What are you doing, Wednesday, March 20, 2019? 
If you’re free and near San Bernardino, CA, come on down to Ruth’s Art Workshop at the Library – learn some drawing tips – AND get a FREE FLIP BOOK, too!  Which FLIP BOOK will YOU Choose? Check them out at this link!

SETTLING ARGUMENTS – FOR GOOD!

When children are taught to calmly express themselves in a ‘safe’ environment, and to listen patiently as they give others the same courtesy, it will go a long way to growing them into more thoughtful adults who will be able to work out their problems peacefully! This simple technique called Resolve or Report* helps them learn how!

The Strategy: Resolve or Report is a method that teaches kids how to work out their differences. By giving them choices, they are empowered and not left feeling helpless.

The PROCESS:  When children have an argument or fight, take them aside. Tell them that this is not acceptable behavior and that we must learn to work our our problems peacefully.  Give them a CHOICE: Do they want to Resolve it between them peacefully? Or do they need to Report it to an adult to help referee? If they choose the RESOLVE option, they will agree to try to resolve the matter between one another. If they cannot do it on their own they can choose to REPORT it to an adult to help facilitate.

With EITHER OPTION, they agree to FOLLOW THESE RULES:

1: TAKE TURNS TALKING and LISTENING

They will each get a chance to tell their side of the story. Choose who talks first by tossing a coin (heads or tails) or throwing dice (the highest number goes first), or something similar.

2- TALK CALMLY when it’s your turn, and LISTEN POLITELY when it’s the other person’s turn to talk.

3- When it’s YOUR turn, make “I”, not “YOU” Statements:

    ——> For instance, “I felt _this_ when you did _that__”

4- SHARE these things: 

1. How YOU felt
2. What YOU think happened
3. What YOU could have done differently
4. How you think the OTHER person felt
5. What you feel they could have done differently

This technique helps them to see each other’s perspective, making it easier to solve the disagreement.  If they cannot RESOLVE the issue between them by themselves, they can choose to REPORT their side of the story to an adult who can assist in helping them see the other person’s point of view.

Resolve or Report is a way to give kids an understanding that they have options to work things out. Either by resolving issues between them -or- asking that another sit with them while they each take a turn reporting their story. Giving children a choice in resolving their own problems can immediately de-escalate behavior and decrease incidents in the future.

Download this as a PDF here.

STAY ON TARGET – For GOOD!  

Everyone wants to think they are right. Right?    

Or do we just want to be the only one who is right? 

The only way to really be ‘on target’  for good is to AIM for what is really right. For everyone.

And that means PEACE between us.

The only problem is. . .

We may be aiming for peace, but the other person may not want peace. They may want to fight.

Fighting and arguing are like a fire.

Imagine that our Self is like the house we live in.

What do people DO to protect a house from fire? One way is to create a ‘fire break’  – an area around it, cleared of all debris that would ignite.

If a fire should start outside that area, it will stop when it gets to the ‘fire break’, and will not get close enough to burn the house down.

In the same way, the technique called “Resolve or Report” creates a safe area around both parties, in which they can express themselves without fear of getting ‘burned’.

Learn more tips to develop good character in kids

HERE!

*The technique of ‘Resolve or Report’ is paraphrased from thewatsoninstitute.org

Lovely song, “In My Paper World” by Jas Hilsdon, singing with his daughter, Mavis!

5 Essential Creative Skills Your Child Can Learn in 2019

Art sharpens the brain, but if you thought that all artists were born that way, think again! A study published in the journal NeuroImage has found that beginners’ classes in painting or drawing literally change the brain, improving fine motor skills and creativity as a whole! With art it is often a case of ‘If you can start it you can become it’, and that means that all children, not only those with a natural love or ability for art, can hone qualities like originality, artistic fluency, and creative uses of images, if they are taught artistic skills. To cater lessons to kids, try to think out of the box. Classes don’t have to be traditional or even involve drawing at all. Why not try these 5 skills in the New Year, joining your child in discovering the artist within?

Thanks to Steve Johnson from Pexels

Sewing a Decorative Piece

By teaching a child easy beginners’ stitches like cross stitch, running stitch, and back stitch, you can inspire them to sew a beautiful image or message they can later frame and hang in your home as artwork. Older kids can use a beginner’s sewing machine to create more complex designs, following a pattern or even drawing their own design to embroider over. Even little kids who are still too young to thread a needle can use plastic ‘baby needles’, which have an extra large ‘eye’ to string yarn and other thicker thread types through. Sewing is a craft that lowers stress so it is deal for anyone facing anxiety.

3D Printing

3D printed decorative pieces in bright colors like yellow, fuschia, and emerald green sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars at top designer stores. Advances in the technology have made machines far more affordable. For less than $200, you can have your own machine that kids can use to design and create personalized gifts and décor pieces for family and friends. 3D design and printing is a great way for kids to learn about perspective and size. Those who love to draw can take it a step further by hand-painting their designs after printing them.

Game Design

Sites like Scratch (which teach code using a games-based approach) are fantastic for creative kids with a passion for technology. Far from simply moving characters from Point A to Point B, kids can create a beautiful maze or backdrop for the characters they create. That is, games should be beautiful to look at as well as functional. Introduce them to complementary and contrasting colors and unique shapes, and see how they can use these in the games they design.

Graphic Design

From around middle school onwards, children will normally be asked to prepare printed projects at school. The task can seem less daunting if they master programs like Photoshop, PowerPoint or (for teens and older kids) InDesign. There are many free tutorials you and your kids can use to learn the initial steps of more complex programs. Use the next homework task they have to help them present their work in a stylish way.

Web Design

Kids who love writing or designing can create a webpage by relying on free website templates, uploading any existing blogs, articles, or poems they have written. Older kids can try their hand at WordPress, which has a host of plug-ins they can put to good use in their future professions. One of these is Yoast, which guides users in matters such as SEO keywords and meta descriptions – key elements of a page or content with a good SEO rating.

Some people are born artists, but they definitely don’t represent all people who enjoy making art. Because art has such a powerful effect on the brain, kids should be encouraged from the word go to use all the materials and applications they have at their disposal, to show their creativity. A bevy of apps, programs, and free online tutorials mean that no skill is a mystery these days, so long as you are interested in discovering more!

This is a true story!

One Christmas night many years ago, I was driving our old station wagon in the pouring rain. Among my seven kids in the car, 10 yr old daughter Lisa was very excited. For years she had begged us for an umbrella of her very own. “I want a big sturdy one, Mom, like you and Dad have”, and that day, in the rain, we finally got her the umbrella she had always wanted! 

We passed a homeless man on the other side of the street – no hat, no raincoat, soaking wet. I couldn’t find it in my heart to keep going.

“Oh that poor guy!” I exclaimed, “We have to do something.”

I stopped at the next light and began fumbling in my purse to see if I had anything I could give him.  All I could find was an old inspirational tract that said, “God – I’ve made a mess of my life – can you help?”

As I turned the car around, and drove closer, I prayed silently,

“God – please help me! Give me the right words to say!”

Then I saw the fellow. He was a young man, probably in his early twenties, but looking more like a 50 year old, stooped over, rain dripping from head to toe. 

As we approached the corner, I rolled down the window and stuck out the tract,and said, “I wish I had something more to give you. I can’t believe you’re out here in this weather! You should go to one of the churches down the street. They can help you!”

He cocked his head and said, “They can?”

“Of course,” I answered. “That’s what they’re there for!” His eyes brightened up as he said, “Thank you.” Then I heard my daughter’s voice from the back seat. “Mom – give him this” and she handed me her treasured umbrella! He thanked us heartily, and we wished him a ‘Merry Christmas’ as we drove off. We prayed for him that night and I thought it was the end of the story…

Months later, I was driving again down the same street, right by the church I had told the young man about. I spotted him, raking leaves and talking to the preacher outside. He was dressed in better clothes, and looked healthier. ‘Wow! He really did it!’, I thought. 

Later that year I found myself Christmas shopping – again in the pouring rain.  Looking for a parking spot amid the hustle and bustle of people, I saw one of the employees. He looked vaguely familiar. As I searched my memory, I suddenly realized it was the same young man I had seen those few Decembers ago! As he helped a customer into their car in the rain, he had a big smile on his face while holding a large, sturdy umbrella over them.

Wow. A sudden rush of astonishment came over me. Could an umbrella and a heart of compassion from a 10 year old have made a difference in his life? What if we hadn’t stopped that day in the rain? I’m so thankful I didn’t turn away. It sure made me happy to be a part of the story! 

We find character in ALL kinds of places, especially in KIDS! 

The student on the right wrote, “I LOVE MY BIRD LIFE”!

Students are expressing character and loving kindness through the many classes given by EDU DESIGNS volunteers.

They are learning to respect life while they are learning to sketch, analyze draw and animate birds.

When they took art out of my son’s school for budgetary reasons, he came home and announced sadly, “The reason I went to school wasn’t there today.”

Ever since then, I determined to do something about it.  If they couldn’t afford art in school, we would volunteer our time to help. And we began our non-profit to bring art back to the schools in 2007. 

Kids are SO grateful to get ART time in class!

Teachers (and moms) have known all along that that ART is as VITAL to growing a child’s intelligence as other disciplines. It’s taken a long time, but finally the importance of the arts is being recognized by those who took it out long ago. Now that schools are slowly beginning to implement the STEAM curriculum (which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), the problem exists that teachers still don’t have the money to do it all, so we are helping as best we can. 

I’ve been doing my best, but there isn’t enough of me to go around! 

Are you able to help?

If you have a bit of artistic skill and a few hours a month to volunteer, I need you!  

If the spirit is moving you, and if you are chosen to be part of this great work, you will be personally mentored in my easy-to-learn, step-by-step method of teaching basic drawing skills to elementary students. 

It’s an opportunity that you will never regret. And so much fun, you will wonder why you didn’t start yesterday! 

Are you willing to help? 

CONTACT ME.

Many Thanks,

Ruth Elliott-Hilsdon – Founder, Director: Edu Designs, GoMommyGO®
ruth@edudesigns.org

PS – Isn’t it true that everything we have is because it was first given to us? Whether life, health, a sound mind, it is a gift. Along the line we get a chance to give back. Will you join us? That’s what Edu Designs is doing.

Peter Marshall wisely said,

“Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned!” 

Our all-volunteer Board of Directors generously donates their time, so EVERY contribution helps, whatever the size.

Never miss an opportunity to do a good deed.

I am grateful for you.  ~Ruth Elliott-Hilsdon

Teachers are excited and happy along with the children who get to learn about birds!

In Fontana, these kids are “for the birds” – in a very positive sense. They are enjoying the combination of science and art enrichment thanks to Lisa Elliott who received a grant from the Community Foundation and the EEC, allowing students to learn about birds and draw them, too! Lisa teaches them to become citizen scientists by observing and identifying different birds and their natural surroundings, the importance of birds to our ecosystem and how to use a binocular for bird watching. In the classes they learn how to record their findings and even how to draw their feathered friends.

OUR BIRD ABBY ADDS HER HEART!

Abby, the Rescued Grosbeak!

When students hear the story and see pictures of Abby, the bird we rescued, they are immediately touched, inspired to become more involved with bird life.

Students are totally engaged as Emmy Award Winning Artist Ruth Elliott-Hilsdon teaches how to draw birds!

The excitement builds as Emmy Award winning artist Ruth Elliott-Hilsdon shows them how to draw birds and create their own animated flip page!

STUDENTS LEARN PARTICIPATION IN LIFE 

At the end of the classes the students are invited to borrow a special school backpack that contains all the equipment needed to birdwatch and record their findings. Included is a book to identify birds, binoculars, pencils, paper and information on how to record and share their data. 

BEING ‘FOR THE BIRDS’ IS A GOOD THING!

The best part of all is seeing the joy on the children’s faces as they actively engage with the world around them and learn to participate in caring for nature. This will truly impact them for the rest of their lives!

Ruth Elliott-Hilsdon, Founder of Edu Designs and GoMommyGO®

If you believe in our mission, please support us!

We need your help! All donations go towards our non-profit’s mission to create media for children’s character development and education. Not a single cent of your gifts go for salaries.

Childhood trauma can lead to adult addiction. It’s scary, but true.

This article gives a great view of the facts in a nutshell.

“As the twig is bent, so grows the tree”

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events, such as abuse or neglect, that can have negative, lasting effects on health and well-being. 

“An Ounce of Prevention is worth a POUND of Cure”

Preventing Childhood Trauma before it happens is the best way to assure the  health and well-being of adults.  Well, DUH! Seems obvious, right? Well, now there’s PROOF!

“Mighty Oaks from little Acorns grow”

This tells me EDU DESIGNS and GoMommyGO® have been on the right track for a long time.

READ THIS ARTICLE

Prevent ‘toxic stress’ from impacting your family. Get help.  

Embrace the challenge Children bring – and you will gain skills you need in every part of life! 

KIDS TEACH YOU

— 1- To Observe
They teach you to PAY ATTENTION to another. And if you don’t watch them they’ll do something to force you to notice them!

2- To Plan Ahead
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. For example:
When dinner isn’t ready when they are hungry, their screams will make you wish you HAD planned ahead! Want to be a success at something? Success is where Preparation and Opportunity meet. Learn to plan your work and work your plan.

3- To DO – Be Proactive, not REACTIVE
(ie: Be ready to be interrupted at the drop of a hat to do whatever needs to be done! See INTERRUPTIBILITY)
You learn:
Strike while the iron is hot.
Don’t wait till things fall apart.
Foresight IS better than hindsight.
Plant seeds of character by your example.
The sooner you face a problem the easier it is to solve.
For instance, the best time to discipline a teenager is when he’s 3 years old!
Understand that there will always be messes, physical or emotional.
Just clean them up as soon as they happen.

Remember: There are 3 kinds of people in the world:
Those who make things happen
Those who watch things happen
And those who wonder WHAT happened! (You don’t want to be that one!)

When done right, being a parent teaches you how to take care of business.
Like the CEO of a corporation, you will be ready to handle anything the world can throw at you.

In business, people use Other People’s Money to succeed.
In the world of Parenting, you can use Other People’s Work to make the job easier.

I want you to get my 9 tips to keep you from freaking out,
to help you get a handle on what to do to keep your head above water
so you can begin to start being proactive in your life.

Here’s what Deaunna Evans, from Super Moms Coaching said about these 9 tips:

“I just finished reading your amazing 9 TIPS TO KEEP YOU FROM FREAKING OUT!
These 9 tips you give are some excellent FOUNDATIONAL keys to helping parents become more responsive rather than reactive.
So practical. So true…”

My dad once told me “Remember, Ruthie- no matter how hard it gets, there’s always a way through!” 
You never need to be a victim of circumstance. Learn how to get through and be in control again with these 9 tips.

Warmest wishes,

PS -Speaking of being proactive,  I need to ask a big favor.
If you love our work with kids, will you give us a 5 star review on GreatNonprofits?

Go to https://greatnonprofits.org/org/edu-designs

IT WILL HELP SO MUCH!
THANK YOU!

Ruth Elliott-Hilsdon
Founder, Director, EDU DESIGNS, a public-benefit nonprofit charity.
Creator: GoMommyGO®, the Registered Trademark of EDU DESIGNS
Our Mission is to create and distribute media for the education, motivation and character development of Children.
Donate to EDU DESIGNS

Can Comics teach character? Of course they can! It’s all about the STORY!

Fun at San Diego Comic-Con, 2017!

At my art presentations to kids, whenever I ask the question, “Does anyone here like cartoons?” I get a howling “YES!” from everyone!

The overwhelming popularity of events, such as Comic-Con, are proof that comics and cartoons hit a universal nerve: The Good Guys vs. The Bad Guys.

WHAT DO SUPERHERO COMICS TEACH US?

Superheroes are primarily good examples of courage in the face of adversity, the willingness to bring the bad guys to justice, and protect the innocent. Although the milieu is outlandish and supernatural, it always encompasses a full range of human strength and weaknesses. We are left with the sense that even though we ordinary humans don’t have the power to move mountains or fly, we can still be a force for good in this world. We can still be heroes. That’s what superhero comics teach us.

In the end, superheroes represent human values.

At the heart of each of us is the desire to be victorious over our problems. We need good examples. Superheroes provide an example of strength over tribulations. 

The common man, living a life of ‘quiet desperation’, needs hope. Characters like Spiderman, Superman and all the rest highlight the angst we ‘stuff’ in order to tolerate the inane humdrum pace of our lives and for a brief moment give us a sense of power. That little shot of adrenaline provides a boost as a catharsis to get us to FEEL again.

COMIC CONVENTIONS PROVIDE FELLOWSHIP FOR ‘BELIEVERS IN IMAGINATION’

Thousands flock to comic conventions all over the world.

Comics answer the deep need in the human psyche for a Higher Power – someone to take charge.  If we can’t identify with Superheroes in real life, then we can at least enjoy the feeling in our imagination.

Nothing comes into being without imagining it first. The fellowship  at Comic-cons everywhere gives ‘believers’ a place to join in kinship with others to affirm the value of imagination in concrete form.

EDU DESIGNS is working to spur the character and imagination of children through our media and teaching tools. 

Please join with us in our mission. 

Every little bit helps! 

Warm Wishes,

Ruth Elliott-Hilsdon, Founder of Edu Designs and GoMommyGO®

We need your help! Every penny of your donation goes towards our non-profit’s mission to create media for children’s character development and education. Not a single cent of your gifts go for salaries!

All Volunteer Board of Directors:

Our Board of Directors generously volunteers their time and energy to create an organization that inspires children to be constructive members of society. That means 100% of your contribution will go to programs that help children, and not for salaries. Every contribution helps! Edu Designs makes careful use of your support. We don’t use a single cent of your gifts for overhead – 100% goes to programs to help children.

Director: Ruth Elliott-Hilsdon, co-founder of EDU DESIGNS: VIP member of Worldwide Who’s Who. Emmy Award Winning Artist, author/illustrator, and creator of GoMommyGO®, a Registered Trademark of EDU DESIGNS, with FREE  Illustrated Behavior Charts and Tips for Parents.

Director, CEO : D. R. Elliott-Cullquipuma, co-founder of EDU DESIGNS: BA in Childhood Development, MA in Education, Awarded Best Teacher in 2007 by the LA Board of Supervisors, given the Golden Apple Award in 2010 & 2018; recognized by the William Clinton Foundation in 2011; Contributing writer and Content Creator for EDU DESIGNS.

Director of Business Develoment: Lawrence Ma, Creator of International Processing Systems

Director of Creative Development: Jas Hilsdon,  Songwriter and Lyricist

Director: Dr. Raymond Jones, PhD, LMFT, MDiv, CSAT-S, CHt.

Director of Technical Development: Keidric Wong, Internet Specialist

Director of Business Development for Special Needs: Sandra Vielma

Art and Science In Life (ASIL) Advisor: Lisa Elliott

Associate Creative Director: Annie Elliott

Autism Advocates in Media: Dani Bowman, Patrick Eidemiller and Sandra Vielma of Powerlignt Studios

---

ADVISORY BOARD:

The Art of Music: Hans Adamson

Engineering Life Skills: Bob Blick

Integrity in Life: Robert & Kathy Butler

Art and Knowledge: Bonnie & Tim Callahan

Musical Inspiration: Liza Carbe & Jean Pierre Durand

Art and Science In Life (ASIL): Lisa Elliott

Music and Creative Support: Richie Furay

Art & Education Research: Carol Goodwin

Homeschool Education: Emily Grimley

Middle School Media: Steven Guiles

Bilingual Music for Children: Sara Quintanar

Character and Compassion: Peter Romano

Legal Advisor: Amanda Seward, Esq.

Prior CFO and Co-Founder:

 David Elliott, (In Memoriam):

EDU DESIGNS is a Non Profit 501(c)(3) Corporation. Fed. Tax ID # 261576531   GoMommyGO® is a Registered Trademark of EDU DESIGNS
EDU DESIGNS_IRS_Letter of Determination

THESE LITTLE FLIP BOOKS INSPIRE KIDS!

When I saw my first flip book at 8 years old I became excited to do animation myself!  I went on to create my own flip books, not realizing that one day I would go on to become an animator! 

When I show these to kids they are ecstatic and delighted!

Now you can get three of mine (and all proceeds help our non-profit continue).

FREE SHIPPING INCLUDED!

Buy one or all three! Watch them, then order below: 

1- ROSCOE RUN:

I love how the little squirrel’s tail moves as he runs along!

2- ROBART’S BALL:

A character I created in 3D! Fun with Robart as he chases his Ball!

Here’s another view of the animation: 

3- WONKY FACE! 

Watch as the Face eats the flower and what happens in reverse!

Only $4 each, (or get an entire set of all 3 for just $9 (FREE SHIPPING, included!) Bulk rates available, too, as low as $1 each for 60 or more!

Contact me for bulk orders

First, select from the drop-down menu below, then click the ‘Buy Now’ button:

I created a NEW ONE, recently, too, thanks to Robert, at the Jurassic Fossils Store in Lake Arrowhead, who commissioned it! 

Any Questions? 

Email me!

Warm Wishes,

Ruth Elliott-Hilsdon, Founder of Edu Designs and GoMommyGO®

All proceeds go towards our non-profit’s mission to create media for children’s character development and education.

If you believe in our mission, please support us!

Words are powerful things. My mom used to tell me, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”

I thought sadly to myself, “Yeah. They only hurt your FEELINGS”. And somehow concluded that meant that feelings didn’t matter. Or they weren’t supposed to.

So I began dismissing my feelings, ignoring them and certainly never admitted them to others.

I know I’m not alone in this. How do these kinds of things happen?

I was raised by a loving mom and dad who were not abusive, extremely self-controlled and highly intelligent people. Maybe too intelligent?

At the age of 3, I distinctly remember crying with all of my family standing all around laughing at whatever it was that made me cry. I guess the reason wasn’t important to them, but it just left me feeling that they didn’t care how I felt.

Another time I must have been whining about something. My dad flexed his biceps in an Arnold Schwarzenegger pose and said staunchly, “BE A MAN!”, as though somehow any kind of weakness was a sin — and certainly being a woman meant being less than a man.

It took me years to rejoice in my femininity, to allow myself to be vulnerable, and to express my true feelings without thinking I had to be Spock-like.

The good news is, I got over it!

My own kids were a big part of the cure. Seeing their innocent expressions of feeling made me realize that mine were valuable too. And beautiful to behold.

I’m never going back, either!

I drew this picture as a teenager, when I suddenly realized we are all in the same leaky boat: 

“It’s OK, I’m You, TOO!” Ruth Elliott-Hilsdon

Nowadays, connecting with children and their parents at the store, dentist’s office, schools or wherever I go, confirms what I feel deep inside, that:

“It’s OK, I’m You, TOO!” 

We all need each other. If you can, will you help? After 27 years in the Animation Industry, Ruth founded the non-profit EDU DESIGNS to create media for children’s character development and education. www.edudesigns.org

As the Keynote speaker to a large group of students recently at a college and career event, various educational organizations offered their options for study in many fields, including Business and Industry, Medical, Veterinary schools, the Navy, and the Arts. 

I asked them this question:

What do these things have in common?

An Apple…  A Peanut…  and a BABY?

What is it?

POTENTIAL

They all contain seeds of the future. 

An APPLE?

Most people see an apple and think of the what the fruit has to offer- not the seed, but Johnny Appleseed saw the possibilities of many apples hidden inside each seed.

A PEANUT?

The first black botanist, George Washington Carver, was asked how he discovered over 300 uses for the peanut. He replied, “Every day I’d ask God, ‘God, Why did you make the peanut?'” 

We are so much bigger than a peanut, imagine the possibilities if we asked, “Why did you make ME?”

“Mighty Oaks from little acorns grow”

A BABY?

As Galadriel from The Lord Of The Rings said:

“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future”

The greatest persons in history all needed their diapers changed as infants. No one starts out fully grown. We all need help from others. 

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

People have been trying to share their knowledge since time began.

People have been trying to share their wisdom and knowledge since time began -through WORDS, BOOKS and ACTIONS. Why? To help others. They want to share what they know and hope someone will unwrap the gift they have to give to the world. It’s all out there for you to find, if you look for it. 

Communication is the KEY

Communication is like throwing a ball back and forth.I throw some words at you, then you throw some back to me. Learn to listen attentively to ‘catch’ the ball before you throw yours back! Pay attention intently. Keep channels of communication open, by letting the ball go back and forth. Learn to think and analyze and communicate your thoughts accurately. And learn to love reading so you can absorb knowledge from other folks who have gone to the trouble of writing it down to share it with YOU! 

INFANTS BENEFIT FROM READING! 

Have you got a little one? Learning to love READING starts with the first snuggly cuddle with a book while sitting in someone’s lap. I remember the warm fuzzies I got while my mom read to me as a child.

A great idea: 

Make an I CAN’ book to begin the lifelong journey to love reading. Use photos of THEM in it, and keep adding pages as they grow!

A tiny infant who can barely lift his head,  needs to train their nerves and muscles in order to eventually sit up, stand up and then eventually WALK. It is absolutely an amazing feat. I heard that learning to walk is the hardest thing a person will ever be required do in their entire life. And that means that if we have managed to get through the most difficult thing we will ever be asked to do, then we evidently already have the strength to overcome other struggles that come our way!

“Mighty Oaks from little acorns grow.” 

An ‘I CAN’ book is just one way to help your little acorn to begin to see their growth and realize their POTENTIAL! 

Will a seed always grow to it’s full potential? 

No. A seed can fall into a crack and get stuck. But you’re not a plant – you can get up and walk, so there is always hope. It’s up to YOU, once you’re big enough.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said:

“Make the most of yourself,  for that is all there is of You.”

How do we do that?

A.S.K.  

Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened. You are not alone in your struggles. There are lots of people all over the place who would want to help you – IF YOU WOULD ONLY ASK THEM! Keep looking and you will find them. 

Everyone has a story to tell.

When I was 6 years old, my older sister mentioned she was reading a book she called an ‘autobiography’. When I asked her what that word meant, she said, “That’s when you write down your life’s story.”

Shocked, I exclaimed, “You mean… they’re gonna ask me to write it all DOWN?”

I worried, “But – I’ve forgotten so much, already!”

Then and there, at 6 years old, I sat right down and determined to remember everything that had happened in my life, starting from yesterday, the day before that, and so on, as far back as I could. In the weeks to come I recalled sections of my toddlerhood, snippets of my life at a few months of age, and I even remembered being born.

What’s YOUR story?

Everyone wants a life of significance.

Most people look at successful people and imagine their journey looked something like this:

But in reality it probably looked more like this:

How DO you succeed?

Aim for your dearest dreams.  If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time. Keep your aim on what you truly yearn for, and the way will be shown for it to come to you.

Abraham Lincoln said:

“You cannot fail, unless you QUIT.”

SEEDS TAKE TIME TO GROW

Progress, however slow, is still progress. 

Develop Good Habits, including patience with yourself, and the time it takes to develop into your best self.

DON’T BE AFRAID OF HARD WORK

I always told my kids, and now my students, that all of life involves suffering of one sort or another. You can either suffer doing a job you love, or suffer doing a job you hate. Much better to suffer for something you love. So aim for a job you love. Work hard at developing your talents and abilities towards a field of work you love. Do it with all your might.

Helen Keller said:

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”  

Remember: Where there is life, there is hope. As long as there are people who need help, there’s a place for you in the world.

This is the message I share with hundreds of students at elementary schools I visit, encouraging them to take advantage of school and learn everything they can while they have the opportunity – before they grow up and are too busy working for a living. I tell them, “Don’t wait. Take advantage of every chance to learn something new. And keep learning. NOW is the only time we ever have. 

LITTLE ONES NEED ‘WATERING’ TO GROW

I founded EDU DESIGNS after my 7 kids grew up and I realized there were more children out there who needed positive media and educational resources to lift them up. THEY will become the adults in charge one day, when we are old and need them!

If you believe in our mission, please share this message.

And if you can spare a little ‘water’, please DONATE!

LIFE TAKES UP MOST OF YOUR TIME, doesn’t it? And when we turn around, it’s the steady plodding forward, that gets us anywhere. 

You can’t change the waves, but you can adjust your sails.

When we look at successful people, we might think they just went “FloOOP!” from NOTHING to SUCCESS…

But in real life, it was probably more like this:

 I love the line in a song my husband wrote, “Things take time to happen overnight.”

When dealing with kids, we must especially hold on our vision of the good in them to keep going. Don’t look at today’s messes or you’ll “throw the baby out with the bathwater”. We musn’t give up.

Just look what happens to those who fall through the cracks because someone gave up on them, or perhaps they gave up on themselves:

I created this chart when I heard it costs more to imprison someone for 4 years than to educate them for 13 years. 

Research reveals that most who do land in prison have had less education. 

If we will educate kids WHILE THERE IS STILL HOPE – that’s when it counts.  Hold on to that vision – and don’t let go. It’s an awful lot of work, but worth every penny.

Regardless of whatever has happened in the past, WE are here, NOW!

 My mom would help me look at the bright side and say, “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”

She would also say,“Where there’s Life, there’s HOPE.” 

Carl Sandburg said,

“A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.”

Wherever I turn I seem to see new babies popping up everywhere – so there must be a LOT of hope going on!

One of the greatest joys I have is talking with new moms and admiring their little ones and sharing my GoMommyGO cards and illustrated charts with them. 

Helen Keller said, “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”  

I feel the same way. I can only do so much, but all my little ‘so much’s’ piled up might add up to a little more than I realize one day.

That’s why I love volunteering to help children through EDU DESIGNS. I look to the future and see kids who might be influenced to go in a better direction in life because of something I did. I’ll never know –  like my mom said – “Our effect on others is like the back of our head…We can’t really see it.”

Make sure YOU take advantage of all the good stuff we are doing here at EDU DESIGNS. And share it with others! If you can, join us – We’re having fun!

Warmly,

Ruth Elliott-Hilsdon, Founder of Edu Designs and GoMommyGO®

Do you ever find yourself running out of ‘love juice’? When my kids were little, even if I started with a full pitcher of love in the morning, sometimes by the end of the day the pitcher would be dry.  

There was a pattern. When we were all tired and hungry, frustration could get the better of me. Didn’t have dinner ready by 5 o’clock? It became ‘the witching hour’ and the kids would go bats – whine, cry or fight with each other – drive me crazy, which always got in the way of fixing dinner. It took all my self-control not to yell and to remember what’s really important. There were times I’d run to our bathroom, shut the door, take a deep breath, and cry out, “GOD! HELP ME get through this!” 

Beware of running on empty!

What I needed was a ‘refill’ – something for myself – so I’d have something to give those who were most important to me.

Change the pattern.

I began planning to have dinner ready each day before the kids went nuts. For me, a cup of coffee in the afternoon made all the difference, plus a reminder or two on the wall. 

I’ve made this special illustration to remind you to take care of yourself, so you can take care of those you love. You can download a high resolution pdf when you make a donation of any size.

Print it up and put it on the wall where you will see it every day. Let it help you, as it helped me, be inspired.

My warmest thanks,

Warmly,

Thank you!

Ruth Elliott-Hilsdon, Director, EDU DESIGNS

P.S. When YOU are crying for,”HELP!”, these extra tips can really help! Read More…

P.P.S. – Love to donate but haven’t any to spare? If you shop online at Amazon, Amazon will donate to EDU DESIGNS every time you shop when you start from smile.amazon.com. Costs you nothing. When they ask you which non-profit to support, just type in EDU DESIGNS, (Sierra Madre, CA).

Amazon gives when you shop!

EDU DESIGNS is an ALL VOLUNTEER Non-Profit. 100% of your donation goes toward sharing our materials, and NOT for salaries. You are guaranteed a Tax Deductible Receipt.