Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Love this!
I became a mom for the first time on August 10, 1993. That little boy changed my world forever. I learned of a love I had never known before. My dreams changed that day. They were no longer about me, but about something much bigger than me. The future. The next generation. And the generation after that.
If you are visiting my blog via the P31 devo today, welcome friend. I’m glad you stopped by to check this site out. You might just be here to receive your copy of my Top Ten Ways to Connect With Your Kids, and that’s ok. Hang on and keep reading. I’ll tell you how to do that at the end of this post. (I have to keep you reading somehow!)
Since that first little gift from God (Psalm 127:3) was born, he’s been joined by three more. With each addition, there has been the challenge of communicating, teaching, disciplining, and bonding with each one. They are all so very different. I learned early on what works with one might not work for the next. I also learned that my preferred way of doing things, might not be and probably isn’t theirs.
My husband Jeff and I consider ourselves to be very “with it” parents. Our kids may have a different opinion, but we think we are quite cool. I mean, I took my daughter to see Justin Bieber…that’s cool isn’t it? And I know football better than any other mom I know. I even ring a cowbell at sporting events. (true story…sorry to the lady sitting in front of me at Hayden’s football games) Jeff is just as bad (I mean good) as I am. He blasts the music really loud in the carpool line so the other kids and teachers can see how cool he is. No, we don’t embarrass our kids. It’s all in the name of communicating better with them. Smiles.
We do have fun as a family, but we are serious too, especially about training up our kids the way they should go. It is our hope that our kids will be confident and secure in who they are. We want them to feel good about who God made them to be. We hope they will be able to function as independent adults one day and hopefully they will thank us for doing our part in their lives. Most importantly, we want to nurture, encourage, and enhance their personal relationship with the Lord. We hope that will be a very natural part of their lives.
It is my sincere hope that as you read today’s devotion, you were inspired to connect with your kids in a fresh new way. That is different for every parent and child. Only you know the best ways to connect with your kids. The technology connection (texting Bible verses to my kids every day) I wrote about in my devo isn’t for everyone. And it’s not the only way I connect with my kids either. It’s just one of the many. And for now, for us, it works. And it works well.
What is working for you? Leave a comment telling me one thing that you do to connect with your kids and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Lysa TerKeurst’s book, Am I Messing Up My Kids.
And for those of you who have read this far, to get your Top Ten list, just click here.
If you are not a parent, I realize this post wasn’t very applicable to you. Please come back! I promise I don’t write just about motherhood, it’s just my topic today.
Y’all have a blessed day. Thanks for spending a part of it with me. <3
If you are visiting my blog via the P31 devo today, welcome friend. I’m glad you stopped by to check this site out. You might just be here to receive your copy of my Top Ten Ways to Connect With Your Kids, and that’s ok. Hang on and keep reading. I’ll tell you how to do that at the end of this post. (I have to keep you reading somehow!)
Since that first little gift from God (Psalm 127:3) was born, he’s been joined by three more. With each addition, there has been the challenge of communicating, teaching, disciplining, and bonding with each one. They are all so very different. I learned early on what works with one might not work for the next. I also learned that my preferred way of doing things, might not be and probably isn’t theirs.
My husband Jeff and I consider ourselves to be very “with it” parents. Our kids may have a different opinion, but we think we are quite cool. I mean, I took my daughter to see Justin Bieber…that’s cool isn’t it? And I know football better than any other mom I know. I even ring a cowbell at sporting events. (true story…sorry to the lady sitting in front of me at Hayden’s football games) Jeff is just as bad (I mean good) as I am. He blasts the music really loud in the carpool line so the other kids and teachers can see how cool he is. No, we don’t embarrass our kids. It’s all in the name of communicating better with them. Smiles.
We do have fun as a family, but we are serious too, especially about training up our kids the way they should go. It is our hope that our kids will be confident and secure in who they are. We want them to feel good about who God made them to be. We hope they will be able to function as independent adults one day and hopefully they will thank us for doing our part in their lives. Most importantly, we want to nurture, encourage, and enhance their personal relationship with the Lord. We hope that will be a very natural part of their lives.
It is my sincere hope that as you read today’s devotion, you were inspired to connect with your kids in a fresh new way. That is different for every parent and child. Only you know the best ways to connect with your kids. The technology connection (texting Bible verses to my kids every day) I wrote about in my devo isn’t for everyone. And it’s not the only way I connect with my kids either. It’s just one of the many. And for now, for us, it works. And it works well.
What is working for you? Leave a comment telling me one thing that you do to connect with your kids and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Lysa TerKeurst’s book, Am I Messing Up My Kids.
And for those of you who have read this far, to get your Top Ten list, just click here.
If you are not a parent, I realize this post wasn’t very applicable to you. Please come back! I promise I don’t write just about motherhood, it’s just my topic today.
Y’all have a blessed day. Thanks for spending a part of it with me. <3
{ 24 comments }
Wednesday, November 17th, 2010
Top Ten Ways to Connect With Your Children
By Melissa Taylor
It ranks among one of my top priorities in life. I know my time with them is borrowed. My own mother told me to make the most of the time I have with my children, because it will be gone before I know it. Wow, isn’t that the truth? But what exactly does it mean “to make the most of the time” we have with our kids? I think a lot of it has to do with the ways we choose to connect with them. There are many ways we can find to bond with our children. Here are my Top Ten.10. Ignore your cell phone when you are with them. Let it ring and let the caller leave a message! Send the message to your child that they are #1 and way more important than anyone who may be calling you.
9. Show up. Be there for their special days, no matter how little or big the event or the child is.
8. Game Time. Playing games is a great way to just hang out, be competitive, insert values when they don’t realize it, and just have fun! There are so many fun family games. Just last night, I observed my 9 year old daughter playing “Go Fish” with my husband. It was the tiniest deck of cards you ever did see, but they were laughing and having the best time.
7. One on one time. Be intentional on having some time just for you and one of your children. For me, this is tough sometimes. I have to make this happen. For example, my daughter and I have a lot of time alone and we do a regular Mommy~Daughter date night, but my sons and I don’t. (We used to, but since they have gotten older, not so much.) I have to create that time so I try to select an activity that will intrigue them…like going to Starbucks, to a sports store just to look around, to a movie then ice cream, or sitting in the garage to listen to the drums. The activity isn’t so important as the time is.
6. Family Devotions. Priceless. If you can get your whole family together for some Family Time Devotions and discussion, do it!!!! It’s a great time to have the opportunity to bring God’s Word to life and learn to apply to real life. My kids learned how to look up Bible verses because of family devotions.
5. Car Time/Bedtime. You have a captive audience in the car, don’t let that time slip by. Talk to them. Pay attention to what they want to listen to on the radio and let them listen to it. Ask them about their day. And at bedtime, tuck them in. Again, you have a captive audience. Sometimes this is when your kids will just unload. For some reason mine seem to let their guards down at bedtime. Pray for them and let them hear you.
4. Family Meals. Whether you are a single mom or the mom of six, try to make time for a meal together. Not only does it encourage conversation, but also table manners. We used to all have breakfast together. Something we like to incorporate into our Dinner time is reporting the High-Lows: Each person reveals their high of the day and their low of the day. Quite telling.
3. Get interested in what they love even if it’s not what you love. Find out the best way for THEM to communicate. This may not be your #1 way. Follow them on Facebook. Look at their iTunes music files. Play their video games. Get to know their friends and love them. Text them.
2. Talk to them about anything! And listen too! From early on, let them know that they can ask anything, talk to you about anything, or approach you with any subject. NOTHING is off limits. Oh I have stories on this one!
1. Be available. Show your children that they matter by being available to them.
And finally, one I can’t leave off.
*Pray for them. Pray a specific verse for them. Let them know you are doing this. It may be a life verse you have claimed for them or just a prayer you have on your heart that day. This is a way you can connect with them EVEN IF THEY DON’T RESPOND TO THE OTHER 10 SUGGESTIONS.
Thank you to my Facebook and Twitter friends, P31 gals, Fab 5, and also to my own kids and husband for their ideas in helping create this list. I love you and would not want to do life without you! xoxoxoxo
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Maybe I`m Silly....
Maybe I`m Silly.... but I love special symbol characters..... such as----
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ⓐⓑⓒⓓⓔⓕⓖⓗⓘⓙⓚⓛⓜⓝⓞⓟⓠⓡ ⓢⓣⓤⓥⓦⓧⓨⓩ ⓝⓐⓣ or maybe this---- ❀ or this---- ✿ or ❁ or ✾ ☏ here is the link for alot more http://www.fbemoticons.net/special-characters-and-symbols/
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New Let`s Chat Blogging❤ ♡ ❤ ღ ☎
This is so much fun! I like making the Blogs instead of actually posting!
Hee Hee! Don`t you just love finding new stuff and getting inspired! Well I am definately inspired! I love this design I found and am looking for more great ideas! Come on, get inspired! What inspires you?
Hee Hee! Don`t you just love finding new stuff and getting inspired! Well I am definately inspired! I love this design I found and am looking for more great ideas! Come on, get inspired! What inspires you?
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