SISTER WISDOM

build a better life. start today.

Independence and Obedience Comments Off

Filed under the kids
Written by Annie on 29th Apr -10

My goal is for my children to be as independent as they can be without hurting themselves or ignoring my authority.

Guilt-Free Independence

The only way children can have guilt-free independence is to be given clear limits and designated areas of freedom within those limits. Independence, too, is not the freedom to do whatever, whenever, however you want without regard to others. No true Christian ever has the “right” to that kind of irresponsibility, falsely deemed independence or freedom.

Freedom comes with limits, automatically, and the right way to teach children the real nature of freedom is to give them independence within certain constraints. For example, continue reading…

Parenting 101: Toddler Eating Tips Comments Off

Filed under the kids
Written by Annie on 19th Apr -10

Here are a few things I do to make mealtime as conflict-free as possible:

  • I try to introduce one new food at a time, or to balance something I know they don’t like a whole lot with something they enjoy. Don’t overwhelm your child with new foods all at once. Try to stick to something familiar and something new. continue reading…

Parenting 101: The Greatest Joy Comments Off

Filed under the kids
Written by Annie on 5th Mar -10

It is 8:30 on a Saturday night and I am about to gorge myself on good chocolate and books. I am full of resolution. I am full of cheer. I am alone with the hot running water, in a cocoon the color of the shower curtain. My library loot is stacked beside me on the handmade, colored “Mara HEARTS Daddy” step stool. A pile of Ghirardellis on the ledge of the tub, next to my bottle of cold water.

Joe’s out snowboarding, the 3-under-3 are sleeping, and tonight I’m kicking it Mommy-style. Mommy after 3 days of no-routines, messy-house, movie-overload, good-times chaos. Mommy after 3 days of feeling slightly guilty that she has trouble going with the flow and that
she kind of resents the extra work that results from all this fun. continue reading…

5-Minute Motivation: Your Power to Influence for Good 1

Filed under the kids
Written by Annie on 20th Jan -10

The most potent influence for good that the world knows is a whole minded Christian home.
In such a home the life of the parents expresses their convictions rather than their frailties and their instruction of the children in the truths of the Christian faith is easy and natural, for it is but an explanation of the motives which actually determine the behavior which the children see and the conditions of life which they share.
Such a home is quiet, unhurried, without strain and stress.

Image by <a href=
The feelings and emotions inducted within the children by the contagion of sympathy are unhectic, sound, and wholesome.
The suggestions of such a home are in right directions, its unconscious models worthy of imitation.
Its authority is reasonable, its spirit that of mutual affection, its members are friends and comrades who stick together in work and in play.

In such a home the kingdom of God begins to come on earth,

that Kingdom which will come fully when all men realize that they have one Father and are brethren.
To such a home many of us can look back, and we thank God that it imparted its spirit, not just by precept or instruction, but by the uncounted, unintended vital influences of its atmosphere.
Text from “ The Training of Children in the Christian Home” by Luther Allan Weigle.

How to Make Sure Your Kids Are Happy Comments Off

Filed under the kids
Written by Annie on 26th Dec -09

Attributes of Fools

Fools:

  • Despise wisdom
  • Despise instruction screamingkid
  • Hate knowledge
  • Are destroyed by prosperity
  • Inherit shame
  • Are clamorous
  • Are simple
  • Know nothing
  • Weigh parents down
  • Will fall
  • Are near destruction
  • Lie
  • Hide hatred
  • Utter slanders
  • Listen to gossip
  • Die for lack of wisdom
  • Delight in mischief
  • Are right in their own eyes
  • Make their anger known
  • Proclaim foolishness
  • Bring shame
  • Are destroyed

Raising Up Fools

Let’s translate that list into parenting.

When I ignore my husband, ridicule my pastor, and otherwise demean authority figures and teachers in my life, I am teaching my children to hate wisdom and instruction.
When I panic, yell, argue loudly, speak before I listen, nitpick, and quarrel, I am teaching my children to be clamorous. When I allow them to interrupt, argue, question authority rudely, and make demands, I am teaching them to be clamorous.
When I give my children silly answers to serious questions. I am raising them to be simple-minded.

When I give my children arbitrary rules with no underlying principles, I am raising them to be fools who know nothing.

When I don’t teach them how to communicate with respect, when I make excuses for them, I am turning them into children who will bring shame and weigh us, their parents, down.

When I allow temper tantrums…
When I give explanations for everything…
When I don’t set boundaries…
When I act like a fool…

I am raising fools.

That’s kind of heavy, isn’t it? Hang with me here. It gets better. continue reading…

Uses wordpress plugins developed by www.wpdevelop.com