On My Mind {What Will Summer Look Like?}
Just a little longer, folks. Even though our Fort Worth temps are playing jokes on us today, summer really is coming.
My friend, Tori, who is a young mom and helped her sweet grandmother teach sewing while Julia took, put this on Facebook yesterday:
Ok, mommy friends. Now, it's "the day after Mother's Day". May we find just as much joy, honor, and God-given purpose in our work as moms today as we did yesterday!
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 NLT)
I so appreciated reading this and her heart and mind that thought this way. It’s daily. Like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday--- Every. Day. And I love how she kindly makes it our responsibility -- to find the joy, honor and God-given purpose in what we do. Being a momma is an opportunity for great purpose. It’s our choice whether or not to embrace it-- so thanks, Tori, for the way you worded that and reminded all of us. And so my thoughts go to here....my purpose for the summer...
Summer is knocking on the back screen door. With lemonade and sunscreen in its other hand. At times, the weeks ahead of me can seem like a good natured wrestling match gone bad in the back yard. I am so excited about the freedom from school assignments, the extras after school, bedtimes for a “good night’s sleep”-- whatever it is for you. And then there’s the “How do I use our time best this summer?” And into that question all this comes swinging:
What conversations do I need to have with each child?
What activities do I want to make a priority?
What Scriptures will we emphasize and memorize?
What boundaries will I have for screen time?
How will I motivate ONE of my children to read and how will I make sure the other one lives in reality apart from a book this summer?
And what books will those be?
Is there enough down time? {like, enough time for them to get bored therefore, creative}
Will I --- and if I do--- how will I keep them fresh academically? {mainly thinking of math} And will I reward in some way for this?
And in the spirit of the book “Cleaning House” {Ridding Home of Youth Entitlement}, I’d like to teach one or two new responsibilities over June and July-- whether it’s laundry or meal planning.
That’s the list that pins me down and makes the backyard match a little less fun. I get bogged down thinking of what my kids’ reactions will be or what if I fail miserably at the plans I lay out. But I can get passed that because I know it’s important-- to take advantage of this freedom from “have-tos”. I am anticipating more “good natured” then “gone bad”.
I was hoping to get to it today but one thing I have found effective with my two kids are questionnaires. I ask them for their input SEPARATELY. I tried the discussion together over cookies and milk before but when one said black, the other said-- yep. White. {It’s that residual “old” we’ve still got lurking around.} I’ve found that they have GREAT input on goals, rewards, desires etc. Sometimes their goals are HIGHER than what I would have expected and the rewards are LESS than what I would have guessed-- oh and boundaries are pulled in closer sometimes than I would have pulled. And as you know, when they come up with it, they are so much more likely to be okay with it. Even excited-- because they had some input and they made some decisions.
I’d love to hear your summer plans, ideas you have for your crew, books on your middle schooler’s list, dates with your child, screen time gimmicks-- anything you’d like to share. We learn so much from each other. Like I’ve said before, I’ve had about 2 good ideas in my life. The rest I’ve copied.
Oh and I forgot one biggie on my list up there-- How many times per week will we stop at Sonic?
My friend, Tori, who is a young mom and helped her sweet grandmother teach sewing while Julia took, put this on Facebook yesterday:
Ok, mommy friends. Now, it's "the day after Mother's Day". May we find just as much joy, honor, and God-given purpose in our work as moms today as we did yesterday!
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 NLT)
I so appreciated reading this and her heart and mind that thought this way. It’s daily. Like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday--- Every. Day. And I love how she kindly makes it our responsibility -- to find the joy, honor and God-given purpose in what we do. Being a momma is an opportunity for great purpose. It’s our choice whether or not to embrace it-- so thanks, Tori, for the way you worded that and reminded all of us. And so my thoughts go to here....my purpose for the summer...
Summer is knocking on the back screen door. With lemonade and sunscreen in its other hand. At times, the weeks ahead of me can seem like a good natured wrestling match gone bad in the back yard. I am so excited about the freedom from school assignments, the extras after school, bedtimes for a “good night’s sleep”-- whatever it is for you. And then there’s the “How do I use our time best this summer?” And into that question all this comes swinging:
What conversations do I need to have with each child?
What activities do I want to make a priority?
What Scriptures will we emphasize and memorize?
What boundaries will I have for screen time?
How will I motivate ONE of my children to read and how will I make sure the other one lives in reality apart from a book this summer?
And what books will those be?
Is there enough down time? {like, enough time for them to get bored therefore, creative}
Will I --- and if I do--- how will I keep them fresh academically? {mainly thinking of math} And will I reward in some way for this?
And in the spirit of the book “Cleaning House” {Ridding Home of Youth Entitlement}, I’d like to teach one or two new responsibilities over June and July-- whether it’s laundry or meal planning.
That’s the list that pins me down and makes the backyard match a little less fun. I get bogged down thinking of what my kids’ reactions will be or what if I fail miserably at the plans I lay out. But I can get passed that because I know it’s important-- to take advantage of this freedom from “have-tos”. I am anticipating more “good natured” then “gone bad”.
I was hoping to get to it today but one thing I have found effective with my two kids are questionnaires. I ask them for their input SEPARATELY. I tried the discussion together over cookies and milk before but when one said black, the other said-- yep. White. {It’s that residual “old” we’ve still got lurking around.} I’ve found that they have GREAT input on goals, rewards, desires etc. Sometimes their goals are HIGHER than what I would have expected and the rewards are LESS than what I would have guessed-- oh and boundaries are pulled in closer sometimes than I would have pulled. And as you know, when they come up with it, they are so much more likely to be okay with it. Even excited-- because they had some input and they made some decisions.
I’d love to hear your summer plans, ideas you have for your crew, books on your middle schooler’s list, dates with your child, screen time gimmicks-- anything you’d like to share. We learn so much from each other. Like I’ve said before, I’ve had about 2 good ideas in my life. The rest I’ve copied.
Oh and I forgot one biggie on my list up there-- How many times per week will we stop at Sonic?
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