Ode To Joy #2 - The Power of the Post It

So much for my posting an Ode every day. I had a busy weekend. Oh well. I'm back. I was listening on BYU TV to a fireside by John Bytheway. He was talking about how to be better parents. One of the things he talked about was how we need to praise our children more when they do something good. It is easy for us to say something to them when they are doing something wrong but they need to hear more than that from us. A lot of times we forget to compliment them on things or say, "Thank you for clearing off the table", or "thank you for obeying me the first time". Things like that. He read a story about a mom who left post it notes every day for her daughter that said something nice on them or that thanked her for something she had done. I have been feeling like a lousy horrible mother so I thought that was a great idea. It was something I could get in the habit of doing and it would help me remember to point out all the good things they do each day and help them feel better about themselves. So a few weeks ago I started writing them each a little note on a Post It and sticking it up in their room where they can see it. They love getting them and on the few days I forgot to leave them one, they came to me and said, "where is my note from you?" I went to the store the other day and they really have some cute Post It notes now. I got some that are in the shape of stars and hearts. I am glad I started doing this because it helps me to have to pay more attention and look for the good things that my kids do that might otherwise go unnoticed.