Ingrid Sorensen, Utah Young Mother of the Year 2008, was invited to the state capitol a few weeks to be honored along with the Utah Mother of the year, on behalf of mothers everywhere. They were greeted by the Governor and received a well deserved standing ovation! Yeah Ingrid! Applause-Applause to mothers everywhere!
We are doing meeting service with our daughters this month through the on-line site, Hugs and Hope for Children, “Making a difference for sick kids one smile at a time.”
From their site: “Children fighting for their lives have very little to smile about. You can change that by sending them some “Happy Mail.” Cheery cards give these kids a few more smiles, a little more hope, and a reason to get out of bed each day.
Experience the satisfaction of making a sick child’s day and giving them something to look forward to. Send a card and a hug — one of the smiles you create just might be your own!”
I have scoured the Glenn Latham Positive Parenting Book and not found any chapter specific to getting your children to listen and obey. SO! Here is my hare-brained plan. We will still have our discussion be about “Listening and Obeying,” but we will apply the principles wehave learned from Dr. Latham to our problem and see if we can solve it without his help! Let’s see if the past year’s worth of lessons have had an impact — can we solve our parenting problems without looking them up in his book? Can we take the knowledge we have gained and use it in our own dilemmas? Now is the test! If anyone wants to discuss this online here in advance of the February meeting, feel free to do so! Ask a question if you have one, or offer unsolicited advice if you have some! Have fun with this! I’ll post another reminder about the topic as we get closer to our meeting.
Happy Winter, all!
Ingrid Sorensen
Utah Young Mother of the Year 2008
Ingrid Sorensen
Utah Young Mother of the Year 2008
I was born in Provo, Utah on March 31, 1972. I moved to Simi Valley, California at age 4, and grew up there until I graduated from high school at age 17. Family activities in my childhood included Sunday drives to the beach, frequent “dates” with Dad, and trips to Utah to visit extended family each summer. I came to BYU and studied only one year before I met my husband Norman Sorensen. We married that summer and started our family right away. We now have 7 children, from age 17 to 2, plus our 8th baby is on the way, due in July. We came to Provo, Utah in 1994 to raise our family. We love our historic neighborhood and the surprising diversity of Provo’s people. We love hosting an annual 4th of July party, and at Christmastime, we host a live Nativity pageant called “Night in Bethlehem.”
I admired Ingrid from a distance for many years and then invited her to join AMI knowing she would be an essential asset to our local chapter. She has proven herself irreplaceable as our Positive Parenting Committee Chair. She attends every meeting and event possible in support of AMI and strengthening her own family. Through her dedicated leadership skills, Ingrid played an important role in planning our participation in the Provo Freedom Festival, many family service projects, monthly events to promote families and our 1st area mini conference. In addition, she serves as a Stake Young Women’s President, encouraging, leading and inspiring hundreds of youth. One of her youth described her by stating, “it’s weird how she can be ‘totally in touch’ and an adult at the same time”. Ingrid is admired by youth, our chapter members and all who know her.
As a mother, Ingrid is a fun-loving, creative, dedicated mom to 7, soon to be 8, children. Often mistaken for a teen herself, Ingrid was seen doing cartwheels along the parade route as our AMI chapter pushed strollers and rode bikes through the Provo Parade. Led by their mother, the Sorensen family rises early to gather for family scriptures and has a strong spiritual bond and commitment to one another. Ingrid leads by example in all areas of her life, even taking kids along with her on occasion when she goes running. Ingrid is naturally beautiful, intelligent and ambitious.
Not only will Ingrid represent American Mothers well, but her entire family will be a fabulous representation of “a dedicated force strengthening the moral and spiritual foundations of the family and the home”. Ingrid’s lucky to have a supportive husband, Norman, who is a gifted speaker and leader in their church. At several occasions I have been impressed with how well-behaved Ingrid’s children are. Her teen daughters, as babysitters, were on-time, brought babysitting bags filled with ideas, cleaned up and got rave reviews from my little kids.
The Sorensen family has also been dealt a few blows of tragedy over the years. Their pain has become a source of strength that they use to strengthen others. They are a beacon of light in our community and will be a shining example of goodness, hope and inspiration. Ingrid is a super star mother ready to promote AMI, exemplify motherhood and encourage women of Utah and America.
Keep the conversation going by posting comments to share your ideas of how to teach our children about :
Loyalty & Dependability
Loyalty to family, to employers, to country, church, schools, and other organizations and institutions to which commit- ments are made. Support, service, contribution. Reliability and consistency in doing what you say you will do.
General Methods
So . . . loyalty and dependability means doing what is right even when it is hard (and even if it means missing a party).
Children can learn what loyalty and dependability are through stories, games, role-playing, and discussion, but they can learn to have it only through your example and through your lavish praise of their example (or even of their attempts).
Highlight your own dependability. Make your children aware of your own example. Parents do things every day that illustrate their loyalty to their children and that exemplify dependability in the home setting. But so many of these things are so automatic that they are seldom noticed and seldom used as visible examples of this important moral value. Instead of saying, “I’ll pick you up after school,” say, “I’ll be there at three-thirty — you can count on it.” Instead of just going to a child’s soccer game or music recital, say, “I’ll be there no matter how busy I am because I want to be with you and support what you do!”
Tell children more often that you will always be there for them, that they can depend on you, that you’ll be behind them in hard times. Take credit for your dependability and loyalty, because it is the best way to instill the same qualities into your children.
Thank children and praise them for every evidence of their own dependability. Reinforce the value and show them how often it can be used. Thank your children when they are on time for dinner or when they support or help a smaller brother or sister. Praise them when they finish an assignment or task. Work hard this month at never taking for granted any act or evidence of dependability or loyalty.
Sample Method for Preschoolers:
Ask Small Children to Do Things Instead of Telling Them
You’ll obtain their answer, which you can use to teach dependability. When children are told to do something, they can learn and practice only the principle of obedience. But when small children are asked to do something in a firm but respectful way, they can learn both obedience and dependability.
Children actually say no, complain, and make excuses when they are told than when they are asked. Use the word please, and let them know that you expect a yes. That yes then becomes a commitment to which you can tie the principle of dependability . . . of doing what you say you will do.
Sample Method for Elementary Age:
The Synonyms and Antonyms Game
This game will help late elementary school or early-adolescent children be clear in their understanding of both words. Simply ask, “What are some synonyms or close synonyms for dependability?” (Reliability, trustworthiness, consistency, predictability, etc.) “For loyalty?” (To stand up for, to be part of, to be true to.) “What are some antonyms or near antonyms for dependable?” (Can’t be counted on, unpredictable.) “For loyal?” (Uncommitted, traitor, spy, out for oneself.) Then discuss how dependability helps people and how its opposites hurt people.
Sample Method for Adolescent Age:
Lists These help children pinpoint who and what they want to be loyal to and what things they want to be dependable on. Work together with the children on forming a loyalty list (family members, school, church, friends, etc.) and a dependability list (family job, school assignments, music practice, etc.)
(ideas from valuesparenting.com by Linda and Richard Eyre)
4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1-1/2 cups hot water (from tap)
2 teaspoons vegetable oil (optional)
Mix the salt and flour together, then gradually add the water until the dough becomes elastic. (Some recipes call for 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil at this point.) If your mixture turns out too sticky, simply add more flour. If it turns out too crumbly, simply add more water. Knead the dough until it’s a good consistency—then get out rolling pins, cups, bowls, straws, cookie cutters, plastic utensils, and let the fun begin!
If you want colored dough, mix food coloring, powdered drink mix, or paint into the water before adding it to the dry ingredients. Or you can paint your creations after baking them at 200 degrees. Baking times will vary depending on the size and thickness of the object, but make sure that all of it is hard. If the dough starts to darken before cooking is complete, cover with aluminum foil. Painted keepsakes will need to be sealed on all sides with clear varnish or polyurethane spray.
You can store your salt dough in a sealed container in the refrigerator, but usually not more than a couple of days.
Valentine Candy Dish (click here for link to instructions)
This adorable Valentine’s dish is a fun craft project for both adults and children. The dish is made from salt dough and requires very basic materials that you probably already have around your home.
Father’s day Footprints(make a foot mold & attach this poem)
“Walk a little slower daddy,”
said a child so small.
“I’m following in your
footsteps and I don’t want to fall.
Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they’re hard to see;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.
Someday when I’m all grown up,
You’re what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who’ll want to follow me.
And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you.
Mother’s Day Handprint (make a mold of child’s hand & attach poem)
Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small
And always leave my fingerprints
On furniture and walls
But everyday I’m growing up
And soon I’ll be so tall
That all these little fingerprints
Will be hard to recall
So here’s a special handprint
Just so that you can say
This is how my fingers looked
When I placed them here today
Make and bake anything!!! Remember this idea for next year’s Christmas ornaments or making sibling gifts.
January 10th, 7-8:30pm Provo Library. Enter on the west side and look for signs directing you to a public meeting room.
7:00-7:30 Pre-meeting Social
7:30-8:30 Chapter Meeting
We are combining with several other local AMI chapters for a Tip Sharing Discussion you won’t want to miss! Also a discussion on the power of positive parenting-dealing with tantrums. There will also be information about value training, Academy for Mothers and our next Family Service Project. Meet our Utah Valley Nominee for Utah Young Mother of the Year. We will also be working on our service dolls for Primary Children’s Hospital.
Also…Service Opportunity (bring any donations to our chapter meeting):
AMI of Utah Valley is collecting items to donate to an orphanage in Guatemala called Casa de Sion. A container will be shipped mid-January with the items collected. You can bring any donations to our January chapter meeting. Below is a list of items needed by the orphanage. You can learn more about this orphanage on the web at http://www.safehomesforchildren.org/casa.html
Clothing, shoes, socks, underwear
• Hygiene items, soap, toothbrushes, diapers, wipes, etc.
• Kitchen items, pots & pans, oven, refrigerator, plates, utensils, etc.
• Computers
• Medical supplies
• School supplies, especially for pre-school
• Twin size bunk beds
• All kinds of bedding (twin size )sheets, blankets and pillow cases
Baby and infant items: Clothes, simple toys, blankets
• Fund raising for cash so we can build more housing for kids
• Help financially or materially to get our organic gardens going
• Frequent flyer miles
• Volunteers to go down and work on various projects and take donations down
RSVP to Karmel@LarsonRealtyService.com to get a “Family Idea Packet” at the meeting. You don’t have to RSVP to attend.
Be Informed
Check out these sites and educate yourself on social/political issues:
Submitted by Linda Zenger, Utah Young Mother of the Year - Safe Harbor Chapter
801-427-9293
karmel@larsonrealtyservice.com
Hi everyone - I’m Karmel Larson… I’m living a dream life married to Brigham Larson and raising four beautiful children. My greatest passion in life is teaching my children. The best part of the day is having so many small bodies piled around me that it’s hard to see the book we are reading. Early to bed and early to rise is my greatest secret to life! I support AMI so strongly because it coincides perfectly with the things I want to spend my time doing-improving myself, strengthening my family and serving the community. Our family loves to serve together, learn together and have fun together-going on our weekly “family date”. I’m grateful that my greatest challenge in life is balancing all of my many blessings! Many of those blessings are great AMI friendships!
Check out my blog at www.brighamandkarmel.wordpress.com .
I am excited to tell you about American Mothers, Inc (AMI)! Please read more about this fantastic national organization for women below. As President of the Utah Valley Chapter of American Mothers, I invite you to join us for any of our upcoming events and chapter meetings. AMI has been a great source of friendship, information sharing, service and advice for me and so many other great moms! Join us!
A dedicated force to strengthen the moral and spiritual foundations of the family and the home.
We are an inter-faith, non-political, non-profit organization.
AMI of Utah Valley is a strong network of amazing women dedicated to improving themselves, their families and the community through education and service. Our chapter seeks to build and train mothers who then share information and insights with their families. Most importantly, we believe in ACTING upon what we are learning, discussing and promoting. As mothers, we lead our families into service and act upon family values to shape the community we live in.
Flexibility and fun are key to our success as a chapter. You can participate as much or as little and constantly adjust your level of involvement to accommodate your family needs. We invite you to join our group and find out more about what we do and why everyone keeps inviting their friends, family and neighbors to join our exciting efforts.
Our chapter meetings, leadership opportunities and ongoing networking provide a constant flow of ideas and information to mothers who are self motivated to constantly seek improvement through association with other strong and like-minded women.
Monthly value training suggestions provide moms with information and direction to guide family discussions and learning. We conclude the month’s learning with service projects geared toward whole family participation. Groups of AMI families join together simultaneously having fun, building friendships, doing good and helping others.
Service at every meeting has been our focus since the creation of our chapter. AMI members stand for decency and are actively engaged in various projects supporting this belief. Networking and education occurs to inform members on social action and political issues including support of the White Ribbon Campaign- an effort to stand for decency and fight pornography..
We also have a yahoo group you can participate in even if you can’t make the meetings. We share ideas, recipes, information about politics, social issues, parenting, tips on local events, anything that is helpful to a woman, wife and mother. It’s great to network with such knowledgeable women!
Contact Karmel Larson with questions or to join our group…427-9293, Karmel.larson@gmail.com
