Bathtime was a noisy time in our house once a week.
Hair wash night.
My daughter hated having her hair washed.
She screamed whether the water was in her eyes or not.
We tried a few different approaches in the early toddler days.
However, we realised the quickest and kindest (on everyone else's ears!)
way for all concerned was to simply wash her hair.
I would sing myself a little song, to keep myself calm,
and she would scream.
After about three months she realised her hair was washed,
scream or no scream.
And peace reigned.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Warren Wiersbe
"Early one spring morning I walked out the front door of my home and saw a spiderweb. It was beautiful, but it wasn't strong. Before the day was over the web was gone.
Some things are beautiful but not strong. And other things are strong but not beautiful.
Our God is practical, but not so practical that he leaves out the beautiful. He gave both strength and beauty to His creation, such as trees, mountains and rivers.
God also wants us to have beauty. He wants us to have the kind of strength that is beautiful and the kind of beauty that is strong."
Some things are beautiful but not strong. And other things are strong but not beautiful.
Our God is practical, but not so practical that he leaves out the beautiful. He gave both strength and beauty to His creation, such as trees, mountains and rivers.
God also wants us to have beauty. He wants us to have the kind of strength that is beautiful and the kind of beauty that is strong."
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Memorable Moment
I was mid-way through preparing to go out
for a talk one evening and had a purple floral shirt on with
blue striped pyjama pants while sitting down for dinner.
"Are you going out like that?" asked my nine year old.
"Yes, why not?" I replied, fully expecting
him to comment on the pyjama pants.
"Oh, its just that you don't have your lipstick on!"
That's boy logic for you!!
for a talk one evening and had a purple floral shirt on with
blue striped pyjama pants while sitting down for dinner.
"Are you going out like that?" asked my nine year old.
"Yes, why not?" I replied, fully expecting
him to comment on the pyjama pants.
"Oh, its just that you don't have your lipstick on!"
That's boy logic for you!!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Fantastic Fun
Enjoy your toddlers!
Laugh with them, play with them, cuddle and tickle often and enjoy the moment.
Splash in puddles on a rainy day.
Make tents inside on rainy day and have an indoors picnic.
Play dress ups and bake - don't stress over the mess - enjoy their joy!
Take heaps of photos and pour over them often
- remind your child how special they are to you.
Teen tip - enjoy your teen!
CAtch a movie together,
drink at a cafe or play board games,
just enjoy this stage too!
Laugh with them, play with them, cuddle and tickle often and enjoy the moment.
Splash in puddles on a rainy day.
Make tents inside on rainy day and have an indoors picnic.
Play dress ups and bake - don't stress over the mess - enjoy their joy!
Take heaps of photos and pour over them often
- remind your child how special they are to you.
Teen tip - enjoy your teen!
CAtch a movie together,
drink at a cafe or play board games,
just enjoy this stage too!
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Problem Patience
Do you sometimes wish that your toddler would exhibit self-control NOW?
You feel like you have explained why not to touch the tools, the light switches, the heater etc etc hundreds of times, yet they still touch!
You model a quiet, pleasant voice, day after day, and your little treasure still chooses to whine!
You role-play table maaners and encourage the good you see, and meal times are still often a disaster.
Do not lost heart - you will reap in a different season to the one in which you are sowing.
Teen Tip - Calmly responding to your teen with quietness and patience in conflict situatuions will eventually reap rewards.
You feel like you have explained why not to touch the tools, the light switches, the heater etc etc hundreds of times, yet they still touch!
You model a quiet, pleasant voice, day after day, and your little treasure still chooses to whine!
You role-play table maaners and encourage the good you see, and meal times are still often a disaster.
Do not lost heart - you will reap in a different season to the one in which you are sowing.
Teen Tip - Calmly responding to your teen with quietness and patience in conflict situatuions will eventually reap rewards.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Beautiful Boundaries
Thinking of boundaries as walls that keep your precious toddler safe and happy, enables parents to make rational decisions, rather than emotional reactions.
Giving thought to the secure rules you will need BEFORE your child crawls or walks will enable you to be proactive and avoid many 'no' moments in your day.
For example, my babies were never allowed in the kitchen. Most home accidents occur there, and I did not wish that for my children. So the very first time they crawled to the kitchen, they were calmly redirected back to their toys. My calm consistency ensured that after a few days, they realised that it was a non play area. This meant I had years of cooking in peace and we never had an accident in the kitchen!
Teen tip - firm boundaries in the early years result in very few boundaries being needed in the teen years!
Giving thought to the secure rules you will need BEFORE your child crawls or walks will enable you to be proactive and avoid many 'no' moments in your day.
For example, my babies were never allowed in the kitchen. Most home accidents occur there, and I did not wish that for my children. So the very first time they crawled to the kitchen, they were calmly redirected back to their toys. My calm consistency ensured that after a few days, they realised that it was a non play area. This meant I had years of cooking in peace and we never had an accident in the kitchen!
Teen tip - firm boundaries in the early years result in very few boundaries being needed in the teen years!
Cheerful Chores
Have you noticed how your precious little one loves to help?
Helping you sweep, set the table, sort the washing or weed the garden. Following your actions like a little shadow.
Allowing them to help, and encouraging their progress is time consuming (and truely not very helpful!) for the first 10, 000 times.
We had a set chores time every afternoon in which everyone was busy. The youngest one always loved to join in. Keeping this time positive and fun meant that this early willingness extended into cheerful chores time throughout the school years.
Teen Tip: Having teens who keep their rooms tidy, do chores each day and ENJOY their cooking night each week can be a reality, not just a wish!
Helping you sweep, set the table, sort the washing or weed the garden. Following your actions like a little shadow.
Allowing them to help, and encouraging their progress is time consuming (and truely not very helpful!) for the first 10, 000 times.
We had a set chores time every afternoon in which everyone was busy. The youngest one always loved to join in. Keeping this time positive and fun meant that this early willingness extended into cheerful chores time throughout the school years.
Teen Tip: Having teens who keep their rooms tidy, do chores each day and ENJOY their cooking night each week can be a reality, not just a wish!
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