As my children get older, I’ve been examining the requests I make of them, particularly when I’m asking them to do something for me. Am I using my authority for my own selfishness and comfort [Will you run up the stairs and help your sister?] or because I genuinely need the help? Would I be [...]
Filed under: Chores
Here’s another area where parents need to be thinking ahead: I don’t want my children to purchase their first computer as adults and have no idea how to manage the computer. I have our computer locked down pretty securely. Our children don’t have their own computers, they use them on a limited basis, we only [...]
Filed under: Modesty and Purity, School Matters
Happy Day, but lots to do. Lee’s grandma passed away a little more than a week ago, so we flew to Oregon for the funeral and to spend time with our extended family. It was a good trip. As usual, I notice more clearly my own parenting faults when my children are in public more [...]
Filed under: In the Car and on the Go, Uncategorized
Christmas is a great time to teach children about giving and receiving gifts, about selfishness and loving others. Some years I do better at making worthwhile gifts with the children to give to others. Other years, I feel like all my good intentions simmered in a pot but never left it (say, “child under 18 [...]
Tags: Christmas
Filed under: In the Car and on the Go, Manners
For awhile I’ve wondered whether it is makes sense to allow my children to pray at mealtimes. We do ask them to pray, and sometimes they volunteer. I’m certain that I’ve avoided having them pray when they’ve been naughty (although I wonder if that’s more recognizing the priority of my own need to pray). But [...]
I am uneasy about celebrating Halloween. While it is true that the history of celebrating Halloween is rooted in paganism and evil things, Halloween remains a holiday emphasizing death and evil, scary things. I’d be less uncomfortable if the holiday today was completely different than the origins of the holiday. But they’re not. I don’t [...]
Tags: Halloween
Filed under: Practical Parenting
I can’t solve the gender discussions of the world. I won’t even try, but I will talk about some of the things I’ve been wrestling with. First, it doesn’t really bother me THAT culture seems to inform our understanding of biblical femininity or masculinity. This seems logical and reasonable, and quite consistent with biblical principles [...]
Filed under: Modesty and Purity
One of the challenges that mom has given me is to anticipate the lessons our children need and teach them before that time. She points out that in many ways its easier to teach a fourteen year old how to drive than a sixteen year old. If I don’t want my sixteen year old daughter [...]
Filed under: Modesty and Purity
We’ve been listening to the Little House on the Prairie series in the car. Since I enjoy children’s literature, I find the development of spirited heroines in the twentieth century to be greatly interesting. We like Laura, who speaks her mind and isn’t content to sit in a corner to sew demurely. Mary seems pale [...]
Filed under: Modesty and Purity
I noticed a week or so ago a new pattern of behavior in the car. David and Bethel sit together in the back. By and large, they get along well, and they tend to resolve their conflict when they are irritated with each other. Lately, though, they’ve developed this entertainment that is basically poking each [...]
Filed under: In the Car and on the Go
