By Christine Vick

I grew up in what I call the PBS bubble. My parents weren’t huge fans of television or of advertising, so we only had one TV set. We were the last family in town to rent a VCR along with the movie, and my parents only recently subscribed to cable. The result of my limited childhood viewing (Masterpiece Theatre, Mystery and once in a while, Trapper John MD), means that I regularly miss pop cultural references geared at my age group (which my husband thinks is hysterically funny, “You’ve never heard of _____?”  Fill in the blank; it probably applies.).

Today, cutting back on television would hardly stem the pop cultural tide. It’s difficult to deflect the messages from television, radio, email, YouTube, Google, Twitter, and Facebook (not to mention my iPod and cell phone). Some information is useful and I seek it out, but often I need a break from the barrage.

It’s important to create spaces, like your home, where you can tune out the steady stream of über- information. For me, this means not only being judicious about what to allow in, but consciously choosing to incorporate meaningful ideas (from quotations, poems, family themes, or even a song) into my home. I hope the following examples will explain more clearly what I mean:

• Message on a Chalkboard:
One of my favorite quotations, “Be a model of honesty and dignity” comes from the book Raising Resilient Children by Robert Brooks and Sam Goldstein. I’d like to behave this way, even when a driver cuts me off or all four of my children are whining, crying and complaining at once. I keep this quotation written on an antique chalkboard that leans up against my office wall. Each time I walk in the room, I read it and remember what I expect of myself.

• Wall Decal Words: 
Wall decals are hugely popular now; they’re inexpensive and can be custom ordered. We have one in our family’s command center (where we keep homework and backpacks), which says “We Care, We Share, and That’s Fair.” I’m hoping that if my kids read it often enough, someday they’ll get the picture.

• A Box of Thoughts:
When I had my first child, my sister gave me a small box filled with rectangular cards. Each one has the same illustration of a small girl riding a tricycle, and a saying about motherhood. I used to rotate them daily, but now I keep my favorite one on top. It says “Raising happy children is also a goal.” The box sits on the windowsill above my sink, and when I’m washing the dishes or cooking, I read that simple sentence and feel inspired.

• Window Dressing:
My friend Lee Chipman has an antique window with six divided panes.  In each pane, she painted a word from the following quotation, “Home Is Where Your Story Begins.” It hangs along her stairway, where her children can see it as they head up to their rooms. It gives her kids a sense of how important their environment is, and adds a nice decorating touch as well.

• Prints Plus:
I recently purchased a set of mini photo prints designed by K. Barteski—they’re beautiful, but I what I love most are the sayings inscribed on each one: “You are awesome”; “You Rock”; “You are Loved and Adored”; “You Are Here, Right Where You Belong.” I put the individual prints into black frames and created a gallery along our stairs. When my children come down each morning, they’re greeted with a set of positive messages, which I hope will counterbalance any negative ones they encounter throughout the day.

• A Blank Canvas:
Consider creating your own masterpiece with a white canvas square. They’re sold at craft stores, and I’ve even found them at our local bargain store. Again, my friend Lee (who is an incredible artist) used acrylic blue paint and cursive lettering on a large canvas for this Jane Austen quotation: “There is nothing like home for real comfort.” It leans atop an end table in her family room.  If you’re feeling crafty, you can decoupage a saying, or use fabric or newspaper for a more textured medium.

Obviously a few cheery words scattered throughout your home won’t be enough to create a strong sense of identity, or direct your children’s course in life. But in a world of communication-overload, sharing meaningful thoughts for your family to read daily is a place to start.

Thanks, Christine!

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