At Least - Like Kids!

You rushed around this morning, making breakfast, gathering up books, making lunch, fixing hair --- and that was just for YOU! After that you woke the kids. And then you started getting them ready for the day. And like a lot of parents out there, you took your youngest child to a day care center. Unlike older kids who are settled into a school routine with certified, highly trained professionals, you don't always have that reassurance of quality-control when it comes to the folks who are caring for your baby or toddler.  Most working moms have daily concerns over their childcare situation and don’t want to chance making a mistake. One thing that you can do to deal with your worries about childcare, is to personally interview the caregiver that will be with your child the majority of the day. Get to know her personally. Does she seem to be easygoing around your child? Does she act as if she really loves kids?  When my daughter was a toddler, I left her at a mother's day out program for one day with a woman who just appeared grouchy. She wasn't friendly to me as I was dropping off my little girl, much less my child. I found out later that this woman had been talked into the job by her mother who needed her help and she hated working at the daycare. My daughter did not have a good experience that day. Needless to say, I pulled my baby girl out of that program pronto! My advice from that experience: it is a requirement that a child's caregiver have a soft heart for children. I mean, really? Taking care of kids and you don’t even like them! Next time I did do a few things differently. I asked for God’s wisdom to find someone really nice to watch my little one. And I asked for some good advice from a wise mom or two. Don’t leave this important decision to chance.

  

School Rocks!

Julie’s mom dropped one more cookie in the container, then sighing softly closed her nine year old’s lunch bag. As a school year began, she was concerned about how her little girl would adjust to a new teacher and moving up a grade. Julie seemed nervous and her mom wasn’t so sure either. She was determined however that Julie start the new school year with a good attitude.

Are your kids ready for a new school year – eager to get started in their new grade with new teachers? Parents, do your kids love to learn and have an enthusiastic interest in life? Child researchers tell us that this may be the most important factor to ensure your child’s success in school. A child who is fully and completely involved in a love of learning is a child who will find school interesting, fun and important. A parent’s attitude about school and about trying new things has an effect on how their child will respond. 

There are some behaviors and attitudes that help to encourage a child's confident excitement and anticipation about school.

1. Focus on positive things about school. Be eager and enthusiastic about each school day.

2.   Help your child to have a positive attitude about homework. When projects are assigned, be enthusiastic about the assignment and help your child to be eager to learn more about it. 

3.  As your child’s parent, you can make a big deal about how fun it is to learn something new. Kids will catch YOUR attitude about learning – if YOU love it and speak enthusiastic and encouraging words about their school – your kids will soon catch on

And remember this: if you dread school, anticipate problems in school, and speak discouraging words about homework and assignments, your kids will learn that attitude.  

Julie's mom was happy she had picked a lunch bag for her daughter which had one of the family's mottos printed on its side: "School Rocks!"

Enthusiasm for learning isn't easily taught – but it can sure be caught! 

Now - Behave Yourself!

You may have seen lots of love and kindness in your home as a kid. Or maybe not. Your parents may have yelled and criticized each other and you.  Perhaps you were physically abused. You may have seen some damaging behavior as you grew up. Let's talk about some good news: God’s grace allows you  to create a different type of family. To start over with your own kids. Regardless of the way that you were raised you can choose to start a new tradition. A new legacy of life. 

Beginning today – you can choose to treat everyone in your home with decency and with kindness. Yelling and swearing, screaming and hitting do not have to be the norm. These behaviors are confusing to children. They create anxiety and insecurity. If you grew up in a home where drama and chaos were a part of your life, you know what I mean. You do not have to allow this behavior to be a part of your own home now. 

Respect for your family and respect from your family is important. Valuing each person in the family can be done with some very simple behaviors: make eye contact, speak gently and kindly, tell each other often what you appreciate and love about  one another. These are all excellent ways to bless your family. These are ways to establish a new way of acting in your home. Try it. You’ll be blessed. And your kids will learn how to behave kindly and respectfully from you.

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8

Singing and Sharing

Mom, building your child’s faith can be one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have.   Today may be a good day to think seriously about your job as your child's spiritual teacher. I know you may worry about teaching your child important Bible knowledge or sharing God's plan of salvation. But long before those deeper theological discussions will be needed there are simple, teachable truths of God that all believing parents can have with the smallest child. Just start by playing Bible songs in your car with praise music especially made for little ones. As you sing the words and the music together, you’ll be sharing a love of praise for God. How about selecting a very simple Bible storybook - appropriate for your child's age - to read at bedtime? You'll develop a routine of sharing stories about God and Bible heroes that will bond you to your little one as you both grow in your knowledge of God. And then, notice nature's wonder around you. Talk about God who created all the wonderful clouds, flowers, birds, and trees. No Bible Scholar needed here: just share the precious message of God's love.

Take Action: Whose job is it to teach your child about God? Whose job is it to train your children to love God? Share a story from God’s Word with your child today.

Wisdom from the Word:  “Start children off on the way they should go, 
 and even when they are old they will not turn from it. “ Proverbs 22: 6

From  Heart of a Family For Mom: Common Sense Parenting with Wisdom from the Word by Joneal Kirby

Mom, Don't Make THIS Mistake

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Those words can be a comforting for parents - or very frustrating! Parents aren’t pre-programmed to know how to raise kids. So they will rely strictly on their instincts. They don’t ask for help or learn much about parenting.  Since most of us aren’t really equipped to know what to do in every situation that we face as parents, making mistakes is pretty common. One mistake many parents make is to assume a problem will get fixed by itself. They endure months and months of frustrating battles and behavior problems without seeking a real solution. So, whether it is your baby’s failure to sleep or a teen’s temper tantrums, there are books and professionals who can help you find a way that will fix those problems. Dr. John Rosemond, Dr. Kevin Leman, Dr. James Dobson are just a few Christian experts who offer wise and real solutions to your parenting problems. The most real solution is to get help!

Home Training

Your children need you for many things as you raise and ready them to launch into their adult lives. Giving them correction and discipline is one of a parent’s responsibilities. There are good and effective ways to discipline children. God’s Word has some things to say about this part of parenting. Colossians 3:21 teaches that fathers should not discourage, or “embitter” (NIV) their children. The Message says it this way: “Parents, don’t come down too hard on your children or you’ll crush their spirits.” The New Living Version says “Do not be so hard on your children that they will give up trying to do what is right.” It’s a difficult balance to correct and discipline children and still maintain a relationship that encourages them. There are two vital keys to maintaining this balance. 1) Let your child know what your expectations are. Be very clear about the boundaries of acceptable behavior. 2) Give fair and consistent consequences when those boundaries are crossed.
There are excellent parenting books at your Christian book store. Some may be available in your church’s library. The Christian parenting experts in these resources will give you suggestions about consequences. Remember to deliver all discipline with firmness but with caring kindness.  This environment will give your child a loving, secure home base that they can one day, leave with confidence, knowing all that you have taught them.

Take Action: Write down a specific behavior you would like your child to do or change. Think and pray about how you will teach the appropriate behavior and what consequences will be the result of their misbehavior. Approach your discipline plan with firmness as well as care and love.

Wisdom from the Word:  “Parents, don’t come down too hard on your children or you’ll crush their spirits.”

Faith in Your Family - Praying Parents

The blonde curls bobbed with each bounce of his tiny head. He was praying hard. A simple, sweet, genuine prayer. Hearing his earnest conversation, I thought, how tender it is to hear a little child pray! It’s a reminder to us how sweet and sincere prayer can be. As simple as a child’s prayer may be, we shouldn’t underestimate a little one’s faith. Jesus certainly didn't underestimate the faith of children. In fact, in Mark 10, Jesus instructed his disciples to allow little children to come see Him and said that "The Kingdom of God belongs to them."  Perhaps children's tender hearts are touched deeply by prayers. And in their naïve trusting way, they may understand a more innocent faith. As parents, praying for our child accesses a vital spiritual tool.  Never, ever underestimate the power that you have in leading your child into a relationship with Jesus.  Mom, you can do that by praying for and with your children. Kneel with them beside their bed as they prepare to sleep. Ask for God's blessing on his life. You can also send them off to school in the morning with a family prayer time. And just remember this: God loves your child - even more than you.

Take Action: Pray for your children all during the day, specifically asking God to intercede in their lives, whether it is to help them do well on a test or to handle a relationship with a friend. 

Wisdom from the Word: 
 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8

“I know, 0 LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23