In week one of school, let's make sure to a) find lots of 'wins,' thus speaking very encouraging words; b) observe routines and schedules with a view toward necessary adjustments. Just like after the first game of the season, the 'coach' (you) sees a few more adjustments to make at this time; c) jump quickly on areas your child(ren) is struggling in, so they don't become discouraged. It's going to be a great year!
- What are you teaching your children about the 'standard of living' they deserve? Are you trying to give them the 'absolute best of everything'? If so, why? I'm not necessarily challenging YOUR PERSONAL standard of living, but I am asking you to challenge yourself about how much you give your children, and thus what they expect. Sending our kids off to college or life as spoiled brats is a grave disservice to them. Working out this morning, I listened to Chip Ingram via I-pod and he said, "Often God has supplied our need, but we unconsciously tell Him at what standard of living He has to come through." Ooooh. I'm guilty!!
- My friend and prayer champion Paul Miller writes, "You don't need self-discipline to pray continually, you only need to be poor in spirit."
When you realize your complete lack of SELF-sufficiency, you will pray. When you hurt enough, you will pray. When your children are struggling, hurting or creating a crisis, you will pray. The state of being in which we don't pray much does not necessarily mean that everything is well in our life -- it might just mean that we don't recognize what is not well!
God is not mean, but He uses our recognition of our own inability to meet our needs to draw us close to Him, thus into prayer.
Are you teaching your children this? How, you might ask. By modeling it! Be a PRAYING family. Just stop and do it. Often. It will begin to come more naturally. The children will begin to participate more. Don't worry about looking, feeling or speaking awkwardly. You will sometimes. Big deal -- you're a family, you probably do 'awkward' things in front of each other all the time!
- 10 Things Your Teens Like to Hear. Not necessarily a Christian piece, but thought-provoking and overall encouraging: http://www.more4kids.info/1108/words-your-teen-would-like-to-hear/
- Managing routines at home is hard for many. Teach your children to do the hardest tasks first, because they require the most emotional and intellectual energy, and perhaps take the most time.
- Another secular piece -- I try not to use too many but 'all truth is God's truth' and sometimes they are informative and thought provoking. This one is on dealing helping your teen deal with break-ups. Of course, there is more that can be said from a Christ-centered perspective. http://www.more4kids.info/743/parenting-teens-broken-hearts/
- We should always be looking for smart questions to ask ourselves to drive introspective and reconsideration. Here's one: Parent educator Joe Bruzzese had a parent ask him, "How much responsibility should I take for my children's homework?" Let me (Victor) answer with a question, "Who do you want to DO the homework?" I think we have to set clear schedules for when to do homework, set clear consequences for not doing homework, and offer support when there is genuine need of help/tutoring. But beware the lazy child who asks for help all the time. Let's re-posture the whole questions in this, future, context: When they are out of the house, how much responsibility are you going to take for their job?
- Great tips on helping your children converse properly, especially in conflict: http://infoforfamiliesblog.com/
- PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, tips on interacting with what your kids will study in Bible Fellowship this coming Sunday: http://biblestudy.studentlife.com/parent-page/f60d1bdcb2162cdeb410df75c27102aa
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