tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post5018629452175672593..comments2023-10-29T06:15:58.629-07:00Comments on Mona's Gospel Musings: Clueless or CreativeRamona Zabriskiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16872101764302006271noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-37060234925640300472009-03-08T00:10:00.000-08:002009-03-08T00:10:00.000-08:00I found your blog while googling ideas for a Creat...I found your blog while googling ideas for a Creativity Workshop. This post and the ensuing comments are so fantastic that I had to take notes! I can't wait to give all of these great ideas a try!<BR/><BR/>A friend told me once that mothers don't always have to correct behavior; sometimes it's enough to just diffuse the tension. A few days later, I could hear my girls coming up the stairs to pull me into their heated argument. Before they got to the kitchen, I threw on a pair of wild-looking sunglasses that were conveniently on the counter, and when they rounded the corner and saw me, they dissolved into giggles. I kept those sunglasses in a kitchen drawer for a long time afterwards.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for so many fantastic ideas!Mrs. Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01605108008955832001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-6876238300215000722009-03-07T10:53:00.000-08:002009-03-07T10:53:00.000-08:00Thank you for all of the inspiring parenting ideas...Thank you for all of the inspiring parenting ideas! I have three young boys (ages 7, 4 and 1) who are great guinea pigs. I can't wait to try "The Rug" technique, Mona! And I'm looking forward to the day when my boys know the words to "Love at Home" - Jessica's post reminds me a little bit of a friend's mom who would sing "Let us all throw big rocks at each other" to the tune of "Let us oft speak kind words to each other" to break the tension of sibling arguments.<BR/><BR/>I love how the promptings of the Holy Ghost can help us parent our children. Just as "necessity is the mother of invention", the challenges we face as parents are usually the catalysts for some really wonderful revelation, if we take the time to ask and then receive. This has been the pattern for me as a mother. <BR/><BR/>My favorite pieces of revelation have been about contention and mealtime. After weeks upon weeks of welcoming home a tired, grumpy first grader, we've instituted the practice of "Getting out the Grumbles" before we step inside our home. The kids think it's just fun to stomp their feet, shake their arms and "GRRRRRRR" all the "Grumbles" out. Then we put on our smiles and step inside. I'm sure the neighbors think we're silly, but it seems to keep the contention at bay, at least until mealtime. = )<BR/><BR/>Mealtime is another beast, entirely. As mothers, we try to prepare well-balanced meals, introducing new flavors and textures to already finicky eaters, just to hear the whines of protest, and later the whines of hunger when they've exercised their agency to not eat. Rather than re-inventing the wheel, I was inspired to re-invent a game. We call it "DINER BINGO", and it's simply a Bingo game the kids play while they eat. Each square of the grid has a word to describe some food characteristic, such as red, green, square, circle, soft, crunchy, fruit, vegetable, etc. (For younger children, squares can be labeled with pictures. For older kids, nutrients can be taught - proteins, fats, grains, etc.) The most gratifying moment came when my 7-year old asked what we were going to have for dinner that was purple so he could finally mark that square. He tried beets that night and LOVED them!<BR/><BR/>Being a parent is a tough job, but the most rewarding and ONLY eternal one. Thanks, Mona, for the inspiration to start such an amazing blog! *HUGS*Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-91988516623798229982009-03-05T15:21:00.000-08:002009-03-05T15:21:00.000-08:00I am so glad to have found your blog. I feel like ...I am so glad to have found your blog. I feel like I am constantly re-inventing the wheel to find ways to get kids to obey, stop fighting, etc. There are 2 options...natural man/lose it, or creativity. Most of my creativity is born out of guilt for losing it a few times first.\"/ I am excited to read more of your ideas. I have 4 kids... and the OLDEST just turned 5. It is nice to get some wisdom from other moms! Thanks!Kim L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02993255942763106527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-63042885249490721022009-03-02T13:14:00.000-08:002009-03-02T13:14:00.000-08:00I love this idea! I need to pass this on to my si...I love this idea! I need to pass this on to my sister, her kids are the best fighters I know of. You are always giving me such great insight Ramona. I love the idea of using my creativity to better parent my kids. Or, better yet, I'll just use your creativity to better parent my kids! : )<BR/><BR/>And I loved you class! It was inpiring!Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03186398667611869835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-38964463459492391012009-03-02T09:30:00.000-08:002009-03-02T09:30:00.000-08:00Good point! Maybe we'll tackle the whole consisten...Good point! Maybe we'll tackle the whole consistency thing in another Musings!Monahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06269577857045870533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-72681223980698880072009-03-01T23:48:00.000-08:002009-03-01T23:48:00.000-08:00Hi Mona -Unfortunately, I am not a mother right no...Hi Mona -<BR/>Unfortunately, I am not a mother right now - so my advice, experience & ideas are simply from the outside looking in.<BR/><BR/>One thing I think is key to all of these ideas is one thing: consistency. If parents are going to implement the rug rule, make sure to follow through with them staying on the rug until the argument is complete. Too oft times, my poor mother would get tired of hearing my brother and I argue and would "cave in." I think that if you stick to your guns about keeping the peace, any idea of sibling love/relationship/sharing will work.The Barnette'shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03146242910208133864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-38669550843302941972009-03-01T19:04:00.000-08:002009-03-01T19:04:00.000-08:00Mona,I love all your thoughts, as usual. I really ...Mona,<BR/>I love all your thoughts, as usual. I really like the rug idea and I'll have to give it a try. I'm not very patient when my kids fight. One thing that I haven't tried, but I learned in a family science class at BYU was to have each child wash one side of a window. I could see that working--they have to look at each other and would probably end up laughing at trying to spray each other through the glass.<BR/><BR/>As to chores, so far I've been blessed with kids who like to clean. After a meal I simply ask, "Who wants to sweep? Who wants to wash off the table?" etc. And they all say what they want to do. Same thing with bigger chores like unloading the dishwasher and folding the clothes. At this point we only do those chores a few times a week, but when we start doing laundry and running the dishwasher daily I'll probably have a chore chart. <BR/><BR/>I'm also blessed that my oldest loves to clean. When we have the whole house to clean for company or something she'll say,"Let's have a cleaning party!" The 4 older kids (ages 8 to 3) divide up 2 on each team, don aprons, get rags and sprays and each team cleans a bathroom and a bedroom. Somehow they organize this themselves and have a great time. I'm very blessed. :) <BR/>MarcieMarciehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14836633870586993094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-47635920551796509582009-03-01T07:42:00.000-08:002009-03-01T07:42:00.000-08:00Lorie! That's genius! I especially love the part a...Lorie! That's genius! I especially love the part about letting them choose for themselves when they'll dip into their snack reserves!!!!Monahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06269577857045870533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-66624696789917271382009-02-28T21:36:00.000-08:002009-02-28T21:36:00.000-08:00What a great post!When my kids are home for vacati...What a great post!<BR/><BR/>When my kids are home for vacation (Spring Break is coming up!!) I get so tired of them telling me how hungry they are all the time (right after we eat breakfast!!) So in the morning (before breakfast) they get to pick out three snacks (two healthy and one treat) for the day. We get them ready (wash fruits and veggies, get out a portion of nuts or crackers, etc) and put them in their snack container. They can eat them WHENEVER they want throughout the day without asking. But when they are gone they are gone and no more snacks! <BR/><BR/>Works like a CHARM!Loriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01677588485104564266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-12540420978146898132009-02-28T20:55:00.000-08:002009-02-28T20:55:00.000-08:00You have some great spiritual insight here. Love ...You have some great spiritual insight here. Love your blog. <BR/><BR/>PS: I stumbled across it via the Mormon Mommy Blog vote thingy. My blog is also up for vote (Chocolate chip waffle).<BR/><BR/>Cheers! ;)*https://www.blogger.com/profile/06484208765656281917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-6403991091518725862009-02-28T12:53:00.000-08:002009-02-28T12:53:00.000-08:00These are such wonderfully, inspiring, ingenious i...These are such wonderfully, inspiring, ingenious ideas!!! You are ALL magnificent creators! Thank you for sharing your insights. :)Bri... only shehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14383857581525387196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-2917947589268522722009-02-28T10:15:00.000-08:002009-02-28T10:15:00.000-08:00I finally posted my idea. Thanks for reminding me...I finally posted <A HREF="http://mindofminerva.blogspot.com/2009/02/creative-parenting.html" REL="nofollow">my idea.</A> Thanks for reminding me about how to be a creative mommy. I really appreciate your posts.John and Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02237207810959661060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-73045604353373871932009-02-26T16:35:00.000-08:002009-02-26T16:35:00.000-08:00Fascinating take on the whole subject of creativit...Fascinating take on the whole subject of creativity...<BR/><BR/>President Spencer W. Kimball: “There may be many Goethes [the author of Faust] among us even today, waiting to be discovered." (Ensign, July 1977, p. 4)<BR/><BR/>Bruce B. Clark: "As Elder Spencer W. Kimball and others have said, the greatest novels, stories, poems, and dramas are still to be written, the greatest music still to be composed, and the greatest paintings and statues yet to be painted and sculpted.”Monahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06269577857045870533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-20387149412731323012009-02-26T15:19:00.000-08:002009-02-26T15:19:00.000-08:00I read something today that reminded me of you and...I read something today that reminded me of you and also relates to this post. It is an article by one of my favorite authors, Orson Scott Card, entitled <A HREF="http://www.mormontimes.com/mormon_voices/orson_scott_card/?id=6481" REL="nofollow">Do we want an LDS Bard?</A>. His point seems to be that artistic genius is often not recognized in it's own generation. While mentioning several great artists, he focuses on Shakespeare and answers his title question with an emphatic "Of course we do", but concludes by saying that, "we won't have a clue that we've had these 'Shakespeares' till long after they are dead."<BR/><BR/>Likewise, the heritage we leave to our children is greater than can be realized in this life. I am profoundly affected by a number of my deceased ancestors, some of whom were dead long before I was born. Fortunately, my still living ancestors can begin to see some of their labors bear fruit in my life, as I have only just begun to take joy in lives of my children. But of course, only those who have left this life can fully appreciate the fruits of their labors as they watch from the other side of the veil.<BR/><BR/>That said, it's probably about time to get a <I>Rug</I> for my own little quarrelsome fruits.Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16364001650255576228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-87654498291963245572009-02-26T14:11:00.000-08:002009-02-26T14:11:00.000-08:00Love all these quotes!I remember one couple tellin...Love all these quotes!<BR/><BR/>I remember one couple telling me if their children would fight in the car, they would pull over and kiss saying there wasn’t enough love in the vehicle :) I thought that was creative.<BR/><BR/>Along the idea of singing your arguments, our home teacher made his children speak in an English accent for an argument. It turned into giggles pretty fast.pcNuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14778671710565219202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-42030845702050131592009-02-26T12:52:00.000-08:002009-02-26T12:52:00.000-08:00There was one thing my Dad put into use for a time...There was one thing my Dad put into use for a time. We were supposed to sing our arguments. Most embarrassing in a family of many teenagers. Stopped those arguments fast!ldsjaneitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09925051891110460699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-13435611175978224592009-02-26T07:26:00.000-08:002009-02-26T07:26:00.000-08:00Sarah,I am certain of it. Elder Maxwell said:"Cre...Sarah,<BR/><BR/>I am certain of it. Elder Maxwell said:<BR/><BR/>"Creativity, therefore, is not simply innovation but organization.” <BR/><BR/>And it seems to me that's what being a "god" is all about ultimately: <BR/>ORGANIZING<BR/><BR/>Hmmm. Think about it...Monahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06269577857045870533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-69816773496611503552009-02-25T23:32:00.000-08:002009-02-25T23:32:00.000-08:00This post reminds me of a quote from Sheri L. Dew ...This post reminds me of a quote from Sheri L. Dew in her talk, “Knowing Who You Are—And Who You’ve Always Been.” She talked about, “how eager the Lord is to unveil the knowledge stored safely inside our spirits concerning who we are and what our mission is...” <BR/>Maybe creative tools for life are already stored inside of us. <BR/><BR/>Love this! Thank you.pcNuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14778671710565219202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-74916146804208015272009-02-25T16:53:00.000-08:002009-02-25T16:53:00.000-08:00Emailed comment fom Debbi:I can't remember my blog...Emailed comment fom Debbi:<BR/><BR/>I can't remember my blogger password - so here is my comment:<BR/><BR/>I am creative in many areas of life, and it is nice to hear, after all these years, that there is some spiritual aspect to it. I am not sure I was creative in my mothering - it was hard when my kids weren't as interested in creative things as I always have been - and I had to learn to not demand creativity. Then lo and behold, it has been gratifying to have one son choose art as his life's work at the age of 27 - and that both my boys were in the band, and that they are both very creative in the kitchen and in many other ways. <BR/><BR/>One of my favorite TV shows used to be "Designing for the Sexes" - with Michael something or other. A man and a woman would be on opposite sides of some design issue in their home, and just when you were sure no way under heaven could they both be happy with a single design choice, Michael would manage to come up with something that was SO much better than either of them ever imagined, and they both felt completely acknowledged and were THRILLED with the final room - it would bring tears to my eyes - thinking, "if a little creative thinking outside the box can solve a design dilemma, why not a marriage on the brink or other serious human conflict?" I am SURE this is applicable in almost any situation. We need more creative "Michael s" in this world.Monahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06269577857045870533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-66587034217437755592009-02-25T13:55:00.000-08:002009-02-25T13:55:00.000-08:00That quote you just shared the the comment previou...That quote you just shared the the comment previous to this one deserves a fridge space :) !!An Ordinary Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497066145696617241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-81956927666385432322009-02-25T13:42:00.000-08:002009-02-25T13:42:00.000-08:00AMEN! Here's POWERFUL for you:“Creativity in a bro...AMEN! Here's POWERFUL for you:<BR/><BR/>“Creativity in a broad and noble sense is a great eternal principle, both as an attribute of God and as an expression of man’s highest self. Surely God, in his exalted sphere, is the greatest creator of all, creating things that are endlessly variable, never exactly the same—flowers, trees, blades of grass, mountains, snowflakes, animals, people, planets, galaxies, and the whole universe, with all its myriad forms of life and matter. Indeed, one of the main differences between celestial life and mortal life may be the vast creative powers that characterize celestiality.” (Bruce B. Clark, “Creative Writing in the Church: A Challenge to Young Writers”, New Era, Aug. 1973)Monahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06269577857045870533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-80559228554758645702009-02-25T13:10:00.000-08:002009-02-25T13:10:00.000-08:00What a positively brilliant post! I might have to...What a positively brilliant post! I might have to enforce the rug in our home, although it might be named something different.<BR/><BR/>Mothering/parenting truly is about listening to the Spirit and how to go about solving daily problems. But the Lord has promised us that He will provide the inspiration for us to be successful. For the last two years I have been reading "Preach My Gospel" with my mission in mind ... the mission of motherhood. I can't tell you how many creative thoughts have come into my mind while studying this manual and the scriptures with this focus.<BR/><BR/>The word creative is so powerful and means so much more than we think.An Ordinary Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497066145696617241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-85853588339209058062009-02-25T13:03:00.000-08:002009-02-25T13:03:00.000-08:00Unfortunately I think I lack in the cool mom depo....Unfortunately I think I lack in the cool mom depo. Oh well. I try. All these ideas are fabulous! I can't wait to try some out. :)Olivia Heilmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231503035796753249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-83293573995331023162009-02-25T09:29:00.000-08:002009-02-25T09:29:00.000-08:00Thank you so much for all these ideas! I am very c...Thank you so much for all these ideas! I am very creative when it comes to cardmaking/papercrafting, but lack so much in parenting. It literally breaks my heart and I am often so disappointed in myself as a mother. These ideas will help me so much! Thank you all!The Monkey Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03139707937225236773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3230288215309238824.post-85150373602178454782009-02-25T08:55:00.000-08:002009-02-25T08:55:00.000-08:00Stephanie,You're hysterical! I know you're not lau...Stephanie,<BR/>You're hysterical! I know you're not laughing though when you're trying to get ready in the morning I'm going to ask Sue, my friend with twin 2 year olds and a baby how she does it. ("does it" may be a relative term -- I know for a fact there have been several casualties over the past two years -- and it's usually the house -- not the twins that gets hurt!<BR/>MonaMonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06269577857045870533noreply@blogger.com