Probably the greatest life skill is learning to get along with others. You don’t teach or learn that by focusing on a technique. It begins in the heart. It emanates from a genuine respect for others.
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And that can be trained in a young child through several ways. One of the simplest is a 2-second habit they’ll have the chance to repeat many times a day.
As a mom of five, we had to have schedules and boundaries in order for everything to flow smoothly. Yet I also wanted to make life in our family fun. That’s why breaking the rules occasionally was so welcome—and healthy—for our family.
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One of the best secrets I realized early on as a mom was that you don’t have to spend a lot of money in order for everyone to have a good time doing something together. I was especially grateful for that during those years when money was tight. Actually, the family activities that are most remembered were those when we just broke the rules temporarily.
There is no greater need for solid leadership today than in the home. Parents need to intentional lead their family. And although that may seem obvious, it’s easier said than done.
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I like what Edward, Duke of Windsor said about America: “The thing that impresses me most about America is the way the parents obey their children.” Parents, are you leading your children or are they leading you?
There is a serious epidemic attacking our families yet there is too little alarm being raised. Our kids are getting fat.
I don’t mean to be offensive and certainly not judgmental. Overweight is defined as excessive body weight for a particular height. Obese is excess body fat. And we have a full on epidemic of obesity taking place in our kids here in America.
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With approximately one third of our kids and teens in America either overweight or obese, the American Heart Association reports that “childhood obesity is now the No. 1 health concern among parents in the United States, topping drug abuse and smoking.”
I’ve recently written on some of the benefits of homeschooling for our family and some of the challenges. I want to share a few principles/techniques that I used along the way which may be helpful to others who choose to educate their children at home.
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I began homeschooling when we only had two boys and they were preschool and kindergarten ages. Teaching then was easy, fun, and much of their learning could be combined. As I added children to the mix, it became necessary to be flexible and change according to their respective ages and stages. This made teaching truly an adventure and kept it interesting.
Oddly, I’ve been asked more than usual recently what books shaped me significantly. It’s a good question—one I ask others as well because we are largely shaped by the books we read and the people we hang around.
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The Bible is hands down the most influential book in my life—no surprise to most, I’m sure. Beyond that, there are an untold number of books that left their mark on me in some way. But the following easily rank at the top.
In response to my recent post on our experience with homeschooling, I’m dedicating a couple more posts to that topic.
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Even though I finished my 21-year stint with homeschooling 10 years ago, I still have exposure to it with my grandchildren. And, wow, have the options and support changed over the years. So many types of homeschooling curricula are available, which allows you to personalize your approach according to your personality and that of your child. Homeschool support groups and cooperative schools are an invaluable addition to the homeschooling experience.
I don’t remember my mom and dad making any big deal about their bedroom being off limits. But I do remember the sense that it was different that the rest of our home. I’d move freely about the house wherever I chose, but I didn’t feel the same freedom about their room.
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When we had our own kids, we instilled in them a similar boundary for our bedroom. I know it may not be the same in every family but I feel it’s worthwhile to do so.
As a mom who homeschooled my children for 21 years, I have definite opinions on homeschooling. While homeschooling may not be the best choice for every family, it proved to be one of our best decisions.
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We began homeschooling in 1985, when many viewed it as more of a cult rather than enjoying the widespread acceptance it does today. People didn’t know much about it, and because it was a break from the traditional norm, most onlookers were skeptical.
We often remind young parents that all our ideas for parenting didn’t come with the birth of our first child. Our parenting skills developed throughout the entire 28 years that we had children under our roof. In fact, we were making changes and adding new techniques even after our last babies (twins) were born.
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Change is necessary for anything to get better. But I learned that if we were going to make changes in our household, it was something that needed to be handled very carefully. Children get used to a certain mode of operation and not everyone is excited about the status quo being altered.
