DOES HITTING YOUR CHILDREN TEACH THEM TO HIT? YES . . . AND NO
If by “hitting”, you mean slap, punch, wallop or anything like that, then you come up with the “yes” answer. You might also pull hair, gouge, pinch and more. Things like these are portrayed as barbaric and abusive, and they should be. Is there a better way? (more…)
A Lesson in Kindness and Laughter!
In one of our DVD parenting sessions, we discuss regular but brief teaching times. These are times when there is no crisis but you teach your children about right and wrong, life and character.
As a result, Deborah Fulgham shared this recent episode from her household. (more…)
Mother’s Day Poem
A Beautiful Life
by Keith W. Currie
Mother’s Day, 2013
A beautiful life of nurture and care
Is lived out by mothers everywhere;
For they reflect God, His goodness and grace.
How often He’s seen in a young mother’s face.
A beautiful life that lays down her own
Is the mother who makes her dwelling a home,
A place where there’s comfort and love all around.
To raise up her child, she lays her life down.
A beautiful life, this mother of joy,
Who trains up her son, her mischievous boy,
And guides him to Father, while dreading the day
Her boys becomes man and must move away.
A beautiful life, this dutiful mom
Who raises her daughter with poise and aplomb,
Who sows seeds of love and self sacrifice
So her daughter will live a beautiful life.
Hi, Mommy!
Running free with her classmates, little Zoe zipped up a grassy hill behind three of us teachers, talking. One of the teachers was her mommy. When I waved to Zoe, her mom turned around, which brought Zoe in a quick tumble to her mommy’s side. “Hi, Mommy!” she laughed as they exchanged hugs. Then, Zoe was off to play.
As I watched this delightful interchange, I saw that I, too, am part of the same cheerful moment with my lovely daughter, Judith, who is now grown and working as a nurse. On her way home from the hospital, (while she’s running up the grassy hill) she often calls me just to say, “Hi!”, and sends me her warm and cheerful love and laughter. I am so glad to perceive not only that the joyous interchange I was appreciating was mirrored in my life, but also to recognize that these moments of love aren’t gone when our children are grown.
Happy mothering!
Love, Trish
The secret to conversation: even with your kids?
I have never been good at talking with other people. I developed a little talent at one-liners in high school and college. That cost me a good friend. I have a propensity for puns but that tends to hinder conversation unless you want others to talk about you. . . or groan.
Where I have struggled is keeping a conversation going with a new acquaintance, with my own children, with my co-workers, with my boss. I watched others have conversations and I wondered what they did that I was not doing. I just couldn’t figure it out, which is probably a comment about my inability to observe.