Yesturday was a bad day. Today was a good one. In my distress yesturday, i spent alot of time in prayer. I wanted to handle the situation in a way that would touch my children's hearts and create a change without rebellion or bad attitudes. At dinner time, we sat together at the table and talked about what had been going on in the past couple of days. Steven and i told the kids what we thought the cause of the problem was and how we felt about it. The children listened quietly while we told them how things had gone wrong lately and how we were sorry that we had dropped the ball and moslty the same things i posted about in yesturday's blog. There were tears, apologies, and a desire to do better. We all agreed that some things needed to change and the children all apologized. We hugged, we cried, we laughed.....we made a chore chart which detailed each child's daily and weekly job and discussed what the consequences of neglecting that job would be. Once again, i thank the Lord for the gifts he has heaped upon me. He gave me the words to say, He whispered to my heart and to the hearts of my husband and children, He allowed me to sense His presence in the face of my distress, and He has given me the joy of my heart. I know that the children will test the new responsibilities and consequences, and i pray that the Lord will help me to enforce new rules, but the kids handled the whole situation much better than i thought, and i am thankful for that.
I look back over yesturday's post and i think, "what was i so upset about?" Today i am actually thankful for what happened because it gave me the kick in the butt i needed to actually do something about the children's lack of respect and responsibility. It wasn't all about chores, there was a disrespect going on that was also dealt with. Thank God for new beginnings.
Today i got up early, got ready for the 8:30 church service, drove Erin to work, and went to church with Rachel. The service was very good and so was Sunday School. Rachel and I decided to start going to the 11:00 service from now on, however, so we can sleep a little later and also talk to our friends after service instead of running out before the next service starts. At home, i took a nap, watched tv, did some college reading than made dinner. We all sat at the table again and finished our conversation from last night. (we had asked the kids to come up with some consequences for rule breaking and i showed them the chore chart) Then Rachel, Erin, Erin's friend Jess, and i went back to church so the girls could go to youth group and i could go to service. I'm not one to usually go to night service, but last week i brought Erin to youth group, drove home, and then turned around a half an hour later to go pick her up. (we live about 20 min away from church). Since Erin now plans on going to youth group every week (yes, Erin : ) ) I figured i would just stay for service and save the gas. Rachel went to youth group for the first time tonight and loved it and wants to go back. I am very pleased about this and just desire the same for my son, who will not go to church unless he is forced.
So, all in all, I had a great day. And I feel so much better. Like ALOT better. Tomorrow it's back to school and i hope Rachel's school books come in soon because i am running out of ideas. So far we still read a chapter each of Mark, Judges, and Proverbs for Bible each day. Than on the computer for math, on the couch with mommy reading Miriam out loud for history (about Moses's sister to help learn about life in ancient Egypt), then on the wii for gym : ), then lunch, then on the computer for grammer and science, then writing in her journal or writing book and doing a vocabulary lesson. That's it. We are both looking foward to doing more taditional lessons but are also enjoying each others company and recovering from public middle school. We plan on getting involved with at least 2 extracurricular activities (choir, karate, co-op, ..ect) but are still working it all out. I really hope i will be able to teach her in the same way i did my other two, but i have changed so much in the past couple of years, i hope i didn't lose that part that made me a good, confident teacher. We'll see.
Well, it's late and i'm going to bed. Wanted to writed about my good day before i turned in.
Today i am thankful for:
1. A Creator who desires to have a relationship with His creation.
2. A church that feels like family
3. The dollar store
To my dear daughter, I am glad you updated your blogs and i just finished reading them. I don't know what to say except that i love the direction you are going in. Don't worry, you will do great in teaching Rachel. I am so proud of you and love you very much. I am going to update my blog now, let's see how it turns out. Love, Dad.
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