Skip to main content

Failing motherhood?

A completely normal feeling. In every way. 


When my kids fight, I get them to kiss each other, hug and apologize. They get back to playing most of the time. If they don't apologize 'properly', they have to do it again until I am satisfied that it was kind and sincere-ish.


I also realize that they fight more when lunch or dinner is late. So I set the timer to stop for a fruit break in between like at 3.15pm.


Having only one kid help at a time is more realistic. One person helps for breakfast, a different person for dinner and a different person for a different chore. The rest has to do something else that may or may not be in the same room. A different room is better.


Laundry room is out of bounds for toddlers.. just about everything is out of bounds. Including toys. It will just be a huge mess if they help themselves to craft or toys without you around to watch what they do or remind them to clean up when they're done. No mess made = no mess to clean up. So eyes on them all the time to avoid mess. Only older kids get sent to another room.


Usually the same person quarrels with everyone and refuses to help out. This one needs extra love, a ton of cuddles, presents, and reassurances. Use all 5 love languages. Happens to also be the most cunning of all and capable. So give this one lots of praise and encouragement. And entrust with bigger stuff.. like more big sister big brother stuff.. like taking care of the littles, taking them potty, changing them, etc. And keep this one with you as much as possible throughout the day.


Also, chores are NOT your responsibility. They are EVERYONE'S responsibility. Your job is to supervise and delegate and to raise children to be responsible. Whatever methods necessary. Some people use star charts, point system, with snacks or games, even money. Do whatever works for your family and suits your belief system. But at the end of the day, the kids need to be responsible and reliable adults.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Couple Disagreements -- To Move or Stay Put?

It's not up to either of you nor is it our place to advice you. You both need to pray and seek the Lord for guidance on this. The Lord has led us as a family from one place to another. There is a time to move and there is a time to stay put. Ask the Lord for guidance. Also, submission to your husband and saving your marriage is more important than money. How to Pray: Both of you, go to a room, whether alone or together, close your eyes, ask God to give you guidance on whether to move or stay, and ask Him for a book, chapter and verse. Then wait for it with eyes closed. Wait for the book, chapter number and verse number. Read the whole chapter anyway, including the key verse.  It's hard the first few times but you'll get it over time, do it everyday as devotion. Get a notebook or Google Drive to write down what God is saying. Then match your verse and understanding with his. After a few days, you kind of know where this is going.

How to Fast the Right Way

First of all, motive. Fast to draw close to Him, and don't let anyone know that you're fasting. Matthew 6:16-18  For a Full Fast: Just tell them that you're taking some time off will be booked on those dates and can't be contacted during those periods.  Turn your phone on silent mode. It's basically only for emergencies, or else, don't answer at all. Lock yourself in your room. Matthew 6:6-7 Drink lots of water if you're going on a full fast. If you're living with others, only go out of the room to get more water. What you actually do: No work, no play, just fast and pray. And worship and Word and talk to Him and draw close to Him. And write down what He says. Do your devotion.

Lazy teens

A teen is not a kid anymore. Then again, boys mature about 3 years slower, so just take that into account.  When faced with lazy teens, we need to find out the root issue — is it a spirit of laziness? It has to be addressed. He needs to know that it is a spirit and not him. And that he has to fight it. And what happens when spirits like that are not warded off. And how they can ultimately possess a person when entertained and given into. If it’s not laziness, it is a lack of motivation. What do they really have in mind that is really bothering them or they are inspired about and work on that.