Monday, December 19, 2011

Intentional Parenting

It has been awhile since our last Pajama Ride. Pajama Ride is when we put the children to bed, then wait a bit and bang on some pots and pans and yell "Pajama Ride! Pajama Ride!"
The children then race to get coats and shoes on and get in the car to get treats. 
 The last thing I wanted to do last night was get the kids out of bed once they were settled down. It has been a particularly rough week with attitudes and work ethic. We decided that this was one of the best ways we can teach our children about grace, giving them something they don't deserve, didn't earn, and will  bless them.
 Liberty was eagerly anticipating the ice cream but severely disappointed that her shoes wouldn't fit over her footed PJ's. No need to worry we have many hands willing to carry her to the van.
 As with everything, if we don't intentionally make something happen, it just won't. I have been cracking down on the children who don't do a portion of their school work because they don't like it, don't want to do it, or, are too lazy to make the effort. I intentionally decided that we were going to take  a Christmas Break this year (something we have not done before). I needed time to regroup and they needed something to look forward to and work toward.
Two weeks ago I gave them all the work I expected to be completed by Wednesday of this week. Whoever  is done will get to go to Watermania, if they aren't done they will stay home and finish. This is a problem because I REALLY want to be done and they require A LOT of me to finish their work. It is also going to be very difficult to leave a few kids at home because I don't want them to miss out, but it looks like a few of them are going to miss out. I just hope I'm wrong on that one.
 Buckled in the van and ready to go! For $11.52 we were able to get everyone treats, Kid Cones for the little girls, Small cones for the bigger kids, a mini Georgia Mud Fudge blizzard for me, and a hot fudge sundae for Sean. I think I would have rather had a salted carmel hot chocolate from Starbucks but we didn't need to make things more difficult.
We explained to the children that we were showing them Grace, just like Jesus shows us grace. We teach our children and pray that they will take to heart all that they have learned. We are currently going through the book of Proverbs using Kevin Swanson's study to teach our children about wisdom.
Be intentional in the things you teach and activities you participate in with your children.

3 comments:

Stacy said...

We just did a pajama ride last night! (It had been a whole year....) I felt that way last year before we took our kids out- that a couple of them just "didn't deserve it". And I remember Mark having to talk me down from that and remind me to give grace and we all had a blast. :)

You're such a good mother, Carolynn! Many blessings to all of you this Christmas!

Ali Workentin said...

What a good lesson...I have been struggling with some behavior of one of our sons and Ron has reminded me of my behavior in my younger days and how I need to give grace to our son as I would want Jesus to give to me...so hard to do but so rewarding in my heart.

I agree, you are a good mom!!

Unknown said...

You are both too sweet, but thank you. I need grace more than all of them combined. Blessings to you both.