Natural Self Portraits INTRO: Hi I am Katie Brown Today I want to talk about how we can make the family around us in these days of quarantine feel good about who they are. Announcer: Welcome to Quarantine Mom The place for inspiration to take your family higher during this time of togetherness. SET UP: In these challenging time, when family is all we got, I want to talk about creating something that will help us teach our family how to feel good about who they are, how they smile, how they laugh, how they gaze, how people see them, how they make others feel, the way they care and share. I want to talk about a way we can remind them how much there is to admire about exactly who they are. SEGWAY Today I want to share an activity with you that will allow you to identify and celebrate with your children; yep I said CELEBRATE, (this is something that is so very important to do as a family during these challenging times) I want to share with you how to CELEBRATE the things we and more importantly they are grateful for about themselves. In a moment I want to walk you though a how to make a unique self portrait made from nature. Quarantine Hack: First, today's Quarantine Life Hack FAMILY DOINGS: Children, teens, heck even grown ups get their self esteem their confidence from WINS … I call them LIFE WINS…. They can come in BIG grand awards and goals achieved But, today I am not talking about BIG awards or momentous accomplishments I am talking about the little wins, The small winks that can make us stand a little taller and put a spring in your step…. The subtle daily gestures, -your friend throwing you the ball on the schoolyard, -your teacher calling on you and telling you well done when you answer, -the passerby who says I like your smile -the older woman who remarks “aren’t you sweet “ when you hold the door open for them These are all positive reflections that our kids need and deserve as they slug through their days Those daily affirmations are part of the simple sauce that helps flavor their opinion of themselves. They are part of the recipe that make our children confident and self assured They make one comfortable with who they are. It is all part of maturing and developing self-acceptance. In these days of sheltering in place, those little LIFE WINS are not available to stirr into the soup of self-esteem. It seems that many in this world during this time of Covid 19 suggest we spend time acknowledging -What we are grateful for, -Making graduate lists, -Starting gratitude journals which I agree is so important and such a good habit to teach your children I just think it is important during this time of isolation when the LITTLE WINS are not being delivered from the people we normally interact with that our young ones take stock in what they know and love and appreciate about themselves Some may call it bragging (Although it is a fine line) I call it self-love which to me is part of self-care and self-acceptance and self esteem And what better way to get the kids talking about the things they like and are proud of in themselves then making a creative self-portrait As they put it together ask them what they like about their face, their smile, their kind eyes, the way their nose crinkles when they laugh, Let the creation of this work of art stimulate the conversation with themselves, with you, with their siblings about what in them is so special that it can light up a room. And watch them sit a little taller, smile a little wider, laugh a little louder and soak up a whole lotta wins that have been left out of the daily baking during this shelter in place period. How-TO : To get this celebration of self-esteem started you and yours need to grab a paper or plastic bag and head outside. Collect and toss into your bags things like rocks, bark, pinecones, leaves and grass. Then pull up a chair to a table where you should place a bundle of cardboard squares T...
