gratefulness destroy any jealousy that springs up in your heart. It's time to let your mate's successes draw you closer together and give you greater opportunities to show genuine love.
Today's Dare
Determine to become your spouse's biggest fan and to reject any thoughts of jealousy.
To help you set your heart on your spouse and focus on their achievements,
take yesterday's list of negative attributes and discreetly burn it.
Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he/she recently enjoyed.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Day 7 - Love believes the best.
The book says:
"In the deep and private corridors of your heart, there is a room. It's called the Appreciation Room. It's where your thoughts go when you encounter positive and encouraging things about your spouse. On the walls are written kind words or phrases describing the good attributes of your mate.
But you may have found that you don't visit this special room as often as you once did.
Down another darker corridor of your heart lies the Depreciation Room, and unfortunately you visit there as well. On it's walls are written the things that bother and irritate you about your spouse. It's where ammunition is kept for the next big fight and bitterness is allowed to spread like a disease. People fall out of love here.
But know this. Spending time in the Depreciation Room kills marriages. The more time you spend in this place, the more your heart devalues your spouse. You may say, 'But these things are true!' Yes, but so are the things in the Appreciation Room. Everyone fails and has areas that need growth.This is a sad aspect of being human. But we have this unfortunate tendency to downplay our own negative attributes while putting our partner's failures under a magnifying glass.
"In the deep and private corridors of your heart, there is a room. It's called the Appreciation Room. It's where your thoughts go when you encounter positive and encouraging things about your spouse. On the walls are written kind words or phrases describing the good attributes of your mate.
But you may have found that you don't visit this special room as often as you once did.
Down another darker corridor of your heart lies the Depreciation Room, and unfortunately you visit there as well. On it's walls are written the things that bother and irritate you about your spouse. It's where ammunition is kept for the next big fight and bitterness is allowed to spread like a disease. People fall out of love here.
But know this. Spending time in the Depreciation Room kills marriages. The more time you spend in this place, the more your heart devalues your spouse. You may say, 'But these things are true!' Yes, but so are the things in the Appreciation Room. Everyone fails and has areas that need growth.This is a sad aspect of being human. But we have this unfortunate tendency to downplay our own negative attributes while putting our partner's failures under a magnifying glass.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Day 5- Love is not rude.
The book says:
"Rudeness is unnecessarily saying or doing things that are unpleasant for another person to be around.
As always, love has something to say about this. When a man is driven by love, he intentionally behaves in a way that's more pleasant for his wife to be around. If she desires to love him, she purposefully avoids things that frustrate him or cause him discomfort.
The bottom line is that genuine love minds it's manners.
Good manners express to your wife or husband 'I value you enough to exercise some self-control around you. I want to be a person who's a pleasure to be with.'
If you don't let love motivate you to make needed changes in your behavior,the quality of your marriage relationship will suffer for it.
There are two main reasons why people are rude: ignorance and selfishness."
"Rudeness is unnecessarily saying or doing things that are unpleasant for another person to be around.
As always, love has something to say about this. When a man is driven by love, he intentionally behaves in a way that's more pleasant for his wife to be around. If she desires to love him, she purposefully avoids things that frustrate him or cause him discomfort.
The bottom line is that genuine love minds it's manners.
Good manners express to your wife or husband 'I value you enough to exercise some self-control around you. I want to be a person who's a pleasure to be with.'
If you don't let love motivate you to make needed changes in your behavior,the quality of your marriage relationship will suffer for it.
There are two main reasons why people are rude: ignorance and selfishness."
Friday, February 4, 2011
Yoga is for wimps.
Ya, Smokin Hot Wimps, Right?
There was a point in my life when I thought Yoga was just some sort of meditation/stretching exercise.
I laughed at the thought of doing those crazy poses.
Not that I had anything against it, or the people who practiced it,I just wasn't that interested. Honestly, I was intimidated. I mean come one, a mother of two should not be putting on tight clothes like that and bending in weird ways like that.
Okay, now is the time where I apologize for my ignorance.
I am sorry!
Day 4-Love is thoughtful!
The book says;
"Love thinks. It's not a mindless feeling that rides on waves of emotion and falls asleep mentally. It keeps busy in thought, knowing that loving thoughts precede loving actions. If you don't learn to be thoughtful,you end up regretting missed opportunities to demonstrate love. Thoughtlessness is a silent enemy to a loving relationship.
Love requires thoughtfulness-on both sides- the kind that builds bridges through the constructive combination of patience,kindness,and selflessness. Love teaches you how to meet in the middle, to respect and appreciate how your spouse uniquely thinks.
A husband should listen to his wife and learn to be considerate of her unspoken messages. A wife should learn to communicate truthfully and not say one thing while meaning another."
"Love thinks. It's not a mindless feeling that rides on waves of emotion and falls asleep mentally. It keeps busy in thought, knowing that loving thoughts precede loving actions. If you don't learn to be thoughtful,you end up regretting missed opportunities to demonstrate love. Thoughtlessness is a silent enemy to a loving relationship.
Love requires thoughtfulness-on both sides- the kind that builds bridges through the constructive combination of patience,kindness,and selflessness. Love teaches you how to meet in the middle, to respect and appreciate how your spouse uniquely thinks.
A husband should listen to his wife and learn to be considerate of her unspoken messages. A wife should learn to communicate truthfully and not say one thing while meaning another."
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Day 3- Love is not Selfish.
The book says:
" If there were ever a word that basically means the opposite of love,it is selfishness.
Loving couples-the ones who are enjoying the full purpose of marriage-are bent on taking good care of the other flawed human they get to share life with.
Love is never satisfied except in the welfare of others.
Love also leads to inner joy. When you prioritize the well being of your mate, there is a resulting fulfillment that cannot be duplicated by selfish actions. The truth, when you relinquish your rights for the sake of your mate, you get a chance to lose yourself to the greater purpose of marriage."
" If there were ever a word that basically means the opposite of love,it is selfishness.
Loving couples-the ones who are enjoying the full purpose of marriage-are bent on taking good care of the other flawed human they get to share life with.
Love is never satisfied except in the welfare of others.
Love also leads to inner joy. When you prioritize the well being of your mate, there is a resulting fulfillment that cannot be duplicated by selfish actions. The truth, when you relinquish your rights for the sake of your mate, you get a chance to lose yourself to the greater purpose of marriage."
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Battling the thorns...
..to get SleepinBeauty BACK in her bed!
After many failed attempts, here I am again. I feel as though I am watching the rerun of a movie; mother squats down to meet eye to eye with a beautiful curly haired petite blond girl that is crying so hard she is trembling. She promises said little girl every reward imaginable if she will just, sleep in her own bed!!
Yep, that's me.
Day 2-- Love is kind!
The book says:
" Kindness is love in action. If patience is how love reacts in order to minimize a negative circumstance, kindness is how love acts to maximize a positive circumstance."
" One is preventive, the other proactive. But 'kindness' can feel a little generic when you try defining it, much less living it."
They go on to break kindness down into four "basic core ingredients."
" Kindness is love in action. If patience is how love reacts in order to minimize a negative circumstance, kindness is how love acts to maximize a positive circumstance."
" One is preventive, the other proactive. But 'kindness' can feel a little generic when you try defining it, much less living it."
They go on to break kindness down into four "basic core ingredients."
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