Put them in the FUNNEL

For discipline, I have tried time out (many times), spanking, yelling, moving a child, removal of toys, playing referee for the children's arguments.

Why so many things? Well, time out works for a few minutes (while they are in TO), spanking (in general to me) seems to break their spirit, yelling breaks hearts, moving a child myself isn't teaching they have responsibility for their actions, taking away toys - oh my kids thank me for that - they say, "oh thank you mom, we had too many toys!"; playing referee I have learned makes me the bad guy and I end up the loser every single time (it can created unity among children as they gang up on you :O)).

For time sake, I will bullet one thing a day that we use now:

• Appropriate boundaries. We set boundaries like a funnel with the small side down (see picture). Imagine at the smallest part of the funnel is age 1 and the largest part of the funnel, age 16-18. The boundaries start off tight (small) and increase as mature. For example, if you allow the 1 year old to play with the remote control, it's cute, but they don't have the maturity to properly use it...so use of the remote would come when they can use it properly.

Sound tough? It's not. I have seen 2 year old with no boundaries. There are baby gates up all over the house to protect what they aren't mature enough to touch, but when the gates come down, they don't know how to be around things that they can't touch.

Age appropriate boundaries make you and your children welcome most anywhere.

Check in tomorrow to see how we make enforce boundaries and how we celebrate increased boundaries.

"Get the Belt!"

When I got in trouble when I was growing up, I would here, "get the belt!" I hated those words - it was like fingernails of a chalkboard...................

My family is young (8, 6, 3). I wanted to raise them differently than I was raised. I read so many books, took parenting classes, searched the bible, went to a family vision workshop (http://www.familyvisionnow.com/) asked friends, family, etc. Some things I filed in "what NOT to do," while others, "what to try."

I wanted kids who didn't fight...what? is that possible? Yes, I would say you can pretty closely achieve it. I also wanted alot of laughter and JOY in my family.

In the coming days, I am going to share some of my favorite parenting tools and books for your library. In the meantime, check out the Family Vision workshop dates near YOU!

changes...

we have been homeschooling since May of this year. Just today, we realized the changes we have seen.

Last year, 1st grade, the days were so long - our girls would fight after school and be grumpy....this year we see joy, unity, encouragerment, peace and SO much LOVE for one another!

i am so thankful for the changes in our family!

sickness....from a 3 year old

I have been battling some sickness for 3 months. I go to the Doctor and have all the symptoms of an illness, but all the tests say "negative." I have been asking God, "what are you teaching me through this."

My 3 year old said, "mommy, you remember when I was sick?"

Mom, "yes...I remember that when we asked if you were sick, you said, "No, I am healed...stop saying that!"" (can you do double quotes?)

3 year old, "yes mommy...sometimes I may feel sick, but I am already healed in the Lord."
God truly is a gentle whisper through this little girl. Yes, God - I may feel sick, but I am already healed in YOU!

Home schooling momma

Check out Robin's blog today on having a vision for our children.
http://manymeadows.blogspot.com/2007/11/you-may-be-home-educator-if.html

Are you a homeschooler?

Who said homeschooling was easy?

I remember the day that I would dream of when ALL my children would be in school...I told my husband that I would LOVE being a stay-at home mom then! I would run all my errands, clean the house, have food for everyone...and do all the things I have always wanted to do! :O)

One year into school (with still 2 little ones at home), we are called to homeschool. I told my husband, you are going to have to make this decision because I was skewed by my vision of "me time!"

He made the decision and I am a homeschooler - I don't have much time to run errands, put away the laundry or do all the things I dreamed of...Instead I

Get to - love on my children all day long, I get the best part of their day, I get every teachable moment (if I am paying attention!), I get to cuddle on the couch with a book (and sometimes in my PJ's!), I get hugs and kisses all day long. I don't get the leftovers anymore!

I am so grateful to get this time with these GIFTS from God! I let the laundry pile, the dishes pile, and all the stuff can just wait...I am sure there will be plenty of time to catch up when they are gone. :O)

Loving it!

Teach Them MY ways...

My first year of homeschooling.....and we are working about 2.5 hours every day learning and growing together. I believe that my girl is getting educated far beyond what she would be in school mostly because of the one-on-one time, BUT...

I just feel in my spirit that something is wrong. I just know that I should spend more time teaching her the word of God than geography, grammar, math, etc....especially now (young).

Joshua 1:8 says, "8This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success."

I know I can teach her through the Bible, but I just don't know how.... all I know is, He is telling me to "teach them My ways."