Parenting 101 - Contract included. :-)

OK, these rules, in the form or a contract, that were set forth today by my cousin Rose to her 2 boys ages 7 and 12. The family is in full support so they will be held accountable to this contract by EVERYONE!

I laughed hysterically but she is absolutley correct in setting guidelines. You would have to know her (and the boys, especially the youngest one) to understand but none the less, here is a contract for all of the parents out there that have just had it!!!

This should be interesting. :-)

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The Rules

Grades
You must maintain a c average, as well as citizenship. If you receive any grade below a C you will be put on restriction for 30 days, B’s will receive $5 dollars each and A’s will receive $10 each and every progress report. If teachers call home for any negative reason you will be restricted for 2 weeks, for every additional phone call that is negative, a week will be added on. Example: one phone call 2 weeks, two phone calls 3 weeks etc. One book will be chosen by me weekly for you to read during family reading time.
Home work is to be done before 7pm unless circumstances do not allow it. If it is not done by this time, $1 will be deducted from your allowance, if it happens twice in one week you will be restricted for the week

Duties at home
You will have days and chores assigned to you, the chores will need to be completed before you do anything else other than home work, there will be a certain amount of time that you are given to complete these tasks, if you are asked to do additional chores or something different you will comply immediately with out question. Upon completion you will receive $5 every Saturday night, if they are not completed or you do not do them in the allotted time you will be restricted for the week and $1 will be deducted for every day that work is not done. If you see things were they don’t belong or messed up fix it clean it up take pride in your house and your things.

Restriction
When you are on restriction (or grounded) you will NOT be allowed to watch television, talk on the phone, play any video games, play on the computer, go over any ones house, have company, you may have extra chores, and no extra snacks. I will talk to grandpa, and other family to make sure we are all on the same page and your restriction follows you. If you break any of these rules while grounded like sneaking on the phone or computer, a week will be added on to your time and you will loose your allowance for that week. Although you are restricted you will still be able to earn your allowances if you follow the rules while grounded.

Punishment
Punishment consist of: staying in your room only, spending time on the wall, push ups, running, writing, reading the dictionary and writing sentences, washing walls steaming curtains or clothes, and anything else that is asked of you. If you back talk, or do not follow anyone’s instruction you will be immediately punished, by the adult in charge of you. Let’s not forget you are not too old for corners and there is nothing to do there.

Respect
Treat people how you want to be treated;
I have noticed that over this past year the disrespect giving to me by my children has gotten completely out of hand it has also been brought to my attention and mentioned by many other family members, teachers, and friends that my children are very disrespectful regularly, to others, and mostly towards me, this is going to end, I work too hard and do too much for you guys, and am too nice a parent to be treated badly by my children. I have tried to be more than fair and the methods that I have been using to discipline you so far and you are just not mature enough for. You are not to speak to ANY adults disrespectfully not teachers, or anyone whose care you are under. If I have a friend or anyone that I have given authority over you, you are to listen to them the first time they speak without resistance or back talk. When an adult gives you direction or orders you DO NOT need to check the with me or double question what they have asked of you even if I am home there is no need ask me the same question, also you both have a habit of undermining people and being sneaky or manipulative this will also stop. If you do not listen, or you attempt to take advantage of a person or situation you will be punished and put on restriction. If I or any other adult gives you direct instructions, you are to respond with yes ma’am or yes sir. Let’s understand that we are not equals and I do not have to follow your rules nor do I have to answer any of your questions, you both need to learn to stay in a child’s place and when to shut your mouth. I am the boss

Changes And Other rules
These rules will be posted implemented and followed, so you can not say you didn’t know.
You will not be left alone at home, neither of you are mature enough for that, also you will not be around adult conversation.
If the week is good we will have family night were we can go bowling play games have company, watch movies, go swimming, family work out time, play time, reading time and other fun stuff. I will listen to your ideas for that. Also we are going to begin going to church again I expect you both to participate with an open heart. I want to be able to have fun with you and do things with and for you but you have to work for it and your behavior MUST be respectful, appropriate, and deserving of these privileges. You must ask to watch movies or shows, listen to music, with cursing or anything else not for children and you must ask to use the phone, computer, or get something to eat or drink, also eat at the table unless told otherwise.

There are no sides with kids only right or wrong and what we say, so I do not want to hear any negative comments about anything if you do not get your way, this is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
OK here are some examples of reasonable response to instruction that are acceptable:
Yes ma’am, or yes mama, here I come, I will get to in one minute, and I am working on it.

You will come directly home from school unless you have permission or you are after school with a teacher. Do not talk any family business out of the house; also do not talk negatively about any adults or discus adult business with others. No wrestling in the house or at school it is not always play time you need to learn self control, if you are not getting along with someone even your brother then you need to take time away from that person. There will be no cursing, rolling eyes, mean faces, or sucking teeth. When any one calls you, your response should be yes or yes ma’am nothing else. Also unacceptable behavior is slamming doors, storming off, talking under your breath, making unnecessary comments, speaking out of turn, getting smart, making faces, taking about adults in a negative manner, and just blatantly doing what you want when you want, this behavior will be disciplined, if you break these rules you will face punishment and restriction. There maybe rules added on as well. And if you should forget you can sit in the corner and re read the rules.

This is not a democracy and the things that I or adults tell you to do are not up for discussion and we are not in need of your opinion, you both learn how to keep your mouth shut we don’t always care to hear what you have to say.

What have you learned that you would want to pass on??

“If you had the chance to impart your wisdom to the world to leave as your legacy, what lessons have you learned that you’d want to pass on to humanity?”


Jen Blackhert's Top 10 Lessons for Humanity

1. TRUTH: Let go of all your inner struggles or fights by accepting what is. What IS the truth? When you accept what is, you can then choose to keep what you may not want or change it. So be impeccable with your true word, so you can accept and see what is – this will allow you to make conscious decisions to change it what you don’t like. “..the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

2. PASSION: Listen to the desires and passions in your heart. There is reason for these passions – you see — your passions are your divine path. Spirit guides us with our feelings within – go within or go without.

3. SEE: See yourself living your dreams now. Hold the vision and make your decisions based on what you see. It really is that simple.

4. EXPERIENCE: Too often we find ourselves “doing” things and not “experiencing” life. Be in life and stop “doing” things to get things done. The great Taoist master Lao Tzu said, “Do without doing.”

5. GIVE: When you give yourself, your gifts and gratitude the universe send opportunities and rewards in abundance for all areas of life.

6. RECEIVE: When we can do both give and receive openly — life flows with ease. Be open to every opportunity to give and receive.

7. LOVE: Fall in love with everything that is in your life. This includes the people you interact with, your environment, work, life and even how you operate you. Take time to take inventory of what you tolerate and what you don’t love, then remove what you aren’t in love with.

8. POWER: We are more powerful than we may ever know. Too often we allow illusions such as fear, doubt and worry to creep in. When you understand these are just feeling in your human body and they are not you — you can shift your emotions positively and stand in your power.

9. JOY: Allow life to be simple, easy and FUN. Do what you want. Love the life you lead. Stop following the rules of the world and march to your drummer.

10. PRACTICE CHANGING YOUR MIND: Know the techniques you need to change your subconscious habit and behaviors so you can live a life of personal freedom.

Super 400’s Future Looks Bright with New Single “Flashlight”

Response Records Releases Junior Album, “Sweet Fist” in Fall 2009

Super 400 is slated to hit the airwaves this month with their new single “Flashlight” from their forthcoming junior album. Denver, Colorado based Response Records is releasing the album in the fall of 2009. Sweet Fist will be manufactured and distributed through Rock Ridge Music with an exclusive license.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Response Records to distribute and promote Super 400” , says Jason Spiewak, Rock Ridge Music. He goes on to say, “Sweet Fist” is a tremendous rock record, one that will please the band’s current fan base and surely make them new ones.”

Lifelong fans of the influential Memphis sounds of Stax Records and Big Star, Super 400 chose the legendary Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee to record their third album, Sweet Fist. As much history museum as functioning studio, Ardent has captured the essence of such greats as Led Zeppelin, Stevie Ray Vaughn, ZZ Top, Isaac Hayes, & Big Star, to name a few. As the legends before them, they recorded the album entirely on tape, capturing most final cuts on the first take.

Hall of fame mastering guru Larry Nix, along with son Kevin, refurbished the one and only Stax Record Lathe that before being moved to Ardent, created the first copy and master for every Stax Record and later classic albums such as Led Zeppelin: III, Stevie Ray Vaughn: The Sky Is Crying and ZZ Top: Afterburner. Months of valuable time and unmentionable resources were spent to insure that the historical lathe made its’ return debut to cut the new Super 400 album. It can humbly be said that history has been made.

Adam Anderson, Response Records states, “The new album Sweet Fist marks a magnificent pinnacle in the sonic evolution of Super 400. Both powerful and soulful, the band took the analog Memphis sound and gave it a shot of adrenaline on this record."

The band has become one of the most loyally followed rock bands in the Northeast, and the fan base is growing; last year's national tours started a chain of bootleg recordings that have been traded and coveted around the world. Back home, the mayor of Troy gave Super 400 their own official holiday, 'Super 400 Day', to recognize the band's musical achievements as well as the love and support the city has shown for them.

Each of their completely unique performances evokes the raw, euphoric essence of Rock and Roll. Their upcoming release, Sweet Fist, truly reflects the light and dark of this new millennium; it unravels the tales of this modern world with an analog tongue rarely heard in the digital age. It represents both homage to their influences and an insightful progression of the dynamic power of Super 400.

For more info visit: www.responserecords.net or http://www.super400.com/

Define Your Values, Then Yourself

Another great tip from our friends at Daily Launch
http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/daily-launchtip-june-4-2009/3260

In the same way that losing 10 pounds is not a panacea for depression, manifesting what you want won’t make you happy unless what you are manifesting is what you truly want. The only way to get clear on what you want is to take inventory of your values. In their simplest sense, values can be defined as “what you spend time on”, “what you focus on”, and “what you devote your energies to”. There is a short exercise you can do that will give you insight into what you say your values are versus what your actions indicate. First, make a list of the top 5 things you value and put them in order of the most important to the least. Be honest with yourself and keep your list private. Next, spend one week recording the time you spend on every activity from talking on the phone, to walking the dog, to picking up your child, to the thoughts you think. Compare your top 5 list to the record you created of your activities. How do they match up? For example, if one of your top 5 was “traveling with my family”, how much time in the last week did you spend around this value (doing it, researching it, talking about it, even daydreaming about it)? Notice the gaps or the disconnects between your list and your actions. Ask yourself: Am I spending time on the things I listed as values or am I unconsciously exerting energy in directions that don’t serve me or my life goals? Only you can know the answer and then make changes accordingly.