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It seems that every year(sometimes a few times a year) I hit a wall.

A giant “how in the world do I do this parenting, taking care of the house, being a great wife, and serve the Lord joyfully” wall.

In the early days of parenting, Matt would send me off to a movie with a friend.

What great fun!

For those two hours.

But then I came home to the same life with the same attitude.

With the Lord’s grace, I now try to spend atleast part of my renewal time- renewing. Scaling the wall usually involves prayer, good parenting resources, and wiser, older friends(chocolate still included).

It’s amazing to me how making little changes in our routine, our parenting choices, and my heart, can keep that wall buried for another season.

I hit one of those of those walls last week(I think this one was made of laundry bricks and spit up glue).  Here are a few things that have been helping out our house.

Stop the Fighting

With multiple children in the house, it might be a given that I spend a large chunk of time settling fights.

“Mommy, Jellyfish took my..”

“Hey, I was sitting there first.”

Well, you know what it sounds like.  Passed, “Who had it first…”, I was often at a loss and just wanted peace!

This chart has been instrumental in teaching me and my children the biblical path to work through fighting.  We studied the chart (and short booklet) and now I can send the 8 year old to the chart when she comes toward me with “Mooommmmy…..”. And I can walk with my 4 and 6 year old to the chart and guide them down the same path.  Each day I am less involved in the problems and they are growing in character.

Attitude Adjustments(for all of us)

This book has refreshed my eye on biblical parenting and reminded me of the reasons we’re teaching our children about obedience and respect and love.  After months of being sick and and not sleeping and then taking care of a newborn, my perspective was off-kilter.  Too quick to say “sorry he’s just tired” when the boy was falling on floor and being disrespectful.  Continually sending the children to in-effective time-outs, ignoring the lack of result.  Finding myself quick to get frustrated and at the same time slow to expect obedience.  Through her real life examples, understanding of scripture and her practical advice, I feel more prepared for the days challenges. And her challenge is to thank the Lord for each opportunity to point my children toward the Lord. To reproof and discipline because I love my kids to much not to.

The house management is another side of the wall….maybe more on that tomorrow…