A friend of mine recently shared her journey “from scattered to scheduled” with me. She said, “I’ve struggled for years to try to conquer my inability to live a scheduled life. I saw people with their fancy planners and knew I needed to make a change, so I started a planner too. Now the problem […]
From Scattered and Over-Scheduled to Stress-Free: Self-Government for Adults Read More »
Considering the consistent shouts for equality for women and the blatant attacks on motherhood, motherhood needs defending. I’m fairly certain public school had a negative effect on me and my identity. When I was a small girl, I loved nothing more than playing house, taking care of my baby dolls, and babysitting. But, by the
Defending Motherhood Read More »
One night, after my parents left to go on a date, my brother and I started fighting. I vividly remember the fight getting to the point where both of us were standing on a couch threatening each other with broomsticks. This sad memory changed me. Many times over the years I’ve had that memory return,
6 Steps for Making Siblings Friends, Not Foes Read More »
Recently a woman who was asking for my advice said, “My 10-year-old son, Benjamin, will not do what I say. I know he hears me but he just ignores me when I talk to him. How can I get him to listen to me? I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but it’s like his
Teaching Your Child to Listen to You, Every Time Read More »
Sometimes, no matter how diligently parents try to teach their children and unify their families, they are met with opposition. Sunday Evening 1986 “It’s time for family council,” said Dad, as usual one Sunday evening. “How long is it going to take?” “We hate family council!” “Urgh!” “I’m tired. Can I go to bed?” said
Hope For Homes Everywhere! Read More »
It’s difficult to know what other people are processing about a situation or experience. Parents often assume they know the thoughts of their children, but sometimes they don’t. Each child is so unique, and their view of a situation is unique to them too. This is a story about a young girl we’ll call Megan.
13-Year-Old Girl Changes Lives by Changing Her Heart Read More »
Parents painstakingly teach morals, principles, values and good judgment to their growing children in hopes that their virtues will be protected and their standards upheld throughout their lives. Yet, day after day youth are tested in social situations. Sometimes they stumble as they compare their values and morals to the world’s ever-changing social standards and
How to Help Your Children Keep Your Standards When They’re Away From Home Read More »
“Let’s stay at home for a while,” suggested my children after a month full of fun day trips, camping trips and cousin time. Even though they love all of these activities and seem to be able to go forever, they do need time at home too. While discussing our August schedule at a family council
The Best Activity Place for Children Read More »
“Perhaps I shouldn’t even tell people about this because it’s probably bad, but I just felt I had to do it,” said a friend of mine shortly after a trip with her four-year-old son to the gas station. My friend — we’ll call her Joanna — is a hip, young mother of two small children
Teaching Children Respect Just Got Easier! Read More »
Do you have some awesome family trips or activities planned for this Summer? It’s going to be the best Summer ever! However, what are you going to do when the children start acting out? TSG on the go is always a little harder than at home. How are you going to keep them calm, happy, and obedient? How will they stay by you when you’re in a crowded place?
Pre-Teaching For Summer Activities Read More »
“There is no substitute for hard work.” (Thomas Edison) Years ago, when I was planning a Teaching Self-Government trip to China, a good friend of mine said, “Nicholeen, what are you going to tell parents in China who don’t understand why their child should earn an extra chore? Most parents don’t have their children do
4 Ways to Help Children Enjoy Chores and Become Good Workers Read More »
On a recent plane flight I happened to open the magazine provided for passengers by the airlinein the seat back pocket. In the magazine there was an article titled “Break Room” about these“Anger Rooms” that are starting to pop up around the country.These Anger Rooms are proof of our society’s entitlement mindset. The business is based onthe idea that a person should be allowed to be as aggressive as they want to when they feel anemotion coming on, and not have to follow God’s law of cause and effect.
A Sign Our Society Needs Self-Government Read More »
In November 2015 we visited Kenya and taught many religious leaders, teachers, social workers, family advocatesand parents how to teach self-government in Kenya. It was the first time we did a training like this outside of the United States. When we departed, we had a prayer in our hearts that the wonderful Kenyan TSG mentors
Self-Government Teachers In Kenya Report In This Video Read More »
We might think that teaching the Four Basic skills is mainly for the children. They’re the ones who need them the most, right? Well, maybe adults need them just as much as the children do.
Even Adults Have To Use The Four Basics… Read More »
“If you get it out, put it away. If you turn it on, turn it off. If you take it off, hang it up.” These are the mantras that echoed through my childhood home as my father reminded us children over and over again to pick up after ourselves. I remember trying to keep these
Three Tricks For Getting Your Children To Clean Up After Themselves Read More »
When I was growing up, I remember constantly hearing my father say, “There is a time and a place for everything. This is neither the time nor the place.” Usually, hearing these words were all we needed to make us stop what we were doing, analyze our behavior, and make a necessary course correction. I’m
Silliness — There’s a Time and a Place Read More »
What will your youth think about self-government when you finally get it all working? This movie tells. Weston, age 15 talks about his father’s transformation and what he sees his future life being like now that his father learned self-government. This video brings me to tears. It is so inspiring I had to share it
Video: 15 Year Old Boy Honors Dad As Hero For Learning Self-Government Read More »
Years ago I read an article about a woman who thought her children needed to emotionally throw up from time to time in order to stay emotionally healthy. She wasn’t talking about real vomit from the stomach. She was talking about crying and screaming and emoting until the child ‘got it all out.’ Do you think emotional vomit is healthy?
Is Emotional Throw Up Healthy? Read More »
When I was a little girl my mother told me about her youth. She explained that parents didn’t talk with kids about certain subjects. Parents stayed away from subjects like money and sex as a general rule until a child reached older ages. But, parents did talk about behaviors. They saw when a child did
How To Talk About Anything With Your Kids! Read More »
People always ask me how they can change their voice tone. Well, since I had to figure that out for myself years ago, while doing foster care, I thought it should share the three ways of speaking with you too. Listen to this short audio clip about choosing your voice tone and how to recognize
Support Group: Finding Your Effective Voice Tone Read More »