tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32444916.post2761660320074400544..comments2023-12-17T06:06:12.732-06:00Comments on Making Home: "Discipline Your Child"...Jess Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372282510182101716noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32444916.post-5402732872278236492010-07-04T00:37:54.054-05:002010-07-04T00:37:54.054-05:00Amen!Amen!Heather Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09607203086599233195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32444916.post-23369767840466607132010-07-03T11:08:16.641-05:002010-07-03T11:08:16.641-05:00Jess,
Your suggestions are excellent. Such a goo...Jess,<br /><br />Your suggestions are <i>excellent</i>. Such a good reminder to <i>look at the fruit</i>.<br /><br />My husband and I were raised about as differently as you can imagine, (conservative Christians on one side, partying hippies on the other), so we had a lot of talking/praying/studying to do, to find common ground!<br /><br />While we were expecting our first we were frequently around two families with children the same ages. The difference in the fruit couldn't have been more plain. And believe me, I pursued one of the moms... "Tell me what you're doing!" Her kids were welcome in my home any time (!) while I dreaded visits from the others.<br /><br />Good words, Jess,<br /><br />JulieHerding Grasshoppershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15668974245505544238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32444916.post-7698884755638614892010-07-01T14:57:30.711-05:002010-07-01T14:57:30.711-05:00Thanks so much for sharing. Very encouraging. I h...Thanks so much for sharing. Very encouraging. I hope all goes well with the bebe!Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02621110324132577050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32444916.post-66827877574758426372010-06-29T08:54:58.719-05:002010-06-29T08:54:58.719-05:00This was just what I needed to read... thank you f...This was just what I needed to read... thank you for sharing! Our baby is just 6 mos old but we have been talking about this lately, we want to begin as we mean to go and have a plan for discipline, etc. Not sure when this will come into play (I hardly think my 6 mos old is being defiant! ) but definitely want to have an idea based on Biblical principles about how to go about it when the need arises. <br /><br />There is a family in our church with 7 kids and they are just the MOST pleasant bunch to be around. The kids are JOYFULLY obedient and get along so well- you see the way they interact and it makes you want to know what the parents do! We have been in their home and its the same picture... joyful obedience and joyful service. They do their chores without questioning their parents and will serve you with a smile if they have you over for dinner. I appreciate what you shared about observing a family who does follow the advice we are considering. I read a criticism about the discipline philosophy we were looking into (Growing Kids God's Way) on the web (there are criticisms for EVERYTHING) but that criticism doesn't hold the same ground that the living testimony of this family does. <br /><br />Thanks again!Jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04277512751118050435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32444916.post-13931345854060755222010-06-28T16:32:27.476-05:002010-06-28T16:32:27.476-05:00A very encouraging post. Thank you.A very encouraging post. Thank you.thelowreysfourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030990453003503857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32444916.post-58926343543600091132010-06-26T23:37:49.798-05:002010-06-26T23:37:49.798-05:00Great post! It is always encouraging to hear from ...Great post! It is always encouraging to hear from others that are also trying to raise their children using biblical principles. <br /><br /> As my older kids have gone off to camp this week (it is not normal for us to be apart) I have been thinking a lot about how their counselors and leaders might be seeing them. It has challanged me to be extra careful in my training of them so that they are a joy for others to be around.<br /><br /> I did hear some reports on my kids so far and they were all positive but I still want to keep working!Abbihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32444916.post-3888200962720797612010-06-26T14:48:06.889-05:002010-06-26T14:48:06.889-05:00Jen,
I'm sorry things are so confusing for you...Jen,<br />I'm sorry things are so confusing for you.... it sounds like your family (at least part of it) has twisted what Scripture says. As Christians, we are to be joyful - that's one of the fruit of the Spirit that is to grow in our lives as we grow in Christ. Enthusiasm and passion for life are gifts from God... He is the giver of all good things and models these things for us as our Father-- He loves to delight His children.<br /><br />My goal in life is not "happiness", although honestly, I do find a great deal of emotional happiness the more I try to follow Jesus and as I find my peace in Him. But joy is to be a constant in our lives as believers... we're told to "rejoice in the Lord always", to "count it as joy" when we face trials, to "delight ourselves in the Lord", and so much more.<br /><br />Honestly, the more fully I allow myself to be used by God as a wife & as a mom, the more fully I yield to Him, the more joy I find growing inside of me. Not because things are perfect... not because mine is a stress-less life (it's not!), or because I have somehow achieved the perfect marriage (it's not!), or because my children never disobey or struggle with attitudes, the same as any other human being (they do!)... it's because the little things bring more delight. When we are hurt, we forgive. As we know each other more, each experience together is more treasured. As the relationships in our home grow in kindness and love (a constant process of following Jesus), it yields a harvest of peace. We can laugh together, the relationships are rich and will be lifelong, and just average daily moments hold more value... which I'm calling JOY. It is joyful... it brings a peace to the soul to have right relationships and to be at peace with one another in a family setting. To learn more about loving and living as God would have us do, within a family, brings greater joy to each of us.<br /><br />I'm so sorry that you have experienced shame and punishment for expressing emotion or passion. I do think emotions themselves can be quite deceiving, and we are wise to control ourselves and test our emotions against truth. But enthusiasm, joy, delight, passion for life... I think these things are hand-in-hand with serving and loving and delighting in the God Who made us.<br /><br />~JessJess Connellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00372282510182101716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32444916.post-21216034673383576752010-06-25T16:25:51.442-05:002010-06-25T16:25:51.442-05:00I completely agree. I love the way you flesh it ou...I completely agree. I love the way you flesh it out!<br /><br />In addition to Scripture, I've read a lot of parenting books. (Dozens!) Nobody, and I mean nobody, has a method that will work with every child every time. Some children need a firmer hand and others a more warm and fuzzy one. I've taken bits and pieces of wisdom from each source and applied it when needed. I've found that each child thrives when biblical discipline is tempered and tailored for them. And I wish I had known that 15 years ago! {groan}<br /><br />Praying all is well! {hugs}Janelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10449455434527590302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32444916.post-47308357845021948382010-06-25T13:02:32.365-05:002010-06-25T13:02:32.365-05:00Is it ok to be joyful? Is it ok to be rested? Half...Is it ok to be joyful? Is it ok to be rested? Half my Mennonite family seems so. The other half rules with shaming, blaming and intimidation. If we express enthusiasm, it is quickly shamed and extinguished. If we express fear or sadness, we are quickly punished. Best not to show any emotion at all. Painful, yet I get confused; we are not to be "happy," as I've seen so many times on your site.... but joyful? <br /><br />JenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32444916.post-17060908543123675912010-06-25T09:21:57.700-05:002010-06-25T09:21:57.700-05:00I'm agreeing with Terry. Nothings speaks loude...I'm agreeing with Terry. Nothings speaks louder than a real-life example of a family who is doing things the biblical way or a family who is filled with excuses about why the bible didn't really *mean* what it says about all that. That's where you really get to see how well something works or doesn't work. <br /><br />You know reading this made me think. Foolishness will result in very painful stings throughout life. My adult life has been filled with those stings, sometimes creating lifelong consequences. I think if I had a parent who was willing to provide some of those "stings" in a loving, controlled and wise manner (not selfish angry beatings, extreme permissiveness or just plain neglect), how many unecessary life-altering mistakes I could have avoided. And I mean truly tragic results of foolishness, not just the normal valleys and struggles of life. <br /><br />Not that any one system if perfect. I think I am a good example of imperfection - to say the least - in parenting. I know what I need to be doing but I am often lazy, inconsistent, selfish etc.Catherine R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17270456247724661532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32444916.post-68202899310957548612010-06-25T08:41:09.407-05:002010-06-25T08:41:09.407-05:00You hit the nail on the head, Terry. The weather ...You hit the nail on the head, Terry. The weather has (until this week) been very hot, we're done with school (for all practical purposes) for this year, and I'm quite pregnant (about 10 days left!). :) Plus, all the "nesting" is pretty much done. So I've had time to sit and think and write in a way that I haven't in recent months. <br /><br />I'm feeling good, thanks. Ready to have this little man, but also trying to just be patient and wait for his arrival.Jess Connellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00372282510182101716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32444916.post-20779746188392804542010-06-25T06:37:33.830-05:002010-06-25T06:37:33.830-05:00Jess, I am imagining you taking the time to rest, ...Jess, I am imagining you taking the time to rest, nest, and prepare for baby, too big to do a lot of running around, which is why you have time to converse with us via the web a bit more of late.<br /><br />We'll enjoy you while we have you!<br /><br />As for the post, there is some great stuff here, but as you might imagine, it is #4 that resonates with me the most. As a mother of many teens, who are great kids but sometimes don't understand the rationale behind the boundaries, I have learned to let my husband take the lead no matter what any other parents are letting their kids do and what they think about it.<br /><br />It is very easy for my kids to evoke sympathy (actually empathy) from me because my dad didn't let his girls roam and wander either! As they have gotten older (all 3 are 15 at the moment but one will be 16 on Monday), they have seen what becomes of a child left to his or her self and appreciate that their daddy cares enough to protect them.<br /><br />I like number 3, too, but some parents are rested because they don't do much parenting. But I know what you mean with regards to younger children, though. <br /><br />Best point of all:<br /> <i>but the proof is in the pudding, and it is much more helpful to have solid advice from a person you know and trust, than to have extensive advice from someone "out there" whose life you really don't know anything about.</i><br /><br />Great post, Jess! Hope you're feeling well.Elspeth https://www.blogger.com/profile/17495546895657214080noreply@blogger.com