New idea

I decided the other day that my kids and their parents were more negative with each other than we ever seemed to be positive so we are starting something new. I gave the kids and my mom as well as Daniel and I 6 pieces of cardstock and we are all going to write down something we like about each other on each one and I am going to put each person's pages in a paperboard scrapbook along with pictures of each of us. That way we can look back on them and know that our family members do think nice things about us now and then. I really figured I would get alot of flack when I brought it up but all the responses were positive! Mom asked what we were to do if we didn't have anything positive to say and I told her that it was funny that she mentioned that because I had already planned to tell them that if they couldn't find something positive to say then perhaps they needed to search their soul and see what they could do to help that person be a better person or even see if maybe they were a problem to that person. I also told them that I didn't want any negativity at all, we would save that for another year. When I went upstairs Jonathon said he didn't know what to do about Grandma. I was shocked! I asked him if he couldn't find something he liked about her and he said that was his problem...he liked EVERYTHING about her but didn't know if it was ok to just do that. He also had 1 more question...did we really have to write the negative things next year because he would rather not take part in that. I told him I was kidding about that and he was glad! I tried to explain to my kids how fragile life is: for the last 3 years we have lost at least 1 relative. I told them that all the little things that bother us really wouldn't matter if one of us were to be buried tomorrow. I think I got through to them. I saw some tears among some that I would not of expected. I just never want to take my family for granted and I want them to feel that way about each other. If one of us were gone then our family would be incomplete. I am looking foward to havin them read these things on Christmas Eve.