Life

The 4th Tuesday of every month we volunteer at our local food pantry. When we first started going I tried getting a babysitter for the fantastic 4 but that fell through and, instead of giving up, I just took them along with me.  Several months later the kids now look forward to going and helping out. They fill the bags full of food; carry groceries out to the car for people, and we  are always sure to take a few games/activities to play during down time.

One of the ladies there has repeatedly commented on how well behaved the kids are and asks how I got them to sit still and behave. It's not that they are picture-perfect children...they just know, mostly, when it's appropriate to act crazy and when it's not. So I thought I would jot down a few tips that have worked for us.

1.) Live life- if you want to go out to eat or to volunteer somewhere do it! Don't use your kids as an excuse for why you can't participate. Our job, as parents, is to teach our kids how to be productive members of society. Keeping them shut away in day care or making them stay home while we do what we want isn't going to accomplish that. Live life with your kids.

2.) Tell them what you expect from them beforehand- this is key. Don't wait until they mess up. Tell them how you want them to behave and what the consequences will be if they do not.

3.) No empty threats!- say what you mean, mean what you say. Follow through when they do mess up. It might be hard in the moment but those times will be few and far between if you actually do it.

4.) Don't take it personally- we sin every day and we can rest assured that our kids are going to sin also. Explain to them how they are sinning. Pay attention to what heart desires are causing them to sin. And help them to overcome them. We can only overcome sins with Christ's help, pray with your child that they will overcome the sin condition that is controlling them.

4.) Encourage- tell them what they do right, not just what they do wrong. A kind word goes a long way towards encouraging them to do good.


5.) Don't hold a grudge- If you are a believer God doesn't see your sin. He sees the righteousness of Christ! God isn't holding a grudge against those that He has saved. Don't hold a grudge against your children and expect them to mess up just because they have messed up for the past five times! Remember that they can learn if we will just be patient and consistent and TEACH them.