We all have moments. Kiddos are tired and start picking on each other. Nothing horrible or down right mean.
Antagonizing? Yes. Or as we put it, egging each other on.
Speaking over one another? Yes. Simply not letting each other finish a thought.
Argumentative? Yes. Once they do interrupt, they just tell each other they are wrong.
Selfish? Yes. "It's mine." Or "Don't touch my ....."
Childish attitudes? Yes. But they are just children.
Frustrating for a mom? Yes.
My new approach is to remain calm and peaceful. (Not easy for me.) I give Pie and Bub each a chance to tell me whats on their heart and why they are behaving this way. Then its my turn. Pie is little, so she and I talk. But Bub is getting older and can take on a bit more I believe. So I generally send him to his Bible and have him find verses that reflect his own heart. And usually by the time he comes back to me he has a verse or two, a new understanding, a new attitude.
The other day is came back with James 1:19 "Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger."
A few days before that he came to me with "Treat others as you want to be treated." Bub came to the conclusion that if he is mean spirited toward Pie, she will copy him and be mean spirited right back. But he treats her with kindness, she will return the behavior. Really, I had nothing to add ... just a smile and a hug.
"And be at peace among yourselves."
"Be patient towards all men."
"In everything give thanks."
Three verses in 1 Thessalonians that the tumble around my head a lot. I love "giving thanks in everything" ... so nice to share with the kiddos when they fell like complainy complainertons, as I call them.
"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ." 2 Tim. 3:15
"Ye are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works." Matt. 5:14-16
"Train up a child they way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
Verses that speaks to me as a mother. Verses for the kiddos, attitudes, hearts I want them to know, live, believe.
Yet these verses are not just for them ... they are for me too. To learn, to grow each day. To cleanse my own heart, refresh my own attitudes.
A verse I love ...
"That ye study to be quiet, and to , and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands." 1 Thes. 4:11
Football is in full swing. Daily practices, calisthenics, loads of conditioning and learning new plays. Tackling, carrying the ball, blocking, running the plays, re-running the plays It's truly a constant audition. The boys have to earn their position. Tired or not, Bub pushes. Right now it looks like he will play "wingback," a position he's excited about.
Driving to practice each evening, he is not always thrilled though ... just knowing what his following two hours hold. Add in the summer heat, and well, some evenings are harder to get pumped up about than other.
Our verse has been ...
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13
It's one of our memory verses, and one that Bub can put into practice. As soon as he gets out of the car and joins his team on the field, he has forgotten about the heat and any other reservations he may be feeling, and dives right in, full force. We don't get to talk during practice, nor would he probably want to talk to his mom while he's with "the guys," but there are moments where we make eye contact, and the verse is there.
By the time we leave practice, get home and showered, Bub is always so chatty about how great practice was and how hard he pushed himself.
The same Bible verse has been swirling through my head as well. I've been using the time at practice to catch up with my own running. And the 100 degree plus heat can take a toll.
I pray while I run can truly find my strength through Christ.
Bub came to me yesterday and asked if I could keep Ribbit for him. Ribbit, the frog he made at Build-a-Bear Workshop at 4 years-old. Ribbit, is the frog he slept with every night. Now at 10 years old, almost 11, Bub asked he I could keep Ribbit for him, in a truck where I have his baby things.
He's growing ... it's right, it's time, it's good. I told him "yes."
I am so proud of who he is and who he is becoming. I love watching him grow. My heart aches. He's letting go a bit. My heart wants to hold on.
Our relationship is ever changing. Yet it is always full ... a true blessing.
Sleep beckons ... sweet dreams ...
Antagonizing? Yes. Or as we put it, egging each other on.
Speaking over one another? Yes. Simply not letting each other finish a thought.
Argumentative? Yes. Once they do interrupt, they just tell each other they are wrong.
Selfish? Yes. "It's mine." Or "Don't touch my ....."
Childish attitudes? Yes. But they are just children.
Frustrating for a mom? Yes.
My new approach is to remain calm and peaceful. (Not easy for me.) I give Pie and Bub each a chance to tell me whats on their heart and why they are behaving this way. Then its my turn. Pie is little, so she and I talk. But Bub is getting older and can take on a bit more I believe. So I generally send him to his Bible and have him find verses that reflect his own heart. And usually by the time he comes back to me he has a verse or two, a new understanding, a new attitude.
The other day is came back with James 1:19 "Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger."
A few days before that he came to me with "Treat others as you want to be treated." Bub came to the conclusion that if he is mean spirited toward Pie, she will copy him and be mean spirited right back. But he treats her with kindness, she will return the behavior. Really, I had nothing to add ... just a smile and a hug.
"And be at peace among yourselves."
"Be patient towards all men."
"In everything give thanks."
Three verses in 1 Thessalonians that the tumble around my head a lot. I love "giving thanks in everything" ... so nice to share with the kiddos when they fell like complainy complainertons, as I call them.
"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ." 2 Tim. 3:15
"Ye are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works." Matt. 5:14-16
"Train up a child they way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
Verses that speaks to me as a mother. Verses for the kiddos, attitudes, hearts I want them to know, live, believe.
Yet these verses are not just for them ... they are for me too. To learn, to grow each day. To cleanse my own heart, refresh my own attitudes.
A verse I love ...
"That ye study to be quiet, and to , and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands." 1 Thes. 4:11
Football is in full swing. Daily practices, calisthenics, loads of conditioning and learning new plays. Tackling, carrying the ball, blocking, running the plays, re-running the plays It's truly a constant audition. The boys have to earn their position. Tired or not, Bub pushes. Right now it looks like he will play "wingback," a position he's excited about.
Driving to practice each evening, he is not always thrilled though ... just knowing what his following two hours hold. Add in the summer heat, and well, some evenings are harder to get pumped up about than other.
Our verse has been ...
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13
It's one of our memory verses, and one that Bub can put into practice. As soon as he gets out of the car and joins his team on the field, he has forgotten about the heat and any other reservations he may be feeling, and dives right in, full force. We don't get to talk during practice, nor would he probably want to talk to his mom while he's with "the guys," but there are moments where we make eye contact, and the verse is there.
By the time we leave practice, get home and showered, Bub is always so chatty about how great practice was and how hard he pushed himself.
The same Bible verse has been swirling through my head as well. I've been using the time at practice to catch up with my own running. And the 100 degree plus heat can take a toll.
I pray while I run can truly find my strength through Christ.
Bub came to me yesterday and asked if I could keep Ribbit for him. Ribbit, the frog he made at Build-a-Bear Workshop at 4 years-old. Ribbit, is the frog he slept with every night. Now at 10 years old, almost 11, Bub asked he I could keep Ribbit for him, in a truck where I have his baby things.
He's growing ... it's right, it's time, it's good. I told him "yes."
I am so proud of who he is and who he is becoming. I love watching him grow. My heart aches. He's letting go a bit. My heart wants to hold on.
Our relationship is ever changing. Yet it is always full ... a true blessing.
Sleep beckons ... sweet dreams ...
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