Thursday, August 21, 2014

Teach Your Children Well

WARNING:
LONG POST
NOT ADVISED FOR THE ADD OR ADHD ADULT.


I love the line in Hook when the little girl tells him,
"You're just a mean old man without a mommy."

I think that goes for children too.
When my children were little and they were picked on
by the "bad" kid in class, 
I'd say, 
"She just needs a mommy to love her,"
or
"He just needs a Daddy."



The relationship that a wife has with her husband 
is often a reflection of the relationship she had with her dad.


In the College/Career Class we have been learning 
The Five Love Languages 
by 
Dr. Gary Chapman.


The Love Languages are:
Affirmation
Quality Time
Gifts
Acts of Service 
Physical Touch.


Child psychologists affirm that every child has certain
emotional needs that must be met if he is to be emotionally stable.


Children who feel loved by their parents, whose parents 
have invested time and energy and are involved 
in the activities of their lives are more likely 
to succeed in their adult lives.


I've often heard it said,
"What we expect our children to be, they will become."


When a child hears from his parents,
"You will never amount to anything,"
most often, the child will meet that parent's
expectation and will live with an unhealthy view of himself.


Word are Important!
Words are Important!
Words are Important!


The important thing about a father playing ball
with his three-year-old, is not the activity itself,
but the emotions that were created between
the father and his child.


Some simple ideas for quality time with your child
may cost little or nothing.
But without quality time, it may cost everything!

Ride bicycles together.
Throw the football.
Shoot baskets together.
Walk together.
Have a picnic in the park.
Put a bed sheet over the kitchen table,
add some pillows, a sleeping bag,
grab a flashlight and camp out together.

I was once asked,
"How did you manage to have such well-adjusted children?"
Oh, there were some tough years.
Ask my children.
Our home was far from perfect.
However, doing some things didn't hurt.

First, we kept them involved in an active children
and youth ministry.

Second, we did everything together.
As youth directors,
we sacrificed money and time, but never our children.
The youth were made to feel like they belonged to our family,
not that our children belonged to them.

Last, we sought out their talents, believed in their abilities
to accomplish anything they wanted to accomplish
and were involved in everything they did.



You know, we can do our best and our kids may
walk a different path than we have chosen for them.
They may walk away from the very values that
we built our lives upon.



But when we know that we've done our best,
we can give the results to God and rest.

One Christmas morning we were up
early going to Grandma's, when we noticed
what looked to be a homeless man walking the streets.

In his drunken stupor, he fell on his face.
Tears rolled down my face and
my daughter said,
"Mama, he's just a man without a mommy."

We must teach our children well.

“If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn . . .
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight . . .
If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive . . .
If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself . . .
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy . . .
If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel envy . . .
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty ... 

BUT

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient . . .
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident . . .
If a child lives with praise, he learns to be appreciative . . .
If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love . .
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves..
If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is . . .
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice . . .
If children live with recognition, they learn to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn to be generous.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and those about him . . .
If a child lives with friendliness, he learns the world is a nice place in which to live . . .” 
― Dorothy Law NolteChildren Learn What They Live




12 comments:

  1. Well said! We've been homeschooling for 17 years. We're a close knit family because we've spent so much time together. Like you, there's been some hard times but I wouldn't change anything! I have a 22,18, 12 and 9 year old. They grow up so fast! Great post! So many great reminders!

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  2. Our mother ruled with an iron fist....but if you visit my blog today...you will see why. There were too many of us. But she make us respect our elders, teachers and leaders. I know what you are saying...God did send us a guardian angel. She helped my mother, so our lives were better. We did learn, when we have nothing , we still had each other. I love this post. xoxo,Susie

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  3. What a great post! What good advice for everyone to follow. Raising a good family is a lot of work, sacrifice, and service, but what a pay off!

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  4. So true! They are the best thing to pour ourselves into, because we can't take anything else with us!

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  5. Good post and great advice, especially for young parents today.

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  6. So true dear friend! It is SO important to teach our children to be great parents and they learn from their great parents:) Enjoy your weekend dear friend! HUGS!

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  7. Great words to live by, God-and Family. Great post

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  8. Beautiful post full of wisdom.
    We did those thing and have rich relationships with our adult children, but sadly two of them have walked away from their faith. It makes my heart ache, but I do know we did all we could do. Perhaps there will be a time when they return to faith.

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  9. I agree with what others have said. The children who do seem to succeed and seem well-adjusted are those raised in a loving Christian home by a mom and a dad. We noticed that over and over when going to awards' banquets with our girls.

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  10. There is plenty that we didn't do right. That's how I see it from my view point. But when I look at how my kids are doing with their kids....I see everything they are doing right! Our kids are very good parents for which I am so grateful. Guess we must have done a thing or two correctly after all :) beautiful post, my friend!

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