Parenting and managing money

This week was good.  We covered a subject that I have been trying to learn more about for the past year or so- money management.  In class we were asked to list three things we thought were particularly important to teach our families fromt the handout "One For the Money".  Our group decided that the three things were 1. tithing 2. restraint with spending and 3. the principle of hard work.  I think all three of these are very important principles to instill in young people's hearts.  My parents tried hard to teach me all of these.  I've always had to pay my tithing, on anything I received growing up.  My parents also had me save up for my mission, and I was able to pay for all of it, as well as college.  I am grateful that they taught me these principles because it has helped me to apprecitate the things that I save up and purchase, my education, as well as the things that they give me.  Parents have a lot of work to do with children, and I think that teaching them to manage their money is a very important role.  One reason for it is that it will help them to save up enough money for them to eventually move out of their parent's house.  That being said, I'm out. 

Conflict Res.

I really liked classes this week, discussing how couples should approach conflict, and how to communicate effectively.  I have been trying to make sure that the way I communicate with my roommates is in a way that they cannot misunderstand, which is something that we discussed in class.  So much of our communication is based on non-verbal cues, and I was trying hard this week to be aware of the signals I was using, and making sure that the person I was trying to communicate with was understanding my cues.  It was really interesting.  I was also more aware of how others communicated not only with me, but with conversations that I observed as well.

 I remember thinking that a marriage that had absolutely no disagreements was a perfect marriage, but I realized recently that conflicts or arguments are good, and healthy, if approached the correct way.  Growing up I had really poor examples on dealing with conflicts in marriage.  My step-dad would stonewall my mother, and they wouldn't talk, or when they did it was usually pretty heated.  My dad was really loud and would yell and throw things.  It wasn't until recently, with my mom's new husband, that I was able to see good examples on how to communicate, and reach decisions when different views are had.  Sometimes my mom compromises to please my step-dad, and vice versa.  Sometimes they come to a decision where they both feel victorious, it just depends on the argument.  It is nice to see peaceful arguments, however.  I hope that I will be able to communicate effectively with my wife, and I know that starts now, in the dating scene.  If I can't communicate with the girl that I am dating right now, and she can't communicate with me what makes me think that something will change when we get married and real problems arise?  That is poor thinking.  Anyways, it was a good class this week, and I really enjoyed it.  That's all.

I liked the things we talked about this week.  Mostly about how marital intimacy is more than just sexual, but consists of emotional and spiritual.  I liked how we discussed when to talk about sex with our children, and how we should be the ones to do it so they don't get distorted views about sexuality.  I hope that I will be okay at explaining that kind of stuff.  Anyways, it was a good week, I am looking forward to marriage even though it is quite a ways away.