How to Create a Family Mission Statement

What is a Family Mission Statement, you ask?  It's a statement outlining the objectives and purpose of your family.  It details your family's values and goals.  It's about keeping your family on track and accountable to one another to create your best life, as well acting as a guideline in making family decisions.

Photo Credit So how do you go about creating a Family Mission Statement? 

Start with discussing a Family Mission Statement with your partner (we'll bring the kids in a bit later).  Discuss what categories you would like to address, such as career, creative outlets, education, marriage, faith or spirituality, etc. 

Your family's mission statement does not have to be elaborate - it simply needs to be significant.

Photo Credit
Find a quiet space where each of you can be alone with your thoughts and jot down what is important to you in each of the categories.

Come back together to discuss your notes.  This may be a very eye-opening experience for you, as you may find that you have different priorities.  Be patient and respectful with your spouse while you compromise as you come up with a master list of priorities.

Next, bring your kids in.  Explain to them what a family mission statement is, and ask for their input.  This is a perfect opportunity for them to feel like they have something to contribute, rather than mom and dad having all the say.  Take them seriously and jot down their thoughts under each topic.  Although mom and dad lay the foundation for the mission statement, it is definately a family effort.  Ask the kids some probing questions such as:

• what kind of family they would like you to be?
• What values does your family hold sacred?
• What goals do you have in mind?
• What is the feeling you get when you walk into your home?
• What kinds of things do you like to do together?

Once all the information has been gathered, type up a good copy and post it in a prominent area of your home.  You will want it in an area where each of you will see it every single day.  It won't always be read, but as long as it is seen, it will be in your thoughts and you will use it to guide your actions.

There are many different ways of displaying your family's mission statement - it can be done in bullet point form and pinned to a bulletin board, it can be stuck with a magnet to your fridge.  You could laminate it or matte and frame it.  Keep in mind that it should be presented with dignity and placed with honor to your family, after all, it is what your family is all about.

If you have a Family Mission Statement and would like to share it with us, leave a link in the comments section below.

Breaking News! Your Help and Action is Needed!

Do you want to help make a change for the better? Then help us with this!

I'm going to try and keep this short and to the point (which is difficult for me as you all know when I am passionate about something!).

There is a farm in Three Hills Alberta that calls itself the Guzoo Animal Farm and it needs to be shut down. They are up for licensing this week, on Friday April 1st, 2011 (no this is not an April Fools joke btw) and you can help by pressuring the Alberta Provincial Government to NOT re-new their operating license.

This so called zoo is 2 hours from where I live and the first I heard about was last night on Facebook when someone started sharing pictures that were taken there on March 26th. The pictures my friends are horrifying. Here are just a *few* (you can Google "Guzoo Animal Farm" to see more disturbing proof of neglect).

Rotting carcasses left out in the open

Garbage including food in plastic (the oranges) in animal enclosures

This is where this mama goat and her baby are kept. :o(

(Photos courtesy of Nic Burgess and hosted by Jonnyruzek on Flickr )

Online petitions help, but the best thing that you can do is to contact the Premier of Alberta, Ed Stelmach, MLA Mel Knight, Minister of Sustainable Resource Development and Richard Marz, MLA of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills.

They need to hear your voice and they need to hear it now and they need to know this is important enough for you to send an email and take it one step further than a petition.

First I will paste the letter that I just sent to them today. Feel free to copy it, tweak it and make it your own and send it off. Then at the very end, I will include the email addresses of those who need to receive it, and also of those I cc'd to help create more media awareness of this atrocity.

First the letter:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

March 28, 2011

(via email)

The Honourable Ed Stelmach - Premier of Alberta

The Honourable Mel Knight - Minister, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development

Mr. Richard Marz - MLA for Olds, Didsbury and Three Hills

Ron Bjorge, Executive Director Wildlife Management Branch, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development

Dear Mr. Marz, Mr. Knight, Mr. Bjorge and Mr. Stelmach;

I am writing with deep concern for animal welfare, to respectfully request that you not re-issue an operating license this week on April 1, 2011 to the Guzoo Animal Farm located in Three Hills Alberta. I am absolutely shocked that this ‘farm’ is still allowed to operate even though there have been hundreds and hundreds of critical violations throughout the years regarding facility management, animal care, and irresponsible breeding practices.

Guzoo Animal Farm likes to think of itself as an animal rescue society when nothing could be further from the truth. There are hundreds of unsettling and graphic photographs documenting the true distressing conditions of the Guzoo Animal Farm. To say it is not a safe haven for animal rescue would be an absolute understatement. 

Garbage in animal enclosures, rotting carcasses left out in the open and bleeding animals chewing on paper and plastic is not acceptable in any way or any form. It is clear that after 20+ years of multiple and inexcusable violations, (100 of which were observed in 2007 alone) Lynn Gustafson has no intention of changing his practices nor learning how to properly care for animals.

As a society, we must call a halt to the acceptance of cruelty to animals and enforce a policy of harsh punishment for these crimes. To allow individuals guilty of perpetrating such cruel acts to go unpunished or not sufficiently punished would be to sanction these horrific crimes and would permit them to go on to commit serious and violent crimes against humans.

I am formally requesting that the harshest penalty be imposed against the owner(s) of Guzoo Animal Farm, including the maximum jail sentence as well as immediate revocation of their license to operate and house any and all animals, domestic or otherwise. In addition, I strongly suggest that Lynn Gustafson receive mandatory psychological counseling and be prohibited from ever owning or harboring animals now or in the future.

This is a very serious matter and it is imperative that a strong message is sent to the community that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated by a civilized society by seeking the maximum penalty.

Thank you for your valuable time and consideration.

Sincerely,

(name, address, phone number and email address here)

Cc:

Danielle Smith, Leader - Wild Rose Alliance,

Brian Mason, Leader - Alberta NDP;

Raj Sherman, Leader - Alberta Liberals

Global TV Calgary and National,

CTV Calgary and National,

CBC Calgary and National (via web form),

The Calgary Herald,

The Calgary Sun,

The Alberta SPCA,

SPCA (via web form),

Zoocheck Canada,

The Animal Welfare Foundation of Canada,

World Society for the Protection of Animals,

The Huffington Post,

The Globe and Mail,

The National Post (via web form)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Send the letter via email to Premier Ed Stelmach, Mel Knight, Ron Bjorge and Richard Marz:

premier@gov.ab.ca, grandeprairie.smoky@assembly.ab.ca, richard.marz@assembly.ab.ca, ron.bjorge@gov.ab.ca

In the CC line, email these people and any other media outlets you feel I missed. I also emailed the Wildrose Alliance, Alberta Liberal and Alberta NDP in addition to numerous local, national and international media outlets. This situation needs immediate attention, especially considering they have been operating for almost 20 years and have been getting away with this critical level of neglect. The best way to do that is to let the media know that this is a concern to the public and worthy of their attention.

The email addresses that I cc'd are as follows (you should be able to just copy and paste them into the CC line):

Calgary@globalnews.ca, viewers@globalnational.com, tips@global16x9.com, calgarynews@ctv.ca, newsonline@ctv.ca, news@ctv.ca, info@awfc.ca, frances.rodenburg@rogers.com, submit@calgaryherald.com, calnews@calgarysun.com, info@albertaspca.org, zoocheck@zoocheck.com, scoop@huffingtonpost.com, wspa@wspa.ca, Newsroom@globeandmail.com, office@albertaliberal.com,
 info@albertandp.ca

Phone calls are great, however letters are also wonderful and often more efficient and effective when you can email them (as opposed to sitting on the phone listening to a busy signal waiting to get through to someone).

Here is the online petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/guzoo/

And here is the Facebook Group where you can stay updated: https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9518425359&ref=ts

Also, a Facebook Group member has indicated that she heard back from MLA Marz and was told to contact:

Mr. Byron Jensen, the district fish & wildlife officer in Drumheller at 403-823-1670 (free by first dialing 310-000).

Another member has indicated it is Ron Bjorge in charge of issuing the license. You can email him (address is above with the others) or call him 1-780-427-9503.

If you are outside of Alberta, or even outside of Canada, you can still help! Contact our government officials at the addresses above and ALSO contact Cindy Ady, Minster of Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation at mailto:TPR.minister@gov.ab.ca and let them know as potential visitors and tourists to Alberta you are horrified at what the government allows to operate and that you will consider taking your tourism dollars elsewhere.

I'm also shouting out to the Ellen Show (it's stretch I know, but we need all the help we can get)! Ellen we need your help here! I'll confess I'm encouraging everyone to flood your Facebook Wall and email you and Tweet you, but it's for a good cause - I hope you don't mind! ♥

Remember to be respectful, thoughtful and kind when campaigning for change. Nothing is ever accomplished and all credibility is lost with rude and scathing emails, language and posturing.

Thank you everyone for any and all help you can give to this cause!

Now, back to our regular scheduled programming...

Play Nice and Use Your Words!

On Fridays there are so many different things we can post about that we think would be fun to share with our readers. 

This week however has been a whopper with everything going on between the shootings in Arizona and a certain mother with a superority complex judging western parenting (she said it, I didn't!)  while she is trying to sell books, it makes me ask, "can't we all just get along?"

I've been on countless message boards from the uber crunchy to the more mainstream and the one thing that *always* comes out at one point or another is judgement and condemnation of others and how they raise their children, what they believe in, their political point of view, right down to how they choose to give birth and put their children to bed.

I'm sure you've seen those posts. The ones where the mom innocently asks the best way to get her baby to sleep and before you know it, it's a mud slinging drama fest on the best ways of parenting, people pick sides and it becomes an 'us versus them' mentality.

The stupid thing is, is that not very often are people's minds changed at the end of it all. Vitriol, name calling, acts of superiority and judgement, don't make people want to see the other point of view. Just sayin'.

At the end of the day, don't we all have the same goal more or less? Isn't that is to live in a world that is peaceful and raise children to be decent, kind, successful human beings so that they can go out into the world and be productive and good citizens?

Quite often how many of us behave (especially online) we would be horrified to see or hear our children behave the same way.

So I found two quotes for today's Friday Find:

"People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost."

~Dalai Lama

“The highest form of wisdom is kindness”

~The Talmud

We all have times where we need to remember that kindness, caring and compassion trumps all. This week is one of them. Make those quotes your mantras.



With love and light ♥,

 

How Unplugging Our Children Brightens Our Life...

The other day I wrote that I have a secret when it comes to helping to be a good facilitator in your child's learning process and creative endeavours.

I know there are people out there who were reading the post with a raised eyebrow and thinking,

"I buy books but my children don't seem interested."

"I buy crafty stuff to fill the craft box and they rarely use it."

"I suggest nature walks and no one wants to go."

"All my kids want to do is watch TV/play video games/sit on the computer..."

So, what do you do when you have a child who doesn't seem to be interested in anything or doesn't seem to want to discover, explore, learn and create?

You unplug them, that is what you do.

What do I mean by "unplug" them, you ask? I mean shut off the TV, the video games, the computer, whatever it is that they are plugged into the most, shut.it.off.

How would I know this? Well because my kids the last few months have been so wired, so "plugged in" and up until I "unplugged" them, they had no interest in anything that wasn't happening on a screen. I'm not kidding. Getting them to read a book was absolutely torturous to them.

Now, before anyone sits out there on their 'cable free soapbox' while they ride their bike to generate electricity to power their internet connection - because I know you are out there!! ;o) you need to know the back story before you judge (and I only say that because, *cough* I used to be one of those annoying people who knew everything there was to know about having children. Then I actually had them. *cough*).

I feel I was totally justified and I feel zero guilt for letting my kids watch as much TV and playing as many games as they wanted. In September and October we were in the process of moving 3 hours away to an entirely different city while my husband started a new job. Just after we moved and were starting to feel settled in, my brother, who was also one of my best friends, died suddently and unexpectedly in November and well, life for us has been a bit of a roller coaster to say the least. I'm not perfect nor do I pretend to be. ;o)

(On a side note, before I go on: If you are at all in one of those places of a huge life change, dealing with an illness, grief, bereavement, pregnant and can barely move etc etc etc don't feel guilty if you are doing what you have to do to get through the day at this time. Skip this post and come back to it when you are ready to emerge back to the world. I will confess that when I was pregnant with Noah and I was so freakin' nauseous and tired that I could honestly tell you what time it was by what show was on Treehouse TV. This time with moving and my brother's death I would rotate between the TV, the Wii and the computer for my kids. It was what we needed to do at the time to get through. So long as it is a temporary situation, everything will be fine I'm sure.♥) 

Okay, back to what I was saying. I have had moments in my life when we've been unplugged and moments, like I mentioned most recently, when we were so plugged into technology our eyes looked like they were going to bug out of our heads.

It's funny though, ironically enough, during our 'plugged in' times I was setting the kids up in front of the TV or whatever because I needed the quiet. They were quiet for the time being, however afterwards, OMG they were c.r.a.z.y!! Have you noticed that even though you put on a movie for the 'quiet time' your child(ren) is/are often crazier than they were before you started the show? Mine definitely were and it really isn't worth the trade off for me.

This is what I have found since we've unplugged our kids:

1. They are calmer. I know, I know there are also some of you sitting out there thinking, "DUH Laila!". :Þ But, even 30 minutes, which can be fine for a lot of kids is too much for mine.

2. They are happier. Way, way happier and more fun to be around. They think they are happier when they can watch their shows, play their games and have their screen time at their leisure, but they aren't. At all. They are anxious, wigged out and so often overstimulated that they don't know what they feel which causes them to argue more and fight with each other and everyone else around them. And again, it doesn't always come from huge amounts of screen time. 30 minutes is often enough to send my 6 year old son to the brink of overstimulated craziness.

3. They reconnect with the world around them when they don't have access to a 'screen' of some sort. They explore, imagine, create and while yes they 'jones out' a bit the first few days without the TV or video games, by day 3 they are completely mellowed, more engaged and come back to their natural child like curiosity. It's wonderful!

4. They read more! A lot more. They will pick up a book and start reading for fun or want me to to read to them. Yay! :D

So if you are out there grumbling to yourself about how your children don't do anything but watch TV or play video games, be the parent. Unplug them.

If you have children with behaviour issues, unplug them. Trust me.

Oh yes, while we are on the word "trust", trust me as well that they will also be a little freaked for the first few days, but they will get used to it. They will, but it might take some time.

However, don't just think you can magically unplug and they will happily run off and read a book. You will most likely have to take the time to sit with them, play with them, read to them. In other words engage them, show them again what is around them that is also interesting, especially if they are coming out of the habit that we have created the last couple of months and that is basically they are forgetting how to easily entertain themselves, because they are used to being entertained by something or someone without putting in any sort of effort on their own.

If they are used to screen time and you are used to them being in front of a screen this change will take a bit of patience on everyone's part. It is so worth it though when you see them run off to create Lego masterpieces on their own in a few days! That however is also a great benefit to becoming generally unplugged, your connection with your child can and will only grow stronger. Just don't give in.  It's so easy to give in when everyone is getting used to the change and just begging for "...one show!" or "...only one game, I promise I'll stop after one game!" Don't do it!

(Hint: To really succeed at this, you need to anticipate those moments and be prepared in advance on how you are going to help them navigate this change, this is vital.)

We are starting on a 21 day challenge in our house for our kids. My husband and I don't watch much TV (other than the hockey games which my husband PVR's). Starting Monday, Janurary 3, we have told the kids there are no videos unless they are directly educational or homeschooling related and limited computer games, again, only for educational purposes (i.e BrainPopJr.com where they are truly having to listen and learn, or if they are researching a project they are working on). Zero Wii or Xbox for 21 days. I don't know who had a harder time wrapping their head around that last one, my husband or my boys. ;o)

So, we haven't totally unplugged I guess, because being homeschoolers we do have a true and educational need for the computer and a video here and there. But I explained to the kids that after 2 months of big and often stressful life changes, we all created a few bad habits in our family and we need to create new ones, and that it takes generally 3 weeks to create new habits that are better for us.

We all need new habits around here and that is how we are starting our New Year. With less electronic stimulation, more family time and more team work/respect around the house. Oh ya that is another perk, I find when my kids are "unplugged" they are WAY more helpful around the house. They clean their rooms up without as much of a grumble (they still do grumble a bit, but it is short lived), they help in the kitchen and they get along and play better with each other. I'm assuming it is because being asked to clean up after themselves is honestly, probably way too overwhelming to their brains when they've been playing video games or watching TV all day.

Their "energy" really does seem to brighten and come more alive when they aren't bogged down with all the electronic stimulation. So I encourage you to give it a try in your house as well. Take baby steps if you have to like we did last year and just go for a week to start. To see the difference I find though, you really do need to go at least 3-4 days. I promise you'll be pleasantly surprised! :D

As a mom of 3 kids ages 3, 6 and 8 I can honestly say life is so much easier without all the gadgets, games and TV.  I'll be sure to post in my "Tree House" how things are going. This week will be an adventure I'm sure! :D

Anyone want to join me on this 21 day challenge? Post your comments below or find us on Facebook and let us know how it is going! :D

Happy New Year Everyone!

With love and light ♥,

Wordy Wednesdays - 29 Gifts by Cami Walker

Yesterday I mentioned that last year I had started reading the book  "29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life" by Cami Walker, and how much I loved the premise of it. If you haven't read yesterday's post, go read it now and then come back and join me here. :D

After a quick Google search I found that there is also a very cool website dedicated to this and I have joined in hopes of turning my grief into something lighter and more positive instead of letting it consume me and turn me into a depressing, sludgy mess that it was quickly starting to.

So listen up my friends, this is what I want you to do, I want you to come along with me and join 29gifts.org.

All you need to do is go to http://www.29gifts.org/ and sign up. It's simple and of course you'll make a significant impact on someone else's life when you start this. (Sorry, I couldn't help the pun, I love our blog and our motto, what can I say? LOL :Þ)

Then you simply need to do is think of someone other than yourself and give one small thing away each day. It doesn't have to be big, it doesn't even have to cost anything. For example it can be your time or simply sitting quietly and sending good energy/prayers to a specific person. It's the intent that counts and the intent that it will benefit someone else (not today I'm going to say a good prayer for Jane and hopefully that will be enough for me to win the lottery on the weekend - that isn't what I am talking about here).

I'll confess that today I gave my kids the gift of 'me'. I don't mean that to sound as facetious as it probably does.  I've been so wrapped up in our move, packing and unpacking and then my brother's sudden passing and everything that goes along with a suicide for the survivors, that my poor kids were seriously lacking in my attention. Today I don't care about the dishes or what my house looks like, it is just all about my children having my time and attention and me loving on them they way they deserve.

I don't know what my gift will be tomorrow (I don't think that far in advance usually :Þ) but I am excited to wake up and think of what I can do to make someone else's day better!

What are you going to do? Comment down below and share with us! :o)

With love and light,

Tree Hugging Tuesday - A Gift to Mother Earth...

My brother died on November 14th. His death was sudden, tragic and gut wrenching because it wasn't an accident and we had just seen him the night before for supper and had a wonderful time.

I've been walking in a fog for the last two weeks and that dark depressing rut that shows up in times like this and tempts one to jump right in and throw themselves a massive pity party, has been calling my name. It has been very easy to get stuck in that pit and have that depressing, sludgy energy swirling around me and my family in what was fast becoming a viscous cycle. This crappy energy that is enveloping my house needs to stop and I've been thinking of ways to accomplish that while still being able to grieve the way I need to.

Quite frankly I've realized with 3 kids to get caught up on homeschooling and my hubby working full time, me getting all down and depressed isn't going to help anyone at all at this point and it certainly won't bring my sweet brother back...

Every time I ask however, "What do I do? How do I get through this?", I hear something almost whisper to me, "Give back...".

So that is what I am going to do. I am going to start giving back and doing it consciously with the sole intent that it will bring lightness and good to someone or something else. If anything it will give me something more positive to focus on that has nothing to do with me.

(Now before y'all start commenting that this has nothing to do with Tree Hugging Tuesdays, bear with me, I'm getting to the point I promise!)

I started reading the book "29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life" last year by Cami Walker and I loved it. True to my nature however, I got distracted and I didn't finish it, but I loved the premise. This book suddenly popped up onto my radar again quite by accident when I was rummaging around in my garage last week searching for a sweater. (And if anyone is wondering why on earth I was looking in the garage of all places for a sweater, it's because we just moved last month and I still haven't unpacked! :Þ) 

This book seems like it was meant to be at this point in my life.
 

My first "gift" is to Mother Earth herself. This is the time of year when the most recyclable waste is created whether it be through the wrapping, the gift bags, the shopping bags and even the gifts themselves. So, my first "gift" is to not use any plastic shopping bags for the entire month of December. I often forget my big bulky grocery bags (which I'll be honest - they annoy me so I use bins whenever I can) and I chide myself for getting the plastic ones and then I turn around and soothe myself all at the same time by reminding myself that I do in fact make sure they are all recycled. But still, there is no need for me to even require or use any store shopping bag at all, unless of course they are offering one that is environmentally friendly.

From there I am going to start my 29 gifts for 29 days and with a smile, remember what an amazing person my brother was as I am doing it.

Stay tuned for Wordy Wednesday tomorrow and I'll talk about the book a bit more and then I'll fill you in on my newest challenge on Friday!

With love and light,

 

Friday Finds Nov 19

Happy Friday! My finds for today include a music video, a blog post, and a 'priceless' photo. They are simple, but fantastic. They have all made me smile or laugh.

1) Ever heard of Christine Kane? She's a "Mentor to Women who are Changing the World" with a terrific blog and music career. She's a singer/songwriter and comes up with brilliantly witty and silly songs. I go through phases where I'll listen to her album for weeks and then not listen for months. I'm in a listening phase this week, so I wanted to share her with you.

Today's music video is dedicated to animal lovers (and anyone else with a good sense of humor).



2) Have you ever felt like a rock star?

Photo Credit

If not, you need to check out How To Be a Rock Star with 30 Minutes and a Pink Tablecloth. It's a blog post from Inspired to Action about simple things you can do to make your kids feel special (which in turn, make you feel a bit like a rock star). Awesome post. The comments are well worth reading also.

3) This is a ridiculously funny sign (for so many reasons!). They really DO mean 'cheaper than cheaper' - they've saved money simply by using less characters than grammatically necessary (such as a space, an apostrophe, and a couple of letters). That being said, they could have saved more money by dropping a few things from the sign (such as a couple of letters and punctuation). Nevertheless, I thought this was worth sharing - I hope you get a chuckle out of it.

Photo Credit

What is making you smile or laugh today?