General Conference Store

I’ve been thinking about General Conference a lot lately.  This will probably be one of the last times I don’t try and engage DJ at least a little bit in watching and of course as I have been looking for ideas Pinterest has been my friend.  I have found so many ideas and am so excited to try them but none of them have made me a happy as what my mom did for us growing up. 

To premise this, my mom is a seminary teacher and general rock star when it comes to fun scripture game ideas.  One of the reasons I’m so super excited to be living with her this summer is that I’m going to go through and copy all the games she created for us to play as kids that I think really helped us be familiar with the scripture stories.  Any who I digress, we are really here to talk about “The General Conference Store”. 

Who its best for: Any kid that can talk/listen but gets better as they get older.  Especially once they can write themselves.

How it works:  All the kids take notes.  Mom writes down three words for each talk that she thinks cover the most important points.  The kids also write down words for each talk.  For kids who can’t write they can tell Dad or an older sibling their words and have them write them down.  You can allow kids to write however many.  In our house under 12 could write as many words as the wanted over 12 had to limit them to 6. You could also give points if they can name the color tie, what songs the choir sang, or who said the prayer; play with it how you will.   After conference mom compares the words and the kids get one “conference dollar” for every word that matches mom’s.  They then get to spend those dollars at the Conference Store. 

What is in the store: This is where you can get creative!  My mom had everything from candy bars to dollar store toys, but our favorite things to buy were the coupons.  The coupons would be for things like “date with mom”.  You know you’re kids and what they would want so get creative, this is an opportunity to create memories with them that they will be super excited about because the earned them!  You can price them so however many points you feel appropriate for you kids.  The first conference you do this they may not earn a ton of points but if you make it a tradition they will get better and better.  Here are some more coupon ideas:

·         Movie date with mom and dad
·         3 friends and a movie party
·         Pizza party with 3 friends
·         You pick the restaurant
·         Play at the local theater with mom and dad
·         Dad does your Saturday chores

Why it rocks:  Kids are not only paying attention to conference but to what the talks are about.  It also teaches them about note taking in church.  As the kids get older they will start not only writing down the words for mom but their own thoughts, stories told, and things they learn.  My conference journal from high school is one of my most valued possessions because I had already learned how to take notes well.  After the first conference store your kids will be so excited for conference.  And the best part is you can make it fun for your 4 year old and your 16 year old!

Any who there is my General Conference kid idea.  Try it and let me know what you think, how you changed it, and what coupons you used.  

Mother Son Relations

So I pinned and then read this article about Mother and Son relationships in modern society.  It was a really interesting article.  She pointed out that though most of societies gender attitudes have changed (for example the relationship between father and daughter is encouraged) over the last 50 years, the attitudes about the Mother Son relationship has stayed the same.  She pointed to research that Mamma's Boys are less likely to be violent and act out and are also more likely to go to college.  Though I agree with her to an extent I have some problems with her ideas as well.  On the face of it I agree that mothers and sons should have very close relationships.  My mother and brothers are very close and there was a tight bond there.  I also hope to have that kind of close relationship with my son.  However, I also believe that boys should be aloud to be boys.  Lets just admit it *boy and girls are different* while a teenage daughter may want to talk about her feelings with a parent most boys don't.  And I don't believe that they should be forced to (except in situations of danger of course).  The door should always be open for communication but I don't believe it should be pushed on children, especially boys.  Now I want my kids to talk to me about things, and if I think they are into drugs or something else that is not appropriate then I will push the issue.  But if its about why they broke up with their girlfriend, if they don't want to talk about it I don't want to force it.

She also talked about sharing her problems with her son.  I feel like that is unhealthy for any child, boy or girl.  Parents should not be seen as perfect but it is not fair to burden children unnecessarily with your problems.  It goes back to the old saying 'you are not your child's best friend, you are their parent.'  I think that there is a very special bond between parent and child, that they can be close, share things, and have fun.  But I feel like that relationship is degraded when you call it a friendship, it is so much more.  My mom is my hero, my confidant, and my example,  she is so much more to me than any friend could ever be and I love hanging with her.  I hope someday to have that relationship with DJ and any other children that may come along.

What do you think about Mother Son relations?  Does being close to his mom make a sissy boy?