Ten Ways to Strengthen Your Relationships This Week
August 9, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · Leave a Comment
This week’s Summer of Service challenge, sponsored by Crayola, is all about building and strengthening your relationships and helping your children to do the same by doing one or more of the following creative things. If you have more ideas, please share them in the comments!
- Write a list of ten questions you’d like to know about a family member or friend and schedule an interview with them to get to know them better. Encourage your children to interview someone they’d like to get to know better as well. If they are younger, help them create the list of questions.
- Write a note to a family member or friend, telling them how much you appreciate, love, or admire them. Use your talents in drawing, painting, stamping, hand writing, letter writing, or your favorite form of creativity to put your personal stamp on the card.
- Involve your family in putting together a progressive dinner right within the walls of your own home. Assign each person to be in charge of a specific room and portion of the meal. Work together to make the meal and set up the rooms. Award prizes for most creative, yummiest, most colorful, etc.
- Welcome your spouse home from work or your children home from school with a picture or note on one of your windows or mirrors using Crayola’s window markers.
- Encourage your children to welcome their mom or dad (or both!) home from work or other outing by helping them write a love note using Crayola’s sidewalk chalk on the driveway.
- Have a family art gallery night where each of you prepares a drawing, painting, photograph, Model Magic sculpture, or other artistic project and showcases it for each other. Award participants with certificates or ribbons, indicating most creative, best use of color, best use of black and white, best use of emotions, etc.
- Encourage your children to get to know their grandparents better by having them record (through audio and/or video) an interview with them about what life was like when they were growing up. Help your children prepare the questions, get the recording equipment ready, and set up an appointment. Then help them put together the audio/video project and share it with the rest of the family, including their grandparents.
- Have a girls’ night out that’s a blast from the past with activities like finger painting, running through sprinklers, jumping on the trampoline, or other fun things you enjoyed as a child. Make sure to feature your favorite childhood snacks and drinks. Tang anyone?
- Have a “walk down memory lane” party with your family, your friends, other couples, or others where you all bring photo albums and share your favorite memories. One fun group date is to all bring your wedding photo albums and each take turns sharing favorite memories from your wedding and your newlywed years.
- Schedule a family coloring night, where you each choose a favorite page from a coloring book or your own coloring books and color together while chatting and enjoying your favorite snacks.
How Will You Give to Others This Week?
What other ideas do you have for strengthening your relationships this week using creativity?- What are things that get in the way of strengthening your relationships using creativity?
- What are ways to overcome these challenges?
- How has strengthening your relationships this week using creativity others made a meaningful difference for you? For others?
How Else Can You Make a Difference This Summer?
Make a meaningful difference this summer by taking the Summer of Service (SOS) Challenge. Here’s how you can participate:
- Commit to do one act of kindness/service based on the week’s challenge.
- Leave a comment with ideas relating to the week’s challenge as well as your experience(s) performing it.
- Grab the SOS button in the sidebar and put it on your blog or social networking site.
- Enter to win each week’s giveaway. Click here to check out this week’s prize from Crayola.
- Join #gno this Tuesday on Twitter to connect with other Mom It Forward moms about the challenge.
RSVP for #GNO to Chat About Creative Connections With Crayola This Tuesday on Twitter
August 9, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 109 Comments
Interested in strengthening your relationships? Want to know how creativity can help with that? Whether you are a spouse/partner, sibling, friend, and/or parent to young or grown children … or that fun stage right in between—to teenagers— tweet the night away with other Mom It Forward gals at #gno this Tuesday on Twitter as we talk about creative connections.
- What: Crayola Creativitycast on #gno (Click here to learn more about #gno!)
- When: Tuesday, August 11, 9-11 p.m. EST
- Where: Click here to party with us on Tweetgrid (Use hashtags #gno & #crayola.)
- Topic: Creative Connections (building and strengthening relationships and character through creativity)
- Who: cerisecheri from Crayola, @crayola, @girlfriendology from Girlfriendology, @juliecole from Mabel’s Labels, @todaysmama from Todays Mama, @razzmatazzrob from Crayola, @skybluestacy from Crayola, and @youngmommy from From Dates to Diapers.
- Party Favors: Click here to check out this week’s giveaway sponsored by Crayola.
- RSVP: The link list is not working this week, so please leave your Twitter ID in the comments.
What Will We Be Discussing and Sharing This Week?
Get ready for the creative discussion this Tuesday, by reviewing these questions. And, if you’d like, upload some pictures to share on Twitter during the party! Check out TwitPic for an easy way to share pictures on Twitter. We’d love you to leave a comment here or on the Crayola Facebook Page to share ideas and tips in answer to the questions below.
- How does art help you show love to family and friends?
- What creative activities do you use with kids in groups?
- How does creativity help enhance kid-related activities (i.e., play dates, parties, etc.)?
- How do you think creativity helps kids develop social skills and build better friendships?
- Which indoor and outdoor creative activities help your kids express themselves best?
- What experiences have you had using creativity to communicate better with your teens?
- How do classes or activities—dance, music, art, etc.—help enhance creativity?
- How can creativity help you problem solve, & come up with new ideas?
- Have you done your back-t0-school shopping yet? Tell your story?
- What is your favorite Crayola memory?
Strengthening Relationships Through PhotoTherapy
June 25, 2009 by Kodak · Leave a Comment
People can interact with photos in many ways everyday to strengthen their relationships with others. Some PhotoTherapy tips include:
Create A Picture Perfect Environment: Decorate your space with photos of friends, family, loved ones and places you enjoy. Be sure to select photos that contain strong positive memories. Every photo has feelings and memories just underneath its surface; choosing the right one enables you to revisit those moments all over again — and feel the same good feelings!- Share Your World: The people you miss, miss you too. Let the important people in your life know how you’re doing by sharing not just the special moments but the ordinary moments too. Sharing the “small stuff” can have a BIG impact on your relationships.
- Interview Your Photo: Unlock the magic of your photo. Find the happiest picture in your collection and imagine a conversation with it. What positive message would it want you to know? How would it like you to feel? What would it want you to remember?
- Try A Photo Pick Me Up: Beat your blues! Find your most positive photo and carry it with you. Looking at a photo of happier times puts you right back there again, feeling that same way, right now!
- Breaking the Ice: Turn your photos into conversation starters. Behind every picture is a great story that wants to be told; it’s just waiting for you to ask! Sharing your photos is like sharing your life; when others hear your anecdotes, connections are made that can last a lifetime.
What To Do When Your Spouse Is Deployed?
February 21, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 1 Comment
Deployments Are Never Completely Easy
Communication, romance, little touches of flirtations here and there, smiles, holding hands, cuddling, and little looks that say I’m thinking about you are all important things to keep a relationship not only alive, but thriving. What do you do when you can’t have 
that? Military couples face particular difficulty when their partners, themselves, or even both are deployed overseas for extended periods of time. I am not talking weeks or months here. I am talking years.
For some relationships, especially the newer ones, this transition is particularly difficult and even painful. A person goes through a lot during the course of a year, or even 6 months. New interests, new jobs, maturing, new schedules, and one’s ever-growing independence. When your significant other is gone for months, let alone years, it is difficult for both of you to mesh your now very different perspectives, interests, and even work and school into this relationship that has basically been put on hold for a very long time.
You may say that with today’s technologies communication should be easy through that time, but it’s not. Granted it is much easier than it was for earlier vets, but just because you can send emails, IMs, and even the occasional web-cam session, it is difficult to keep the romance alive.
Your decision to marry was not a one-time matter, but is something that needs to be reaffirmed daily, weekly, monthly and annually. This includes the time that is spent apart due to deployments, and can often be more important than when living under the same roof. Make a game plan for staying connected, and try to do the best you can for your family. Sneak a small scrapbook, or photo “brag” book into his deployment bags. This goes a long way to lifting the spirits when he is so far away. Write often, even about the mundane and boring things. Start right away, so there is nothing forgotten, this helps him feel he is still a part of the family’s daily life, even from round the world. Don’t be afraid to complain (he wants to hear the truth and what is real, not sugar and spice) but let him know you are OK, and begin and end every time you get to talk with I LOVE YOU.
When both spouses firmly believe that marriage is a life-long commitment and they work together to strengthen that commitment, their chances of surviving even the most difficult challenges posed by military life are significantly enhanced.
Military deployments are planned in stages, and reflecting on each phase can better prepare you for the anxiety that will be introduced into the relationship. Deployments consist of the following stages in one form or another: Pre-deployment, deployment, and redeployment. It behooves us as spouses to be familiar with these phases and the emotional turmoil each can bring. A plan that mirrors each stage of the deployment may help to make the deployment more manageable.
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Speak about expectations… During pre-deployment don’t let shock and separation anxiety let you say things you don’t mean. Discuss decision making, parenting issues, and expectations for communicating during the separation. Make a budgeting plan, update insurance forms, power of attorney documents, etc.
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Demonstrate your strength… It is important to take good care of yourself so that you can manage the stress during the deployment. Taking care of yourself actually eases your service member’s mind so send a note demonstrating your strength and commitment to each other.
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Express your love…Stock up on favorite foods and the comforts of home. This is a time to enjoy each other, re-kindle, and reconnect. Focus on why you initially fell in love with your spouse and don’t forget to express it.
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Tackle what’s next…During the post-deployment phase try not to get caught up in unrealistic or unexpressed expectations as you get back into a new routine. Appreciate what is going well, and be willing to comfort each other and make compromises when needed as you go forward. Remind yourself not to look back, or worry about going forward just enjoy each other in the moment!
How Do You Support Your Spouse?
February 20, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 29 Comments
Betty (@its_me_betty), today’s guest post author, is a wife of a blogger, mother of one son, and has a little fat beagle named Fred. She enjoys helping her husband promote his blog, TheJoeReview. Every Saturday he posts one of my recipes on his blog & also writes about tech & brew reviews.
As little girls I am sure we all dreamed that one day we would marry our clichéd “knight in shining armor,” ride off into the sunset, and live happily ever after. We believed that nothing would go wrong and our lives would mirror a fairy tale. This is the way I saw it at least. Well, I got part of it at right. I married my knight in shining armor, however; life wasn’t as problem-free as I had anticipated. My husband and I have had many obstacles and challenges to deal with.
The most challenging obstacle we faced was when we were expecting our son. I became very ill and we almost didn’t make it. My husband stuck by me through the whole ordeal and when I was shipped to a different state because, at that time, there were no rooms at the NICU in our local hospital, he made it a point to go up and see me every weekend. I am sure he was just as scared as I was, but you could never tell; he was my rock through the whole ordeal. I broke down several times and was very devastated to learn that I might not get to know my son. But my husband kept me grounded. I am eternally grateful.
One of the most important lessons Joe and I have learned is to be there for each other and support each other—to be each other’s fan club. There are in fact times when we don’t see eye to eye; but I can always count on him being the one person I can rely on no matter what. The lines of communication need to be kept open. Listen to each other, be honest with each other and don’t be ashamed to admit when you’re wrong.
Remember to make time for each other and to make each other feel special. It’s just like a hobby—the more time you put into it, the better you get at it. It goes both ways; you can’t expect one person to do all the work and put in all the effort. I’m sure you’ve heard that saying, “Treat others as you would like to be treated,” this also applies to your marriage. Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed to show each other you love each other and that you still get butterflies when they’re around or when they kiss or hug you, it’s little things like that, that go a long way.
With all the things we are faced with these days, our marriage is one thing that we need to work on keeping strong. Together everything and anything is possible.
photo credit FairyWren
Does Dating Your Partner Improve Your Relationship?
February 19, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 12 Comments
I look forward to dates. I really, really do.
My husband and I haven’t always dated. Of course, we did when we were…….well, dating. And then we got married and started having babies, and the dates just sort of ended. It happened so gradually that I didn’t notice….for years in fact.
Finally, we decided that that needed to change. We wanted it to change, and it was one of the best things we did for our marriage. We started dating.
- Going out on dates gives us both a chance to get “dolled up” for each other. It gives us an opportunity to really take time on our appearance and wear clothing that we might not at work or at home with children. I know I feel great when I get to wear “sexy” jeans and heels and leave the house without an entourage.
- Going out on dates gives us an opportunity to reconnect. To talk about things that are important to us. To have a converstation that we don’t have to worry about being overheard by little ears. It gives us a chance to laugh and have fun without interruption.
- Going out on dates allows us an opportunity to hold hands and show public displays of affection. Admit it. When those public displays of affection are G rated, it feels pretty darn special.
Dates are good for us individually and as a partnership, and they don’t have to be fancy or expensive.
My perfect date is the one where I feel good about myself, connect with my partner, feel rejuvenated afterwards, and know that the date helped my relationship move forward. My perfect date is fun.
So, grab your partner, arrange for a sitter if you need to, and go out and do whatever it is that’s fun for the two of you. And enjoy yourselves. Don’t forget to do it often!
What Happens When Life Happens to Your Relationship?
February 17, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · Leave a Comment
Trena Davenport guest posts, she is the force behind Marriage Zone. She is on Twitter as @marriage_zone and tweets about keeping marriage(s) alive.
Marriage is not only about keeping things hot in the bedroom but about re-inventing ourselves. Couples need to adapt to change. When two people get married 
What happened? Life is what happened.
The routine of everyday life sets in and unrealistic expectations about marriage surface. Reality intrudes on fantasy. During this adjustment period each other’s imperfections and shortcomings are revealed. What was once viewed as cute or a minor irritation grow into aggravation and annoyances therefore, rudeness ends up replacing romance. Then, throw children into the mix and you could have a marriage heading for disaster.
Couples can begin to grow in different directions; at least that’s how it seems. Couples need to communicate their expectations and then re-access and communicate their expectations again.
Marriage Zone is about encouraging couples to re-connect. With so many vices tugging at couples such as, one or both may work outside of the home, children requiring parent’s un-divided attention, relatives or elderly parents needing attending to. Where in the world do couples find time for each other? Therefore, the creation of Marriage Zone.
Although people can purchase items from our website the site is there to help inspire married couples. It is important for couples to learn to work together while maintaining their individual identity. Husbands should respect what their wife’s contributions are to the marriage and wives should respect what their husband’s contribute as well to the marriage. This is equally true when couples own/operate a business together.
Re-connecting and putting a marriage in the (romance) zone takes commitment, understanding, forgiveness, and unconditional love. Moreover, as you grow in your marriage always lend a helping hand to other couples because it takes a village to keep a marriage in the zone.
photo credits: Ney,PhotoRita, Nattu, Jeff Weston
#GNO Helps You Strengthen Your Relationships! RSVP Here!
February 16, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 11 Comments
- Want to strengthen your Relationships?
- How can you spice up your love life?
- Help! I have kids, how do we date?
- He’s an introvert I’m an extrovert. How can we make this work?
- How do I balance all of my important relationships: friendships, family, children, spouse/partner, etc.?
- I’m a single mom: How do I get my relationship needs met while balancing the demands of my family?
All these questions and more answered at #GNO!
(Photo courtesy of Flickr.)
What’s on the GNO Lineup This Week?
- What: GNO (What’s GNO? Click here to find out!)
- Where: Tweet Grid (#gno)
- When: Between 6 & 10 pm PST (9 pm to 1 am EST)
- Who: Guest tweet, Trena from Marriage Zone (@marriage_zone)
- Why: Tips to strengthen your relationships!
- Important: Want to win big? Enter to win one of three giveaways. Hurry! Entries due this Sat., Feb. 21.
- RSVP: Use Mr. Linky below (enter the twitter URL and your twitter ID (e.g., http://twitter.com/jyl_momIF).
How Does Stationery Inspire Your Relationships?
February 10, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 5 Comments
Gabrielle Blair (@designmom) guest posts today. She is in love with Ben Blair for lots of reasons. One of them is because he reads her blog Design Mom devotedly—even though 99% of the content doesn’t interest him in the least. Together, they have 5 kids and live in New York.
This is the 14th year that Ben Blair and I have celebrated Valentine’s Day together. Our family tradition: putting together a special breakfast for the kids on February 14th. Our couple’s tradition: to forgo gifts and exchange love letters instead.
Love letters are wonderful to receive and a challenge to compose. It’s often hard to put feelings into words and the exercise of recording your deepest emotions for your lover is both intimidating and exhilarating. (I mean it. It will get your pulse pounding). Plus, the idea of being an old lady and having a box filled with stacks of love letters tied up in fading ribbons is so charming. How could I not get on the love letter train?
We were really good about our love letter tradition for many years. And somewhere I have a file with those heartfelt notes waiting to be found and reread. But for the last few Valentine’s Days, we’ve totally slacked off. Resolution: start it up again in ‘09.
Why not join me in writing out your devotion to the one you love? To get us started, here’s a roundup of sweet and super sweet Valentine Stationery to get you in the mood for love. Personally, I find it’s much easier to put my pen to paper when the paper is delicious.
Sources (from left to right):
Biking Together by Kindred Knit.
Little Angel by Craft Pudding.
Coffee Love by Little Brown Pen.
Love in Cabbage by Armato Design .
You and Me by JulieAnnA.
Valentine Vespa by Winifred Studio.
So Very Happy Card by Dazey Chic.
Crush by Bloom Art Design.
Birthday Numbers by Sweetbeet.
