noelle o designs

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family, life

LoveYou2.org

loveyou2

LoveYou2.org is the brilliant brain child of my college roommate, Shannon Weber. I spent a festive, fun filled weekend in San Francisco attending the BlogHerPro, Renegade Craft Fair, watching Santa Con. We thrifted, ate too much and relaxed- all with a dear friend and her family.  Shannon’s the brains and heart behind LoveYou2.org. Which, in light of current events, is something the world could use a lot more of.

succulent palette

Words of love and encouragement as you walk by or up the steps to home. I love this and the idea of spreading positive vibes in anyway, anyhow- random or deliberately.

loveyou2note

Love Notes

Love notes from LoveYou2 are available to download here is an excellent way to get moving in the right, positive direction. Words of love and encouragement are always appreciated and remembered.

jesusand children

I love this, I saw it on Instagram, and seeing this view of the tragic event in Connecticut has given me some peace. But for those of us left behind on earth it’s hard to know with the complete randomness of shootings as they occur around the country. What to do or how to deal with your feelings. For sure, there’s no easy solution to the gun situation. Folks on either side are hell bent on having it their way.

quiltquote

As a mother,  I’ve come to the conclusion that we need to take action within our own families. A few ideas…

1. Take care of your little people as the grow, their healthy and happiness is your responsibility.
2. Spread the love and encouragement on thick, until it feels over the top and makes them roll their eyes.
3. Make certain you’re sincere when you verbalize love.
4. Give them your full attention- eye contact and often. Don’t expect them to put the game or phone down, look and listen to you if you don’t show them the same respect (put the phone down).
5. Really listen to what they tell you (or aren’t saying in their actions).
6. Keep your kids close, just like they say in the drug and alcohol free ads you hear and see on billboards. So talk to your teens and encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings with you.
7. Get them help them if you sense there is a problem with their mental health.
8. Be a good example.
9. Give hugs and kisses, cuddle.
10. Get in the habit of family time. But go with whatever works- dinner together, reading, watching a movie, games etc.

2 Comments

  1. kalamitykelli

    December 17, 2012 at 5:37 pm

    I love this post! When my daughter was growing up, I was a single mom from the time she was 3-years-old and didn’t remarry until after she graduated from undergrad school. that’s 21 years. I only had one rule for her: “Always tell me”. However, I also had one rule for me, “Never make her sorry she told you”. I must say, there were a few times that I was non-chalant on the outside but screaming on the inside – but it was worth it. She never lies to me and still today is one of the most well-adjusted people I know (and that includes me). Raising children is very difficult and is better with 2 parents but that is no guarantee of good kids, but then neither are good grades – that’s one of my pet peeves – making children “good” if they have A’s and “bad” if they have less. Rote memory is no indication of a good adult. Okay, off my soapbox. Sorry – I got a little carried away, but I do love your post!!

    1. NoelleOlpin

      December 18, 2012 at 8:29 am

      I couldn’t agree more.
      As my kids move through their teenage years I am trying so hard to adopt the ‘always tell me/never make them sorry they told you’ policy. Honesty is a learned response and as parents we better learn the right response or lose the opportunity of teaching them to be truthful and forthcoming.
      Thanks!

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