Baseball legend, Tommy Lasorda said, “There are three kinds of people in this world: people who make it happen, people who watch what happens and people who wonder what happened.”
I am grateful for the trials, challenges and triumphs that make up who I am. I am grateful for my family, friends and acquaintances that support, encourage and teach me to be better and do better. I am grateful for goals met and goals yet to fulfill. I am grateful for….
Making Things Happen!
I’ve had the pleasure of working for and with Kevin Hall and Chad Hymas, members of the National Speakers Association (NSA), but to actually BECOME a MEMBER of the NSA and to ATTEND and SPEAK at the Perform 2014 NSA Convention in San Diego is a DREAM come true.
YES, that’s me and Scott on the stage in the Seaport Ballroom of the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego! BUT don’t be fooled. YES we attended, YES we are members, YES we stood on the stage, YES we spoke, BUT only to the staff who were setting up the room for an evening of comedy and entertainment by Jason Hewlett! But that’s okay! I’m sure the room would have been packed had anyone known! (Big Smiley Face)
…….AND BY-THE-WAY WE WERE AMAZING! We gave a heck-of-an-inspiring and motivational speech AND wish you could have been there!
It begins with a THOUGHT, a BELIEF and a DESIRE, then it takes ACTION – the “Getting your hands dirty to get things done” in order to REACH your Goal! AND that’s where we are NOW…
Taking ACTION!
How about YOU? Where are you on your journey to achieving your goals? And how can Scott and I best serve you to take ACTION?
With an emphasis on strengtheningrelationships Scott and I speak, train and coach audiences to:
1. Put the FUN, PASSION and EXCITEMENT back into life!
2. Turn obstacles into incredible opportunities.
3. Harness the power of CHANGE and rise above to progress.
4. Learn to COMMUNICATE effectively: The KEY to connecting.
5. Tap into unseen personal POWER and inner POTENTIAL to become an influencial LEADER in your home and workplace.
Please don’t hesitate to let us know how we can best serve you!
Click below to watch a short video recap of our experience at convention!
Do you have an unruly teenager that says the “H” word? Do you want to know what your teenager is REALLY saying when they say I HATE you?
Besides the obvious, “My emotions have come to a head and I don’t know a better way to express myself.” What you really want to know is what is BEHIND all that built up emotion. Right?
If you are a parent, you know that raising kids, especially getting through those teenage years is a journey, perhaps a roller-coaster better describes it! I’m not a therapist or a counselor just a REAL parent talking about the joys and the nitty-gritty PAINS of parenting, the stuff that keeps parents awake at night!
Growing up I couldn’t wait to be a mother! I loved kids! In fact, I wanted TEN children – I thought how hard could raising TEN children be? I was certain all I had to do was “love” them and be the “cool” mom and have great communication with my children and they would grow up without a hitch. That was my plan!
My husband Scott and I were mostly on the same page in how to raise our children, at least we had the same end goal, which was to raise our children into responsible, independent and productive adults.
We had our first five children in six and a half years – now that alone accounted for some craziness in our home – especially when I blinked and realized all FIVE were TEENAGERS at the same time!! Double yikes! ….and three were GIRLS! Triple yikes! Yes, I wanted TEN children, but when number seven was born it felt like ten and our family felt complete, so we named him Skye, cause sky’s the limit. And that youngest son just turned 18! Another YIKES! They grow up too fast.
It didn’t take long after becoming a mother before REALITY set in and I realized every child was born with their own unique and distinct personality, and I discovered what worked for one child did NOT work for the next.
It’s no secret that children come into our homes without a “How to properly raise me instruction guide.” – it’s a learn as you go process. And just when you think you have it figured out they hit puberty and you are back to square one!
What was suppose to be a straight line from A to Z turned out to be all loop-de-looped and squiggly.
As rough as it may sound, there is a lot of JOY in raising kids, yes even TEENAGERS! In fact, my husband Scott says,
“If you are not having fun then you are doing something wrong!”
But when you are in the midst of a trial it is rough! There is a reason I color my hair and have bags under my eyes and calluses on my knees from the many long pleading prayers with God over a child – especially during those teen years. Don’t get me wrong – the TEEN years were and are some of my favorite years!
NOW back to the question of the day….
What your teenager is REALLY saying when they say I HATE you?
If you are a parent, you too have had episodes of getting upset, during which you lose all logical and reasoning brain cells and say something you wish we had NOT said.
One thing about kids is that they don’t hide their feeling. You know when they are happy – you know when they are sad, mad etc… They don’t leave it up to you to guess their mood – they show it! They whine, they suddenly strike out at a sibling, they scream I HATE you! Their feelings and moods can change on a dime. Their emotions come to a head and they don’t know any better way than to shout out what they are feeling.
Do you remember the first time your teenager said “I HATE you”? Perhaps you were like me, livid, you couldn’t believe what you had just heard – you their parent, their provider, their nurturer was being told “I HATE you!” I wanted to give them something to really hate me about. But as a parent and an adult, I restrained my initial thought to lash out, and I replied as calmly as I could muster, “I’m sorry you feel that way, but you are not exactly at the top of my like list right now.”
Sometimes the hardest parenting task is keeping your own emotions in check.
The top 3 parenting tips to dealing with an unruly teenager:
#1 Keep your cool – Don’t get too worked up when your teenager says they hate you. If means you are doing your job! You are being their parent which trumps being their friend. Don’t get me wrong, you want to be their friend too, but being their parent comes FIRST and far most. Wait until things have calmed down then talk about it. It doesn’t do any good to try to resolve a conflict when emotions are running high.
#2 Get to the root of the problem – What is behind the built up emotion? Every situation is different. Sometimes what’s behind the anger is obvious, other times you are completely BAFFLED and clueless. LISTEN and LOOK for the hidden clues – the non-verbal clues – their body language. The words “I hate you” may be the outlet from having a bad day and you just got the brunt of it OR it may be masking something more serious.
Asking questions, once they have cooled down, is a good way to find out what’s bothering them. Getting to the root of what is making them feel so angry and frustrated is key to resolving conflict – this is not always easy and sometimes it’s like peeling an onion.
#3 Love UNCONDITIONALLY with no BUT’s. Look for the good and sincerely tell them how much you appreciate them and love them. Rather than only praising your child’s accomplishments, encourage and praise effort. Teens love to know they are appreciated and needed.
As I have traveled the world speaking and coaching as far away as India. I’ve yet to meet anyone, especially a teenager that does NOT want to “fit in” to feel loved, safe, trusted, respected, appreciated and valued for who they are. Most important at the end of the day is that your teenager knows you LOVE them, both in words and in action. It’s as simple as an “I love you” and a heartfelt hug.
What your teenager is REALLY saying when they say I HATE you….
“You’re doing your job as a parent and I don’t like it. But keep loving me – I need to know I’m valued and needed.”
Becky Mack’s Life Lesson: See past, through and beyond the “I hate you.”
Growing up in the 60’s, 70’s and even into the 80’s I knew only a handful of people who were divorced. Today unfortunately, that number is much higher and some are my dearest friends who have been through some really tough stuff. It wasn’t the ending they imagined, but the right ending for a new beginning.
Experience and life has shown me that no marriage or person is perfect, that’s part of the learning and growing process. But to go through life’s challenges with someone you love by your side makes life sweeter.
SooooOooo… you are married or thinking about getting married and want to know….
What’s the SECRET to a HaPpY marriage?
Here’s what I have seen and experienced to be the REAL secret behind a happy marriage…
Marriage is a two-way partnership consisiting of respect, love, integrity, loyalty, honesty, forgiveness, compassion, empathy, trust, communication and commitment!
If any of those virtues are lacking, relationships suffers – some beyond repair.
“Marriage is not for wimps or the selfish. Marriage is not 50 – 50. Marriage is 100 – 100.”
I married a man that had all the qualities on my “must have list” and I was confident that we would work through any challenges that came our way. And guess what? I was RIGHT! It hasn’t been smooth sailing, but so far we are 100% in getting through the challenges that life brings, including raising 7 children. And that is something to celebrate!
September 22 (2014) is our 31st wedding anniversary. I am grateful to have a man that loves me, adores me and gives 100% to not only our marriage, but to everything that he does. He’s not perfect, I’m not perfect, but we are perfect at being committed to each other – perfect at getting through the tough stuff, and perfect at trying to DO better and BE better everyday.
Thank you Scott Mackintosh for thinking that girl you bumped into on the dance floor of Frisco Bay 31 years ago was worth pursuing! I’m that lucky girl – I’m married to not only the BEST.DAD.EVER, but I’m married to the BEST.HUSBAND.EVER.
There you have it! The SECRET to a HaPpY Marriage is Respect, Love, Integrity, Loyalty, Honesty, Forgiveness, Compassion, Empathy, Trust, Communication and Commitment!
In 2012, our 24 year-old son told his father and I that he was gay. After keeping it secret for two years, we chose to go public in hope of letting others know they are not alone. Within days of posting our video and article, we were inundated with messages and emails from people across the nation with a son, daughter, brother, sister, or who themselves are same-gender attracted – sharing their stories, their hurt and their desire for a better tomorrow.
This experience opened my eyes to the masses that are hurting and contemplating suicide, families that feel broken, and hearts that need to heal.
The nagging thought “What can I do?” lead to creating a website dedicated to “Enlighten Minds, Strengthen Families and Heal the Wounded Heart”. The things that you will find on the Healing Hearts Saving Lives website stem from the many questions people have asked seeking guidance, love and support.
Update: Today was the funeral of Mikey Funk, a young man from Logan, Utah who took his life on Sunday who battled same-gender attraction. And when I say “battled” I’m referring to the judgement, the isolation and hatred that so many deal with on a daily basis. It was hearing too many stories like Mikey’s that lead me to try to make a difference. If something I share can enlighten one mind, strengthen one family, heal one heart, then I’ve made a difference in one. And that ONE is important to God.
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