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A Bundle of Myrrh

"My beloved is unto me as a bundle of myrrh." Song of Solomon 1:13

Archive for the ‘Discipline’ Category

Toddlers and Chores

Monday, August 15th, 2011

I’ve been trying to make sure I give the girls something to do while I’m cleaning. That something to do being some cleaning of their own. Here are some of the “toddler friendly chores” I have come across that I’ve already began teaching them or will soon.

Helping to Keep the House Clean:

Swiffer the floor (leaving off the top handle to make it toddler size), sort laundry into piles (socks, shirts, etc), sort groceries to put away, dusting, mopping, putting away shoes and dirty clothes in hamper, using a spray bottle of vinegar to clean windows and coffee table, picking up their toys.

Helping In the Kitchen:

I’m not as quick to let them help me in the kitchen, but as they get a bit older I want to incorporate their “help” a little more. Here are some things I think they will be able to handle.

Greasing a baking sheet, stirring batter, spreading mayonnaise or mustard on a sandwich with a plastic knife, sprinkling cheese on top of pasta or tacos, shredding lettuce, setting AND clearing the table.

It’s never too early to start giving your babies household responsibilities!

This little guy will be quite the catch someday!

Catechisis

Monday, October 26th, 2009


Phil and I have started to read the small catechism to the girls at each meal time. We’ve started with The Lord’s Prayer taking the Introduction at breakfast, the 1st Petition at lunch and the 2nd Petition at supper. We’ve tried to do this everyday throughout October and in November we’ll move on to Petitions 3-5. At this time they’re obviously too young to understand what we’re saying but I wanted to begin to familiarize them with these words or sounds or whatever it is children at their age are capable of learning.

I know Lily already recognizes Luther’s evening prayer and the Lord’s Prayer since we’ve been praying them every night before bedtime for sometime now. At church when we begin to pray the Lord’s prayer she looks around and smiles. I’m just glad she doesn’t start crying thinking we’re all about to go “night-night”. I think it’s important to begin even at this age teaching God’s Word to our children and letting it be a normal part of our daily life. They really do pickup so much more than we think. Their understanding of it will come in time.

John Rosemond.

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Phil and I enjoy reading a parenting column in the Omaha paper by John Rosemond. He has a very ‘traditional’ perspective on parenting that makes a lot of sense. We looked him up and I like what I’ve found out about him. He is a parent counselor and uses common sense and scripture as a guide for parents. Phil says he’s the Dave Ramsey of parenting. I’m listening to a series of interviews with him found here:

Luther on Discipline.

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

Phil sent this quote from Luther to me.
“The more ardently parents love their children, the severer their discipline is. … But paternal love and pity demand blows, whips, and stripes, in order that children may be improved, even though this cannot be done without pain and grief.

Ouch!

And this German Proverb: “The dearer the child, the sharper the rods.”

I believe it’s time that our “disciplining” Lily took on a different flavor. For several months I’ve used the firm “no” and redirection. Lily is now really testing her limits. She thinks it’s so fun to see how far she can go. She really gets a kick out of seeing my get on to her. When she hit Clara in the face and I popped her hand she just laughed at me. At her age, I just don’t know how to make her understand that something is wrong and she can’t do it. I read that I should pick a few things at a time to teach her are not acceptable and prioritize what you ‘discipline’ her over. So far smacking Clara is probably the biggest ‘no no’ and I guess I’ll stick with removing her to the corner or her crib to teach her that. She seems to get very upset when we take that route.


I want well behaved children and I want them to not have to be told over and over to do or not to do something. I know it will take time and extreme perseverance and consistency on my part, but it will be worth it. I’ve already failed many times and wavered on what I should decide to make a “no no” but I make a mental note and move on each day. I hope to figure out how to best correct and instruct my girls sooner than later, later would most likely make my battle harder but is this age too soon? I’m constantly unsure about that.