Pooh Counts is a book that we received when Madison was little. She still plays with it and so does Will! The pages are made of cardboard, so they are definitely tough and can withstand children.  As you can see from the picture, there are beads going across the top.  Each page of the this story is about the Winnie The Pooh characters going to pick berries.  The story has you move the beads/berries from one side to the next.  The beads/berries are also color coded too.  This book very easily teaches colors and counting, and your kids won’t even know they are learning!  There are a total of ten beads/berries, so it is still very elementary (though if the characters decide to eat all the berries they are going to need some fitness equipment to burn those calories off. Look another book idea for them. LOL).  Pooh Counts is also only ten pages long, so even kids with the shortest attention spans can enjoy it.

Don’t you wish your kids came with a handbook?  I know I wish mine did.  I luck out that my children are still young.  We don’t have the out of control tweens or tweenagers here.  I don’t having challenging behaviors to deal except for 4 year old energy.  However, I don’t want my kids to turn into those kids!  That is why I decided to look at The Total Transformation Program.  I also read on so many moms blogs about their children treating them poorly — calling them names, being violent, not listening, etc.  What always floors me is that they would not put up from that behavior from a stranger, but it is okay for their children to behave in that matter.

Now, I wasn’t expecting much.  Instead, I got 7 CDs, 1 DVD and a workbook.  The first thing I do have to tell you:  this program will NOT work if you don’t put the time into it.  This isn’t read the book, and you have a magic pill to make everything good again.  There is work involved here.  Now, if you have younger children like mine, you may have to do some modification on this program.  (Then again I don’t have a lot of the problems either so I just am modifying it for my own needs).  I’ll be honest, if you don’t want to do the work, then don’t buy this.  Otherwise it will just end up being a bookend in your house.

What I have learned so far?  First, I learned that some of my parental methods are not the right ones (which I knew already).  You are able to find out what you fall under for your ineffective parenting roles.  Personally, I am the screamer.  I know, I shouldn’t but I do.  However, I never realized what I was teaching my children.  When I get into a yelling match with Madison, I am showing her that we are emotional peers.  I have come down to her level and just undermined my own authority (this was my duh! moment).  I also am showing her that no one is in control.  Now, this seems like common sense, but you don’t even realize this is what is going on. (All of this is in the workbook).  You have to assume parental control.  You need to give simple directions and quit asking your kids to do things.  You tell them to do their homework versus asking them.  You have to disconnect when disrespect occurs.  When the scream starts, you walk away.  There is no reasoning with your children.  You are the boss (and there are scripts in the workbook that you can use).  You need to lessen the stimulation in their lives.  Give positive feedback when appropriate.  If they do good, tell them.  You can’t just be on their butts about all the negative behavior.  You need to show them that good behavior gets them a much better response.

This is how The Total Transformation Program works.  First, get the workbook.  The workbook has a pretest for each lesson which is your introduction for the lesson.  Next, you listen to the audio CD.  These are long (I’d say maybe an hour or so), so make sure you have the time to listen.  Then after the CD is over, you go back to the workbook.  There is a summary of what you should have gotten from the lesson, exercises for you to do, and an action plan for you.  Then do it again with the next lesson.  They recommend one CD a week, so this is pretty easy to schedule somewhere in your life.

Now, this isn’t going to work with every single kids out there.  There is no way I can say it will.  The part I like about this program is that you can work it according to your schedule, your pace, and your family.  They have a 30 day trial, so you can try this out with your family.  If it is not working, send it back!  They also have a parental support line.  They can clarify lessons for you and even direct you to the correct response to incidents occurring in your house.   This isn’t a program that leaves you high and dry after you get the stuff in the mail.  They are with you every step of the way.

If you are at your wits end with your children, I definitely think this is program you should try out.  I’ve seen little changes I have made with my daughter (like it keeping it simple) already working with her.  I’d love to hear from any of you who have tried this program and tell me your thoughts!

I swear my husband has the most disgusting vehicle ever.  I have often talked about what crappy gas mileage we get with the Jeep, but I have never talked about how gross and filthy it gets.  It is nasty.  Bill works a lot of time on job sites.  Now, this can mean everything from buildings already done to those that are just breaking ground.  He also carries a lot of tools and supplies for the guys in there.  Needless to say, his Jeep has a layer of dirt in there that I didn’t think was possible to clean off.

Turtle Wax ICE™ Total Interior Care came to the rescue.  I know when I think of Turtle Wax, I always think of the great job they do on the outside of our vehicles.  However, they do as great of a job on the inside too.  You know that layer of muck I was just talking about — gone.  It didn’t take much elbow grease either!  Our 5 year old Jeep looks almost brand new on the inside with its cleanliness.  I am impressed and I don’t mind sitting in the Jeep now.

It doesn’t get easier than this to use either:

· It is best to apply wax on surfaces between 55 and 85 degrees

· Apply the wax to soft, cotton, damp cloth and apply to the surface to be protected. Use a separate cloth to remove the wax

· Wax should be reapplied when water beading diminishes

The other cool thing with the Turtle Wax ICE™ Total Interior Care is that it has so many uses besides your car.  First, try this on your patio furniture.  It’ll keep the dust, dirt, and grime off it, and keep it looking like you just bought it.  My favorite — use it in the bathroom.  You can say goodbye to soap scum.  In the kitchen, you can use it to remove stains from appliances and other kitchen surfaces (like my old crappy countertops).   It will also clean stains on carpets and leather furniture!

There are so many uses for Turtle Wax ICE™ Total Interior Care that it is definitely worth every cent you pay for it.  You’ll be finding yourself running out to get more quite quickly when you see how good it works.