Discipline and Learning

What punishment works best with your child? All children are different and they all respond differently to things. When Hailey was younger her favorite thing in the world was reading. If she broke a rule and I had to come up with a consequence, none of them really bothered her. No TV? That’s ok, I’ll just read. No video games? That’s ok, I’ll just read. Grounded to the house for two weeks? That’s ok, I’ll just read. It was so frustrating, after all, you really can’t ground a child from reading, well, you could, but what kind of parent would … Continue reading

Taking the Guilt Out of Discipline

So often as single parents we feel guilty for disciplining our children. We don’t want to be seen as the “mean” parent. You’re afraid that your kids won’t want to be with you anymore and they’ll go running to your ex. Make sure that your kids know that even though Mom and Dad don’t live together anymore they are still a team. It is important that you and your ex communicate about your rules and expectations for your children. Have clear consequences at both houses. You both need to take responsibility and discipline your children. Just because you are divorced … Continue reading

Discipline With Love

There is a difference between discipline and punishment. Although punishment is a form of discipline, it tends to be ineffective in most cases. When we learn to discipline our children with love it becomes more of a learning process than mere punishment. The goal of discipline is to correct behavior and to teach our children to be responsible members of society. We are raising the future generation. We have a great responsibility. Learning how to discipline your child can be an overwhelming thing for any parent. No two children are alike. Some forms of discipline may work well for one … Continue reading

What Love Is Not

Love means wanting the best for someone. It does not mean putting them in a compromising situation, or expecting them to sneak around and live a double life so you can have time together. It does not mean hurting them willfully by forcing them to choose between family and them. They’re all the things that people who have affairs do. And the excuse? They’re ‘in love.’ But I can’t help thinking it sounds more like selfishness because they are more concerned with what they want and getting their way rather than what is best for the other person, and selfishness … Continue reading

Does Michelle Obama’s Discipline Style Work for You?

In Barbara Walters’ interview with First Lady Michelle Obama, who she chose as the ‘Most Fascinating Person of 2009’, they had the opportunity to speak about parenting. Mrs. Obama admits to trying to spank her kids in the past but found it unproductive. She says that she now issues ‘lots of lectures’ in the place of spankings. I definitely understand where she’s coming from. While I am not against spanking, I can count the number of spankings I have given on one hand. For the most part, I found that spanking or the threat of it only works for some … Continue reading

Do You Discipline Your Child in Public?

When it comes to disciplining a child, consistency is key. However, these days when screaming is the new spanking and swatting a child on the butt could land you in jail, some parents feel forced to ignore their tot when he has meltdown in public. Throw in the fact that everyone armed with a cellphone these days has child welfare services on speed dial and kids don’t hesitate to call the cops on their own parents (when they aren’t seeking revenge via the Internet), and you have the recipe for potential pandemonium. I, like many other parents, hate disciplining my … Continue reading

Gospel Consequences and Tough Love

We have the gospel of life, the world needs to to hear it. It won’t unless we persist in prayer and in sharing the truth with family, friends and neighbors. One of the consequences of living a godly life is persecution. Jesus warned his followers they would face persecution but to be of good cheer because He had overcome the world,John 16:33. Mention of persecution was not a one off. You will find this idea repeated in Matthew 5:10-12, Matthew 10:23, Matthew 24:9, Mark 10:30, and John 15:20 In the current economic crisis people are struggling for something or someone … Continue reading

Compassion: The Higher Love

I have some issues with the word “love” in the English language. The word, when translated, is problematic in other languages too, but one problem is that in English, one can say that one “loves” something that only gratifies selfish needs. For instance, a person can say they “love” their child and at the same time say they “love” chicken l’orange. Certainly (or hopefullY) a person does not love their child and chicken l’orange in the same way (Although I have heard parents say their kids are so cute, they could “eat them up”) but this only demonstrates the problem … Continue reading

Baby Blog Month in Review: July 2008

Two of my three children are summer babies. That is, they were born in the summer and had their first months surrounded by sunshine streaming in the windows, the sound of birds chirping, and days spent wearing nothing but a diaper and a “onsie.” I made sure that they had Fourth of July outfits ready, even though one of them arrived a week after the holiday. I guess he just wasn’t interested in the parade. Do you have a summer baby, too? We had a lot of new information to share this past month, such as recall notices and new … Continue reading

The Most Talked About Homeschooling Blogs in 2007

This is my annual list of the most talked about blogs in 2007. We love comments, and the more the better! If you have been wanting to peruse the homeschooling blog but weren’t sure where to start. . .this is the place to be! My Top 5 Math Curriculum Picks In Defense of Teaching Creation Too Much Information Homeschooling or Housekeeping? Why We Are Not Testing Our Gifted Son Reason #2 Why Tax Credits Are Wrong for Homeschoolers You Call That Homeschooling? The National Lunch Association Takes Aim at Those Who Dare to Eat at Home It Has Been a … Continue reading