Meeting the parents of kids you interact with everyday answers a lot of questions and confirms a lot of suspicions. If you've ever wondered if you make an impact on your children, you do.
Take a look in the mirror, mom and dad. They are you...just littler versions. Your decisions impact their little lives. Who you are determines, in a way, who they will be.
Ahhhh! That's stressful! This is slightly terrifying, but it's life-altering. Are you joyful or depressed? Are you full of grace or full of condemnation? Are you confident or self-conscious? Are you their cheerleader or their persecutor? All of these things impact who they are at home, in the classroom and who they will be in 15 plus years.
Me? I want to be the joyful, forgiving, confident cheerleader my kids are going to need in this little thing called "life". Who else is going to be in the corner as much as mom or dad?
Now the hard part. "What about when I'm not these things?" I want them to see that side too. But I also want them to hear the "I'm sorry"s, and "I'll try better next time"s. Sometimes, failure is imminent. This is the grace card. And this is also life.
No kids? Not a problem. Who said they had to be your own? I have two biological babies and 26 adopted-for-9 months babies (who I carry in my heart for much longer). There are PLENTY of kiddos in my room I'd love to be a light to, so I'm thankful I have a few more months with them. Hopefully one day they will remember the joy, grace, and confidence of someone they once knew, whether they remember my name or not.
"Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest." ~Max Lucado "When God Whispers Your Name"
What kind of tree are you? What kind of nuts do you produce? Just some food for thought...
Little bit of chaos. Little bit of fun. Little bit of life. Whole lot of love.
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Little People
Being a teacher is rewarding, fun, exhausting and .......painful. Let me explain.
This semester I have a student teacher so my time is freed up to do things I normally don't get a chance to do. Unfortunately, I am learning a lot about myself. To save you the "our job is so hard", "the State rules our schools", "we have to prepare for the BIG test!" sob story, I'll just say there's usually not enough time in our 9 month year to cover everything we need to. We rush in, teach, teach, teach and send the little boogers home in a whirlwind of "Remember to study your spelling words!", "Get your planner signed!", "Book orders are due tomorrow!", "PLEASE get on the right bus today!" I am noticing that the time I spent truly getting to know my kids, without worrying about getting behind in Math, is lacking.
Since I'm not solely responsible for the academic side of planning, teaching and grading I find myself really LEARNING my students. This year most of my kids desperately need me. Hopefully I haven't missed the last six years of these same kind of kids. My kid woes range from family cats passing away to living with foster families or grandparents to being afraid to go home because of people who are in the home that, frankly, shouldn't be there. My heart has been at my feet more than once this year already and sadly, I feel more times a'comin.
You know what? It's not just "my" kids. Little guy crying in the hall because he broke his glasses and mama is going to be mad at him. A hug, reassurance and he still waves at me in the hall. Habitual office kid...now I know his name and he knows mine. I check up on him whenever I can. Amazingly, my list goes on and on.
Eight year old brothers should not have to protect their six year old sister. But he does. Schools should not have to feed kids breakfast, lunch AND supper. But we do. Teachers should not have to drop snacks in backpacks at the end of the day. But we do. Kids that sleep in urine-drenched beds should not have to have their items washed at school. But we do it. Dirty faces should not have to be washed by teachers, principals, nurses, counselors and paraprofessionals. But we do it. Hugs should not JUST come from those same people. But I'm glad we get to embrace those little ones.
I consider myself lucky to have such valuable time to spend with such valuable lives. If we can truly listen to the sad eyes, slumped shoulders and sad expressions of these little people, maybe, just maybe, we can help break this incredibly disappointing cycle.
This semester I have a student teacher so my time is freed up to do things I normally don't get a chance to do. Unfortunately, I am learning a lot about myself. To save you the "our job is so hard", "the State rules our schools", "we have to prepare for the BIG test!" sob story, I'll just say there's usually not enough time in our 9 month year to cover everything we need to. We rush in, teach, teach, teach and send the little boogers home in a whirlwind of "Remember to study your spelling words!", "Get your planner signed!", "Book orders are due tomorrow!", "PLEASE get on the right bus today!" I am noticing that the time I spent truly getting to know my kids, without worrying about getting behind in Math, is lacking.
Since I'm not solely responsible for the academic side of planning, teaching and grading I find myself really LEARNING my students. This year most of my kids desperately need me. Hopefully I haven't missed the last six years of these same kind of kids. My kid woes range from family cats passing away to living with foster families or grandparents to being afraid to go home because of people who are in the home that, frankly, shouldn't be there. My heart has been at my feet more than once this year already and sadly, I feel more times a'comin.
You know what? It's not just "my" kids. Little guy crying in the hall because he broke his glasses and mama is going to be mad at him. A hug, reassurance and he still waves at me in the hall. Habitual office kid...now I know his name and he knows mine. I check up on him whenever I can. Amazingly, my list goes on and on.
Eight year old brothers should not have to protect their six year old sister. But he does. Schools should not have to feed kids breakfast, lunch AND supper. But we do. Teachers should not have to drop snacks in backpacks at the end of the day. But we do. Kids that sleep in urine-drenched beds should not have to have their items washed at school. But we do it. Dirty faces should not have to be washed by teachers, principals, nurses, counselors and paraprofessionals. But we do it. Hugs should not JUST come from those same people. But I'm glad we get to embrace those little ones.
I consider myself lucky to have such valuable time to spend with such valuable lives. If we can truly listen to the sad eyes, slumped shoulders and sad expressions of these little people, maybe, just maybe, we can help break this incredibly disappointing cycle.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
I Wanna Be a Cow
We live in a rural, cow-raising community. I drive 25 miles through pasture laiden highway twice a day. Today as I was coming home I noticed some calves (baby cows for you city-folk!) trotting right along in line with the big'uns. It got me thinking.
For those of you who know even LESS than I do about cattle, let me "inform" you. (insert chuckle) When calves are born they stay right with mama so they get to know her scent, her call, even her hide. They depend, as most young do, on her for food and protection. As they begin to grow, they venture a little at a time into the big world. Mom is never far away, once again for food and protection. The older they get, the braver and more dependent they become until, eventually, they are eating their own food and butting heads with the other young ones. Soon they begin following mom to the food down a narrow "cow path". Every morning and every night they venture down that same tiny trail. Mom leads them to the source of food. She never lets them down, so they follow.
The calves that got me thinking were two little guys walking that cow path, bouncing along, one right after the other, in between a whole line of Holsteins. I couldn't tell who mom was (I bet they still could!) but they were confident that the narrow path led to food. So they traveled.
I want to be a cow. The good kind. The kind who teaches her calves where to find food by faithfully leading them to the Source. Every morning and every night (maybe even snack time!) showing them where to find the Good Food. Our kids are hungry and thirsty for comfort and power that only He can give. If we show them the way as children down that long, narrow path...one day they will be able to walk the path alone, with confidence, and hopefully with fellow friends.
Be a cow! They've got it all under control. :)
For those of you who know even LESS than I do about cattle, let me "inform" you. (insert chuckle) When calves are born they stay right with mama so they get to know her scent, her call, even her hide. They depend, as most young do, on her for food and protection. As they begin to grow, they venture a little at a time into the big world. Mom is never far away, once again for food and protection. The older they get, the braver and more dependent they become until, eventually, they are eating their own food and butting heads with the other young ones. Soon they begin following mom to the food down a narrow "cow path". Every morning and every night they venture down that same tiny trail. Mom leads them to the source of food. She never lets them down, so they follow.
The calves that got me thinking were two little guys walking that cow path, bouncing along, one right after the other, in between a whole line of Holsteins. I couldn't tell who mom was (I bet they still could!) but they were confident that the narrow path led to food. So they traveled.
I want to be a cow. The good kind. The kind who teaches her calves where to find food by faithfully leading them to the Source. Every morning and every night (maybe even snack time!) showing them where to find the Good Food. Our kids are hungry and thirsty for comfort and power that only He can give. If we show them the way as children down that long, narrow path...one day they will be able to walk the path alone, with confidence, and hopefully with fellow friends.
Be a cow! They've got it all under control. :)
Friday, September 9, 2011
I'd never keep them little...well...maybe.
If I could keep them little, for just a little while, maybe I would. I have never been one that was saddened by my little ones growing up too quickly. I've always been the one that is more excited for their firsts than I think they are! Smiling, crawling (never a dull moment), clapping, walking, talking (never a QUIET moment), praying, noticing planes, hugging me because they want to, all those little things. However, I do know that this world can be scary. Hearts can get broken. People can be mean. Failure is imminent. That hurts a mama's heart. I will endure the "teenage years" more than once in my lifetime, I do believe. So, if I could let them grow up in the shelter of the perfect world bubble, I would. But would that be living? Would that teach them to lean on Jesus? Would that teach them about the need for a Savior? No. So while they grow and I celebrate their firsts, I will pray FERVENTLY for their little lives while they are with OR without me.
Dear Jesus, protect my babies, the babies you gave so graciously to me to hold for a little while. I know that I cannot protect them better than you and I can't "worry them safe", but please wrap them in your bubble wrap arms so I can cuddle them for a little while longer.
Pictures can keep them small and capture those precious firsts and little moments, even if time can't.
Little Mr. Butterball.
Three Little Lady Generations
See...life is hard (but it's SOOOO good).
It was only yesterday...
Friday, September 2, 2011
Parenting...ouch.
Sometimes parenting is a walk in the park. Sometimes, it's the hardest thing you'll ever do. Tonight it was the latter.
Jackson is 3 years old and has been going through a "false-hood" stage. Jeremy and I have worked diligently to "train him up" and to know right from wrong. I'd say we've done a pretty good job because now when he does something wrong (don't we all?) he tries to cover it up. Case in point: He was wielding his foam ninja sword tonight in the living room while Kennedy and I played on the floor. He accidentally knocked over an almost empty soda bottle sitting on the coffee table. Although I did not SEE him knock it over, he frantically scrambled to set it right and said "Oh sorry!" Being silly I ask, "Did you knock that over?" He looked me dead in the eye and said "Uh-uh! Miss Kennedy did it!" I began to explain all the reasons it couldn't be her so I asked him again. This time his story changed. "Uhhhh, I think a monster did it." He got to sit on his stool for awhile until he could confess his sins. Later, we found the Ten Commandments in one of his kid bibles and talked about this in depth. No spankings, just hugs and instructions.
When Jeremy got home I ran through the, now funny, story for him. He went to ask Jackson about his day and if he got in trouble. Once again, lies escaped his sweet little mouth. He was told about consequences if this continued. We were feeling laid back tonight and let him eat in his room. He came and told us he had eaten everything on his plate (HA! This is a rarity.) so we asked again and made sure he wasn't tickling our ears. Jeremy reminded him of their conversation earlier and he was adamant....big blue eyes and all! Well, he seems to have a problem. Jeremy found that someone had put food BACK on his plate! He told Jeremy he was ready to eat, but alas it was too late. He received his punishment, a few hugs and was sent swiftly to bed where he boo-hooed for quite awhile.
Oh how these lessons hurt a mama's (and daddy's) heart! But, oh the hurt could be SO much greater if our sinful nature was left unchecked. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 Yes, he's only three. Yes, he's absolutely ADORABLE. Yes, he cries for mama when he's upset. But he has been entrusted to us for a short time. We are instructed to prepare these little ones to be workers in His field.
So now....I go curl up on the couch waiting for him to fall sound asleep. Later I can sneak into his bedroom to curl up next to him and pray for his little man heart to fully love the Lord. Please pray for us as we train up these two little'uns.
Singing His Praises
#12 My babies
#13 Jeremy who keeps me strong when I want to melt into those big blue pools
#14 Parents and in-laws that still pray for their two big kids
#15 Brand new mornings that bring brand new chances for little ones and big ones
Jackson is 3 years old and has been going through a "false-hood" stage. Jeremy and I have worked diligently to "train him up" and to know right from wrong. I'd say we've done a pretty good job because now when he does something wrong (don't we all?) he tries to cover it up. Case in point: He was wielding his foam ninja sword tonight in the living room while Kennedy and I played on the floor. He accidentally knocked over an almost empty soda bottle sitting on the coffee table. Although I did not SEE him knock it over, he frantically scrambled to set it right and said "Oh sorry!" Being silly I ask, "Did you knock that over?" He looked me dead in the eye and said "Uh-uh! Miss Kennedy did it!" I began to explain all the reasons it couldn't be her so I asked him again. This time his story changed. "Uhhhh, I think a monster did it." He got to sit on his stool for awhile until he could confess his sins. Later, we found the Ten Commandments in one of his kid bibles and talked about this in depth. No spankings, just hugs and instructions.
When Jeremy got home I ran through the, now funny, story for him. He went to ask Jackson about his day and if he got in trouble. Once again, lies escaped his sweet little mouth. He was told about consequences if this continued. We were feeling laid back tonight and let him eat in his room. He came and told us he had eaten everything on his plate (HA! This is a rarity.) so we asked again and made sure he wasn't tickling our ears. Jeremy reminded him of their conversation earlier and he was adamant....big blue eyes and all! Well, he seems to have a problem. Jeremy found that someone had put food BACK on his plate! He told Jeremy he was ready to eat, but alas it was too late. He received his punishment, a few hugs and was sent swiftly to bed where he boo-hooed for quite awhile.
Oh how these lessons hurt a mama's (and daddy's) heart! But, oh the hurt could be SO much greater if our sinful nature was left unchecked. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 Yes, he's only three. Yes, he's absolutely ADORABLE. Yes, he cries for mama when he's upset. But he has been entrusted to us for a short time. We are instructed to prepare these little ones to be workers in His field.
So now....I go curl up on the couch waiting for him to fall sound asleep. Later I can sneak into his bedroom to curl up next to him and pray for his little man heart to fully love the Lord. Please pray for us as we train up these two little'uns.
Singing His Praises
#12 My babies
#13 Jeremy who keeps me strong when I want to melt into those big blue pools
#14 Parents and in-laws that still pray for their two big kids
#15 Brand new mornings that bring brand new chances for little ones and big ones
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