ORVM Joins Technorati

Short post today... We are excited to join the Technorati as a way to get more people to read our stories. Here is a link to the Technorati Profile. Remember to comment on any entry here and also tell us your own family tales.

Connections

This thought about connecting stuck with me and I couldn't quite put my finger on its significance. Then it clicked and I was drawn to the bookshelf in search of "Connect" by Ned Hallowell (one of our fave's). I pulled it from the shelf, read the first 25 pages immediately (boy, am I a slow reader), dog-eared practically every other page and highlighted at least one sentence on every page. It traveled with me in the passenger seat of the van for the next week, staring, "talking" to me, calling me on it all.

We have a transition ahead of us, that of school year into summer. And as with any transition or annual tradition that calls for the action of renewal, change, or re-commitment, we are taking a look at "where we are". So, we thought what great timing to take this idea of connectedness and put the thought/question/challenge to the kids.

We told them about connectedness and asked each what connectedness means to them, and how do we, as a family get connected every day. Here is what they said (and we had to contribute, too):

O - belonging to your family; try to talk to each other and share thoughts as a group and individually about how you are and how the person that you are talking to is.

Z - take care of each other; show that you are concerned and interested in what others need by asking how they are, if they need help...or just hang out and talking

E - care about each other; talk to each other about things that are hard or what someone needs help with... and helping

C - love each other, help each other, hugs and warmth

A - listening to each other. we try to make each other laugh, do things as a group that help us feel like a family

G - help each other. if someone is mad at you for something you did, then remember they love you and it is easier to say sorry and try to not do it again

B - love. even if we yell or hurt we always say sorry and try not to do it again

D-Dad - respect for each others feelings. we show an interest in each other's day. giving an opportunity to share more about "me" and thus a feeling that one cares about me

Mo-Mom - accepting me for me and unconditional love; share ups and downs, 3 things, high-lows

There are 12 1/2 more days of school..........we cannot wait for summer.........