Transform Your Monsters

I saw the evidence again this week. Turning a little monster into a little angel is actually quite easy, once you get the hang of it. Learning the hang of it could be challenging if he/she has been a monster for a long time, but to get started, here's a step-by-step recipe that always works, no matter what the circumstances:

1. Create an opportunity to spend at least an hour together, and make provision not to be disturbed. If at all possible, pick a spot where the peacefulness of Nature can help speed up the process. Where this is not a practical option, ask family members to help, take the phone off the hook, switch off the television, etc. Soft backround music might be a good idea, though.


2. Ensure that neither of you are tired, hungry, thirsty or otherwise uncomfortable.


3. Temporarily adjust your mental focus. Instead of being the usual "figure of authority", you are going to become a very eager student for a short while.


4. Take a deep breath and take your mind off the rest of your life - pretend that this current moment is all that exists.


5. Mentally place the child in the role of an all-knowing spiritual mentor in whose prescence you feel awed. (Even if you find this idea totally ridiculous, just do it. And prepare to be amazed.)


6. Tell the child that you need his/her help. Openly confess that you have forgotten what it feels like to have fun (even if you haven't altogether) and ask them to help you remember.


7. Open your mind. Listen and learn.


8. Make notes of what you hear and observe, write a long list of activities that could be fun, and, most importantly, act on it.


9. Trust your instincts, go with the flow. Continuously and actively create as many fun moments as humanly possible. Remember that it's usually the small things that make big differences.


10. Make time to have regular discussions about the nature of fun. Draw other children and adults into these philosophic chats - this in itself is a fun activity that can only be beneficial for every participant.


11. Read these (and similar) reminders every day, and really think about it:
    

Click the pictures above if you want them on your cell phone,
And/Or
click the ones below to choose from a wide variety of items,
like T-shirts, Stationery, Teddy bears and many more

And, to keep those little monsters busy, beg them to get their crayons out and color in the 3 free posters for you: Click here to download ColorFun.pdf, and print as many as you like.

Until next time,

Have Fun and Be Happy!

`_~

Trienie