Musing Mary Ann

Help Motivating your Kids! June 30, 2011

As many of you know, I left teaching and started working as a freelance writer a few years ago and it has been fabulous; it allows me the flexibility to be the mom I have always wanted to be and still contribute financially to our family.  I have worked with some really incredible people and collaborated with them on some pretty amazing projects.  The most meaningful project is one that I want to share with you.

Earlier this year I helped a client, JD Nichol, with the most incredible vision on how to truly motivate our kids (and grandkids) in the most natural and logical way possible.  He was a parent, just like us, who went looking for a better way to motivate his own kids.  He looked into the programs that were out there, attended workshops and expensive seminars and after nothing seemed to make real sense he decided to research it all himself.

I was just blown away at what he discovered.  He didn’t try to make the research fit some preconceived notion of how he thought kids should be motivated, he let the research guide him.  In the end he figured out that our kids, no matter what academic past they may have experienced, no matter what successes or failures – there is a system that takes parenting to a whole new level.

He started with looking at some of the world’s most incredible people and figured out what gave them that insatiable desire to learn, invent, discover and make the world a better place. As a former teacher, I was amazed at the research and information that JD was able to put together and, in all honesty, I wish I had this information when I was teaching – it would have made my life so much easier.

The best part of this system is that it isn’t some big cumbersome set of DVDs that will take hours and hours to watch and then involve weeks of planting seeds in the hopes of seeing something blossom.  You can institute change the first day by just using a few simple ideas.   Many of you have seen my status messages on my Facebook page where I talked about Katie having the most amazing year at school – this system is the reason why and she didn’t even know it.

Imagine your kids walking in the door and being excited about starting their homework and imagine them with a constant thirst for real learning.  Imagine my Katie coming to me to help her study!  I kid you not!   Even Maria, our youngest with a learning disability, has made huge advances this year and seeing her so proud of her accomplishments has brought me to tears.  She told me yesterday, the day before the end of school, that she didn’t want 4^th grade to end because she had so much fun and learned so much.  Do I believe in this system?  You bet!

By helping JD with the editing and some of the writing for this system, I received a gift that I could never put a price on.  I joke with JD that paying me for the collaboration almost made me feel guilty.  I am still in awe of the fact that a father who works in corporate America dedicated years of his life trying to put the pieces of the motivational puzzle together.

The greatest thing about working with JD was that once he figured it all out he wanted to share it with as many people as possible and invested his own money into making his system available to the general public.  He wants a better, stronger and more competitive America on the world stage.

He wanted to thank me again for all my help by allowing me to share the entire system, complete with workbook and FIVE free webinars by some of the amazing researchers that he discovered in his own journey for 50% OFF!  (See, I told you he was a good guy!)

You can start here: Watch the first video.  If you like what you see and want to make a small investment in your kids that will have an everlasting affect on your kids’ future, their career and their own families, then just opt-in using your email address at the bottom of the screen.

Once you have decided to learn more about the 3-Step system he calls the Motivation Manifesto: How to Motivate Your Kids, you can start here with some of the details in the Info link and if you do decide to buy, just enter the Coupon Code MR777 and a $200 system with the free bonuses is yours for $97!  JD also offers a 100% money back guarantee to boot.

If you have any questions – call me, email me, Facebook, you name it. I am really excited about the launch of JD’s program and am very proud to have had a small part it its development.  Some of you have shared your frustrations with my about your kids, schools, etc.  The Motivation Manifesto is the ideal way to circumvent all those issues.

I cannot wait to hear the positive feedback from you all!  Summer is a perfect time to get started on the system and set the stage for an amazing 2011-2012 school year.   Also, PLEASE forward this message to any of your friends or family that you think might benefit from it – the 50% off offer is good for anyone who uses the MR777 code and must be used by July 3^rd, 2011! After that the $200 price is in effect.

And one final thought … while this system focuses on kids, it works for adults too!

Thanks for your time,

Mary Ann

ABC’s “Castle” – Muse and Murder January 13, 2010

Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion of ABC’s “Castle”

Edging over to the lighter side today to talk about one of the best TV shows to come along in a long time, “Castle” on ABC.   Now in its second season, “Castle” follows the exploits of a New York City homicide detective Kate Beckett who, due to the Mayor’s friendship with crime novelist Ricard Castle, is saddled with said writer as a long-term drive-along.   Being a writer, I liked the idea of a writer tagging along with a homicide detective and the potential for the comedic collision of a charismatic novelist with a by-the-book detective.

As with most crime shows that have stood the test of time, “Castle” is more character-driven than plot-driven.   Taking a look back at “Homicide: Life on the Streets” and other classics such as “Magnum, P.I.” and even more contemporary shows like “NCIS” and “CSI: NY” the web of solving the case at hand takes a backseat to what we learn about the characters along the way.  The character of Kate Beckett is rather secretive as the onset and the interaction that is woven between she and Castle is what makes the show.

Initially there is some negativity as Beckett resents having to babysit the well-known playboy yet interestingly enough, as time passes she realizes that his knowledge of crime scenes, his personal connections and his often smarmy charm serve them both well when attempting to solve a murder.   As the second season develops they begin to interact socially more frequently and it appears, based on last night’s teaser for next week’s episode, they are going to be working closely together on an assignment that Beckett considers to be the most important of her career.

Maureen Dowd: Is there a real McCain? January 11, 2010

Intelligence officials were adamant that this was a message from a POW still alive in Southeast Asia

I have often read Maureen Dowd’s column and I find her refreshing and enjoy her edgy commentary even if I don’t always agree with her.  Yet, her December 22nd (Yeah, I know, I am a little behind from the Holidays) column on John McCain couldn’t be more on the money.  John McCain has and always will be loyal to only one entity, himself.  Maverick is a kind term for pig-headed and self-centered.  John McCain is never wrong, even when he is.  You see his reality is a place where he is king, the center of attention in any room and he is the intellect whose opinion everyone seeks.

I have always been struck by McCain stating in his first interview when he returned from Vietnam that he wanted to get involved in politics.   An interesting turn of event for someone from a long line of military officers.   What experience did he have that would make him break with tradition?  One can only speculate and since I have no reliable confirmation of my opinion, I prefer to not express it here.

What I would like to do is direct readers to this blog post that chronicles McCain’s history in an issue where he should have been the one leading the charge instead of digging in his heels.

If John McCain cannot support those who never returned from Southeast Asia when he, most likely due to his family ties, returned to have a prosperous life and political career, well, as the blogger so vividly summarizes, it is indeed the measure of the man.

Jasper Schuringa: Being the Thermostat January 4, 2010

Jasper is now a household name, he is getting his 15 minutes and then some. Unlike many who find themselves in the limelight for not so pleasant things, Jasper is the exception.  In fact, I say let’s give him more than just his 15 minutes, let’s give him an entire hour; Lord knows he deserves it.

Jasper is the heroic Dutchman who, while quietly sitting in Seat 20J of Northwest Flight 253 from the Netherlands to Detroit, saved America from a terrorist attack on Christmas Day. On December 28, 2009 the Washington Post’s Views Section posted this question about the secret to spontaneous leadership.

Just like those brave Americans on Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania on 9/11, Jasper is made of that little extra something that makes him instinctively act while others simply watch.   What that is, we may never truly know.  Could it be a strong upbringing with rock-solid values?  A diligent work ethic?  A Type A personality?  We could go on and on.

This past weekend I was struck by an amazingly concise and powerful concept that Jasper certainly exemplifies.  In life we have two choices in any give situation; we can be the thermostat or the thermometer.  We can either make things happen or simple react to what is happening around us.

Part of my New Year’s Resolution is to be more like Jasper … How about you?

Mary Ann

Ann Coulter’s take on Homeland Security: Right on the Money January 1, 2010

This week Ann Coulter took a pretty hard swing at Homeland Security in her column over the failed terrorist attack in Detroit on Christmas Day.   Yet she made an extremely solid point “The government refuses to perform the only possibly effective security check — search Muslims — so instead it harasses infinitely compliant Americans. Will that help avert a terrorist attack? No, but the Americans don’t complain.”

Being someone who spends a lot of time in airports I have to agree with Ann on this one.   I have gotten in fights with TSA agents over taking off military dogtags and exchanged jabs with them over the inconvenience of being one of those randomly selected individuals for a more detailed search.

We as a a nation are stumbling over ourselves to not do what we all really know we should do; select Middle Eastern men traveling alone, who pay for their tickets with cash and have no luggage.   That is not profiling – profiling is when you only use the variable of nationality/physical appearance.   When one includes the other variables it cannot be considered profiling – it is simply doing what every History tells their students – learn from history’s mistakes so as not to repeat them.

New Year : New Resolutions December 31, 2009

As 2009 comes to an end and we welcome in 2010, let’s look forward rather than backward and make a promise to post more and try to make a commitment to me and to those who enjoy reading blogs to be more diligent in this area of my writing.

So, my muse side will be more present in the blogosphere in 2010 and those opinions that I am so quick to share with those around me will now be posted here.   It will be lethargic for me and hopefully entertaining for you!

Until tomorrow … Happy New Year!

Mary Ann