Okay, so maybe I’m gonna be a little less hodge-podge sporadic on this thing…at least for now. Probably need to get some help from some of my Reflections buddies on how to set up those neat little schedules on the sidebars. Oh, well.
Mondays: hodge podge devotion style. Basically, what I’ve learned or how God has challenged my thinking. (Always in need of a perspective-otomy!)
Tuesdays: creative writing, just for fun stuff. (My favorite. grin.)
Wednesdays: parenting on purpose
Thursdays: Book talk. What I’m reading, what I want to read or what I just read. Maybe an occasional author interview, or maybe I’ll talk about my latest wip. (work in progress.)
Fridays: Hodge podge devotion style.
Got a parenting on purpose article you’d like to share? Send it my way at slattery07@yahoo.com
Blessings.
BTW, there will be a test on all this next week, so make sure you memorize the schedule.
Thank you for your parenting question. Now that I’m an old geezer I can look back and see some right and wrong that I did with raising two daughters. First of all, two daughters are a wonderful. The special daddy/daughter times bring a tear as I think back on them. Even today I can still get hugs and kisses, just for ol’ pa. Your question for parenting takes me back when both were teenagers. It began at the dinner table one night and continued until my invention kicked in. You see, we had a garden, but the girls thought that spinach, beets, and a few others, like broccoli, well, it wasn’t what they liked and a mutiny of sorts happened at the table. Knowing where this could lead in other areas I established an asian night. No offense to any asian people , just had to have a name for reference. The girls didn’t get any breakfast that morning, whatever lunch at school and that was it until my invention at dinner. No snacks, no, dad I’m starving, can I make a sandwich. Nope, not a thing. When it was time for dinner they received a small bowl of watered down soup, no crackers, no soda, no nothin’. Amazing thing, they were so quiet during the short meal, with side glances at each other and me, like oh,oh, what’s dad up to now. After we finished I informed them that what they had was it for the day and we would repeat the process the next night- which we did. Then I told them, what you just ate was more than 2/3 of the kids around the world received this day. Think about it. The next night was um, grim, to say a word. Oh oh, dad is serious on this one. Real tears and opologizing to ol’ pa was ok but still ne more dinner. The third evening we offered beet greens, spinach, and fish. Amazing thing, the girls were so polite and thankfully ate what was offered without a single comment. For the next several years I only had to use asian night a few times, but I needed to use the threat of it until they remembered the point. Now they talk about it but with a hug and dad, you were sure right. Now with kids of their own, they plan on using dads invention when the time is right. Somehow this story has gotten around and used by others. It is a moment when each can be thankful for what we do have and not want what we don’t. May God bless you and your family. Terry
Thanks for sharing your insight with us, Terry. It is always helpful to hear from someone who’s “been there” and “done that”, not to sound cliche, but then again, cliche’s exist for a reason. 🙂 And what a powerful message of compassion you sent. I would love to hear their perspective on that meal today. Have you ever asked them about that? Which raises a great question: Can compassion be taught and to what extent and how? Now that would be a great article.