Slice of Life

Have you ever seen an old movie where the school teacher is always telling the kids to sit up straight and not talk with their mouths full?  That teacher's face is always sour and mean-looking.

Why?

She's right, after all.  People need to be reminded about basic manners.  Smelling, looking and behaving in a way that makes it pleasant for people to be in our company is a skill that needs to be instilled early, if it's going to stick.

Early installation, though, doesn't mean you have to transform into the Wicked Witch of the West, haranguing your children without pause or mercy.  Instead, model the behavior with love, reflect the behavior without calling out an individual and make it fun.

If you ask to be excused from the table, so, in time, will they.

If your six-year-old is chewing so everyone can witness the process, you could model mouth-closed chewing, pointing a finger at your mouth so she can see the better way of doing it.

If you model using a quiet voice, they will catch on, especially if you make a big show of opening your mouth to take out the 'loud voice' then fishing around in your pocket for the quiet one, which you insert with dramatic flair.

Basic manners will stick if you teach them in a mannerly way.

Ever So Politely,

~ Sylvia ~

TRAUMA AND IT'S EFFECTS

Bernadette Schmitt

Psychologist

Veritatis Splendor Counseling  Cody, Wyoming

#1 Types of Trauma

Interview #1 Recording:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/qsWZvPlgDMWCFtEfj5cA00Tv1OCd1P4odgsm9feO8PFZswc0uqxm9vEOTdyHnbYs.hKwYKFVW9DBfndYV

Access Passcode: vKJ09G$w

Prayer and Savings Tip:

Just around the corner we have Mother's day, high school and college graduations, Father's Day, First Holy Communion's, Confirmations, and weddings. Spring is in full bloom, and the activities and special occasions can be overwhelming even to the most enthusiastic of us!

Each year as a struggling single mom, I would cringe at the thought of all the events and family birthdays because there was just never any extra money for such things.

I would pray and ask God to show me how to turn nothing into something, and to make it meaningful. Our gifts were always humble, but we always tried to make them a reflection of our love for each person.

To give a meaningful gift, especially if you need to give multiple gifts, do five things:

1) Make a list of everyone you would like to give a gift to.

2) Next to each person's name write three things you know about them - three things they love or love to do and come up with a meaningful gift idea for each person.

3) Look at your savings account set up just for gift giving back in the Fall, and assess how much you have to spend.

4) Remember that not all gifts need to be equal in price, just equal in their intentions. Decide whether each gift will be made or found at a thrift store, re-gifted, or purchased from a department store.

5) Armed with ideas, and a budget (no matter how humble) you can now search for, or make, your gifts. What is important is that you've put time and love into your gift(s), and will genuinely enjoy giving them to each person.

HAVE FUN!

~ Karen ~

“Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life,* which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal."

~ John 6:27 ~