One of the ideas a friend shared was to start a journal with your daughter. One that just the two of you read. One for "girl's only!
A few weeks ago, Maggie and I started one. And it has been great so far!
Every night, I write in the journal thanking her for simple things she has done. I encourage her to be kind to her brother and others. I tell her that I'm proud of her and that I'm praying for her everyday.
It has been a wonderful tool.
I tend to be a little hard on her. I don't know if it's because she's the oldest or if it's because she's mature for her age...or maybe because she's the only girl. I don't know. I have great expectations for this girl of mine and sometimes I forget to tell her how proud I am of her. This has been a great way to do this.
I think we have started this "girl's only journal" thing at a great time. She is able to write back to me without assistance and I love seeing a few misspelled words or trying to make out what she is talking about. It's going to be great to look back at in a few years.
Maggie likes it too. She'll come in a whisper to me at bedtime, "Mom, did you remember to write in the our book?" I love it. I hope to continue these journals for many many years to come.
7 comments:
Where's the "like" button on your blog post! ;o) tee hee.
We have used our journal a couple of times when the communication breaks down into whining or anger too. I think it has helped to difuse a few things (espcially since pregnant mama has a short fuse). We are loving it too!
We've started ours too. It tends to be long heartfelt entries every now and then, rather than short daily ones...it's amazing how we could start 20 of these with different moms and daughters and they'd each be different, yet all wonderful! I hope the Lovejoy sisters know what just a little suggestion could do for some many moms and daughters...even if they didn't, God did!
Amen to that Marci!
I was always harder on my older daughter than the other two. I think partly it's the oldest child thing - you expect more out of them because they are older. I wish I had heard about the journal idea. She would have loved it!
Ohhh how I LOVE this!!! Allison would think this was the greatest thing EVER!!! We are going to have to do this. She is really at that age where there is so much change happening. Thank you so much for such a wonderful idea!
I'm totally stealing this idea. I even have a blank journal in my desk that will be perfect for this!
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