Our Pea-Pickin’ Enterprise

God is faithful in every way,

See it here in these peas we picked yesterday.

A friend called to tell us their crops overflowed,

So we got the free food from the seeds that they sowed.

Shellin’ peas on the porch with my children around

Most landed in place with a few on the ground.

We laughed and we talked and a few songs we sang,

Intermittently threw in a Veggie Tales refrain.

(Still don’t know what “I ‘Aint Got No Belly Button” has to do with peas *shrug*)

We talked about blessings that flow from above,

We talked about hands that work out of love.

Tonight we’ll have peas and it seems for a while,

And we’ll eat every time with our pea-pickin’ smiles.

Early Child Training

My youngest daughter (18 months old) has entered “the moment of truth”.  It is crucial, IMO, that child training starts very early–even as babies we begin using certain words to get them familiar with our expectations, but between the ages of about 1-3, training is intense…they are

testing the waters

     checking the boundaries

                          making sure the perimeters are in place–’cause it’s going to be a scary world if they’re not.

It is AMAZING how much you have to “be on top of it” to teach these little ones and work through their fallen natures.  It is almost constant, which reinforces yesterday’s post about the necessity of  ”being there”.

Number one rule I’m being reminded of this go-round:  They know and understand SO much more than we think!  Just because they can’t talk in full sentences doesn’t mean they don’t understand your words.

I called for Kyla to come to me very clearly, and she ignored me.  I began walking to the kitchen to find a spanking “disciplining” utensil and she immediately said “OK” and started walking briskly toward me.  Nice.

Since we are dealing with it full time, I thought it might be helpful to post some of the things we are working on–it’s easy to forget sometimes what should be expected and how to practically carry out the training.

1. Come here.  Teaching our children to come to us when we call them is really important.  (Especially if you ever find yourself in a crowded parking lot and the little one has gotten away!)  And please, for the love of all that is motherhood, DON’T count to your children
2. Stopping the fuss.  This is our biggest issue.  Little ones are very prone to whine/squeal/scream when they want something or something isn’t going their way, simply because of their lack of vocabulary and practice.  They need you to be always ready to guide them to the right response.  I might react to a typical squeal by saying, “No, you may not scream…if you want that cup you say “Please”.  Would you believe after a few days of working on this, Kyla needed the chair pulled out and she started to fuss and stopped herself and said “Pees”.  It works, I promise.
3. No.  Most children don’t have trouble learning this word, but we need to try to be careful to use it in a calm tone, making sure they understand it “universally”, in every situation.  It really bothers me to see a mom yelling “no” at her children in public.  But they need a firm understanding of when to stop doing something.  Sometimes we say “no ma’am” or “you may not”, or whatever.
4. Sharing.  Sharing is a tough one for littles who think they own the universe.  Again, it’s more of a matter of talking to them, reminding them that “so-and-so had it first, you wait for them to get finished”…and then discipline if the protest continues.
5. Patience.  Or self-control–it is highly important to begin when they are little!  For example, at the table Kyla gets impatient when she is hungry.  So she fusses and holds her plate out.  We just try to remember to tell her to “be patient” or “wait–don’t fuss”…consistency is the key.  If she continues to fuss, we may lightly thump her leg while speaking the command in a normal tone of voice.
6. Helping.  It’s never too early to teach them that they are helpers–part of the family.  One of the first jobs I give my little ones is throwing away their diapers.  They usually love it!  Just tell them “go throw it in the trash” and walk them to it a few times and they catch on quickly!  Always lots of praise when they pick something up or try to help.

Very simple things, I know, but it is remarkable what a difference staying consistent in this early training phase will make on their behavior later on!  Our children are as normal (and sinful) as can be.  But I’ve really never had major discipline issues (i.e. children hitting me, throwing tantrums, calling me bad names).  I’ve mentioned before that I think it’s a sad commentary when someone points out your “well-behaved” children.  I think well-behaved children should be the norm.  It takes work for sure, but it certainly isn’t rocket science ;-D

P.S.  I would kindly ask that you refrain from anti-spanking comments.

The Blessed, Mysterious Reality in My Womb

Sweet child of mind, that I have yet to meet—God has woven such a mysterious reality in my womb!

I have not yet held you, and yet I hold you every moment!

I have not yet met you, and yet I know you intimately.

I have not yet touched you, and yet we haven’t stopped touching since the day you were conceived.

I have not yet carried you and yet I’ve carried you everywhere you’ve ever been!

I have not yet seen you and yet I constantly see your little hands and feet making your presence known.

As I carry you, the sweet reality of your dependence on me–the fact that no one else on earth can protect you right now, can be your home, can bring you out of this cocoon into the light to live–that realization overwhelms me and I can’t find the words to thank my Heavenly Father for this privilege He has allowed me one more time….

Humor Me…

I don’t post pictures of my fam very often, but when my brother sent these really cool shots from a photo shoot they took in Sedona, AR, I decided to post a few. 

My brother and I are really close (if not in proximity)–talking a lot on the phone, usually about some zany idea one of us (both of us) is having, or I’m bouncing my techie questions off him, or we have some deep theological debate (we agree on a lot, but not everything .  His adorable wife has been precious to me since before I even met her…and I don’t get to see my sweet little niece (Sierra) and nephew (Cedar) enough…

Photos courtesy of  Chelsea Hudson Photography

Sweet Reflections of Motherhood

“I’m weady to go”…and a quick inspection draws me to each foot,

One sports a pink butterfly shoe and the other a scuffed cowboy boot.

     “Thank you Lord for laughs in motherhood.”

“I had if first” he whined to me, but the other one had it first too,

I look up to Heaven to see if God will tell me what to do.

  “Thank you, Lord, for soul-building moments of motherhood.”

I swept the floor an hour ago, so where did that mess come from?

Oh yes…from learning hands that keep me sweeping up cracker crumbs.

     “Thank you, Lord, for the evidence of little people in motherhood.”

“Mommy, I’m sorry you feel bad today, can I run a hot bath for you?”

That sweet little face with its heart-love aglow, refreshes me anew.

     “Thank you, Lord, for the tenderest affections of motherhood.”

Fifteen years since I brought that one home, she looks at me with a smile,

“Mom, I’m so very thankful for all the things you’ve taught me in life.”

     “Thank you, Lord, for the fruit of motherhood.”

And now I hold this sweet little one with another kicking inside,

The one in my arms falls gently to sleep and I brush her soft hair aside.

     “Thank you, Lord, for this gift of motherhood.”

All is quiet in the house just now, it’s not very often this way,

I so easily let the ebb and flow of life diminish the day.

Teach me, Lord, that though this garden may have its share of weeds,

Underneath it all is a fertile soil bursting with immortal seeds.

     “Thank you, Lord, for this life of motherhood.”

Kelly Crawford