No Children!
No children in the house to play—
It must be hard to live that way!
I wonder what the people do
When night comes on and the work is through,
With no glad little folks to shout,
No eager feet to race about,
No youthful tongues to chatter on
About the joy that’s been and gone?
The house might be a castle fine,
But what a lonely place to dine!
When we spend $$ for that colorful, wonderful new toy, we are hoping, wishing, and dreaming that we can delight baby or keep our toddler busy “for hours” like the package says. But it turns out that toys are just toys—and not Mommy. No surprise. Mommy is what children really need and want!
The World is Mine
Today upon a bus I saw
A girl with golden hair;
She seemed so gay, I envied her,
And wish that I were half so fair;
I watched her as she rose to leave,
And saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch,
But as she passed—a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine;
I have two legs—the world is mine.
There’s work to be done when you raise a family! It is possible, however, to turn time spent in routine chores into time well invested in helping a child practice skills or building memories. Have you tried the “Mary Poppins’ Method”? I don’t think a spoonful of sugar is very healthy for making the medicine go down, but the concept sure works to transform chores into delightful time spent together. Mom’s attitude makes all the difference!
Our grandbaby Rachel with her loving mother Melanie
Come Play With Me
Passing through her kitchen,
I saw dishes waiting there. . .
A basket full of laundry
Beside a rocking chair.
Her house was clean, but much undone-
I wondered, “Where is she
That order is not all about
As time approaches three?”
Structure! That is a loaded word for homeschoolers. Some see it as a negative way to deal with teaching children. Others see it as a necessary discipline in order to get things accomplished. Children tend to buck it. Parents have to be organized to make it happen. Let me tell you about an incredible woman who lived more than 300 years ago, who seems to have been the queen of structure.
Ahh, the Sabbath day! How nice it is to take a break from teaching school, from big meal prep, from doing housework or shopping. I think God gave us a great gift by establishing a day of rest. I sure need it!
The culture we live in has pretty much eliminated that idea of a sabbath day of rest. You have to create your own culture if you want to make Sunday a day of renewal in your family. Here are things we do at my house to make Sunday special. We all keep Sunday differently, but maybe it will give you some ideas to think about: [Read more…]
Respect for the aged. It seems to be going extinct these days in America, and yet it makes such a difference in society. It is a basic, important part of training children to teach them to honor those who are older and wiser. Gray hair is a sign of wisdom, and endurance through life’s trials. […]
