journaling a family habit

Journaling is the practice of writing your thoughts down.  We may journal our thoughts after a day’s work, or an event, or a thought.

My father in law has journalled every night for most of his life.  He is in the process of transcribing those diaries (which is an incredible family history and heritage) into digital format so they can be shared with the family.  There is no-one in my immediate family (Peter, myself or the kids) who are this diligent in journaling (or keeping a diary) though we try in different ways.

Scrapbooks:

Pictures may tell a thousand words, but there are always missing bits!  This year I need to (want to and must) catch up on the journaling in our photo albums.  I also want to encourage the kids to start scrapbooking.  I don’t want them to scrap every moment of their life but rather find a scrapbooking project and work on it throughout the year.  This is as much for the journaling experience as it is for the art of keeping photos.  This year I have embarked on a few journaling projects in the form of scrapbooking (I use Creative Memories digital programme: Storybook Creator Plus).  Thanks to faith-sisters I am journaling weekly on God’s Providence (His goodness to me and my family), and writing stories of my life so far (my life story).  I also have a long list of scrapbooking in general projects to work on but these two are my journaling projects.

Reading Journals:

I encourage the kids to read with a pencil in hand.  I am happy for them to underline and mark books they are reading (as I do) but the idea that books are friends and you treat them carefully (something I drummed into them when they were young) is too strong in their minds and they can’t bring themselves to do it!!  So they have their reading journal beside them and they copy quotes and record their thoughts and questions as they go along (which is ultimately a better idea than marking the book anyway).   One of my regrets in life is that I have not kept all the notes that I have made from books that I have read so I get my children to file their reading journal pages in amongst their study notes/binders so that they have a permanent record of thoughts and learning over the years.

Keeping a Diary:

I like this idea but I lack the consistency and commitment.  Keeping a diary can look very different than the dear diary of days gone by.  When I first had children I wrote letters to my mother (I wish I’d kept them) as they were a record of my new life.  When my children were younger my blog served as a diary of our activities and sometimes emotions we went through.  I’d like to get back into documenting our children’s learning a little better.  Some people do a photo a day type of scrapbook which serves as a diary – Daniel tried this last year but ran out of puff and enthusiasm.  This year Nomi and Daniel are both using a digital scrapbooking programme to keep a daily (or weekly) diary.  I am encouraged to see that so far this effort has been more about the words than the photos but the art side of it is fun so it inspires them to do more.  Some people keep a nature diary as they observe nature daily or travel.  The idea is that we write daily about our activities, feelings and thoughts.

Here are a few links that I’ve read over the last few weeks.  Keeping a diary seems to be a common new year resolution and if it is one of yours may I encourage you to find a way and a purpose that fits with your lifestyle and that it is realistic.

Journaling:  What to and What not to journal

The Benefits and How to (for Journaling)

Art Journaling (kids might like this one)

The download link is on it's way.

Individual Education Planning Worksheets - brainstorming every area of your child's life.

Get your Planning Worksheets

I will email you the download link so you can start looking at all the different spheres of your child's life before you make any curriculum choices. 

The download link is on it's way.

An Alternative to Chocolate

An Alternative to Chocolate

Not that I have anything against chocolate - but these jelly beans can help your kids share the message of Jesus, his love, death and resurrection at Easter time.  

The download link is on it's way.

Parent Guide: How to make your Family Bible Study Really Work

Family Bible Study is Tricky with all the Different Ages

 

But there is a way to make this a rich learning and bonding family time.  This Guide includes tips, planning worksheet, and discussion prompts.  

Thanks for being here! The download link is on it's way.

Download yourCharacter Certificates

Though true character is driven by internal motivation, our children will appreciate when we see that they are growing in character.

Thanks for being here! The download link is on it's way.

Download your Character Certificates

Though true character is driven by internal motivation, our children will appreciate when we see that they are growing in character.

The download link is on it's way.

Download your Cheat Sheet

 

A quick reference to help you discern between a heart attitude and a lack of skill for when your child loses it!

Thanks for being here! Your download link is on its way.

Make God your First Response

Print out this parenting reminder to call out to God in the middle of the moment.

I'm excited to share this download with you. Watch your inbox.

Download Grow in Character Worksheets

Download Grow in Character Worksheets

I will email you the download link.

The download link is on it's way.

Download Grow in Character Worksheets

You will receive an email shortly with the details. Watch your inbox.

Thank you for being here - your download link will arrive shortly.

Download Parenting Poster

Download Parenting Poster

Learn to respond to your child in a way that changes their heart.

 

I will email you the download link.

The download link is on it's way.

Download Parenting Poster

Download Parenting Poster

 

Learn to respond to your child in a way that changes their heart.

 

I will email you the download link.

Thank you for being here - your download link will arrive shortly.

Our children hear different words when we react to when we respond. Do your children hear blah blah blah when you correct them? Includes a parenting poster.

Download Parenting Poster

 

When we Respond instead of React we find a way to deal with the heart not just behaviour.

 

I will email you the download link.

Thank you for being here - your download link will arrive shortly.

Download Character Lesson Guide

You will receive an email shortly with the details. Watch your inbox.

Thank you for being here - your download link will arrive shortly.

When family relationships get tense - look for the niggles.

Heart Focused Parenting Resource for the Intentional Parent

 

Your download will arrive in your inbox shortly. 

Print it out and use to teach the hearts of your kids.

Thank you for being here - your download link will arrive shortly.

Free Email Course

Daily emails  (6 days) to help you walk towards being a heart focused homeschool family!

You have joined the email course. Watch your email inbox!

Find ways to Re-engage your Student

Download this checklist and stir your child's curiosity

Watch your Inbox - the Checklist is on it's way!

FREE Parenting Worksheet

This worksheet will help you move from addressing behaviour to really parenting the heart, one issue at a time.

 

 

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Personal growth starts with an honest assessment

The download link is on it's way. Please check your email.

Give Effective Consequences

Think before you React

Thanks for being here! The download link is on it's way.

 

Thanks for being here! The download link is on it's way.

One Another Verses

Be Intentional in the Teen Years

Use this Cheat Sheet to remind you of how you can love your teen.

Thanks for being here! The download link is on it's way.

Devotion Response Kit cover

Download your Devotion Response Kit

5 prompts to encourage the heart of your child as they learn to respond to God's Word

Thanks for being here! Your download link is on it's way.

Download your copy

Download your copy

Blending Life and Lessons - and start your journey of changing your thinking about education.

Thanks for being here! Your download link is on it's way.

Download: One Another Verses pdf

Download this list of One Another verses and teach your children how to love others.

Thanks for being here! Your download link is on it's way.

Raising Kids with Character

ATTEND LIVE : FREE PARENTING WORKSHOP

A bonus for Heart Booster readers:  Learn how to teach character to your kids so that they can live their lives making values-based choices.

 

Live Session:  5th May 2021, 6.30pm AWST

Replay available until 16th May 2021

 

I'm so excited about this workshop - thanks for joining me!

Raising Kids with Character

REPLAY OPTION : FREE PARENTING WORKSHOP

A bonus for Heart Booster readers:  Learn how to teach character to your kids so that they can live their lives making values-based choices.

 

Replay available from 6th May until 16th May 2021

 

I'm so excited about this workshop - thanks for joining me!

Raising Kids with Character

WAITLIST

 

The Raising Kids with Character parenting workshop will be offered again this year - details yet to be confirmed.  Join the waitlist so you don't miss out. 

I will keep in you in the loop as soon as decisions have been made!

Bonus Reading list

 

Sharing my Homeschool Belief File

Knowing what you believe and why about education and homeschooling helps you make good decisions.

Thanks for being here! Your download link is on it's way.

Build your Family Routine
Starter Kit:

Assess and Plan how to use your time wisely with this worksheet bundle.

Instant download, and then join the Heart Boost Weekly, by confirming in your email.

Success! An email link is being sent to you!

Heart Boosters

Free Parenting Support

... delivered to your email inbox

Success! An email is on it's way!

Free email course

... delivered to your email inbox

Success! An email is on it's way!

Download: Family Devotional Activities (PDF)

Thanks for being here! Your download link is on it's way.

Download:Workshop Resource

This is a digital product. Download and print - but please don't share. 

Thanks for being here! Your download link is on it's way.

%d bloggers like this: