Bloomin' Fun

I work as a counselor with Kindergarten and First Grade.  I always joke how I work with folks I'm taller than .  .  . today a 5th grader shared this gift!  It's a beautiful thing to watch kiddos grow, mature and BLOOM!  Thank you, PHES Cougar.  I appreciate your kindness!

Solar Flower Power

Wanna rev your engines?  Move like the sun:  Standing --  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5POltBH6Jo or Seated -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbhTmAygygs 

(1) Folding the body--soothes and relaxes the nervous system

(2) Holding muscles still and strong is strengthening and calming for an overexcited, overstimulated body  

(3) Rolling shoulders back and down, stretches the chest open & counteracts all the activities we do that round the back and collapse the chest (driving, eating, computer work, texting, etc).  This stretching and opening of the chest lifts your mood too.  

"Moving Like the Sun" includes all of these movements!

Watch D.O.G.S. on Thursday

Planting Seeds

How does your garden grow?

Watch D.O.G.S. on Wednesday

Thanks for always comin' a runnin' when we need a helping paw!

Mrs. Honey's Hat

I'm reading this good book by Pam Adams with kindergartners this week.  Bad things are gonna happen.  We gotta be ready.  Pay attention.  Breathe.  Sit still and quiet and let the good ideas we've shared come to mind.  We have a game plan!  We are ready to stand tall.  Watch us g-r-O-W!

Bowling for Butterflies

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.”

― Richard Bach, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

So it's the end of a school year, but the beginning of new adventures!  We're "bowling for butterflies" at PHES to celebrate.

Watch D.O.G.S. on Friday

This brave Watch D.O.G.S. made "Elephant Toothpaste" today!

Red Nose Day

Red Nose Day was created to raise money to help children and young people living in poverty in the United States and some of the poorest communities around the world.  https://www.rednoseday.org/

Watch D.O.G.S. on Wednesday

Purple Pippi

Do you remember Pippi Longstocking?  Her pigtails were not purple, but this stylish hairdo reminds me of her! Wikipedia describes Astrid Lindgren's memorable book character, "Nine-year-old Pippi is unconventional, assertive, and has superhuman strength, being able to lift her horse one-handed. She is playful and unpredictable."  How can you work a few of those qualities into what you do on Wednesday?

Watch D.O.G.S. on Tuesday

Feelin' Groovy!

Feelin' Groovy!  I bought plants at a fundraiser and forgot to pick them up and most are dead . . .  I had a coupon for a free online service, and I paid for the subscription for two months before I figured the code did not work . . . something goes a little wrong most everyday, but where is your focus?  All my children are healthy and strong today, and we enjoyed a delicious supper at Gram's House last night (and will tonight too)!!  I was able to listen when someone was sad today and celebrate when another was glad.  :-)  You are in charge of what you focus on and where you put your energy.  Make a choice to "Feel Groovy on Tuesday!"

Just Keep Swimmin'

"Just Keep Swimming .  .  .  Just Keep Swimming .  .  .   What do we do? .  .  .  I love to SWIM!" Here's Dory singing in Disney's Finding Nemo:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hkn-LSh7es

When the water is rough and choppy, the breakers "tangle your toes and scramble your focus" like in Surfer Chick by Kristi Dempsey, just keep on keepin' on!  That's what we do.

Planting Season

We're getting ready to plant another garden!  We enjoyed meeting students and parents of next year's PHES kindergarten class today.  Looking forward to bloomin' together!

Watch D.O.G.S. on Friday

Thanks to our Watch D.O.G.S. today 

for sharing about the program with next year's kindergarten dads!

Watch D.O.G.S. on Thursday

How do you EAT an ELEPHANT?

How do you EAT an ELEPHANT?  One BITE at a time!  Break a BIG challenge into smaller pieces.   Accomplish one manageable task at a time to get where you wanna go.

Only YOU

Smokey Bear says, "Only you can prevent forest fires!"  Mrs. Broam is still thinking how only YOU can prevent a small problem from becoming a BIG ONE.  Be proactive, hit it head on.  Ask questions, collaborate with others.  Together we achieve our best results.  Sometimes prevention includes changing our thinking, our habits, our words to a healthier choice.  Prevention is IN our circle of control.  Only YOU can do it!

Putting Out Fires

We're putting out fires today!  It's a problem-solving process, and we can work together to achieve best results.  I'm thinking of the times we knock noggins with someone as a "fire."  Do you slow down and de-escalate with a fire extinguisher or do you pour accelerant on the fire and fan the flames?  Our choices can determine the severity and damage of the fire .  .  .  Here's some fire fighting tips that may be helpful as you consider your choices:

take a deep breath
count 1 to 10
go for a walk
close you eyes and think of a happier place or time
move like the sun:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5POltBH6Jo or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbhTmAygygs 
Have some words ready to say to yourself:  "nooo problem,"  "go to peace not pieces," "I am calm," "find a happy place"

What are some other ideas for fighting fires?  If we can stay in our thinking brain, we'll make a better choice!

Monsters on Monday

At the Love & Logic Facilitators Training this past weekend, Jim and Dr. Charles Fay discussed the law of attraction, whatever you think about you bring about.  Wikipedia explains:  "by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring about positive or negative results."  Consider the monsters you face on Monday or any day a gift.  What do you learn from the challenge they present?  How are you stronger?

Watch D.O.G.S. on Monday

High Flying in The Mile High City

I am now a trained Independent Facilitator of Love and Logic Curricula!

Jim Fay, Co-Creator of Love & Logic Institute, greeted participants as they arrived for facilitator training!  He models techniques for being a successful presenter:  Meet 'em at the door (and with a tough audience, meet 'em at the curb)!  A former elementary school principal, Jim is 81 years young.

Dr. Foster Cline is Jim's co-creating partner.  They founded Love & Logic Institute in 1977.  He is no nonsense and straight talking!  His background is child psychiatry.  When he made a point he thought important, he got on the stage for a visual representation of "Foster thinks it is important!"

I missed capturing a picture of Jim's son, Dr. Charles Fay.  He runs the company now.  When he makes an important point, he says, "come in close on this one."

The training was at the Sheraton Denver West.  We had a beautiful view of Denver from our hotel room!

While I trained, Mr. Broam had fun exploring Denver and Golden, CO.

After the training, we enjoyed an evening with old friends!  We were together at their wedding and now 17 years later on their anniversary.

It was predicted to snow 5-10 inches on Mother's Day Eve! We filled up the rental car's gas tank to be ready to depart the hotel at 4:00 am.

We followed several snow plows to the airport!  De-icing procedures delayed our flight out of Denver 1 1/2 hours. 

It took 4 1/2 hours to travel Denver to Charlotte and 9 hours from Charlotte to home .  .  . 

When we did make it home, we had happy faces, ready to greet us!  What a FANTASTIC adventure!  Thank you, PHES PTA, Mrs. Mitchum, Mrs. M-C, Mrs. Burritt, Mr. Broam, Grammy, Pop Pop, and the Broamlettes for making it possible.

Chicken Dance on Wednesday

Have COURAGE, don't be a CHICKEN, turn OFF the screen and try something NEW!  Our fears give us the opportunity to be BRAVE.  Don't be SCARED, power off your device and enjoy a conversation with a friend, try a new recipe, investigate your backyard, do the chicken dance .  .  .   What discoveries do you make today WITHOUT a SCREEN?

Turn OFF the TV -- Turn ON Life

We continue to celebrate Screen Free Week!  Have you read some Shel Silverstein poetry lately?  In his book Where the Sidewalk Ends, check out the poem about Jimmy Jet on pages 28-29.  Turn OFF the TV -- Turn ON Life!

Watch D.O.G.S. on Tuesday

Celebrate Screen Free Week!

http://www.screenfree.org/ 

We're encouraging balance this week!  What can you do for fun NOT involving a screen? 

Happy Birthday, Hannah Banana Broam!

Today my hat is for my Hannah Banana who turns 18 today!  Eighteen years ago, I didn't feel so good but went to school anyway.  I was reading Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini, and I didn't feel so good (which is saying something because I love me some Piggie Pie)!  I'd feel a little better, then feel a little worse, so I went home early .  .  . Hannah Banana was born at 1:30 and her birth was shared during the school announcements that afternoon!!  That's a fun story and the story has just been getting better and better for the past 18 years!  Happy Birthday, Hannah!

Watch D.O.G.S. on Friday