Relationships

Relationships.

Relationships found our beliefs which form our values which cause our behaviour.

Relationships are fundamental to who we are and what we do.

We relate to our children, to our parents, our friends, our neighbours and to our star-breather God.

As a mom, I'm tempted to quickly whisk over the relationship so I can get to behaviour modification and live in apparent peace. It's much easier to separate squabbling sisters than to elicit a Christ-like response from them. It has happened that when I begin with "Would Jesus .... ?" I get the response of her tossing the toy in question in the direction of the other and stalking out of the room with a cloud over her head. What happens next could be an awful lot of work for me. The behaviour was correct (sort-of) but the attitude stunk. Attitudes are harder to address.

In case you haven't figured it out: My kids get bad attitudes. My kids fight. In all combinations. No two are specially immune. And I take the blame to some degree. I'm not responsible for their sinful natures, but as the Mom here, I make the rules and enforce them, I foster the relationships. Sometimes. I do get lax.

So where is all this headed? I don't know. I'm just spitting this stuff out.

When I take the time to disciple, not just discipline, it can wear me out. Parenting is hard work when properly applied!

My hope is Jesus. When I am connected to Him and I take the time to talk with my children and discipline them for misbehaviour or rebellion and help them talk to God, there is peace even in the weariness. There is strength to resist the urgent temptation to send them all to their rooms until supper (and the temptation to do even worse things - I know many of them).

Oswald Chambers said:

We slander God by our very eagerness to work for Him without knowing Him.
This is your line of service - to see that there is nothing between Jesus and
yourself.

How often do I try to squeak by as a parent, doing the minimum that would please God, just so I can get on to other things? My calling right now is to be a Mom, and if the only and best way I can fulfill this calling is to know Jesus, then that is my priority and all the other details of parenting will fall into their place.

I can shepherd my wee flock by following closely behind the Master Shepherd.

Preschool

I've been spending some time at Preschoolers and Peace lately, gleaning insight on what to do with my preschooler, Del (4). Last year he just bopped around the house as I taught the older ones school. We had a home support worker here in the mornings, so between the two of us, the little ones were always supervised, but not structured. Even though we still have a home support worker (Ameeda) with us during school hours, Eli's (3) anxiety is unstable, and she is focusing on giving him as much routine and predictability as possible, so having Del "bop" is not an option. He's getting bored, anyway. His attention span skyrocketed over the summer and he's ready to be intellectually challenged. *sigh* I just wasn't ready for five students.

After thought and prayer, this is my plan for Del:

• Circle time geared to Del and 1st grader Lee (Bible story, fun song, hymn or praise song, preschool question cards, story)
• Colouring page or phonics worksheet (he loves to feel like he's "doing" school)
• 1/2 hour movie (Little Bear, Franklin, Math Video, Backyardptarmigans - as Del calls them, etc)
• Outside time with any older students ready for a break
• Back in playroom for free play while we finish up lessons and read alouds
• He will be able to join us for fun science and socials projects

I hope it works.

Feast of Booths

This is the last of the fall feasts and it lasts 8 days. We only took one day to celebrate and it's a good thing, too. The intention is to make a booth (or tabernacle) outside, using 2x4's and sheets, in remembrance of the newly-freed Hebews wandering with tents in the wilderness. I was so excited about taking out hot chocolate and a movie to watch as the stars popped, but I checked the forecast in the morning and it called for SNOW so I decided to make a booth in the house out of tables, bins and blankets. Not quite the same effect, really.

First off, after we read about the Hebrews living in the desert, was the lulav, which is waved in all directions in praise to God.

It includes several different types of trees, to signify diversity in beauty, endurance, strength and flexibility.

Torie (9)
Then the really, really fun part! Making a FORT for SCHOOLWORK! How cool is that?
We decorated inside with Bible verses the little ones had coloured, and stuffed fruit we made in the morning. (My cherries may look like a potato, but they are indeed cherries!)Then we spent time praying and singing our favourite Sunday School songs. I made everyone get out for "Father Abraham."

One of the girls had a difficult day and spent a lot of time in her room. She even missed the building of the booth. The preschoolers were also a bit agitated as our regular schedule was knocked about a bit. I was given to being irritated about it, wondering if the whole day was a write-off and why I even make the effort to do fun and interesting lessons.

After reflecting on it and getting perspective from some friends, I decided that a) the kids who were engaged and participating had a fantastic time learning about the provision of Jehovah, and b) the whole point is in building relationships - with each other and with God - and relationships are built through the bumpy, grumpy times, too. If I keep myself healthy by staying close to Jesus, I can push through when the tough times in relationships come about.

And c) I need to reread Shepherding a Child's Heart. I admit, I go through cycles as a parent. This cycle is called "Some of My Kids Think Life is a Free-for-All." That's a post for another day.

Career Training

All the children tried their hand at firefighting at the Fall Fair! At first the girls stood off, saying, "We'll just run alongside the little boys and help them." When it was clear how much fun and challenge was involved, they suited up as fast as a veteran fire chief.

Stage 1: carrying the O2 tank

Stage 2: through the tunnelStage 3: dragging the hose (it was heavy!)Stage 4: putting out the fire!Stage 5: getting the patient to safetyWho's next!?

We have an awesome volunteer fire department here. I would be proud if any of my kids joined their ranks in the future. After all, they have the training!

Week of Welcome OR Do We Ever Do School?

The school with which I am enrolled as a home learner has several other families in my area. We are encouraged to have a welcome party each fall, even though in this remote area we all know each other and spend time together anyway. But when they even gave us a budget for our party, we all pitched in to make a memorable time for the kids. Family friend and fellow homeschooler Lou has a ranch-based adventure tour and group building business. Perfect for strengthening the bond in our homeschool group! Kids from 8 months to 15 years old showed up to "assist the Canadian government in locating and securing a missing Canadian flag." Lee (6) gets right at home with one of his best buds.Torie (9) crosses the ravine, which happens to be filled with man-eating fish Lee is worried.Kate (11) walks across a log spanning searing hot lava. See how relaxed she is? She did most of the challenges with ease. I was impressed.

Del (4) gets a hand down from the wall of doom. Back at the house for lunch (after successfully retrieving the flag), Eli (3) makes his own fun.

My job was to organise and teach a "simple" craft. Ha! 27 cardboard frames, two buckets of rock and sand and 200 measured twigs later, the kids go crazy with glue guns. Simple for who, I ask?

The day was a hit. Lunch was delicious (haystacks with corn chips, beans, salad fixin's and rice). Lee said his favourite part was leaving. Leaving? "Yeah, when we got to pick a prize from the treasure chest!"

It may seem like we never hit the books with all this revelry going on, but when we have days at home, we git-r-done. Honest.