Parenting Soapbox

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:23 that, "'Everything is permissible', but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible', but not everything is constructive." This is applicable in EVERY area of life! My latest gripe... parents treating their children as if they are little adults. Just so you're clear- they aren't little adults... they are children. They don't have a clue! It is our job to help them grow and learn and make the correct decisions when they are young. It is our responsibility to make sure that they are learning right from wrong, and good from bad. We, the parents, have to answer to the Heavenly Father about how we raise our children. Our neighbors/friends/family/acquaintances who make comments about how we raise/discipline/punish/teach our children do not have to answer for those decisions- we do. So, in all honesty, who cares what everyone else says about your parenting methods. As long as you prayerfully raise your children, and you make every effort to bring them up to be godly people, then you are doing your job.

So, to get on my soapbox, how can parents, who love their children, who want the best for them, who want them to grow up to be godly men and women, step aside and watch them make horrible choices without voicing their concern or correcting their behavior? How do parents get to the point where they just don't care what their children do, thinking, at least they're not doing drugs, or killing someone. Okay... that's all fine and good, I'm glad that they're not killing someone as well. But, here's the problem. As Christians (and honestly, many parents who aren't Christians agree with this) we are supposed to choose the best out of life. When faced with a choice, even when there isn't a definite "Bad", we should choose the best... not the good, or the better, but we are to choose the BEST.


I know, so easy for me to say, just barely started in my parenting years. I'm not writing this to judge others, but to encourage them to revamp their lives, revamp their views, and renew their strength. I also want this to serve as a reminder to me, so when I become lax and lazy with my parenting, that it will renew my strength and help me to carry on. Now, I also know that there comes a time when kids have to make their own decisions, but I strongly feel that if you allow them to make their own decisions, and they make a bad one, that shows you that they're not ready for that kind of freedom... they need you, the parent, to make the right decision for them (whether they like it or not).


The important thing is only putting good into our hearts and minds. The old adage stands true, "garbage in, garbage out." Scripture doesn't say, 'don't watch that movie', or 'don't play that game', or 'don't buy that pair of jeans'. But, it does remind us that not everything is beneficial or constructive. We are to live our lives to honor Christ, and this includes raising our children. So, make sure that your house is not just choosing the best out of the bad options, but choosing the best, and honoring Christ in all that we do.

Electrostaticgeneratorkid

I have about a dozen blog posts started... but none finished. So, sorry to those of you who check my blog and are thinking, "Come on, Kaleigh, get on the ball!" I'll work on making sure that I finish at least one of the ones I started, here soon. But, until then, enjoy this. Grunt's hair was OUT OF CONTROL today!

My Little Punk Rock Kid

And of course, my beautiful Pea... who also has great hair :)

Tuckered out after the USA game...

bc they are so cute!

Pea practicing "Ba-la-le"

Chia Pet Hair ;) Bless him.

The End of Tim Ho's for Me

A terrible breakup....

Me: I'd like a Mocha Iced Capp and a Sour Cream Donut.
Lady: Okay. It'll be a minute.
Lady hands me a regular Iced Capp and a chocolate iced donut.
Me: I ordered a Mocha Iced Capp, and a sour cream donut..... this isn't my order.
Lady: The only difference between what I gave you is that the Mocha Iced capp has chocolate in it, and I the donut is still good.
Me: Um... I would like to have the chocolate in my capp please, that's why I ordered that, and I don't like this kind of donut.
Lady: You obviously like chocolate, why don't you want this donut?
Me: It's not what I ordered. Would you please get me a Sour Cream Donut and a Mocha Iced Capp?
Lady rolls eyes and walks to chocolate pump, puts 1 pump of chocolate into my iced capp and hands it back to me.
Me: Um, Shouldn't this be mixed up and have whipped cream on it?
Lady: I gave you a straw, you can mix it, and the whipped cream is extra.
Me: The picture shows it already mixed up with whipped cream.
Lady: That's the supreme. You didn't ask for the supreme.
Me: Okay, just give me the right donut and my drink please.
Lady: Whatever. (and hands me my Iced Capp -with one pump of chocolate, not mixed in, with no whipped cream and a sour cream timbit.)

The End....

Correction vs Discipline

As part of our refocusing, Nathaniel and I have been working on changing/editing some of our views and methods on parenting. One of the biggest areas that has been placed on my heart is the difference between correction and discipline. This is an area that I never really understood, until lately. I have been receiving a LOT of correction lately. Some is self induced, and the rest is from God. I have been reminded lately that my children are not my own- they are HIS! I am blessed to have them for a while, but they are not mine. My job while I have them is to raise them to be ready to do His work. With that in mind, how much more carefully I need to treat and guide them!

I have always been told that I am too harsh on my children, that I should give them more grace, that not everything requires discipline- that kids will be kids. I agree with this to a point. Maybe not every wrong that Pea or Grunt commit requires discipline, but it all requires correction. This is true of ourselves as well. Not every sin is punished, but all are corrected- and if you feel as though your sins have gone uncorrected, then you need to read your Bible and pray more. (Hebrew 12:6- the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.)

I have definitely been more of a disciplinarian with Pea, and there are many instances where I could have extended more grace and corrected instead of disciplined; however, there are always going to be things that you wish you could re-do as a parent, and it's better not to dwell on them, and just move on. I want my children to accept correction with grace, I want them to be okay with being criticized, and not feel beaten down and broken when they are rebuked. This is huge for me! I hate being criticized and corrected, and I always have, but I want my children to feel differently about it. I am trying to keep their personalities in mind when I discipline them, to be careful with the words I choose, to be mindful of my goal in raising them... not to break them, but to strengthen them through discipline.

Scripture is full of verses on discipline. Here are a few:

Proverbs 12:1- Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.

Proverbs 15:5- A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

Proverbs 29:15- The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

Proverbs 13:24- He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves his son is careful to discipline him.

Proverbs 13:24 says, "CAREFUL to discipline him." I'm refocusing on this point. I need to be careful to discipline and careful in discipline. I love my children, more than words can express, and I need to make sure that I always discipline out of the love that I have for them, just as Christ disciplines us out of his amazing love for us.

Refocusing

Over the past few weeks Nathaniel and I have been spending time reconnecting and refocusing. We are working on refocusing our priorities, our marriage, our children, our love, our house, our dreams, our vision for the future; basically, refocusing our lives. Isn't it strange how life gets in the way of life? Life gets in the way of living.... life gets in the way of loving, life gets in the way of spending time enjoying our kids. I fear that I may be the worst at letting life get in the way of everything good that God has blessed me with. I walk into my home, and instead of seeing my beautiful family and all that God has given me, I see the pile of dishes/laundry, dirt on the floor, dinner that must be cooked, and the list can go on. I need a refocus--- because I should feel honored and blessed to be able to take care of my family. I should see these things as a way to serve my family, bless them, and show them God's love.

So, today, instead of coming in and washing diapers, folding clean laundry, emptying the dishwasher, reloading the dishwasher (you get the picture), the kids and I spent a long time cuddling on the porch watching the clouds, lightening, and rain; and listening to the thunder and random train whistles. It was peaceful, and I could feel God reducing my stress and telling me, "This is good, this is important, I've been trying to get you to pay attention to your kids, you are finally getting it." I get it... I finally get it.

Strawberry Picking

So, I'm a horrible rememberer--- I can't remember to take the camera with me! We have very few pictures of the last month or so, because I just can't remember that one last thing! Oh well, lucky for me, other mommies have their acts together.

Wednesday the kiddos and I went to Jacquemin Farms in Plain City (although, why it's considered Plain City, I have no idea- I call it Dublin.) and picked 1/2 a bushel of strawberries, and a little container that is Pea's eating basket. The nice part is that the kiddos can eat all they want while picking, free! When we got home I hulled the strawberries and got everything ready to make jam, strawberry shortcake, and berry cobbler! Here are some pics of the strawberry picking adventure, and a cute one of Grunt.

Pea loved picking strawberries! I thought she would tire of it quickly, but she didn't!

Grunt all snuggled in and comfy.

Grunt and his ChiaPet hair... It's all the rage- and the ladies love it :)