raising children - Plain and Not So Plain

Taking the time with your children

amy / 06/07/2013

When I first became a mother I had an older wiser woman tell me to get down on my child’s level often. But as a mom of many I realize the reality of much to do in a days time. It is very easy to forget what my most important jobs are.

If you want to connect, really connect with your child, get down on their level. While talking to them look into their eyes so that they know all your attention is on them. Listen to what they have to say. If it is a crawling baby, get down and crawl around with your baby, nothing worse than seeing mom walk off to no mans land and not being able to catch her.

When walking with your child, if not absolutely necessary, don’t keep their arms pulled up into the air for long periods of time. I think that if I had to constantly look up or keep my arm extended up while holding someone else’s hand, it would become tiresome.

Do something out of the ordinary to surprise your small children, throw on some music and start dancing for half an hour with them. Grab a piece of paper and draw a picture for them–you don’t have to be an artist, make it fun.

If you have a fussing baby, walk them outside for a moment, just a change of scenery will brighten their day.

When my children goto bed each night, I want them to lay in bed thinking about the fun they had that day. I don’t want them to remember all of mom’s crabby moods. I want them to think about the picture I drew, or the flower we picked, or the bug we looked at.

As always remember this little life has been handed to you, it is your job to nurture and help it grow. Take the time to stop and enjoy with them just being a child. See the blessings that the Lord will bring forth by
taking those few extra moments with them.

John 15:12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Investing in your children’s lives

I was just about to do yet another load of dishes for the day, when our 2 year old came crying by my leg. It has been a busy day for me, lots of little ones sick this week, and I hadn’t gotten much one on one time with her. She has been extremely fussy, maybe teeth, maybe just feeling yuck. My first response was to send her off to play with someone else, but I knew I had to do better. I scooped her up and set her on the counter where I was doing dishes.

As she sat on the counter helping me wash, she instantly became a happy child. As we went about washing the dishes we sang some bible songs, talked about how special she was and how much Jesus loves her, her love bucket was instantly filled. But if I would have went with my first response and ignored the opportunity to pour myself into her life, I would have missed out on a very important teaching time.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

In these verses it declares that God’s word was to be passed on from generation to generation. Parents were charged with the responsibility of passing the faith on to their children. They were to instruct their children throughout the course of the day.

Mothers, sometimes its easier and faster to do all the work yourselves, especially when you are having a hard week due to sickness but what are we going to gain from all of that? A super clean house? A loss of our children’s hearts maybe? Children need to feel included and that they are a necessary part of the family. The best way to do that is to include them in everything that you do, don’t send them away, let them help you in your work. Be a team. Help grow your relationship together. You will not regret investing time in your children’s lives.