In just two days my children head back to school after their week off from the Thanksgiving holiday.

It’s bittersweet, to say the least.

I am definitely one of those mamas that is happiest when my little ones are home with me.

I love our family time and honestly get sad not seeing them all day when they’re at school.

Of course, they do have their moments….

and we’ve actually had lots of those “moments” during the past week….

where the arguing and whining have become like constant white noise in the background of our home.

After my repeated pleas to get along, and incessant bouts of redirection,

I started thinking about the need to shift the focus of our house from complaining, arguing, and whining

to words of praise, feelings of positivity, and gratitude.

{I received an email from one of my dearest friends a few months ago.

It was about changing the climate of your home from complaining into praise.

I held on to it, knowing full well that it was an article worth keeping.

For those of you interested in reading it {I highly recommend it}, you can do so here}.

 I personally think it is easy to get caught up in complaining and having a negative tone.

Unfortunately, it does set the climate of our homes.

We know that our kids learn best by our example.

Changing the atmosphere starts with us… as their parents.

Here are a few reminders to help keep the energy of our living environment more positive and uplifted:

{The Home Environment}

Create a home environment that is inviting and calm. I’m not sure about you, but I know that for Husby and I, we feel best when our home is tidy and organized so we can relax and enjoy the kids. I also love having a cozy place that is mine, so I can curl up and enjoy a good book from time-to-time. The kids should also have their own space within the home. Whether it’s a reading nook, a little hideout, or their room, it should be a safe and welcoming place where they can also relax. Here is more information on setting the ambiance of your home so that it feels more like a relaxing getaway {click here}.

{photo via: pinterest – reading nooks}

{Setting the tone}

Hopefully this goes without saying, but it’s best to use words in the home that lift each other up… words of encouragement and praise, rather than put-downs, name calling, and blaming. It also helps to physically get down to your child’s level to speak with them and make good eye contact. Truly practice the art of listening to your kids when they are speaking to you so that you can better understand them and their needs {for a great book on this, click here}.

{Monitoring Media}

In this day-in-age, we can’t be too careful in monitoring the various forms of media that our kids are exposed to…. such as TV, Internet, video games, music, etc., as well as the amount of time they are tuned in {click here for social media monitoring tips to use with your kids}.

{Time = Love}

Quality time spent with your kids can help cut down on their negative attention seeking behavior. You will be happier, as will your kids, when you put down your phone or whatever it is that’s drawing your attention away from them… and shift your focus to them. Some of my favorite memories as a kid were my parents playing Mastermind with me after dinner {heart smile}. A little bit of your undivided attention goes a long way, and won’t be quickly forgotten {click here for 100 ways to spend time with your kids}.

{A change of perspective & a gracious heart}

Sometimes all it takes is realizing that the tone of your house has been a bit off, or negative. Maybe it is just a simple shift in your perspective that your kids will take notice of and then emulate. Find ways as a family that you can share the things you are grateful for each day. In our family, we call this praise {praising God for what we have, and the blessings that have come our way}. In the article I previously mentioned about turning complaining into words of praise, she suggested having a family notebook readily available to all, to document the things you are grateful for each day {click here for tips on starting a gratitude journal}.

{via: quotes for kid spaces}

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”  ~ Oprah Winfrey