The new book is HERE!

We are so excited to announce that 

Are You Confident Today? 

has been delivered and is ready to ship to YOU!

What does a confident person look like? Smart? Happy? Talkative? Self-assured? Take a look in the mirror because a confident person is YOU! Are You Confident Today? presents situations that will help build and reinforce confidence in all readers. Are You Confident Today? is part of the Becoming a Better You! series which strives to highlight character traits that help readers reach their potential and help make a positive impact in the world.

Orders can be placed at the following:

Nelson Publishing & Marketing/Ferne Press

Kris Yankee'

Amazon

Don't let the picture book format intimidate you - this book is for kids of ALL ages. Bulk order discounts available, too!

Set a Good Example

Are you guilty of saying any of the following:

• "I'm tired and I can't do that right now even though I'm supposed to."
• "XYZ has changed? Well, that won't work now."
• "You want me to do what?"

I'll be the first to admit that I've said similar things, and I'm sure that most of us can relate to at least one of these statements/questions. It's human nature, I believe, to resist change, especially when it doesn't work with our "plans." But do we set the right example for the kids in our lives when they hear us speak like this?

One lesson I'm trying to teach my kids is that not everything they will encounter in their lives (that they are required to do) will be fun. It certainly wasn't fun finding a final resting place for my father when he passed, but we had to find a burial site. Okay...something not so gruesome and more mundane...it's not fun to scrub the entire kitchen floor on my hands and knees, but it needs to get done and I'm healthy enough to do it on my own (and not hire someone).

We all do things that we don't want to do. Part of raising character-filled kids is that we teach them the value of hard work, being adaptable, and not getting crabby in the process. Helping kids to see the outcome rather than the journey can give them a brighter outlook on the situation and a sense of accomplishment when they are finished.

Although it's no fun being on my hands and knees scrubbing, it's a great upper body workout. When I'm done, I've burned a few calories and have a great looking floor as well.

How do you help the kids in your life adapt to change?

The Olympics, Character, and a Support System

How can we not post about the Olympics? The games are the epitome of hard work, confidence in oneself, honesty, and my favorite, gratitude. I can't help it, but I love when the athletes win and then say, "Thanks, Mom! Thanks, Dad!" It's makes my heart sing. :)

Even though the athletes worked hard for years, most of the time it was their parents who were supporting them during the good and the bad times. Don't get me wrong--the athletes are there because they exemplify the best of the best, the cream of the crop!

BUT...if a good support system weren't in place for them throughout their lives - be it parents, guardians, wives/husbands, and/or coaches - those kids (especially the kids), wouldn't be competing at that level. They wouldn't have all those positive feelings in them to remember when a mistake is made (remember Bode Miller's wife's face when he finished his run? Ugh.) They wouldn't know how to bounce back from "failure" if they hadn't learned to be self-confident individuals.

We don't need to tell our kids when they've made a mistake - they know. What's more is that we should focus our attention on questions like these:

"What could you have done differently to possibly have a more positive outcome?"
"Do you feel like you gave 'it' all your effort?"
"What will you do different next time?"
"I love you, no matter what" followed by a big hug.

These are good reminders for all, and they apply to more than just sports. Classwork, quizzes, tests, trying something new, even household chore "mistakes" happen and the above questions can help parents build that support system.

Be a confidence-builder, not a confidence-breaker.

What would be staring back at you from the mirror?

There's a popular post on Facebook that says,

"Many people would be scared if they saw in the mirror, not their faces...but their character."

I'm not sure where this came from, but it spoke volumes to me.

Wouldn't it be cool if we could have character mirrors? What would an honest person look like? Or a grateful one?

But what about people who lack confidence, empathy, respect?

We don't have character mirrors, but we do have that inner dullness that tells us when we're treating someone poorly or when we're being dishonest. We also have that inner glow when we're confident, grateful, and respectful.

Some character traits may not be inherit, but they can be learned. Teach your kids to listen to their inner glow or inner dullness. Remind them that when they glow, they're doing good in the world for themselves and those around them. When they're dull, they need to consider the choices they are making.

Can 30 days change your attitude?

I frequent several writing blogs and I came across one that I wanted to share here with parents because it's not about writing - it's about gratitude - something that ALL of us need.

Sheri Larsen, a fellow writer (and hockey mom!), has posted a wonderful blog post about the importance of gratitude for a writer. BUT what's so wonderful about this post is the video that she's attached to it. It's a simple, 3-minute-plus video that talks about the reasons why people are happy. The number one reason stated is GRATITUDE - which just happens to be book #5 in our series, btw!

So, if you'd like to join me...head over to Sheri's blog and listen to the short video. Why not do this for 30 days? Then you can report back here - or join Sheri's blog hop, if you have a blog. Reminding ourselves of ways to be happy on a daily basis can make real change in our lives. Whether it's true or not that 21 days can change a habit, I think this next 30 days should be one of being happy...and being grateful!

What do you think?