Parenting for the Long Haul

DD#3 has been such a joy lately and yet at the same time has been testing to the limits. She's hit the "I want to do it on my own and on my own terms" phase. For example, she decided that she wanted to swim in the big pool. When told no she ran into the men's locker room where she knew I couldn't get her. Yep, my wonderful, adorable two-year old did that. It warms my heart to see her try new things and take ownership of tasks, but the testing(which 9yr. old ds has also been doing)is wearing me out. I've found that I've had to reformulate my game-plan and constantly remind myself that I'm parenting for the long-run.

1-3 Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. "Honor your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, "so you will live well and have a long life." 4Fathers [mothers], don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. ~Ephesians 6:1-3 The Message

I've been meditating on the following verses, especially verse 4. My husband and I have been trying to decide what would be good consequences for certain actions for both my 2yr. old and 9yr. old. We've been parenting for almost 11 years now and still find that what motivates one child does not motivate another. So we've been praying, reading the Word, and checking out a few good parenting resources. Some days I feel like I'm on track, doing a good job, but lately I feel like I have no idea how to handle some of the curve balls that are coming my direction. God grant me wisdom! And I know He will. And the funny thing is that so far He's having me change first.

~Maureen

Books on my Parenting Bookshelf:

For Instruction in Righteousness: A Topical Reference Guide for Biblical Child-Training

Making Children Mind without Losing Yours

Grace-Based Parenting

NIV Gift Bible

Raising Your Children With No Regrets: 7 Principles of an Intentional Mother

Random Tidbits About Me

Deb from Life With Birk tagged me the other day and it's taken me forever just to sit down and answer these questions--lol! (Not to mention I always have a hard time answering more than 2 questions---lol)

1. What are your current obsessions? Checking my Google Analytics page and drinking Coke

2. Which item from your wardrobe do you wear most often? My brown slip-on shoes

3. Last dream you had? I woke up to the sound of a doorbell, which I thought was real, but it was just my dream.

4. Last thing you bought? Bunch of containers for organizing homeschool and pantry stuff.

5. What are you listening to? The washing machine

6. What do you want to be when you grow up? Hmmm, I'd be interested in learning more about photography and web design

7. Favourite holiday spots? Can't say we've really done much vacationing

8. Reading right now? The New Square Foot Garden, Grace-Based Parenting, When Children Love to Learn, DK Herb book (can you tell I have a hard time finishing non-fiction books?)

9. Four words to describe yourself. I am pretty nice :)

10. Guilty pleasure? Arby's apple turnover

11. Who or what makes you laugh until you’re weak? ?? haven't done that for a long time

12. Favourite spring thing to do? Go for a walk

13. Planning to travel to next? no plans

14. Best thing you ate or drank lately? . Cloe's Virus-Killing Soup

15. Dream vacation? An Alaskan Cruise

16. Favourite ever film? Hmm, I'm not a big movie fan.

17. Care to share some wisdom?

18. Song you can't get out of your head? Oh Mister Sun, Sun, Mister Golden Sun... (DD#3 is on a big Barney kick right now)

19. Thing you are looking forward to? Swimming this summer

I'd love to know a little more about you too! If you answer these questions, let me know so I can check it out.

Counting Bears

Aren't these just the cutest bears? Ok, I've seen cuter ones too, but these make me happy. I bought my first set for DD#1 almost 7 years ago. I was so excited to have hands-on math manipulatives for her. Math was a struggle for me when I was a kid, and I was determined to give DD#1 a good start. I had high expectations for those little critters. I actually used them with her too. They were used for counting, sorting and modeling word problems. Out of 100 she only lost a couple. Then came DS. He lost over half of them in his first year of life. So I bought another set so that we could still count to 100. I can't remember actually using them with him, but I'm sure I did---after all that was the whole reason I bought them right?. ;)

Next came DD#2. She's seven now and I am pretty sure she's never used them for math. I've found them instead in the bathtub, in Barbie's swimming pool, in Dora's dollhouse, and in army formations. She and DS have buried them, tied them and even colored them. These bears have grown out of control just like Legos. I'm always stepping on them or washing them in the laundry. Now DD#3 is old enough to start using the bears for sorting. And guess what. Out of 200 counting bears, less than 20 can be found. Maybe that's a good thing. I've had my eye on these little buggers but could never justify getting them since we already had the counting bears. So maybe the end of an era has come-- out with the bears and in with the bugs.