Showing posts with label Looking for Wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Looking for Wisdom. Show all posts

Books, Books, Books


I know in the past I have related my love for children's books. When EJ began reading, at 4, I was just so incredibly pleased and excited. My joy came from what I remembered as a child, my days were full of reading lots and lots of wonderful books. I loved to take a book outside and sit under a tree and read, read, read! I used to sneak books outside, or at bedtime, or anywhere else.

Did you know girls read such different books then boys? I know, it is common sense, when you think about it. Logically boys are going to be drawn to such different things then "yucky" girls. Especially when they are, say, age 7!

Friends, I need help! I'm always on a search for good books for my EJ to read. He's such a reader, like his mama was. But, he's just not that into the same series I was in, as a child. Not to mention that I have the problem of what is appropriate for his age, mixed with his level of understanding and reading comprehension. He's a second grader that can easily read and comprehend 4rth grade material. But, goodness I do not want him to devour fourth grade boy humor... not now.. not ever.

One more thing, before I release you to give me your opinions and thoughts.... I'm a bit picky and hard on what I allow my boys to read. I do not allow any books that include magic in them. Which cancels the Magic Treehouse, Magic School Bus, and anything else magic series. He is currently enjoying the Boxcar series and just found Encyclopedia Brown series. I'd love to transition him into some easy but intriguing biographies (again age appropriate!).

Give me some ideas friends! I'm dying to hear some good ideas!

Posted in: , on Sunday, August 30, 2009 at at 7:17 PM 2 comments  

Looking for Wisdom - Fire Edition - Follow Up

Well friends you really helped me gain perspective. Thank you so much for your wisdom and insight on my dear EJ and the stage of ungratefulness that he is in.

This is what I walked away with:

1. Don't take it personally.

2. It's just immaturity...not rebellion.

3. Give him choices.

4. Ego-centrism is a natural phase that they visit and re-visit BUT it is part of their developmental process.

5. Remember that extraordinary grace is required while teaching and modeling during these early years.

6. And last but not least ... I'm a good mama. ( needed to hear that one!)

Aren't those all just really good nuggets of wisdom?! When I read them all, I felt myself calm down a whole lot. Then I was reminded once again that raising children is not some sort of sprint race, but a marathon. Perhaps, I need to slow myself down and relax a little bit.

I did start enacting an idea with him over the last several days. We did some fun family things over the weekend. And during those times, I talked with him before and after, explaining that what we were about to do was a privilege and I expected to see a grateful heart when we were through. I told him up front that I would be asking him to tell me 5 things he was thankful for when we were done. Riding home we made it a family game going around saying what we were thankful for. I saw that it diverted him from a case of the grumpies and gave him an opportunity to be thankful as a family.

It's a start! Overall, I'm feeling a bit more equipped and encouraged. Thanks friends!

Posted in: , on Monday, April 07, 2008 at at 3:00 PM 2 comments  

Looking for Wisdom - Fire Edition



Well, I'm borrowing this little idea from Thrills. I am in need of some mommy wisdom... serious, need. Here goes.

My 5 year old, EJ, is suffering from severe bouts of ungratefulness and selfishness. The latest example was last night:

Me: Hey EJ if you could go anywhere for dinner tonight, where would YOU like to go?

EJ: Ummm... I'd love Mexican, mommy. Can we have Mexican?

Usually, we do not elicit opinions from our children on where to eat or other decisions. But last night was a special occasion and I thought it would be fun to ask him what he desired. In the end, we did eat Mexican food.

At the restaurant, EJ enjoyed his meal, including heaping amounts of chips and salsa. Towards the middle to the end of the meal, he began to get moody and started hinting around to dessert. We said firmly that we were not getting dessert tonight, sharing with him that this was a big treat to go out to eat in the first place.

Everything went downhill from there. Grumpiness and irritability set in.

Now this grates on every nerve inside my body. I am serious when I say, I want to yell, scream and throw my own fit for his attitude. Instead, I chose to very calmly explain that his attitude was hurtful and ungrateful. He continued on. And I calmly ( and I stress calmly ) began to take away the next thing he was supposed to do.

For the many times that I did talk to him about his attitude that evening, he never apologized or seemed to have gotten that he was wrong. Towards the end of the night, he again displayed quite an attitude with me over something else.

Here is my question: What do you do with ungratefulness and selfishness in your house?

I can not tell you what I would prefer to do right now. It involves taking away every little toy and fun. Bringing him to an orphanage, or somewhere for him to realize just how good he really has it. Please, even me out and share with me your wisdom!!!

Now, don't hold back on me friends ... leave me a comment and share.

Posted in: on Thursday, April 03, 2008 at at 8:45 AM 9 comments  

Something I'm Chewing On, That's All


**Please be aware this post represents something going on in my mind. I am not judging you, your family, or how you do things. Smile! Now read on!!! ***

I walked in to the Dollar Store today, needing a few quick items and was bombarded with all the Easter paraphernalia possible. It was the same thing at every stop we made while doing errands. There were chocolate bunnies, eggs, jelly beans, baskets, books, and so on.

My mind started working through the usual. "Another holiday, that doesn't truly represent Christ. What are we going to do? How is our family going to celebrate or not celebrate this? Here come the questions (which are normal) from the boys, get ready."

Each "big" American holiday brings this barrage of issues into my head. Wasn't it just Christmas last week? And Valentines was yesterday, right?


I grew up celebrating all the holidays in a very non christian way. I totally believed in Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and so on. As I remember it, it was fun! I loved sitting on Santas lap, with great dreams. And I totally enjoyed collecting jelly beans (a family tradition), searching for our Easter basket, and devouring the chocolate bunny with the sugary eyes.

My predicament lies within my beliefs in Christ. And since neither one of us grew up in the sort of environment that we are raising our children in, we are stuck in finding our own way through the holiday mazes. Things especially changed when we moved away from our families. Its not so easy to travel eight hours one way to sit down for a traditional extended family dinner.

The good thing is, its forcing me to pray and decide just what do we want to do about holidays. What sort of traditions do we want to start? I stare inwardly at myself, challenging my heart, am I being to lenient or too hard? Are we being fanatical or truly honoring the Lord?

It's easy on the big decisions. I don't want to raise my children in believing in a Santa Claus or Easter bunny. I want them to completely honor Jesus. I am solid on that. But its the rest of the details that tend to become a bit more blurry for me. Should I make sweet little baskets up for the kids, because its a fun childhood thing to do? What's the harm in an Easter egg hunt?


While the rest of the world and church tries to justify themselves by coming up with the idea that eggs are representing life and Jesus represents life, etc. Inside, I'm thinking, "c'mon, let's stop stretching the truth and making it work for ourselves. Let's be real." And yet, I've totally taken my child to an egg hunt before. And I love to decorate eggs.

I guess where I am going with this, is I wish I knew just what our holiday traditions included. I wish I was solid in what I knew was right for our family. My oldest will be six in a couple of months. I am ready to have the idea of who we are, what we represent, how we do holidays, for our family. And I don't want to compromise. I'm ready to become more established in our beliefs and what they look like during a holiday.

Feel free to share your thoughts!

Posted in: , , , on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at at 2:48 PM 7 comments  

Looking For What????

It wasn't even two nights ago, that CJ called Thrills husband looking for some wisdom and prayer over a certain life circumstance. Of course the Lord used him and gave us a practical way of fighting the issue! Thanks Thrills, husband.


In the meantime, Thrills came up with this nifty little idea called Looking For Wisdom. You can see her post on it here.
We all need ideas, thoughts, how do you do it, where can I find this .... sort of wisdom! And she's right on about what to walk away with and what not to!

So, go check out her site. Especially you moms out there .... this question of the week, could certainly use some creative noisy ideas!!!

Posted in: , , on Thursday, September 27, 2007 at at 7:18 AM 1 comments  

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