Sunday, July 17, 2011

A Sample Schedule




Breakfast – manners

Play time – self-play adeptness

Video/TV – focus and concentration

Time with Mum – pleasant words

Craft/Table Activity – kindness

Outside play – sibling friendship

Lunch – patience

Reading time – verbal self-control

Nap/Rest – quietness

Free Play – tidiness

Chores – helpfulness

Bath – verses and rhymes

Video – obedience

Dinner – cheerfulness

Family fun – love

Bed ritual - peace



# sample schedule on left teaching orderliness and self-discipline



# suggested virtues on right that could be taught for each activity




Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Sleep and Food Issues



Why are toddler issues with food and sleep so emotional?

A lack of sleep affects everyone in the household and long regular sleep is a basic need for a child's optimal growth.

A picky eater can make mealtimes unpleasant for everyone in the family and good nutrition is a basic necessity of life.

Food and sleep are the most popular topics for questions I receive (with toilet training and sibling issues a close second!)

There are lots of ideas on how to deal with each of these issues, and most parents try a number of approaches in their search for success.

A wholistic approach looks at the toddler's whole day, not just the food or sleep issue in isolation.

A parent-led pattern for the entire day gently shows that mum and dad choose the events for the whole day.
This means that battles over particular parts of the day (including meals and naps) are greatly minimised bacause you are not suddenly shifting from the child being in charge (in their little minds) to the parent now taking an isolated stand.

Will the battles cease by Saturday?
No.
Everything worthwhile takes time and effort.
Change is hard.
Progress will gradually emerge in the weeks to come.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Apparent Truth or Eternal Lie?





"What things are there in our country, our church, our family, our lives that may fall into this category?


A common perception in our culture is that busyness = significance. Yet the truth is that so often, busyness robs us of relationship, one of the most significant things in the universe. What seems like more is actually less – a lie perpetuated by the enemy.

Our culture is obsessed with happiness, with doing whatever it takes to avoid pain. As a result, the church tend to focus on the positive aspects of the gospel while neglecting the seriousness of sin and its devastating consequences. In our efforts to promote eternal life, we forget that it requires death to everything of this world. Jesus said in John 12:25…

“The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

The apparent truth that happiness in this life is the goal is actually an eternal lie."


from Peter's blog.





Monday, July 4, 2011

A Poem of Life



The Psalm Of Life


What the heart of the young man said to the psalmist

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream!--

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.



Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal;

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul.



Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

Is our destined end or way;

But to act, that each to-morrow

Find us farther than to-day.



Art is long, and Time is fleeting,

And our hearts, though stout and brave,

Still, like muffled drums, are beating

Funeral marches to the grave.



In the world's broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of Life,

Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

Be a hero in the strife!



Trust no future, howe'er pleasant!

Let the dead Past bury its dead!

Act,--act in the living present!

Heart within, and God o'erhead!



Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time;



Footprints, that perhaps another,

Sailing o'er life's solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

Seeing, shall take heart again.



Let us, then, be up and doing,

With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait.



Henry Wadsworth Longfellow




Friday, July 1, 2011

Holidays

Holidays - hurray!

Two weeks of slow mornings,
friends,
winter sun, 
books,
friends,
sleep,
cleaning (I love having everything
neat and tidy and really clean!), 
good food,
and
good friends.

Enjoy!