Change is in the Air

Fall is such a short-lived season here in the northeast. It's been very windy & cold & rainy over the last few days. In fact, tonight while I was coming home there was even a bit of snow mixed in with the rain. It's so windy that I'll be surprised if we don't loose power tonight. Although, I thought we would have lost it last night as well & we didn't. I did, however, use all the light sticks I had bought yesterday at the dollar store JUST for that purpose last night. Well, it did look pretty in here! Of course, this does mean I have none for tonight! Better dig out the batteries for the flashlights instead.

I actually didn't start writing this post, however, to talk about Maine weather. It's easy enough to do, but that's not my purpose. My purpose is the changes I plan to make with my family & myself. If any of you out there who read my blog have noticed my side bar, you may have seen a lot of parenting/child raising books listed there this month.

This isn't anything new that I have been looking in to. I didn't have black-outs over my eyes, but I did think my kids were slightly better than the average. I've finally realized they aren't. (big grin) I have children who say "no" to me on a daily basis when I ask them to do things, children who whine & scream & cry when they don't get their own way, children who dictate what we eat (or rather what they won't!). I've finally realized that enough is enough. My oldest is 10. I don't have a lot of time left with him at home & of an age where he will willingly take instruction, correction, & rebuking from me & his father.

I'm really liking Reb Bradley's book, Child Training Tips: What I wish I knew when my children were younger. He talks about not allowing children to question (constant "why") your commands. That they should obey on the first time & without question. If they begin to show they can do this, then on occasion you can answer their "why" about it. This hits home for me as I have children who do this on a constant & seemingly endless basis. It can literally make me loose it in about 30 seconds. Which also brings me to another point I just read - you should never have to yell or scream a request in order to get through to them. I seem to also do this quite a bit! (Which is why I am also enjoying Homeschooling With a Meek & Quiet Spirit).

There just seems to me a lot that can be changed right now. The time is ripe for change in our household. I have felt the Lord really working on me over the last year to make changes in my own life as well. I do not have a personal devotion time as I would like. I have felt Him calling me to get up earlier in the morning & go to bed earlier at night - to be able to spend time with my husband. I have felt the need to be a better Mother really hitting home hard lately.

So - the change is coming here at the Berry Patch. In fact, I told my three kiddos tonight that we will be having a meeting in the morning & we will be going over the new house rules & the new way I want them to behave. This will also include our new punishments for not obeying. Now I need to just pray I stay strong about it all and, more importantly, stay consistent.

Please pray for my kiddos, myself, & my hubby. It's certainly going to be an interesting time here in the next few weeks, but I know it will all be worth it at the end.