Media Minutes

I woke up with a great idea to motivate more reading with my children....
Have them earn media minutes.

The way I set it up is:
1 page read outloud = 3 minutes of media
1 page read in mind= 1.5 minutes of media
So, they come report to me what they have earned and
I put media minute tokens in a jar with their name on it.

They can turn them in for use at any time
if they have all their schoolwork and family chores done.
Media = ipad games, computer games, extra videos/tv, radio, youtube, etc
that is inline with the commandments of God (no swearing, killing, adultery)
So far, they have been very motivated- especially in the car.

Family Laws

1. WORK        
Family Laws and Pre-Set Consequences help me to keep high expectations without using anger to motivate.  For years, I have used the phrase that work earns food, which was motivating, but sometimes it contradicted the basic duty of parents to providing food for their children- since it is a necessity of life.   We tried work earning play and work earning money which sometimes worked and sometimes didn't.  All year I have been struggling over what the family law should be... does work earn food or play or money?  I had an "a-ha" one night that it earns all 3!

Some work earns *FOOD (such as their assignment for helping prepare or grow the food)
1 exception-- they have to have a clean body and room before breakfast everyday.
(They are in charge of setting their own alarms + getting up and ready before family scripture study)
Some work earns PLAY/privileges (personal duties like their **family chore and homework)
They cannot go outside, play with friends, use technology, etc until their chore is done.
Some work earns ***MONEY (house/yard work that lightens parents' responsibilities)
I made a list of house and yardwork that needs to be done weekly and but a price on it that I was willing to pay them and let them sign up.  They kept it for the whole month long.

*Since I have 6 kids, they each help cook on their assigned breakfast day, lunch day, and dinner day. Sunday is cereal and leftovers or I cook. If they refuse to do their meal, they cannot eat that meal that day... it never happens.  My kids love helping me cook-they plan the meal with me so it's nutritious and something they like.  This way I don't have to restrict their food anymore. As long as they are willing to help cook, they can eat as much as they want. If the meal runs out, I just stay loaded with carrots, bread, milk, eggs, peanut butter as options to fill up or snack on.

**They only have one family chore a day.  It's either their breakfast day, their housework day, their lunch day, their laundry day, their dinner day, or their yardwork day.

***They earn money from, but they have to budget and pay for their own clothes, extra learning (½ sports), and fun.

2. HONORING PARENTS
I have been in massive training this summer with obedience, respect, and emotional control.
My goal is to be super kind yet not permissive of disrespect and defiance.
I've tried time outs, but what if the child is too big to take to time out or won't go?
This is the system we have worked out: (It is tough, but worth it)

There are 4 basic skills that children should have while interacting with parents
(This is from a book called, A House United)
1. Receive and Instruction (say "yes mom" and quickly obey and report back)
2. Receive a *Consequence (say "yes mom" and quickly do the consequence)
(jobs are not the consequence, they are a result of not receiving a consequence... see below for natural consequence ideas)
3. Receive a No Answer (say "yes mom" and drop the topic- no whining)
4. Disagree Appropriately (say "yes mom, may I suggest an idea I think is more fair"...no arguing)

If they cannot receive an instruction, consequence, or a no answer then I tell them they are 1 square below the privilege line. (which means they owe me 1 small job or act of obedience)
I then give the instruction a 2nd time.  If they don't receive and do it, they drop 2 more squares below the privilege line.
I then give the instruction a 3rd time.  If they don't receive and do it, they drop 3 more squares below the privilege line.

Usually they will obey an instruction by the 3rd time, if not- I just drop the topic and they have no privileges until they've done 30 minutes of work for refusing that instruction.  In the meantime, if I have to give different instructions before they have earned those back, they can drop even more if they don't obey those instructions.   The quicker they soften their heart, the quicker they get privileges back.  I give them a list of jobs to chose from.  They can pick from my 5 minute job list (1 square), my 20 minute job list (4 squares), or my 60 minute job lists (12 squares).  They can also move up a square every time they obey an instruction right away that I give one out naturally.

*Consequence ideas:
-Don’t eat meal= Don’t get snacks

-Eat before prayer=wait 5 minutes to eat.

-Fight over toy/game=lose toy or pulled out of game for a period of time

-Name calling/verbal abuse= say 10 kind words or write letter of forgiveness + kindness or soap in mouth (swearing)

-Hurt someone=time out

-Bad for babysitter=pay babysitter

21 PLL Rubiks Cube Cases

1. A-A perm: R’FR’B2RF’R’B2R2

2. A-B perm: (X) R2D2RUR’D2RU’R

3. F perm: R’U’F’RUR’U’R’FR2U’R’U’RUR’UR

4. H perm: M2UM2U2M2UM2

5. J-A perm: RUR’F’RUR’U’R’FR2U’R’U’

6. J-B perm: R’U2RUR’U2LU’RUL’

7. N-A perm: LUL’(Y’)RUR’F’RUR’U’R’FR2U’R’U’FU’F’

8. N-B perm: R’UL’U2RUL(x2)U

9. R-A perm: RUR’F’RU2R’U2R’FRURU2R’U’

10. R-B perm: R’U2RU2R’FRUR’U’R’F’R2U’

11. T perm: RUR’U’R’FR2U’R’U’RUR’F’

12. U-A perm: M2UMU2M’UM2

13. U-B perm: M2U’MU2M’U’M2

14. V perm: R’UR’DW’R’F’R2U’R’UR’FRF

15. Z perm: U2M2UM2UM’U2M2U2M’

16. Y perm: FRU’R’U’RUR’F’RUR’U’R’FRF’

17. E perm: (X’)RU’R’DRUR’D’RUR’DRU’R’D’

18. G-A perm: R2UWR’UR’U’RUW’R2(Y’)R’UR

19. G-B perm: R’U’R(Y)R2UWR’URU’RUW’R2

20. G-C perm: R2UW’RU’RUR’UWR2(Y)RU’R’

21. G-D perm: RUR’(Y’)R2UW’RU’R’UR’UWR2

Beginner's Method for Solving the Rubiks Cube

Beginner's Method for Solving the Rubik's Cube

The Rubik’s Cube  

   Definitions

Center Piece: The center of each side

Edge Piece: The center of the sides

Corner Piece: The corner of each side

“F”=Face: The side facing you

"L”=Left: The side to the left of you

“R”=Right: The side to the right of you

“U”=Up: The side on the top

“D”=Down: The side on the bottom

“B”=Back: The side on the back

*If there is something like this:’ in an algorithm, that means that you go counterclockwise. If it doesn’t, that means to go clockwise.

(L clockwise is towards you)

STEPS

Step 1. Get the white cross  

       *Find the white edge pieces.  Put them all on the side with the yellow center in any order. This is called “The Daisy.”

       *Pick one white edge piece and look at the other color. Twist the top until that color is the same color as the center piece that it is lined up next to. Once it’s lined up, rotate that side twice so the white edge piece is now on the side with the white center.

*Go back to the yellow center side on top and repeat with the other 3 white edge pieces.  When finished, turn the cube upside down so the white center is on top and you should now have “The white cross.”

Step 2. Get the white corners in place

        *Find a white corner on the side of a bottom/3rd layer.(if there aren't any on the side of the bottom layer, move them there… sometimes this helps: R’,D2,R)

        *Look underneath it to see what color it is underneath & line it up under the center with the same color, so the side that is white is facing out.

   *Move the top two layers of the white side out of the way

*Move the white corner in place, then move the top two layers back.

(R’,D,R or L,D’L’)

*Do the same for the rest of the corner pieces.

-You should now have solved all the whites  (completed first layer)

A. GRANDMA’S  METHOD

Step 3.  Getting the 2nd layer

*Put the side with the yellow center on top.

*Find an edge piece on top that doesn’t have a yellow side + match it up with the same colored center

*Look at the color on top. If it is the color to the right, do the algorithm for right. If it is the color to the left, do the algorithm for left. Continue until second layer is solved. (If all the edge pieces have yellow on them, just do either of the algorithms below until there is an edge piece without yellow on it)

Left: Away(U’), LHand Algor (up,over,down,back=(L’,U’,L,U), 

Turn CubeLeft, RHAlgor (up, over, down, back=R,U,R’.U’)

       

Right: Away(U), RHand Algor (up,over,down,back=R,U,R’,U’), 

Turn CubeRight, LHAlgor (up,over,down,back=(L’,U’,L,U)

Step 4. Getting the YELLOW CROSS

1. If you have 9 o’clock with the yellow side up, put it in the top left corner and do this algorithm: 

Face , RHand Algorithm Twice (up, over, down, back=R,U,R’.U’), Face’

2. If you do not have 9 o'clock, do this algorithm until you do, then go back to A:

Face , RHand Algorithm Once (up, over, down, back=R,U,R’.U’), Face’

Step 5. Getting the EDGES (centers) of the third layer

1-Look for two center edges that have the same color as their middle center square.

Put those sides to the right and back (or forward and back).  Yellow side on top.

2-The center algorithm: up, over, down, over, up, over, over, down

(R, U, R’ U, R, U2, R’)

Step 6. Getting the CORNERS of the third layer

1- Check to see if any corners are in the right place (touching the same colors in any order). 

If one is, put it in the front right corner. (if not, do the algorithm below until one corner is right)

2- Corner Algorithm: over, up, back, up, over, down, back, down

(U, R, U’, L’, U, R’, U’, L)

3- Repeat until all the correct colors (in any order) are in each corner piece.

4- Turn the cube upside down  (white side on top)

Pick a color to face you that has a bad corner in the front bottom.

1. Do the RHand Algorithm (up,over,down,back) 2 or 4 times until yellow is on the bottom of the bad corner (it’s ok if the other layers look all messed up now)

2. Keep the same color facing you and twist the bottom layer until another bad corner is at the front bottom and repeat part A until all bad corners are solved… then straighten all layers out.

B. MYRIAM’S METHOD (slightly harder)

Step 3.  Get the 2nd layer

*Put the side with the yellow center on top.

*Find an edge piece on top that doesn’t have a yellow side + match it up with the same colored center

*Look at the color on top. If it is the color to the right, do the algorithm for right. If it is the color to the left, do the algorithm for left. Continue until the second layer is solved.

Left: U’, L’, U, L, U, F, U’, F’           

or Away(U’), LHand Algor (L’,U’,L,U), Turn CubeLeft, RHAlgor (R,U,R’.U’) 

Right: U, R, U’, R’, U’, F’, U, F         

or Away(U), RHand Algor(R,U,R’,U’), Turn CubeRight, LHAlgor(L’,U’,L,U)

Step 4. Getting the yellows

*If none of these shapes are there, just do the algorithm for the yellow bar, + one of the shapes will appear

*Hold the cube with the yellows on top and have the shape in the correct position (hook= top left corner, fish= bottom left corner)

 *If there are more yellows than the picture has, find the shape in there and still do the algorithm and pretend like they are not there. 

The yellow bar: F, R, U, R’, U’, F’     

Yellow hook (9 o'clock): F, U, R, U’, R’, F’

The fish, the tank, the bug and the cross:     R, U, R’, U, R, U2, R'

*Keep applying these algorithms to the shapes that show up until the top layer is completely filled with yellows. 

Step 5. Getting the corners of the third layer

*Look for a side that has the two corners of the third layer the same. The center can be the same color or not. It doesn’t matter.

*Face that side to the back with the yellows on top and do this algorithm:

The corner switch: R’, F, R’ B2, R, F’, R’, B2, R2

*If there is no side with the corners on the third layer the same color, just face any side to the back and do the algorithm. Then you will have a side with at least two corners solved and repeat the algorithm with that side on the back.

Step 6. Getting the edges (centers) of the third layer

*By now all the corners on the third layer are the same. Look at the edges on the third layer. If they need to be moved clockwise in order to match up with their color, do the algorithm for clockwise. If they need to move counterclockwise, do the algorithm for counterclockwise instead.

(If you have a solved side, face it to the back when you do the algorithm)

(L)Clockwise: F2, U, L, R’, F2, L’, R, U, F2 

(R)Counterclockwise: F2, U’, L, R’, F2, L’, R, U’, F2

*If there isn’t a solved side, put any side to the back and do the algorithm. Then you will have a solved side….

NOW YOU HAVE SOLVED THE RUBIK’S CUBE!

Steps to Learning to Accompany a Hymn

*MASTER ONE LINE AT A TIME.... for each line, do these steps

1. Learn the LEFT HAND
(Build from the bottom up, like building house.
Write in fingering.  Play until you can get every note and timing right)

2. Learn the RIGHT HAND
(Write in fingering.  Play until you can get every note and timing right.
Count out loud while you play)

3. Play BOTH HANDS together Very Slowly 3 Times Perfect
Play them ridiculously slowly so that your mind can have time to think
as you play and get the right notes.

4. Play with the METRONOME...
60 bpm, then 70 bpm, then 80 bpm
Learning to accompany means staying on the beat and being able to move on

Word of Wisdom Today

How can we find truth in the category of nutrition today

when we are bombarded with different health rules from every side?

My goal as a mother is to feed my family in a nutritious way, 

but I have been confused by what that means today.

Recently I was cautioned against all animal products- meat and dairy.  

In the past, I have been cautioned of certain oils or sugars.

I didn't know how to find what the Lord's stance is on these and other topics

that are not outlined in the Word of Wisdom.

After listening to general conference this month, I felt inspired by the talk:

Seeking The Lord by Elder Jose A. Teixeira

Where he recommends visiting the church's website frequently throughout the week.

I went on to the website to look for nutrition answers.

I followed links on their providentliving website until I found their stance on nutrition.

Nutrition & Diet

I LOVE IT!  I downloaded the pdf to read more and I also read through the reference talks.

It is such sound advice.  In summary, they stated to eat regular portions from all 6 food groups

and to follow the general nutrition specialists in your country.

So, I asked my family that day, "This is a topic where the church says to stay with the mainstream.

How do we know which things in our life we should 'stay with the mainstream'

and which things we should dare to 'Stand Alone' on?"

My wise husband raised his hand and said "FOLLOW THE PROPHET!"

If it is something the prophet is concerned about and taking a stand on, we should be as well.

Obedience Training

Ever heard of "Potty Training in a Day?"
I loved that method with my kids.
In summary, you demonstrate with a doll the correct way to go potty in the toilet,
then all day long you reward every time they go potty in the toilet by giving them a drink
(so they have to go again soon) and you PRACTICE ten times every time they have an accident.
So, you go to where they had an accident and they practice saying "Oh, I need to go potty"
and they run to the toilet.
This teaches them that it is way more costly to have an accident than it is to do it right the first time.
(Usually the reason they have an accident is because it seems too costly to stop
what they are doing and go potty in the toilet)
It takes major focus on that one child the whole day long.
It consumes all you do, but it is so worth it to have them trained so well and so quickly.

I had a strong impression last month that my children needed OBEDIENCE TRAINING.
It has taken more than a day, but it has been so worth it!
(It was pretty grueling the first 2 weeks, but now it is quite manageable)
Here's what we do.  Every time I ask a child to do something,
I look them in the eyes and expect them to do 3 things:
1- Look me in the eyes and say "Yes Mom" --
(there is one alternative... they are allowed to say "May I....."
and then give me an idea they think is better.
Then whatever I decide, they say "Yes mom" to)
2- Go and do what I asked
3- Report back by telling me when they were done.
*If they obey and do these 3 steps, they get a token to put in their treasure box.
(After a child earns 28 tokens, I take them out for a frozen yogurt date)
**But, if they don't obey- if they are defiant and resistant,
then they sit on the couch until they are ready to practice obeying 10 times.
This takes so much time and emotional effort, but it works.
Here's how we practice: I ask them to do the thing required, they practice saying "yes mom,"
then fully do the task, then report back.
I have really seen a change in my children. They are more respectful and obedient.
I feel strongly that to raise "stripling warriors" in these days, we need to train them in obedience.
Remember the stripling warriors in the Book of Mormon?
They obeyed every command with exactness... and they were taught by their mothers!

SO, I tried handling this for all situations- even non-obedience things- like fighting, but it didn't work.

I found a better way for other categories of unkindness outside of obedience to parents.

They sit on the couch until they are ready to tell me what they did wrong, say sorry, 

and tell me their plan to correct it.  (The ABC's of repentance)  

It usually eliminates my need to come up with a consequence.... 

their plan to correct it has to match the crime, so it is a self-imposed consequence.  

Their attitudes change because their thoughts change while coming up with the correction idea

and in actually admitting their wrongs rather than defending themselves.

This whole idea is a mixture of three books - 

1-"A House United" where the children learn the three steps to following an instruction and how to disagree appropriately

2- "Potty Training in a Day" where they are rewarded for success and practice for failures

3- "Child Wise" where time out is called "Reflective Sit Time" where you pull the child out of a situation they handled wrong and they have to think differently- recognize what they did wrong and think through what they are going to do to correct it.

Whale Done

My mom gave me a book called "Whale Done" a while back and I recently re-read it.

The theme is that in training killer whales, they always reward and look for the positive.

(Punishing and looking for the negative would be life threatening for the trainers)

I have been really trying to be more positive as a mother lately 

without dropping standards and expectations.

Here are a few programs that we have been doing:

1. Obedience Marble Jar 

 

Whenever they say "yes mom" and obey right away, 

they get to put a marble in the family marble jar.

When it is filled, we will go out to dinner or do a fun family outing.

(Each person has their own container to empty, so no one gets a free ride)

Hollland and Benson were the first to get their marbles all into the jar.

2. Reverence Pretzels

I hate to be negative during family scripture study and prayer,

so I have been bringing a pretzel jar each morning and handing out pretzels

to the kids who are on time, reverent, and actively participating.

(Hopefully the bribing will create good habits.)

3. Learning Charts

 I am the queen of charts.

(When performance is measured, performance improves)

They mark their piano and reading minutes- 

this earns their popcorn and peanut m&ms they get on movie night.

Here is Packer practicing the simplified hymns:

4. Chore Dollars

I have simplified their chores to 3 jobs during the week:

1. Cook DINNER on their dinner night

2. Do their own LAUNDRY on their laundry day.

3. Do their assigned SATURDAY housework/cleaning. ("Saturday Suds")

If their jobs were done on time, they earn $1 per chore each week.

Scholastic Highlights

Packer is working really hard on getting his "Great American Award."

He has been memorizing the states and capitals, the presidents of the United States,

the Gettysburg Address, etc.  

He is self driven on this, more than on any homework in the past.

This video is him singing the "Presidents of the United States" with his sisters

to a tune that my mom wrote for me when I was learning them in elementary school.

Presidents of the United States

I've also been working on teaching Holland to read

and Benson is catching on faster than her.

Here is a quick video of him reading the "Green Book"

Benson Reading

Myriam bagpiped with Donny at the school talent show

(it was the end of her 5th grade year).

She blew everyone away!

Amazing Grace Elementary Talent Show
I love that they are developing a love of learning.

Story Telling

I have been making up stories lately to teach lessons to my children. (I got the idea from the Faith in God booklet). It works way better than a lecture and they love it.

Here are 4 of them:

1- Lazy Leo who got turned into a rock. 

(for Packer who has to be pushed to move and is tempted to sleep in)

2- Spanking Suzy who got a million spanks in return when she got to heaven. 

(for Hunter who loves administering justice to everyone else)

3- Dictator Dallas who got her voice taken away from her 

(for me since I am always trying to decide everything and push my preferences on everyone)

4- Shoving Shirley who got buried under a mountain of toys when she opened up the closet 

(for Holland who cleans by shoving things under and in unseen places)

Books that have Changed Me

Recently I was asked, "What book or something you have read has changed you?"
I really liked that question. I like to read.  Which things have taught me things I have really applied?

1. "The Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5-7) and "Christlike Parenting" by Glenn Leatham
These both have helped me become more Christian- more like Christ, not just a regular church- goer.
They aren't about making things fair.  They are about loving our enemies and returning good for evil.
These helped me be able to change from reviling back at those who hurt me...
I don't seek to "get even" and I pray for love and help to control my temper.
The Young Women Personal Progress experiences have helped me work on developing my divine nature. (especially being peacemaker)

2. "The Times in Which we Live" by President Hinckely
This has influenced us to pay off our house at rapid speed.
 "The economy is particularly vulnerable. We have been counseled again and again concerning self-reliance, concerning debt, concerning thrift. So many of our people are heavily in debt for things that are not entirely necessary. When I was a young man, my father counseled me to build a modest home, sufficient for the needs of my family, and make it beautiful and attractive and pleasant and secure. He counseled me to pay off the mortgage as quickly as I could so that, come what may, there would be a roof over the heads of my wife and children. I was reared on that kind of doctrine. I urge you as members of this Church to get free of debt where possible and to have a little laid aside against a rainy day."
3. "Baby Wise" by Gary Ezzo
This has helped me develop structure and routine in every day life for me and my children.
Our needs are met in a routine way, so we can get so much more done beyond the basics,
and we don't have to live in moment to moment crisis.
It has helped me develop effecient systems in homemaking and motherhood.

4. "Thomas Jefferson Education" by Oliver DeMille
This book has changed what I read. Our whole family devours classics now.
We seek learning and wisdom by reading out of the BEST books.
We have family book clubs for discussing classics that we read on our own.
We have family reading every evening where we read classics together.

5. "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis
I now have a purpose in life for caring for the elderly.
After reading this book, I invited Donny's grandma to come live with us.
She passed away and now Donny's mother lives near us.
This reaching across the ages has made a neat connection both ways.

6. "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Franklin Covey
This book still guides me in how I plan my time.
I focus on my goals and my roles.
It also helped me realize a role in  my life needed to drop
because it was too big and could be delegated to someone else
so I could "play my position" better instead of playing the whole field.

7.  "Mothers Who Know" by Julie Beck
This talk helped me prioritize what things to drop and what things to keep doing.
It really helped me value homemaking and motherhood and not stretch myself too thin going beyond that.

8. "12 Steps to Whole Foods" by Robyn Bradshaw and the "Word of Wisdom"
Because of this book our family eats so many fruits, vegetables, whole grains.
I make my own yogurt, we do "box gardening" where we really maximize salad type veggies.
The Strength of Youth pamphlet emphasizes balance and moderation and avoiding extremes.

9. "The Peacegiver" by James Ferrell and "Love Busters" by Willard F. Harley, Jr.
These books have helped me become more of a peacemaker with family and neighbors.
The Peacegiver helped me to forgive someone who was hurting me and my family.
It gave me the knowlege and power to serve them and turn them from enemies into friends.
Love Busters helped me learn to prevent wars with my children by asking nicely instead of demanding.
Asking nicely and seaking peace, helps prevent anger.

10.  Genesis 3:19- In the ^asweat of thy face shalt thou eat ^bbread
This scripture has helped me to teach my children to work with natural consequences without using force or anger.