You Already Have a Good Kid

I sat watching the falling snow from my window yesterday and reflected on the funny things some of the children in our family have done. Do you have family stories that have been told for years? Here are a few of ours.

In Concert

Peace

Synergy

Synergy 

Competition or Cooperation?

Todd ran across the playground. “I’m faster than you,” he yelled to his friend Ben.

Ben looked up from his game of marbles. “I already told you I’m not racing.”

“I’ll beat you in the 50 yard dash at the school track meet,” said Todd.

“I’ll cheer for you when you win,” said Ben.

An interesting exchange between good friends. Todd loved the competition of a race. Ben enjoyed a game, but didn’t seem to care about winning.

As the relationship between these two boys developed, a magical synergy began to grow. Since Todd loved the race and the thrill of competition, Ben started to run with him. He knew that if he sprinted with Todd then Todd would play a game with him. Sometimes he talked Todd into a game of marbles and other times basketball or four square. It didn’t matter to Ben. He loved to be with others.

The boys began to take pleasure in each other’s activities. Todd had fun playing the games with Ben and enjoyed them more as he grew older. Ben even joined the track team in Jr. High to be with Todd. The relay race became his favorite.

The mothers of these two watched the boy’s collaboration and felt grateful for the friendship. Both boys developed skills they wouldn’t have had without the friendship.

What can a parent do to augment a situation like this?

1.      Be aware of what’s happening with your children and their friends.

2.      Listen when your children talk to you about activities with friends.

3.      Support the positives you hear from them.

4.      Define with your children the function of competition in our society and in your family as you see it.

5.      Identify the role of societal cooperation and family cooperation and its importance for them.

6.      Help each child recognize his or her strengths.

7.      Aid them in setting the personal goals they want to achieve.

8.      Talk, talk, talk with each other.

Which do your children value most? Are they get-ahead people? Or do they enjoy the journey with others? What do they learn from their friends? What is your role as a parent in helping them become well rounded?

Fractured Soul

Rachel McClellan was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she's not in her writing lair, she's partying with her husband and four crazy, yet lovable, children. Rachel's love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was...

Llona will do whatever it takes to protect her new found friends and home, but the dark plot threatening Lucent Academy, a school that’s supposed to be a safe place for Auras, may be too powerful for even Llona to defeat. This fast-paced tale of love, loyalty, and overcoming the darkness will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page!

Rachel’s first book, Fractured Light, kept my interest with its intense action, and Fractured Soul will do the same. Readers will love the twists and turns the plot offers. Here are a couple of reviews for a great book. Congratulations, Rachel on another block buster.

“Fractured Soul is a brilliant sequel, exceeding even the remarkable first book in the series. It will haunt your every waking moment between the times you’re reading it, and it will stay with you long after you’ve finished. It’s an amazingly well written and engrossing story that I highly recommend—after you’ve read the first one, of course.”

—Cindy Bennett, bestselling author of Geek Girl and Rapunzel Untangled

 “When I read Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan, I was intrigued by the original story line and engaging writing. Fractured Soul picks up where Fractured Light left off and Llona is a strong heroine. I loved following her throughout the book as she learns more about herself and her powers. Lucent Academy was not what I expected it to be. Instead of being a safe place for Llona to train, it is filled with clueless girls and leaders that don’t want to face the truth of their existence. Full of heart-pounding action, breathless romance, and killer drama, Fractured Soul by Rachel McClellan has it all, and I can’t wait to read Fractured Truth!”

—Christie Rich, author of the Elemental Enmity series

Cherish Each Moment

We just received news that our sweet granddaughter has possible cancerous growths on her thyroid. I was devastated by the news. I love her so very much. I’ve been thinking back on the fun times we’ve had together and will have together:

She and her cousin took my phone and giggled nonstop in the back seat of the car as we returned home from a trip. The next day I found 75 pictures in my photographs of their eyeballs, toenails, and noses. What fun!

I love to listen to her recital piece on the piano at 5:30 in the morning before a busy day at an early morning study group and school.

Every summer we hike the Idaho mountains and swim in the icy cold waters of a hidden lake.

She loves to cook and can take over in the kitchen in a flash.

Just after her doctor visit when she found out about the possible cancer, she had a swim meet. Determined not to let the bad news get the best of her, she swam her heart out and cut two seconds of her 100 fly.

I cherish the moments with her. Our prayers are with her through this trial. I wish she didn’t have to go through it. I know she’ll be alright. The cure rate is high. But this incident has caused me to remember the gratitude I feel for her love and her life.