Ideas For My Pocket: a Support Group for Families: 'Specially for Summer

Holly copied a special summer reading program she had heard about at another ward, to do in her home. It was called R.E.D. for Read Every Day, and that is exactly what she wanted to emphasize with her young kids. First, each member of the family set his own Minimum Daily Requirement, be it two pages, one chapter, 15 minutes, or a topic to look up from the scriptures each day. Second, each decided whether to begin a new reading of the scriptures or to start where they already were. Next, an important part of the program was to begin each day with a prayer. She taught them to do nothing unto the Lord without a prayer first, that He may consecrate it to their progress. (2 Nephi 32:9) And that if they prayed for it, the Holy Ghost would be there with them when they read—and all through the day. Some of her kids chose to read in the morning, while others liked to read right before bed.

The final step was to search for a message in the scriptures just for him or her each day. Holly told them about a time when she had been in a church pageant. The cast members had listened to the soundtrack, about the life of Jesus Christ, over and over—she counted 29 times! But, as instructed, while she listened to the reverent part of the script, during the depiction of Last Supper and the Atonement, Holly had cleared her mind and opened her heart to receive a special message from the Lord just for her. And each night, a different message, pertinent to just her, had come. You too, she promised her kids, can receive your own message each time you read.

To accomplish this R.E.D. program, Holly provided them a new paperback copy of the scriptures (if they wanted to read from it instead of their own copy this time), a red pencil to mark the things that stood out to them, a bookmark with a chart of the summer days to mark each time they read, and a little pocket journal. This tiny composition book (she found at the dollar store) was flat and without spirals, so that it could fit inside the cover of the scripture book each child was to read. She had spray-painted the little journal red and had labeled it R.E.D. on the front.

Finally, Holly Kicked Off the program with a pep talk! “If I asked Tyse to go brush his teeth, and he answered, ‘No, I don’t need to, Mom! I brushed yesterday!’ that would never go over! She would have lectured him about the germs and plaque on his teeth today! What about his breath? She would strongly suggest that he brush his teeth every day! It’s the same with our Spirits, she taught. They need cleansing and strengthening every day! To celebrate at the end of the summer, Holly planned a special All Red Dinner, complete with red items such as pasta, watermelon, and red velvet cake! They even planned a t-shirt with red letters that spelled: I R.E.D.!

She gave them the bookmark and journal she had prepared and challenged them to read every day. She knew they would need a little reminder for the first couple of days, so she’d say to all: Who remembered to R.E. D. today? I did mine!

Holly talked to Tim about reading with her younger son Todd. Most of her older ones had done their first reading of the Book of Mormon with her or Tim. One son had read with her at the kitchen counter each evening, until he was ready to go off on his own. Another young son had lay beside Tim in bed each night to read together for his first time. It was a good challenge to reach together. This summer, Tim decided to read at the breakfast table before he went to work with their youngest, and to write in their journals what they discovered together. It would be a sweet connection to make between father and child each day as they R.E.D.!

2. Family History every day

Kallie wanted her kids to catch the Spirit of Elijah! She had a 14-year old with too much time on his hands this summer! A sharp kid, he would be a whiz at Family Search, she just knew! She prayed that he would try doing family history and have success this summer.

Kallie decided that the whole family would plan on doing Family History every day. After all, she and her husband wanted the promise from Elder David A. Bednar: “I invite the young people of the Church to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah. … I promise [that] you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary. As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives.” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-hearts-of-the-children-shall-turn?lang=eng

They started off by having a Family Home Evening all about “The Book” a recent article about Family History. Family history also includes the present as we create our own history. It includes the future as we shape future history through our descendants. Family History “is more than a focus on the past. A young mother, for example, sharing her family stories and pictures with her children is doing family history work…this work can and should be done by all members at any age.” Then, Kallie’s family brainstormed all the different ways they could think of, to do Family History each day:

--Talk to Grandma about her life or her interests

--Write in your journal

--Preserve pictures or momentos

--Go visit graves of loved ones

--Tell family stories and write them down

--Make a Memory Book for Mom or Dad

--Index, and of course:

--Find names or ordinances needed on Family Search

Kallie told her kids that at Family Search.org, every person can pull up her own Fan Chart! Now too, there are hints beside some names to help in a search. You could search to find out what country our different lines of ancestors came from! You can find stories about these people too!

Grandma Joan was asked to teach her young grandchildren the Family Night lesson one Monday night. She began by giving them each an Indian hat she had made. Indians shared the histories of their families orally, passing them down the generations. And so, tonight, I'm going to do that too. She then proceeded to tell them about the ancestor stories she knew. It was a great success, and after it was over, she started to throw away the Indian hats. Don't throw them away, her son-in-law exclaimed, those were so much work! So, they kept them, and then the next time it was Grandma Joan's turn to teach, she had the kids put them on again.

This time, she told them what she remembered about her Grandmother. This Grandmother had given her and the other kids some bread, and let them shape it into snowmen or animal shapes! It was great fun!! So, Grandma Joan gave each of her grandkids some bread and let them try it too! They had a ball, just as she had, and learned more about their family history at the same time!

3. Fun Times to Remember!

Joelle’s children would often get to the end of the summer and tell others they had “done nothing” all summer! Joelle was determined that her kids would remember the fun summer activities this year!

Joelle started by simply taking more pictures! Along with the photos of trips or grand activities, Joelle wanted to capture the day-to-day fun: a water-fight, the day big brother got his license, and swimming together. When one child found some play dough and made silly animals, she caught it. She snapped pictures of things she normally wouldn’t have thought to capture: petting the dog, a spray painting project, playing with friends, holding a baby, and rough-housing with Dad.

Next, she printed these pictures and plastered the fridge with them. This way, the kids had better cemented memories of the good times together!

4. Read the Same Book

Our family decided that on Sundays, we would all read together from A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, by LeGrand Richards. We found extra copies at Deseret Industries. This book can be the basis of a logical testimony. It goes step-by-step through the apostasy and restoration, in a simple way that even our 10 year old can understand. We take turns reading together about a chapter a week.

Lori decided she would get enough copies of The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason. Although it was a book of stories about Arabian Knight-era characters, the book taught principles of good money management. It provided good things for the whole family to discuss.

5. Make a Connection

Danielle decided she needed to spend some one-on-one time with each child each week. During the free time section of her day, Danielle came up with ways to take one of her children out on an errand then a treat or to go shopping together for a new swimsuit. Rather than bring all the kids, she found ways to bring one at a time.

Or, Danielle might just pull out a favorite board game to play with the child whose turn it is for some undivided attention. Maybe she would bake with that child. She might do a couple of Scout or Activity Day girl requirements together. If others came along, she would simply say,” It’s Kasey’s turn for this today, soon it will be your turn.” This way, she could interact and tune into that child’s special needs.

The more time we spend with our children, said Richard and Linda Eyre of Values Parenting, the more they are likely to develop the same values as their parents!! What a wonderful promise! http://www.valuesparenting.com/