Relationships

Planners vs. Live in the moment people

            My oldest son is a talker.  If he has anything on his mind, he finds a way to say it.  In fact it is painful for him not to say what is on his mind.  If anyone ever tells him to not say something he wants to say, he either becomes very offended or he acts like he is going to blow up trying not to say one of his great thoughts. 

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…” (Proverbs 29:18)

I have a 20 year vision for my family:

I have many posts on this site about how to change attitude problems in our children.  This is important to know how to do, but even more important for our family is knowing how to change our own attitude problems. 

Let’s face it, parenting is hard work!  There are many nights that I don’t even turn over in my bed, because my body is so tired, it would take too much effort.  Life is hard, but it doesn’t need to be miserable.  Part of self government, is knowing when you get to choose, and when you don’t.  Attitude is always your own choice. 

So what is YOUR attitude about your work as a

There is an old saying which says, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” 

This is going to shock you all……WHY?   Seriously, I think this is sound advice for school assignments that are due, and remembering to put gas in the car, but after careful consideration, I have found that this advice about not procrastinating, can ruin the days and lives of some mothers. 

How many “homework” assignments do we constantly pile upon ourselves under the pretence of this old adage?  I have found myself canning until 2:00 a.m. when I have to wake up at 5:00 a.m.

           “Mom, Paije tried to take this stuffed animal away from me.” Said Londyn. 

            Then Paije said, “But Mom, she never asked me if she could use it and it is mine.”

Tonight as I was sending my children off to bed, I felt like something was missing.  Then the words of Gene Cook came to mind.  He related in his book “Raising up a Family to the Lord” how he noticed that even his big children loved to get tucked in.  That is what was missing.  After our story and prayer, I had just sent the children off to bed quick because it was getting so late. 

I immediately stopped what I was doing and went to the bedrooms of all my children and gave them all kisses, hugs, and sang them songs.  This relationship building second is more important than all of the praise

Our family culture involves lots of music time.  It is a huge focus for all of us.  My older two children both spend lots of time singing, and playing piano.  They have a special music mentor who helps them excel in these areas. 

Their music mentor has spoken with me many times about how my daughter needs to be doing musical theatre.  No comment could make me more happy.  🙂  I love musicals.  I own just about every musical there is.  My father was a play director, when I was young, and directed a musical every year.  From a very young age, I was put in these productions.  Musical theatre i