What A Lovely Girl!

A couple weeks ago, I took my family to an indoor playground.  While my 4 year old son and I were playing in the ball pit, we met a girl.  We were working together, with the girl, to throw the balls into the other area.  Later on, when we were having a break, he told me "that was a lovely girl!"

This last Sunday,  I was talking with some ladies.  A lady who was relatively new to our church started up a conversation with my son.  Soon, he was having a grand conversation with her, and she found him quite charming.  Later in the afternoon we were playing in his sandbox and he told me that she was a lovely girl.

I bragged to my husband, who was nearby, about how he's only ever called two girls "lovely" and that he only says it about very special people.  A few minutes later, he told me, "Mommy, you are a lovely girl."

Picture Day Doesn't Always Go As Planned

This has been quite the day! 

It was School Picture Day for my kids! 

I forgot.

  

I wasn't planning on bringing my son to school because he had a bad cold, and as usual, I let the kids pick out their own clothes for the day.  We were running late, so I only ended up brushing 3/4 of my daughter's beautifully long, fine blonde hair.  As I dropped my kids off at school, I noticed all the girls were wearing cute dresses and had their hair done.  It was a nice reminder, but it was too late for me!

Slightly panicked, I ran back to the van and brought my son in.  As I was brushing my daughter's hair, the teacher was discovering (and fixing) my son's inside-out shirt!  I obsessed over my kids, straitening their hair and carrying their things for them.  I followed the line of children as they headed to the photography room, and at that point the teacher asked me to wait in the lobby.  We all know how hard it is for a teacher to have to work around the parents!  

Some parents may have gotten offended, but it is for that reason that my kids attend the school.  The teachers care for the kids.  They are brave enough to ask the parents to leave when the they are being too clingy. 

After school, as I was leaving, my best friend was arriving to get her daughter too.  I mentioned something about the pictures, and she was shocked!  She forgot too.  Only, I reminded her, at least her daughter was wearing a cute dress!! 

I find my day quite amusing...now that I am safe at home and the kids are napping.  Hope you liked it too!  Have you had a "bad" picture day?  Comment Below!

This blog was created by Rebecca Wilkins, the daughter of social media expert and freelance writer, GT Bulmer. Following in Daddy's footsteps!

Follow Rebecca on Twitter @mrs_r_wilkins

Website Tools For Building Families: MeInATree

My goal is to raise up balanced children who know how to love others even in the midst of conflicts. To me, life isn't so much about avoiding confrontations, but about going through trials without causing damage to my relationships.

“Where two or more gathered together, there will be disagreement.” 

I was recently introduced to a newly developed website called MeInATree. I signed up without really knowing what it was all about. Thankfully, I gave the site a few minutes of my time, and created a profile for my family. I was fascinated to discover that the website would involve the whole family in family meetings called “Huddles.” In the past, a family meeting always sounded like a good idea, but never went over as well as I had imagined.

I did a test run of the huddle, and was amazed! The creators of this website definitely know what they are talking about when it comes to families. The Huddle includes every member of the family, and covers all the important areas of family living – from schedules to feelings. Family Huddle time has an all important adjustable timer, so the meetings do not drag on. Mixing serious topics, with fun topics, the mood stays light and friendly. I would tell you about our first official family huddle, but I need to honour my family and live up to the rule, “what is said in the Family Huddle, stays in the Family Huddle.”  However, I can say this: I really appreciate it because it has already helped some of the less expressive members of our family open up and feel like they are important and have something to contribute to the family.

The ethics of the website are clearly to bring unity and stability to the family.  It approaches this in a fun way. MeInATree has many features, and intends on adding a lot more. I was excited today to discover the available features on the website.  There is a lot more that I have not tried out yet, such as the opportunity for older children to type their thoughts into journals, and then to express them safely to the family.  I believe that there would be fewer broken families if they would use tools like this regularly.

www.meinatree.com

I can see that this site will be productive for families of all sizes, dynamics, and ages. Even preschool kids, and possibly younger, can get involved.  

                     

It is a great time to be alive!  What better way is there to celebrate life, than with your family?

Created by Rebecca Wilkins, daughter of social media expert and freelance writer

GT Bulmer.  Following in Daddy's footsteps!

Follow Rebecca on Twitter @mrs_r_wilkins

Update: After I posted this, Kids In Cowtown started a contest in support of this awesome program. Check it out at http://kidsincowtown.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/win-flowers-for-mothers-day-or-a-tim-hortons-coffee-card/

You can win fantastic prizes just by trying out Me In A Tree!