What is that boy thinking?!
OMG. Why can’t I get through to her?!
IF ONLY THERE WERE A HOW-TO MANUAL FOR RAISING KIDS!!!!!
Know when I can really use some help with kids? When my oldest brings home that super contagious bug from school. No, not the flu; the eye-rolling, back-talking, know-it-all nonsense he picks up somewhere in between the story rug and the bus.
It’s pretty normal for school-aged kiddos to pick up some bad habits, right? SAY YES. My two oldest have proven it to be true. Outside influences make me queasy, yo.
If someone could’ve warned me and my husband about the ‘tudes and questions and struggles that come along with our kids growing up, and perhaps reminded us to return to the foundation we worked so hard to build, that would’ve been super. Instead, we were completely blindsided and all “Duhhhhh” when we should’ve been all “we’ve got this–refer to core family values.” But that’s hard to do–so. hard.–when emotions are running high. So, more times than not, we were caught off guard.
But I’m ON IT this year. Oh, yes. I found me what’s called the Big Life Journal and this bad boy is a game changer. Teaching our kids to live Big Lives means lives filled with challenges, successes, failures, and encourages them to make an impact on the world. Big Lives are intentional and purposeful. They are also filled with simple joys of everyday life. People with Big Lives are not afraid to follow their dreams and take on solving the world’s problems.
Scott and Alexandra, a young couple from New York, created a six-month journal that’s broken into 13 different concepts, each covered over a span of two weeks. Every concept comes with an illustration, poem, quote, and a story. All stories are based on real entrepreneurs, scientists, authors, non-profit founders, etc. JK Rowlings sound familiar? She’s in there!
After the concept is explained, the kiddo responds to questions that require them to think about things related to the concept.
In other words, we have a conversation about stuff that matters.
#BRILLIANT
My favorite part of the Big Life Journal is that kids don’t work on them solo; they hook up with a Journal Buddy and go through their Journal together. The Journal Buddy, or JB as I’ve decided to call it, can be a a parent, a grandparent, aunt, etc. Because the JB is encouraged to share his/her experiences first, I love the idea of a grandparent working with the child; who has better stories and experiences than Pappy?!! 
As with any great initiative, the Big Life Journal needs financial backing. Do me a solid and look under your couch cushions, in your coat pockets, on the floor mats and cup holders in your car: whatever you can spare, would you please throw it at the BLJ? Their Kickstarter is live now; you can donate HERE. The Big Life Journal is an incredible project, one that will have a positive and lasting impact on our kids, and I swear on the heavenly combination of peanut butter and chocolate if my anti-conversation 7-year-old doesn’t start conversing with me, I may LOSE MY MIND.
Have I mentioned you donate HERE?
Wow, this looks interesting. What an awesome way to teach kids! It’s like a bonding experience too! What a great idea!
Hi Camille, thank you for your feedback and your interest in the Journal! 🙂
SIGN ME UP
Thanks for your interest! 🙂