Build Your Child's Self-Esteem With Post-it Note Affirmations

For years now, I've been putting little notes in my kids lunch boxes, some with stickers on them and others written in pretty colors, hoping to bring a smile to their face and remember how much they are loved. My kids have shared that those little colorful notes have really made their day.

This year I took it one step further. I started writing affirmations on post-it notes, hanging them around the house for each of them to read. Affirmations are positive sentences written in first person that a person reads daily over and over again. In doing this, the positive words that the person reads starts entering their subconscious mind replacing negative beliefs with positive ones.

My oldest three are tween-age; and over the past year I've noticed that they are harder on themselves, using words like "I can't" and "I"ll never" and "He's better". My goal as a parent is to help them believe in themselves and their abilities. I want to encourage them to love every aspect of themselves inside and out. So this year, I started to leave positive affirmations on Post-it notes on their bathroom mirror, their bedroom door and even snuck a few into their lunch boxes.

In fact, my 10 year old son who has been beating himself up for two baseball seasons because he hasn't been able to hit, whacked the ball out to the outfield twice last night, bringing in five runs and getting two doubles! I really think these positive affirmations have really helped him!

Writing affirmations and sticking them around the house is such an easy thing for parents to do and it can be done in less than a minute.


All you need is:

• Colorful Post-it notes
• Markers or pen
• Stickers for the little ones
• Affirmations for kids

We as parents truly can make a difference in our kids lives!

If you have or start posting affirmations for your kids to read, please share how it's going! My kids have definitely become more positive and confident!

Should You Teach Your Child About The Risks Of Getting A Tattoo?

Yes! It is every parents responsibility to prepare your child for the real world. And this includes educating them on the risks of getting a tattoo.

First, I'm not against tattoos. Some are truly masterpieces. But I'm not an advocate for my kids to get a permanent one. Their body at the age of 20 or 30 will look a lot different as they enter their 40's, 50's and 60's. As such, their tattoo will also begin transforming. And when you add sun exposure, age, and possible other healthy risks to the tattoo beauty equation you get warped piece of art that you have to live with for the rest of your life.

I haven't met many people in their 50's who regret getting a tattoo, especially a tattoo that covers a large part of their body. And getting it removed, isn't that simple either. Did you know that from 2011 to 2012 laser tattoo removal increased 32%. These are numbers that can't be ignored.

So that brings me to why I am writing this. My beautiful niece just got a tattoo. I was shocked and a bit heartbroken, because I never expected her to ever get one. And it's a bit bigger than I'm accustomed too. Yes it is a gorgeous piece of art. But it is huge. And there is no way that when she turns 50 or 60 that it is going to look like that.

My nieces tattoo made me realize that I really need to not only talk and teach my kids about things such as using protection during sex (which I haven't had the conversation yet, but I'm not too far from having it), drinking and driving and drugs, but also the risks of getting a tattoo.

In the past, I have talked with my kids about why people get tattoos and why I'm not a proponent of them. Below are my reasons:

• There is the possibility of it getting infected.
• You can contract bloodborne diseases — including tetanus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
• You could have an allergic reaction.
• You may not like the final result once it is etched on your body.
• As you age, the tattoo will not look the same.
• It's not that easy to get a tattoo removed. And scarring is left once it's removed.

Personally, why get a permanent tattoo, when you can get a temporary tattoo. You then have the option of changing it every few weeks or never getting another again. However, there are still risks involved with temporary tattoos such as lesions, loss of skin pigmentation and sensitivity to light. Whenever you put a foreign substance in your body, their are risks.

All I want is for my kids to love who they are inside and out, and take care of every aspect of themselves so they can grow and age with a positive healthy outlook. I don't believe that a tattoo at the age of 20 years old will leave them a proud owner of it in their 60 + years. I'm open to other people views.


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How I'm Giving Up Mommy Yelling - Postive Parenting!

For the past few days, I've struggled with trying to come up with something to give up for Lent. I usually do meat. I've even given up wine once. But this year, I want to really make improvements to my family life.

So, I'm giving up yelling at my kids for stupid things (okay, all things), and adding positive family spirit!

It hit me hard this morning as I was just about to yell at my 11 year old son to hurry up and get out to the bus stop so he doesn't miss it. Some may say I'm not really yelling and that I'm just raising my voice to get him to move faster. But from my point of view, I feel like I'm yelling. And I think he hears
me as yelling.

I find myself yelling at them for things like not taking their shoes off as soon as they enter the house. Here's why. I think it's really disgusting for them to wear their shoes in the house, especially after they played in my backyard. Our dog goes to the bathroom in our backyard. Yes, we scoop it up, but not every day. There is no way that they haven't stepped in dog poop.

My kids forget to put their shoes away every day. And after asking over and over again, I've resorted to asking really loud, hoping they will finally hear me.

Well, I think I've been tackling it all wrong. Raising my voice and asking louder isn't working. In fact, I think every parent knows yelling doesn't work, but at that moment of getting stressed out that is what we all turn to. I am so guilty of it. I yell for them to put their shoes away. I yell for them to hurry up and get in the car because we are going to be late. Yelling seems to have become part of how I parent and I don't want to do it any longer.

Instead of yelling, I'm going to help my kids understand that it really bother's me that they leave their shoes scattered all over the kitchen, and their soccer ball, and their lunch box, and their sports bag, and their toys. Seriously, the list goes on and on and on in my house.

I'm going to share how much it would mean to me for them to take their shoes off as soon as they enter the house. And I'm going to create an environment that helps them to start remembering (and helping) and for me to stop yelling.

Kids want to please their parents and make them happy. And yelling only tunes them out. So instead of constantly yelling at them to help me out, I'm going to try something totally different!

Here's what I'm going to do to give up yelling:

• Instead of yelling, I'm going to look at them in the eyes and talk to them.
• Instead of yelling, I'm going to explain to them why it bother's me about what they just did.
• Instead of yelling, I'm going to help them see it from my point of view. I'm going to explain by putting them in my shoes.

How I'm going to get my kids to remember to take off their shoes:

• I am going to stick a note on the door.
• If they leave their shoes scattered in the kitchen, I am going to ask them nicely to put them away and then they will need to sweep and wash the floor where their shoes laid.

Other tactics that I'm going to implement to help me stop yelling:

• I am going to get a bell or buzzer and buzz it as a reminder in the morning.
• I am going to make sure the television is always off when I talk or request them to do something.
• I am going let them be late and then have them deal with the consequences. Of course I can't do that for my two year old. But I can for my  11 year old and 9 1/2 year old twins. If they want to go to their friends birthday party and be on time, then they need to be ready. I don't mind reminding them, but not 100 times. And I'm not going to get stressed out if they dilly-dally, making themself late. They can walk into the party and explain why they are late.

Living in a house as a family takes a team. And kids need to learn that they are part of the team.

Meet Team Moraja! Mom of four kids!


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This Mama is Teaching Her Kids Positive Affirmations

Say Your Affirmations Daily

Out with the negative and in with the positive! No more "I can't" or "I don't know how" or "I'm afraid" or "I'm may not be good enough" in my house. This school year my kids and I are going to be creating and saying affirmations every day! Yes, even me!

Here's my plan, which is pretty simple and easy to implement. I'm way too crazy busy for complexity right now.

So, I purchased each of my kids post-it notes, which they will keep in their bedroom on their night stand. And every night before they go to bed, we'll write out at least one affirmation and stick it on their bathroom mirror. Now here's an important tip...there is no rule that says you can't write out two or three or more affirmations. Make this fun! And let your kids join in on the planning. Knowing my kids, we'll be writing two to three affirmations and sticking them everywhere, like the refrigerator and inside their lunch box and on their dad's computer monitor and on the toilet.

The next morning, your child should read their affirmation three times aloud. And anytime they are feeling sad or scared or angry, they should say their affirmation again.

So what if you don't have a night stand or bathroom mirror. Easy fix. Keep the post-it notes somewhere your kids always go to before they go to bed, like the bathroom or their dresser. Once your child writes their affirmation, have them stick it on their bedroom door, so when they wake up they will see it.

One last thought, yes you can reuse your affirmations. Change them up. Reword them. The most important part is that your children are replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.

Below are some affirmations to help you get started! Please share any that you and your children have created, too.

• I am talented.
• I am a good kid.
• I am smart.
• I love me.
• I accept everyone for who they are.
• I love everyone in my family. (Have them name everyone).
• I enjoy helping out.
• People like me.
• I am a good listener.
• I am athletic.
• I can do whatever I put my mind too.
• I have everything I need.

Kids love sharing their successes. I hope you will share how their attitude has changed.

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