Inspirational Archives - I Can Teach My Child!

Teaching Children the Difference Between Wants and Needs

May 8, 2013 by Jenae — 5 Comments

Although our boys are relatively good about not constantly asking for stuff, I want them to know the difference between “needs” and “wants”. ”Needs” are the things that we rely on to live (comfortably). ”Wants” are not essential to our life, health, or hygiene; they are just things we would like to have.

No matter how much or how little we have, everyone wrestles with this issue (adults included). With all the poverty and suffering around the world, I want our children to have a realistic perspective on what we should feel entitled to (news flash: not much). And am I the only person whose blood boils when this commercial comes on TV???

Here’s what you’ll need: magazines and flyers, scissors, glue, and a large piece of white paper (I used our fingerpaint paper).

1. Make two columns with “Needs” on one side and “Wants” on the other.

2. Look through the magazines and mailers together with your child and talk about things we need and things we want.

Continue cutting…

Needs: Bread, Toothpaste & Toothbrush, Socks, Sunscreen, Vitamins, Cereal, Dish Soap, Coat, Milk, and Blueberries.

Wants: Bat Cave, Cookies, Soccer Foosball Table, Lightning McQueen Toy, Golden Key?, Pizza, Veggie Tales movie, Waterpik Flosser, Blocks.

Because a person “needs” to have Palmolive prominently present in their life. :)

Big Brother is really interested in his oral hygiene…he “wants” a Kids WaterPik Flosser! :)

I decided that I should give this a shot too…it would be good for my perspective as well!

My Needs: Healthy food (fruits, vegetables, nuts), exercise, “A Good Night Sleep”, and my home.

My Wants: Sonic Dr. Pepper, (all. the. time.), Awesome abs, and a white sofa. Because everyone knows that having a white sofa is an excellent idea with two rambunctious boys.

How do you teach your child the difference between wants and needs???

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Filed Under: 3-5 years, Parenting, School Age, Spiritual and Moral Development

Leaving One Paradise for Another

May 5, 2013 by Jenae — 3 Comments

It’s amazing how a little break from the mundane day-to-day tasks of child rearing can help one’s perspective on parenting. For the first time in several years, Prince Charming and I took a (non-business related) trip just the two of us.

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We went for a long-weekend in Mexico and had a wonderful time laying on the beach and reading books. That’s pretty much all we did on our trip. Some might think this is a boring vacation but this was honestly a dream come true.

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The beach is my favorite destination on earth and unfortunately it is also over 500 miles away from where we live in any direction! We soaked up all the sun that we could (without getting horribly burned) and were able to connect and relax together as a couple. It was wonderful.

As much as I loved our Mexican paradise, it made me realize how much of a paradise we had waiting for us at home. Two healthy, happy, vibrant, joyful, rambunctious children can certainly drain our energy…but they bring us unending joy and a calling straight from God. I cannot imagine life without them.

Parenting is hard work. It is monotonous. It is humbling. It comes with accidents, sicknesses, and spills (and I certainly don’t look like the smiling mom in the Bounty commercial as I clean them up). Parenting can strain a marriage. It can bring us to our knees in wondering how to best raise our children. But having the opportunity to raise a child is an incredible privilege…and when we put it into perspective, it is paradise.

The dictionary defines paradise as: ”a place or state of bliss, felicity, or delight”.

Despite the hard moments, I think we will all agree that there are many moments in our journey as parents that are pure bliss and utter delight. When your child reaches up and smiles at you for the first time, when your toddler grabs your face and says “Kissamee” (kiss me), or when your almost-kindergartener tells you that you are beautiful and the best Mommy in the whole world. Those are the moments to savor. Those are the moments of paradise.

Parenting might not be the most relaxing or peaceful calling in the world. But if we’re all honest with ourselves, we can only lay on the beach reading books for so many days before our lives (and arms) begin to feel empty. For me, that was exactly 2.75 days of beach laying. :) God has given us all a desire to do something…to make a difference in this world. Although it might not seem like it in the day-to-day grind of life, each day that we forego our own desires to meet the needs of someone else (i.e. our children), we are making a difference. It might seem like small and insignificant sacrifices right now…but someday those little people we are nurturing day in and day out will become big people. Big people who are difference makers of their own.

Sure, the beach is amazing and we all need a little down time to relax and reconnect with our spouse (which will be a priority for my husband and I over the next several years of intense child-rearing). But when it comes time to head home, we can do so with a huge smile on our faces…because we’re just leaving one paradise for another!

As I was writing this post, I was reminded of one of my favorite country songs when I was in high school, anticipating someday having a family ((with totally unrealistic expectations, of course). I certainly don’t looks as ~~happy~~ cheesy (or skinny) as the mom in this video, but it is a great way to put the crazy life of raising kids in perspective. Enjoy “Just Another Day in Paradise” by Phil Vassar:

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Filed Under: A Lesson Learned, Parenting

“My Mouth Won’t Let Me”

February 10, 2013 by Jenae — 4 Comments

Little Brother is three…and we all know that being three comes with its highs and lows. Highs being that he is becoming more independent, says the cutest things, and we get to see his personality emerge a little more every day. The lows are the tantrums and fits. Little Brother can occasionally (although thankfully not too terribly often) throw a fit with the best of them. His fits typically don’t include kicking and screaming, but rather incessant whining and crying.

When he throws such a fit, I normally ask him (as calmly as I can…although sometimes it comes out not all that calmly) to either stop whining and crying or go to his room. This is when he typically responds, in a still whining and crying voice:

“But Mommy, my mouth won’t let me.”

(But it really sounds like this in his adorable, whiney, little 3-year old voice: But Mooooooooooooommmy, my mouf won’t wet meeeeeeeeeeee.”)

The first time I heard him say this, I wanted to burst out laughing (although I held my composure, thankyouverymuch). The idea sounds kind of ridiculous. He is in control of his mouth, not the other way around, and he can make himself stop.

But when I really started to think about what he was actually trying to say to me, I understood and even empathized.

When he tells me that his mouth won’t let him stop throwing a fit, my son is really saying to me:

“I don’t have enough self-control to stop this thing.”

“I don’t have the right coping mechanisms yet to know how to handle my disappointment in a more mature manner.”

“I just can’t do it on my own, I need someone to help me.”

Hmmmm…these statements sound oddly familiar to things I have said within the last five years of parenting these two precious blessings (either to myself or a trusted confidant).

What is wrong with me? Why can’t I have enough self-control to wake up before my kids or keep myself from yelling at them? Or not set a bad example in my habits (Dr. Pepper, exercising, selfishness…the list goes on).

Why did I just say that? I can’t believe I just said that!

I just don’t feel mature enough as a mom to handle this.

Lord, I can’t do it on my own. I need YOU to help me!

As it turns out, my three-year old and I aren’t all that different. Sure, I don’t typically whine and cry and throw a fit when I don’t get my way (although sometimes I do), but we both have the same feelings of not having the self-control necessary to handle certain situations and needing some help…whether it is from a parent or our Heavenly Father.

I smile a little bit to myself now when he says this phrase, because I want to say, “I understand, baby, I feel that way too. Let’s figure it out together. You ask me for help and I’ll ask God.”

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Filed Under: A Lesson Learned, Inspirational, Spiritual and Moral Development

Sand Between My Toes

January 20, 2013 by Jenae — 9 Comments

My most favorite place to be on this Earth that God created is on a beach somewhere. It is there that I feel God’s presence most abundantly and feel most at peace. Of course, living in a land-locked state hundreds of miles from an ocean pretty much guarantees that my beach visits are very few and far between.

Nevertheless, I absolutely love the feeling of sand between my toes. Not only is it like a foot massage in itself, it also reminds me of the peace and serenity that only the beach can offer.

Every now and again after leaving the beach, however, I’ll notice a few grains of sand still stuck between my toes. It’s normally after I’ve already rinsed “all” the sand off and have dutifully returned my shoes to my feet. At this moment, the sand between my toes is no longer wonderful but has now become an irritant.

Motherhood is a bit like sand between my toes. I love nearly every single minute of it, though every now and again it can become a wee bit irritating.

Like when I feel like I’m not good enough as a mom…not patient enough, not gentle enough, not creative enough.

Or when my kids are fighting.

Or when my son randomly bites me in the grocery store.

Or when I’m cleaning up puke in the middle of the night.

But those little grains of irritation serve to remind me of the tranquility that comes with motherhood. Yes, I am fully aware that mothering is not usually peaceful and tranquil…but knowing you are fulfilling a God-given calling is. When I really stop to think about how great a responsibility and privilege it is to be a mother to these two precious boys, I am truly humbled.

It’s in those moments of irritation that I am reminded of my need for a Savior who gives me grace to pass on to my children, even when I don’t deserve it. When I feel a little grain of sand in the life sandals of mothering, I just need to ask God to promptly remove my reaction of irritation so that I can remember and reflect on the joy, peace, and tranquility that only mothering can offer.

“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” -Ephesians 2:10

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Filed Under: A Lesson Learned, Parenting

Scriptures to Pray for Each of My Children in 2013

January 11, 2013 by Jenae — 9 Comments

I pin a LOT of idea on Pinterest but I only try around 10 percent of them (or less). A while ago I had pinned this idea for praying a specific scripture for your child each year from This Lil Light O’ Mine (and then I repinned it to remind myself) and I’m finally getting around to it. I’ve been reading through Praying Circles Around Your Children and finally decided I needed to get on the ball and choose a scripture for each of our boys. There’s no better time than the beginning of the year, right?

First, I tried to think of a scripture that acknowledged each child’s strengths while also encouraging them in areas in which they can grow and improve.

Here are the two scriptures I chose for our boys:

Big Brother:

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12: 10-12

I chose this verse for two reasons. The first is because of the world “zeal”…if I could describe Big Brother’s perspective on life and on God, it would be with the word “zeal.” He has an enthusiasm that I admire and I hope he never loses. It is contagious. The second reason is because I want him to honor others above himself. Along with his zeal, he has a lot of confidence (which is good, unless it becomes bragging), but I pray that he always places his confidence in God and treats others with humility.

Little Brother:

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.” -2 John 1:6

Little Brother loves and loves well. He is compassionate and tender-hearted, especially toward animals and young children. Like most three-year olds, he wants to be independent and sometimes has difficulty obeying. I pray that this year will be a year of learning to be obedient to us and ultimately to God. I want him to know obedience is an act of love.

Just like This Lil Light O’ Mine, I too traced each boy’s handprint (twice) and wrote the scripture on each one. One to keep in my Bible and the other to put in their journals.

My children don’t have giant hands…I am just keeping them in my small Bible. :)

In addition to placing one in my Bible to remind me to pray these scriptures for them, I also included one in each of their journals. I have written in these journals for each of our boys from the time I found out I was pregnant with them. Instead of giving a birthday card, I write in the journals. At holidays, I write in the journals. For their big milestones, I write in the journals. The entries are fewer and farther between these days, but it is something I hope they will treasure when they are older. And as morbid as it sounds, if something ever happens to me, it is my hope that they would know how much I loved and treasured them throughout their entire lives while reading the letters in their journals.

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When I glued them in the journals, I also wrote a note explaining each verse and why I chose it for each child. I blurred the note part out…that’s personal between me and my babies. :)

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I showed Prince Charming the handprints with verses and he asked, “Where’s my verse?” Perhaps we’ll choose a verse together to pray for our relationship as well. :)

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