Roses and Thorns

Here at the DeWeil house we do our best to have good family conversation. Sometimes this happens best in the car, at the dinner table, or over a plate of cookies and a glass of milk. We try to ask questions that don't allow a one word response, but sometimes that can be difficult if the girls are tired or preoccupied. 

We started having a time, as we ate dinner, that we asked the girls to think of the best/greatest part of their day and then think of something that wasn't so great. It could be after a day at school or at the end of the weekend we shared. We value their honest responses and sometimes they are quite funny and very precious. One rule that we have is that they cannot copy one anothers answers--unless it is an event or something special they both participated in. 

I was at the doctor's office recently, and read a very good article about Angie Harmon. (Check it out HERE) She said that she does this same thing with her kids, and calls it Roses & Thorns. I liked this idea and so we adopted this name for our conversation starter.

Lately Sienna's initial response when asked what her Roses & Thorns were for the day is, "Hmmmmm...let me think about it for a minute." Often her Roses are recess and vegetarian lunch (consisting of cheese stick, "yogrit", fruit/vegetable, cookie, & white milk). Thorns tend to be some kind of conflict with a friend (which she is learning to resolve VERY well!) or getting a "booboo" while playing. Mycah's Roses tend to be fun things/convos that happened with friends or volleyball practice. The Thorns are almost always related to homework or her ridiculously heavy bookbag (man, oh man, this girl is going to have serious back issues due to the heaviness of her bookbag when she has books for homework and her FULL 4" binder plus other odds & ends in that bag!)

Scott and I jump in on our Roses & Thorns too. It is really a fun little game to play. I often find out their true feelings about things through this simple little game. Maybe you guys could try it with your family, spouse, etc. You might be surprised what you learn about the other person(s). We are always learning and never cease to be amazed/surprised how our girls are growing, learning, & changing as we have real conversations together.