Day Seven- Little Ones to Him Belong

“Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so.”

 

I became a born-again Christian at the age of 20, so I didn’t learn this sweet little children’s song until I was an adult.  The words are so simple, yet so powerful.  This was one of the first songs each of our children ever learned.  Lots of truth in those few lines.

I’ve had a lot of wonderful experiences as a mom, but sharing the things of God with my kids tops my list.  I’ve heard it said that a teacher often learns more than their students.  This was certainly true in my case since I hadn’t been a believer for very long before we had our first child.  We would read stories from the Children’s Bible and most of them I was hearing for the first time, just like my kids. As they were learning to pray, I was learning to pray.  My faith was growing right along with my girls’ faith.  As I was teaching them how to be godly women, I was learning how to become one myself. 

My experiences have taught me this:  growing and cultivating Godly principles happens best when it happens naturally.  Watch for those teachable moments, answer all of those questions, pray for every little “owie” and concern, take time to appreciate God’s creation, and be open to share your own heart.  Be careful… you just might learn something along the way, too!

 “You must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” ~Deuteronomy 6:6-9

 

Day Six- Never Underestimate the Power of Play

Kids today have so many fun and educational activities available to them. Soccer, ballet, gymnastics, martial arts, little league, 4-H, Scouting, pottery, music lessons, theater productions…and the list goes on and on. Certainly a lot different than the limited number of activities I could choose from as a kid growing up in rural Idaho.  I love that there are so many wonderful learning opportunities in our community.

However, I wonder if we as a society have over-emphasized the need for our children to participate in so many structured activities.  Yes, each of these pursuits can help our kids develop great skills and character.  Unfortunately, many of our kiddos are simply over-scheduled.  It happens quite easily.  Just add a couple of these activities to the family schedule, along with school and possibly church activities, and life has suddenly become incredibly complicated.
When our kids do have some free time, many of them spend it interacting with educational toys or using a computer.  Again, there are some amazing learning tools available to parents and children today.  But whatever happened to just playing?   

The most amazing things happen when we allow children unstructured, self-directed time to play.  They learn to think independently, use their imagination, and develop creative problem solving skills. They learn to appreciate nature and how to interact in a meaningful way with the world around them.  When kids play, they begin to explore their own strengths and weaknesses, and discover their unique purpose in life.

So, go ahead and sign your child up for that great activity.  But make sure you leave plenty of time in the schedule for everyone (even you) to play.  You won’t regret it!

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Day Five- How Children Spell Love

How do your kids know that you love them?  Do they know because you work hard every day to make sure their needs (and many of their wants) are met?  Or is it because you clean up countless messes and do never-ending loads of laundry for them?   Do you say “I love you” every night when you tuck them into bed? 

Yes, these are all wonderful ways to show our kids that we love them.  But today I want to share a little secret with you that I actually learned from my mother long before I had children of my own.  What’s the secret? 

Children spell love T-I-M-E.

Our kids really want (and need) our time and attention.  Not a bunch of toys, not over-the-top birthday parties, not a gigantic pile of Christmas presents.  But time with mom and dad. 

Time to play, talk, laugh, cry, and explore.  Time to learn from one another and really experience life together.  My girls’ favorite memories are of times we spent together having adventures (both big and small) as a family.  They remember a few special toys and gifts, but it’s the family times and traditions that hold so much more meaning for them.

Childhood is such a short, precious season.  Instead of spending our days trying to get our kids the right stuff, let’s focus on giving them what they really want and need- time with us!

“Your children need your presence more than your presents.” ~Jesse Jackson

 

Day Four- Keep Your Cup Full

When I was the PTA president at my girls' school a few years ago, I received this piece of advice- “When you’re looking for someone to head up a committee or a project, ask one of the really busy moms.  They know how to get things done!”  At first this seemed somewhat counterintuitive.  If she’s so busy, then won’t she just say no?  I learned very quickly, however, that this was indeed sound advice.  The busy moms were more likely to help. They know how to juggle lots of things and get stuff done.

Most of us would classify ourselves as really busy parents.  Our calendars are overflowing with activities and our to-do lists are never-ending.  Why then, with such full lives, are so many of us walking around on empty? 

We spend our days pouring out all of our energy just to keep up with our lives.  If we aren’t careful, we can quickly find ourselves all poured out.  We have nothing left to give- physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  The caregivers are all worn out, but the people in our lives still need care.

So, how do we fix this?  Take time every day to refill your cup.  Eat healthy food, drink lots of water, take a walk, try to get some rest, spend some quiet time praying and meditating on the Word.  Jesus came that we might have an abundant life, not an exhausting life! If your cup is full, then you will always have plenty to pour out on those you love.   

Whenever I start to feel my cup running dry, I remember the words to this chorus I learned as a new Christian:

Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord

Come and quench this thirsting in my soul
Bread from heaven, feed me ‘til I want no more
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole. (songwriter Richard Blanchard)

Be kind to yourself… keep your cup full!

 

 

 

 

  

Day Three: We Are Always Teaching

Cook, maid, nurse, cheerleader, personal shopper, chauffeur, counselor… on any given day parents wear many hats.  But the one that we never take off is that of teacher.  Maybe you’ve never thought of yourself as a teacher.  Teachers are the ones who write lesson plans and have stacks of papers to grade, right? 

A teacher’s primary purpose is to provide instruction.  Well, parents, isn’t that what we are doing with our children every day?  We are constantly working on skill-building- how to do tasks independently, how to have good manners, how to communicate appropriately, etc. You might not define yourself as a “teacher,” but that is certainly paramount in the parent job description. 

Most of us realize that to be effective parents we must be intentional about instructing our kids.  And let’s not forget the importance of taking advantage of “teachable moments”- those unplanned opportunities that arise where you can explain or demonstrate something- an incredibly impactful way of learning for kids.  But we often fail to recognize that we are always teaching- even in those moments when we aren’t intending to do so.

Our precious kiddos are constantly watching what we do and say.  Sometimes this is a positive thing- sometimes this is a negative thing.  Sometimes they reflect our best traits, and at other times they are mirrors of our worst habits.  It is challenging to always be on the job.  But parenthood is a 24/7 commitment, so we must be vigilant.  The hours are demanding, but the benefits are incredible!

“Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.”  ~Robert Fulghum


Day Two- Get Into Agreement

  Decisions, decisions, decisions… from the moment that little one enters our lives we are faced with countless parenting decisions.  Cloth vs. disposable. Bottle vs. breastfeeding.   Public school vs. private school vs. homeschool.  The list goes on and on. 

One of the most valuable decisions you can make, however, is to get into agreement with your spouse regarding parenting issues.  If both parents are not on the same page when it comes to matters regarding the kids, then chaos will quickly ensue,  particularly in the area of discipline. 

This is not a one-time chat.  Rather, this will need to be an on-going conversation between both parents.  As that little one grows, the decisions become more complicated and often have greater consequences.  A unified approach really does make daily life easier and provides much-needed security for your family. 

In theory, this all sounds so civilized:  both parents coming together on equal terms to discuss what is in the best interest of their child.  In practice, this can be incredibly challenging.  Especially when parents are divorced or if you are parenting in a blended family.  There are no easy answers in these situations.   Depending on your circumstance, it might be necessary to seek professional help.

If it is at all possible, find a way to get into agreement as parents.  It will be well worth the effort!


31 Days of Organic Parenting- Day One

Welcome to “31 Days of Organic Parenting.”  I’m so excited that you are here!  If this is your first time here, then scroll down to read Day One.  Otherwise, here are the current links to the series: 31 Days of Organic Parenting...  

 Day Two- Get Into Agreement
Day Three- We Are Always Teaching
Day Four- Keep Your Cup Full
Day Five- How Children Spell Love
Day Six- Never Underestimate the Power of Play
Day Seven- Little Ones To Him Belong
Day Eight- Children Crave Routine
Day Nine- Develop Good Habits
Day Ten- Guard Their Hearts
Day Eleven- Dads Are Important, Too!
Day Twelve- Listen to Your Knower
Day Thirteen-Are You Speaking Their Language?
Day Fourteen- Let Them See You Worship
Day Fifteen- Discipline That Makes Sense
Day Sixteen- Attitude of Gratitude
Day Seventeen- Make Good Choices
Day Eighteen- Faith Not Fear
Day Nineteen- Help Them Find Their Purpose
Day Twenty- The Strong-Willed Child
Day Twenty-one- Prayer Changes Everything
Day Twenty-two- Their Education is Your Responsibility
Day Twenty-three- Friends
Day Twenty-four- Model Loving Relationships
Day Twenty-five- Enjoy Every Season
Day Twenty-six- Manners Matter
Day Twenty-seven- Dollars and Sense
Day Twenty-eight- The Word of God is Precious
Day Twenty-nine- The Birds and The Bees
Day Thirty- Love Your Teens
Day Thirty-one- You Are Not Alone

Before we begin, you might be wondering about the title of this series.  Sometimes it is easier to define something by explaining what it is not.  This is not a series about how to feed your family only organic food or use only organic materials in your home.  I happen to like those concepts and they would be very worthwhile to explore, but that is not my focus here.

The word organic is most often defined as: living things developing gradually and naturally without being forced or contrived; fresh, simple, healthful.  As a parent, this falls in line with exactly how I have raised my children.  From the very beginning, I wanted them to grow up gradually and naturally into the individuals that they were created to be.   Nothing artificial in the process, just a simple and healthy approach to nurturing them in the ways of the Lord.

Over the next 31 days I will share with you some of my growing methods.  Hopefully you will find something fresh and practical along the way that will help you grow healthy kids!

 

Day One:  Parenting with Purpose

Congratulations!  You are a parent!  Whether you intentionally planned to become one, or you became one by surprise, you are one now and that comes with tremendous responsibility.  How can one little person have so many needs?

As a young mom, I spent many days feeling completely insecure and overwhelmed.  I read every parenting book and magazine I could get my hands on.  I listened carefully to other moms and I faithfully attended Bible study, desperately hoping that someone would say something that would help me.  I knew that in order to be successful as a mom, I needed to be focused and purposeful with my children.  However, my list of things to focus on and be purposeful about just kept growing and growing until it all felt so incredibly complicated!

Somewhere along the way, I finally figured out that if I just focus on loving my children, the rest all falls into place.  I began to get a revelation of the message of Jesus- God is love and our priorities are to love Him and to love others.  When I spend my days concentrating on loving my kids, taking care of their natural and spiritual needs becomes so much easier.  Dishes, laundry, homework, music practice, even praying for them, is all so much easier to do when my heart is focused on loving them. 

Keep your purpose as a parent simple… simply love your kids!