September 2008

Parenting is both a great privilege and an enormous challenge. Why? Because parents love their children with all their heart and kids can push buttons you didn't know you had, when you least expect it. In those moments, hurtful words can fly. How can you rise above and employ grace in parenting? A few lines taken from a poem writen by Michael J. Easley, and reprinted in Raising Children in Blended Families, reminds parents to keep a proper perspective.

   May I not erxasperate them.

   May I not ignore them.

   May I not wirhdraw from them.

   May I not be worn down by them.

   May I not retreat ferom the battle for their hearts.

   May I not be on them too hard or too long.

   May I not ridicule or mock their forming hearts.

   May I not dismiss or break their hopes.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them..." Matthew 19:14 NIV

August 2008

School shopping is a great opportunity to sharpen your kid's math and money management skills. First, determine the amount of money available for this year's school wardrobe. Get cash. Divide the dollars among the children. Younger ones might not need as much as teens. Ask your sons and daughters to make a list. Look over the department store ads to compare prices.

Only three rules: 1) Less can be spent; but not more. If a teen decides to spend most of her money on a designer pair of jeans, or his money on rad sport shoes, that means old clothes or thrift shops might have to provide the rest of their wardrobe this season. 2) Parents will not kick in extra money. 3) Parents can and should veto an inappropropriate purchase.

Titus 2:7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; NKJ