We have been home this week since the kids have been sick with fevers and a cough. Thankfully they have been in good spirits overall. It has been an opportunity to for me to watch them play. You’d be amazed by what you can hear when the kids don’t know you are listening.

The girls are fascinated by babies these days. Their play revolves mostly around baby behavior and mother-child interaction. They prefer to role play instead of using dollies for this game, though. One of the girls will play mommy and the other will be the baby. The baby will make some kind of mischief while crawling around the house, and the mommy will have to scold or redirect the baby. I have heard a lot of the language that I use when they play this game. It is funny to hear yourself in your children’s conversations!

The girls also really like the concept of nursing and soothing a baby. They have questioned me extensively about how it all works. I am honest and explain as much about the process as possible since I think it is really important to answer the kids’ questions at an age appropriate level.  They are so interested in this that they even nurse their dollies. Since I am not nursing a baby these days, it is intriguing to see them play around with this idea. I wonder why they are so fascinated by nursing.

I am curious to see what concepts the girls will try to tackle next!

Photo courtesy of Indiewench

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Faith is amazing and a mystery to me. I have many questions and doubts, but I believe in God and I love Him. My faith is strong and it is growing every day, but there is a lot for me to learn about faith.

Children’s faith is even more awesome to me. They know so little, yet their faith can be so much stronger than any adult’s. In Nepal I saw children who had nothing but their faith, and they were truly joyful. They sang praise songs. They prayed fervently. They knew Bible verses. They invited me into to their lives, sharing what they had – faith. I was filled with awe. There is a lot I can learn about faith from the children I met in Nepal.

Watching my own children’s faith grow has been truly a blessing to me. They love God and Jesus. They pray and remind me to pray. They beg for me to read Bible stories to them and sing praise songs. They ask big theological questions all day, and I don’t most of the answers to their questions. They also make profound statements about God, Jesus, faith, and the Bible. It is a mystery to me that they are so little, yet they have such BIG faith. Their eyes are open to things that I could never see on my own. It touches my heart. There is a lot I am learning about faith from my children.

I was overjoyed and honored when my four year old daughter prayed with me and asked Jesus to be her best friend forever.

Last night my two year old daughter asked me to read the story of Jesus dying on the cross. We have read this story a few times, especially recently during Holy Week and Easter. At the end of the story, the book leads a child toward accepting Christ. I asked A2 if she wanted Jesus to be her best friend forever. She nodded, and C4 told her that she had to pray. A2 bowed her head and prayed an unintelligible prayer. I think she asked Jesus to be her best friend! Tonight she asked me to read the same story and prayed quietly again. I’m not sure if this means that A2 is saved, but I do know that the Bible tells us that we are to have faith like little children do.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

There is a lot I am learning about faith from my children.

Photo courtesy of H_Elise

A2 has the stomach bug now! It is so sad to watch my little one feel so terrible. But today I felt oddly at peace and quite calm. God’s presence is woven carefully into my life.

A2 was up most of the night and refused to sleep all morning. She finally gave into a nap at noon. She actually begged me to rock her and put her to bed! Alas, she only slept for 1 1/2 hours.

I am grateful that my dad came to visit today. God always provides what we need, and I truly needed my dad today. He always was comforting when we were sick as kids. He took good care of me and my girls today!

The dog was even concerned about A2. She sat by her side all day and kept nuzzling her. When A2 complained, I told her that the dog was loving her. A2 quickly said, “I don’t want love.” She also shooed the dog telling her to go upstairs. She even said, “Leave me alone, Doggy.” Their interaction today provided some much need comic relief!

It was sweet to see C4 taking care of A2 today. She searched all over for A2’s special dolly to help her calm down when she was crying this afternoon. A2 fell alseep in the car, and C4 gently woke her up by kissing her when we arrived home. C4 was even patient while I put A2 to bed tonight.

Living as a mom with a sick kid is challenging, but I’m enjoying sweet moments with my children and thankful for God’s provision.

Photo courtesy of Spigoo

Photo by bardgabbard

We were stranded today because Daddy took the 4-wheel drive car to work. It snowed last night. Then all day we had freezing rain. It turned out to be a good thing, though.

Today the girls and I stayed in our pj’s all day. I cleaned up the house, and they played. They were WONDERFUL all day long. They even helped me do some cleaning. Their new job is scrubbing the kitchen floor!

Here are a couple of things to note about today:

~C4 was completely under control today. I was able to leave the room for extended periods of time and not worry about anyone’s safety. What a blessing and what progress!

~I was able to clean up after the Christmas craziness!

~I got a TON of work done for my upcoming workshop. I am getting very excited about that.

~The girls are getting back on track with their routine. They both napped today and went right to bed at the usual time.

~We somehow did school work and devotions today.

What an amazing day! Thank you, Jesus! Someone must be praying for me and my family.

Is tattling a problem in your home?

When I was a classroom teacher, I read a book called Positive Discipline in the Classroom, which advocated the use of class meetings to solve problems.

From this book I gleaned the idea to use a tattle notebook. This strategy helped prevent endless telling on each other and helped the children distinguish between minor problems that they could solve on their own and bigger problems they needed help with. Once a week we had a meeting to discuss the problems in the notebook and figure out how to solve the problems. This strategy might help you out if your children can read and write.

I use a simple notebook for the tattle book. I sat with the kids to explain how to write about a problem you are having with someone. I include an example in the notebook so they would be able to refer to it. I use an example of a recent problem that we are having during this first discussion. Then I tell the kids that it is up to them to write about a problem when it arises UNLESS someone is in danger of getting hurt. Throughout the week, I remind the children to write about their problems in the notebook.

During the first meeting day, I explain the ground rules:

~We sit in a circle.
~I read a problem as written in the notebook to aloud EVERYONE. (This step often stops the need for intervention when it is truly just a tattle.)
~A person can speak only when holding a specified object. That object is passed around the circle.
~The person with the problem might have to clarify details involved in the problem, but may only do so when holding the object.
~Other people involved in the problem may add information about the problem while holding the object.
~People must speak respectfully to each other or must leave the circle.
~People not involved may give solutions for how to solve the problem at hand.
~The solution that is decided on is recorded in the notebook.

I like how this approach puts the responsibility on the children to resolve conflicts and forces them to work together to create their own solutions in a respectful manner. The children also learn how to be involved in a community. I also love how the adult acts a facilitator during the meeting and does not stand as the judge of what justice is. Additionally, the children learn communication skills, both written and oral.

You might also read this book that is geared towards the family’s needs rather than to the classroom teacher’s needs. It is by the same author.

I hope that you and your family can use this strategy to prevent tattling, learn conflict resolution skills, and enjoy peace in your home.

It has been an exciting time in our home. Recently C4 accepted Christ! I am honored to be the person she prayed with that day. I have never had the privilege of praying with someone who is accepting Christ.

We have been talking about salvation for a long time, and I had suggested that Jesus could be her best friend if she asked Him to be. She had always said that she wasn’t interested in that just yet. But on this particular day, when I brought it up, C4 said that Jesus was her best friend. I told her that she had to ask Him to be her best friend before He would be. We were sitting at the kitchen table eating lunch when she decided to pray. “Jesus, I want you to be my best friend. Amen.”

At first I wasn’t sure that she knew what she was asking for. I wondered if it made sense to her. After all, she is only 4 years old. I left it alone for a couple of weeks before I brought it up again. When I asked if she wanted Jesus to be her best friend, she reminded me that she already asked Jesus to be her best friend that time in the kitchen when we prayed together! She truly has accepted Christ! God moved my little 4 year old girl to love Him!

It is funny to listen to her when she is with A2. She says,”You need to learn more about Jesus before you ask Him to be your best friend.” A2 just listens to her. I often hear C4 praying when she is in her bed before she falls asleep. She is really in love with Jesus!

We have been doing many Advent activities this year, and I have noticed that both of the girls are playing “Going to Bethlehem” or “Baby Jesus is born”. They are singing the Christmas carols like “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Away in the Manger”. A2 is on her way to accepting Christ in time, too. She talks about Him all of the time and prays a lot, too.

I am amazed by my God. Watching my children’s faith grow has in turn made my faith flourish! I hope that during this wonderful Christmas season you are able to witness this miracle in your life!

My kids make me laugh. They are such funny little people.

I love watching them play and listening in on their conversations. It is such a beautiful sight to see these two small, individuals develop a relationship with each other. It truly warms my heart when I see their kindness and their compassion toward one another.

C4 is so proud that she can take care of her sister. She loves helping her put on her shoes and showing her how to do things like put on her jacket. When A2 complains that she can’t do something, C4 is happy to encourage her that she can do it. C4 also loves to motivate A2 to clean up the toys; she follows my lead. She will make one of the stuffed animals cry to go to bed, for example, and A2 will oblige and put the stuffed animal to bed.

It is also a pleasure to watch the kids soothe each other, too. They share a room, and when one is crying and sad, the other will climb into her sister’s bed with her. We have pictures of them sleeping in the same bed. It is so precious.

I truly am thankful that my children are building a strong friendship with each other. They really care for one another. It is a blessing!

My kids can be so sweet to each other. Then there are moments when C4 is terribly mean to A2. She says she does it to get my attention – as if being mean to her sister wasn’t enough! A2 is always thinking of C4 and is almost always kind to her. When I see this kind of cruelty, it infuriates me. Has this ever happened to you? I can’t stand to have either of my children get hurt by another kid on purpose, but when it is my child hurting her sibling just to get attention, I simply cannot take it!

I must add that we still have not found a solution to this problem. I can’t ignore it because it would be dangerous to A2 to do that. Time-out doesn’t work either. We have talked with C4 about this kind of behavior being unacceptable, and that has not helped the situation either.  I know that it quite possibly a phase, but I am hopeful that we can end the phase sooner than later!

I am praying for peace in my home! I am teaching kindness and encouraging thoughtfulness. I know that they hear everything that I don’t want them to hear, so I am hoping that they might hear this!

What do you do about situations like this?