Partners in Parenting

Lessons from Lice!

As you are probably aware, I have been spending many hours looking through the hair of students looking for these teeny, tiny, little, hard to spot lice eggs (called nits).  It is so tedious and takes time looking for them in other people.  I've had Mrs. Knopf check me tons of times because I can't check myself.  Here are some lessons from lice that I applied to life:

• As a parent, it can become easy to be too harsh or critical of the little things I see in my kids without looking at myself first.
• I was also reminded of how I can focus on other people's flaws without paying any attention to my own. 
• I also thought of how something so small can really be a big problem if left unattended.
• I received a great lesson in perseverance in times of difficulty as did every family who had kids with lice.

As I considered all this, I was reminded of a Bible passage from Matthew about looking for something very small in others without any regard for ourselves.  It is valuable to remember to be cautious about passing judgment on others when we are all sinners.  "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"  Jesus' words from Matthew 7:1-3

We can always learn lessons from the good and bad side of a great teacher - real life.

Family Discussion Questions!

What are some little things you've had to look for in the past (keys, wallet, coins, etc.)

What are some things you are too picky about as a parent?  As a child?

Discuss finding flaws in others.  Why do we do it?  Who does it make feel better when we find flaws in others?

Discuss perseverance in adversity.

Partners in Parenting

It's NOT A Joke!

OK, you can "write me up" for pestering my kids if you want, but at home, I continually ask my kids, "Do you know what the longest distance in the world is?"  They just roll their eyes, and tell me to stop bugging them.  Seriously, do you know the answer?  At my house, it is the distance between the sink and the dishwasher - yep, that's it.  Now, they are only 6 inches apart, but you'd think it was a million miles based on how well my lovely children will dutifully take their dishes to the sink after every meal and place them in the sink... and life goes on.  They even walk past the dishwasher to get to the sink, but not one thing gets into the dishwasher.  WHY CAN'T THEY PUT THEM IN THE DISHWASHER?  Honestly!  We even ask the kids to clear the table on occasion, and they are happy to help.  If we ask them to clear the table AND load the dishwasher, they moan like crazy and aren't willing to help.  That distance is really short.  The dishwasher is right there, so why do they act like it is so far away?  Well, God's forgiveness is right there for all who believe, yet don't we sometimes act like it is too far away to utilize it.  Why do we think forgiveness is so far away?  Maybe for the same reason my kids don't load the dishwasher - it takes a little extra effort.  Utilizing the dishwasher means loading it.  Utilizing God's forgiveness means repenting of our sins. 

Load the dishwasher = clean kitchen

Ask for forgiveness = clean heart

Part of understanding God's unconditional love is confessing our sin with the assurance they He will never reject us or deny us the forgiveness of ALL our sins.  And the distance He removes our sin really IS the longest distance on earth. 

Psalm 103:11,12 "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

Family Discussion Points!

Talk about the chores the kids don't do that would be so helpful.

Share some stories about the longest family trip you've ever taken.

Share a time of repenting for sins and reminding every family member that God, through Jesus' death and resurrection, has removed every sin from them. 

Partners in Parenting

Avoiding Consequences!

This past weekend, I sat with my son watching a football game.  The TV announcer shared that a player was not allowed to start the game because he was late for a team meeting earlier in the week.  My son was really surprised that such a consequence would be given to a professional athlete making millions of dollars.  I simply stated that I wasn't that surprised because consequences are a part of every person's life.  I don't know about this athlete's circumstances for being late on this particular occasion, but every consequence has a precursor.  In other words, something happens first to get a consequence.  So, how do our kids typically try to avoid consequences?  As I work with kids here at school, they usually try to change, alter, or lie about the behavior that brought about the consequence.  When that happens, I'm not happy, but I'm not surprised either.  That's been the natural response since Adam and Eve.  Genesis 3:11 has God asking Adam if he ate the fruit off the tree he was commanded not to eat.  Genesis 3:12 has Adam’s avoidance technique response, "The woman you put here with me - she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."  Adam didn't avoid the consequence of being thrown out of the garden.  Our kids will try to avoid consequences all the time.  It is normal, but it is also sinful.  I'd encourage you to provide consequences even when your kids "wiggle" to avoid them.

Family Discussion Points!

Parents, share a normal consequence you got when growing up.  Share a really bad one.

Parents, share a consequence you can get at your place of employment.

Talk about ways people avoid consequences.  What's wrong with doing that (it is dishonest)?