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- When they bring you a blanket, they spread it over you and ‘tuck you in.’
- Keep a steady stream of Coke flowing so they you are always well hydated.
- Chase little sisters through the house because her giggling makes you laugh.
- Smile indulgently at the child three years younger than themselves.
- Bring home ‘Nems’ just to hear their little sister say it.
- Clean your room so that they can say, “Surprise!”
- Ask if you walked uphill to school, both ways, IN THE SNOW
- Offer to suffer with pizza for dinner so you can keep writing.
- Make “you” toast (and of course a piece for them while they’re at it!
- Ask you to go with them and their friends to the movies.
- Smile
- Sleep
Which am I? Am I obsessive? Do I focus on one thing so relentlessly that leave other equally important things to the dogs? I wonder.
Compulsive. Am I compulsive? Do I feel compelled to behave in any particular way (outside the realm of the norm of course)?
Maybe I’m both? I feel compelled to behave in an obsessive way? I’m afraid that must be it.
You see, I’ve been writing again. It tends to invade my thought processes and make it impossible for me to continue a coherent sentence regarding obsessive/compulsiveness- What would Willow do?
See? Toldja.
So, if you wonder where I am, what I’m doing etc. If you care that I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth… (why you would is beyond me) then please know that I’m off in Fairbury telling the intimate details of Willow’s life. I know it’s considered rude- maybe even gossipping! But, since she’s fictional, I think I can get away with it. For now.
Shhh.
We’re celebrating almost 100,000 words over at Fairbury Tales.
Join the fun in guessing what the 100,000th word will be and maybe you’ll win the grand prize!
Day 50. (Monday) Friendships. How do they enhance your relationship with your children, their relationship with each other, and the like? What needs to change in your family’s friendships? What needs to stay the same? I’m going to be very transparent here. I chose not to make a few friendships the issue I should have and it has negatively impacted our family. No, my children are not ruined forever and frankly, for the most part, it wasn’t the children but the PARENTS who were the actual issue. Adults have a terrible habit of undermining authority when they disagree with another family’s choices. Again, none of it was huge, but it is something I am taking seriously with my younger children now that I’ve felt the effects of it.
Day 51. (Tuesday) Role models. Children find them everywhere. Whether an older child at church, a favorite cousin, a sibling, the elderly or young and hip neighbor next door, or a celebrity, our children do tend to find role models- even if it’s simply someone from a book. Who are your children’s role models? Listen, talk, think. Discover those role models.
Day 52. (Wednesday) Ok, back to role models. Did you write them down? Think about the long-term consequences of that particular person as a role model. Is this one you WANT for your child? Don’t look for perfection- it’s not out there. Look for someone who recognizes their weaknesses and strives to overcome them. This is much more important than the arrogant assumption that you have none! If the role model is truly not suitable (Say, Britney Spears for example… snort) what can you do to redirect your child to someone more appropriate? A caution. Don’t try to clone your children into carbon copies of the Christian celebrity family out there that you admire. You are not the Phillips, Botkins, Maxwells, Barths, or whomever… you are the (insert last name here) and Jesus made your children unique and special. Who in their life will enrich who they are in Christ rather than feed the flesh? And preferably without a sanctimonious air. (Children are naturally –and wisely- repulsed by sanctimonious airs.)
Day 53. (Thursday) A new direction on role models. It’s time to examine self once more. How are YOU succeeding as a role model for your own children? What traits, strengths, character qualities etc do you exhibit that your children should emulate? What weaknesses, flaws, and sins do you pray they never wrestle with? How can you be a better role model for your own children? What do you need to change? Where do you need to grow?
Day 54. (Friday) Thank your husband today. Look him in the eye and tell him how much you appreciate who he is, what he does, how he relates- whatever you are thankful for. Show it. I think we often forget just how much our actions set the tone for the house and that in turn influences behavior. Emulate the behaviors you want in your children.
Day 55. (Saturday) Today is optional but I strongly recommend it. Live today as if it was the “Final Exam” of your parenting. You’re to be graded on the following: tone, consistency, justice, selflessness, training, teaching, and self-control. How did you do on TODAY’s test. Don’t remember yesterday’s failure. Consider yesterday prep for the test and leave it in the past. Today is just today. What if your life depended on it? What if your CHILD’s life depended on it? I have news for you, their spiritual lives and their physical ones here, are that deeply affected by our parenting. We’re not responsible for their failures but we certainly are responsible for ours in failing to do our job. Try it.
Day 56. (Sunday) Today, write your children a letter. Tell them of your love for them and your dreams for them. Tell them where you know you’ve failed and where you see them growing in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man. Voice your appreciation for the gift that they are from the Lord. If they’re old enough to be blessed by it, give the letter to them. Otherwise, store it with their birth certificates or something like that and save it for later. You’ll be glad you did.
You worked hard. You fought this good fight. You ran this race. You finished this mini course. Now, go and do it again. And again. And again. Never quit. Never falter. Do not grow weary. Love your children and remember that God didn’t make a mistake when He gave them into your care… especially on days when it seems like He did.
