What we really want as parents.....

There are soo many things I dream and wish for my kids. I hope for them probably a little more than I hope for myself these days, which is some ways could be thought of as sad, but in other ways I feel like it is where I am supposed to be right now. Not having forgotten what I hoped, not refusing to take care of myself and my marriage, but rather a choice that for this fleeting time I will think, and pray, and hope for them at least as much as myself. When I sit down, in a quiet moment, what I really hope for my kids is that someday (sooner than later) they will fall in love with Jesus and make a commitment to follow Him. That is the long term goal....on a day to day basis that goal is often forgotten in the midst of teaching the important lessons of being kind, listening, obeying...

My training as a special education teacher combined with my nature in which we parent (I say we because while I am writing this post Justin is a very involved and good dad) in a way that pairs consequences with reward. In our home it simply has looked like a bit of a star chart for Buddy. Very quickly though I wasn't satisfied with the typical star chart which focuses solely on the behavior. I want more for my kids. While in the moment I want Blake to stop refusing to share with his sister at times, but in the long term I want him to understand that Jesus wants that for him because he wants him to be KIND. In the moment while I am being asked for the 100th time when we are going to the park, I just want the questioning to stop, but in the long term I want him to know that what I am asking him to do is HAVE PATIENCE.

So in hopes of making sure that I talk about these things this is what I came up with, it forces me in the midst of praising him to discuss not just the behavior but the attitude and reason. In short it actively brings the the Bible into our discussions throughout the day. Using this has been such a help to me in discussing the fruits of the spirit in a way that a 4 year old can grasp. Some of the things on the chart are things he is already really good at others we are working on. ;)

What I long for I can't do...only the Holy Spirit can call my kids to respond to Jesus...but I can bring the scripture to my kids in a way they can understand and apply to their lives...this has helped me...and I thought I would share. :)