This Parenting Thing

This parenting thing always seems to have a new twist or turn!  Now that Hannah and Isaac have started school and are riding the bus, they have had the opportunity to meet a lot of children in our neighborhood.  I love that they are making lots of new friends.  However, I am not loving some of the other stuff that is coming from all these new friends.  Knowing that parenting styles and parenting supervision vary greatly from family to family, Aaron and I are working on figuring out what is best for our kids when it comes to playing with the neighborhood friends.  The past 2 weeks have been tricky in our household.  Both kids have pushed boundaries, made very poor choices because the other kids are doing it, been snappy at one another and all around become children that they have not been before... and we are not about ready to tolerate it.  Yesterday was the day the straw broke, so this week I am cracking down.  Yes they can play with their new friends, but the boundaries are tight.  Yes, I may be known as the strict Mommy, but my children are going to know how to be considerate, how to make good choices, and how to be safe.  They will know that faith and family always come first and that treating one another with respect and kindness is very important.  They will know that sassing or back talking to a parent or any adult is not OK... just as inconsiderate and mean talk is not OK with peers.

I have really great kids.  They are loving and kind and helpful.  They love God and usually are good listeners.  As a Christian, I want my children to be able to share the love of Jesus through their words and actions... and I pray that it becomes a natural part of their personality and who they are. 

I know they need to learn to make good choices when many choices surround them.  Consequences for poor choices will most likely be the best teacher and I can't protect them from that as much as I may want to.  I know I won't do everything right as a mom, but I want to do the best I can.  I'm finding that with each age, the challenges change.  Toddlerhood is rough at times, but early elementary can be too!  So I will cover my children with prayer, give them as much love as I possibly can, empower them to make good choices, applaud their good behavior and point out the wonderful gifts God has given them, tell them how thankful I am to be their mother, and endure the pain of watching them suffer through natural consequences when they make poor choices.  I will be strict with them and keep their boundaries safe and yet give them an environment in which they can thrive.  This will be a continual journey as a parent... and I will let them know when I make a mistake and I will ask for their forgiveness when needed. 

This parenting thing... always and adventure!