by Kimberly | Jan 30, 2015 | Books, parenting
My life is full of balls, choo-choos, and bulldozers. If you are a mom of young boys, you know what I’m talking about. I live in the Atlanta area and many times a week I’m driving around specifically going to the site of the new Braves stadium just because my son wants to see the bulldozers. He squeals with much delight.
So, when I saw these books (a new series) by Tommy Nelson for young boys featuring bulldozers and other machines – I knew my older son would love them. And what is better yet, they teach them morals: not to lie, telling the truth, etc. And these are great qualities for young boys – who want to grow to be men.
When I’m training my little boys – I want to train them up in the Gospel – for sure (which is where I think these little books lack), but I also want to train them in good morals in ways they can grow to be men. Telling the truth and being honest is definitely something God desires and a trait they should have their entire lives. Another trait I want to teach them is to be gentle and to be good stewards of their toys and possessions. This is something that God told Adam in the Garden – to tend the garden and take care of it.
Do you have young boys – how do you teach your young boys to be young men? To teach them morals?
If you do have little boys who love bulldozers or cranes, etc, and you want to win your own set of these books – then just leave a comment on the blog or on facebook and you will be entered.
Thank you Tommy Nelson for these books (all opinions are my own) and for giving an opportunity to win them!
by Kimberly | Oct 31, 2014 | parenting
I often think that my children teach me much more than I ever teach them. I mean I need to teach them the important things like : how to tie their shoes, how to climb a tree, how to kick a ball, and how to count to three. But, they teach me much more important things like : snuggling, slowing down, and prayer.
Since moving to a new city back in April, our kids have been sick more than they were their whole lives of living in another state. We’ve had teething tablets lodged in windpipes, Roseola, other fever viruses, and teething on top of all of that. That really isn’t bad when you look at what others face, but it makes this momma a bit nervous when her boys won’t sleep because their fever is 104.
This week has been that. Our smaller one came down with a fever virus earlier this week. Thankful that his daddy was off to take him to the doctor while I took the other to Bible study, but still. Makes for much slower days.
Here are some important lessons I’m learning since my boys have been sick:
1. God made their bodies. He made them perfectly and he made them to work. They will tell me when something is wrong – even if it is just being fussy. He is a good Creator.
2. Snuggling is vital to healing. The boys (who are normally running around with cars and balls) love to snuggle when they are sick. That’s usually how we know that they aren’t feeling well.
3. My kids are more important than my schedule. Usually I have to admit it is disappointing when one of them is sick because my schedule has to change. I can’t take them to the gym, the park, or church activities because they can’t be around other kids (or shouldn’t be). That has also shown me some idols in my life when I am disappointed about something not going my way.
4. Technology is great. We’ve been able to look up some information on my phone. I was just given an amazing thermometer which has been a lifesaver this week. If you need a good one – run and get the Braun Touchless Thermometer. Thanks Influenster and Braun for mine. I saw it used in my doctor’s office back over the summer. But, it definitely is a game changer in the middle of the night and you can’t see anything and your kid is struggling to stay still. I love it. Very accurate and the kids love it too. The light sorta makes it seem like they are playing a game! And I don’t have to hold their head still or get a thermometer under their arm either. The joys of wrestling boys when they have to have their temperature taken!
If you have sick littles – love on them. Take care of them. Learn from them.
(This post is sponsored by Braun and Influenster. Thanks for the thermometer and all thoughts are my own.)
by Kimberly | Oct 30, 2014 | mothering, parenting, Shepherding Children
The only show that my toddlers watch 5-7 days out of the week is Daniel Tiger. We only have Netflix so I can just put one on in the morning as I’m cleaning up from breakfast before we go out to do any errands or go to Bible study. Both of my little boys love it.
I do believe my older son’s first sentence was (in his own language) “Daniel Tiger rides a school bus”. School bus is his term for anything that moves that’s big. And my younger son does The Twist when the theme music begins.
I love that the show is based on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, which I loved as a child. Teaches good things to kids and helps them learn social behavior that is acceptable. My mister even was telling me the other night that he was able to put a Daniel Tiger song into practice during a conversation with some co-workers.
And I write this blog post from a stand point of a Mom who is in the throws of trying to get my two year old to behave. I’m trying to teach him about authority and what is right and wrong. When not to run away, why shoving his brother is wrong, how to share toys, why we don’t spit out food onto the table, why we don’t pitch fits when we leave time with Daddy at his store, why we don’t scream in the car long enough to make his brother cry.
Daniel Tiger is great at teaching what to do and how to be nice while doing it – playing nicely with others. Obeying your parents, giving hugs, etc. But, if that is all we teach our children as Christian parents, than we are missing the (gospel) boat entirely.
When my son disobeys, like he is right now because I’ve asked him to be quiet and play in his room or take a nap and he is singing and talking at the top of his lungs, I have trouble because I go to him and I say “I love you, E, BUT I really want you to obey Mommy.” When I should be saying “I love you E AND I really want you to obey Mommy. Here are some truths I’m learning about this way of parenting:
1. My love for my sons should not be conditional upon their obedience. I remember asking my Mom one time decades ago what she would do if I or my brother killed someone. She said I’d still love you, pray for you, and I’d turn you in. Good job, Mom! They should not have to work for my love or my snuggles. The Bible is very clear on this in Romans 5.10
2. Our children should learn how to have good behavior. Not by bribing, not by rewarding, not be yelling – but just because that is what is expected of them as one of our children. I don’t want to raise two little Pharisees, I want to raise little boys who see their need for a Savior. My Mister and I have been talking about this, especially now that our older one has gotten to a point where he completely understands what we are saying when we are trying to get him to obey. A sweet friend who is years ahead of me in parenting told me that these early years are for your children to learn that the parents are the authority. If they don’t learn that, they will have a harder time learning God’s authority. And that is where we definitely want to point them. One key Scripture is Ephesians 6:1-4
3. The main point of the Gospel is not so we will be better Christians. The Gospel is not there to tell us how to be good. It is actually the opposite. The Gospel tells us that we can’t be good and we can’t obey. The sin nature living in us makes us want to do our own things. Only turning our lives over to Jesus and relying on the Holy Spirit to shape us and live through us will work. Believing through faith is salvation. That faith is given to us. Out of a heart that has been changed will come right obedience. See Romans 6-8 and Ephesians 2.
4. We have to discipline, love and teach the Bible to our children through the eyes of the Gospel. We can’t teach them Bible stories that will lead them to share better, be kind more, or obey. We need to teach discipline, love, and teach them so they see Jesus in EVERYTHING. We must be the ones who share the Gospel with our children.
After all, that is our biggest job as Christian parents. Show the Gospel to our children. And pray the Holy Spirit will turn their little hearts.
by Kimberly | Oct 29, 2014 | Books, mothering, parenting, Uncategorized
I’ve already reviewed this book for Crossway and I stand behind everything I say. But, in this post I want to encourage (mostly Moms) yall from some of the highlights that I read. I’m grateful for Gloria’s writing, examples, and Christ-centered encouragement to other moms in the world. Many things I could relate to – and no matter what stage of mothering you are in, I’m sure you can to.
“It’s tempting to view everyday life merely as a monotonous cycle of making the beds on to be in them again.” (63)
Don’t let life be mundane to you. I know we have to clean and cook dinner and change diapers and run car pool. But, don’t be ok with that. That is when life gets boring and we get discouraged. Make fun things happen, change your attitude – don’t live there.
“Controlling my circumstances wouldn’t fill the void in my soul. You can’t organize your way into communion with God.” (78)
I see this in myself a lot today. My littler toddler is sick. I can’t take them anywhere I normally go because he would be around children and I don’t want him to get others sick. So we are at home. In a small townhome, all day. Well, I can’t control that. Now I can either apply the gospel or live in a bad mood the rest of the day until they go to bed? It is choice!
“God is greater, more powerful, and more mysterious than we could ever dream, and it will take an eternity for him to reveal to us his magnificence.” (92)
God is our reward – not the perfection of heaven. He is infinite and no matter how much we seek to know him on this side of his presence – we will never know him fully – because He is inexhaustible.
“Our craving for admiration is diluted and the praise of others is muffled as we serve with the strength God supplies. Why would we take credit for the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives?” (105)
This is an area of biggest struggle for me. God is the one who does the work and needs to get all the praise for it.
“I need God’s grace and something baked with peanut butter and chocolate.” (138)
Perhaps my favorite line in the book!
“I forget that homemaking is not primarily about my personality; it is primarily to adorn the gospel because the grace of God has appeared.” (155)
Another one of those needed statements that I will need to think through.
This book is highly marked up and I’m shipping it out today to a friend who will also love this book. There are many other things I highlighted that I’ve talked about with friends or my husband because they bring up too much hurt from past relationships.
Mom – keep pursuing the gospel in your parenting! God has got this! Be encouraged!
by Kimberly | Oct 23, 2014 | Books, Kids r Readers 2, mothering, parenting, Shepherding Children
Being a parent is amazing and hard and always full of new moments. But, this moment we are in right now is something I’ve waited for. “Mommy” then I get a little pat on my leg and I see my older toddler standing there in front of me with a book in his tiny hands. Begging for me to read to him. So, I do. Over and over again.
There is a certain train book from Usborne books (gift from Oma) that he has carried everywhere – coffee shops, hikes, car trips, gym kid’s club – and Daddy has even had to tape it up. It came with a little train – sometimes we can find it sometimes we can’t. But, no matter – he has other cars that will work on its tracks – or at least work for him.
One of the things I want to instill most in my kids (besides a love for God) is a love of reading. I love to read and I know how books take you to other places, teach you so much more than you could ever learn, and also put a desire in you to see the world around you. C S Lewis and L. M. Montgomery are two of those authors for me. I have a feeling the boys will love L. A. Wilder, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Andrew Peterson. We shall see. Can’t wait to actually read chapter books with them at night. But, that is a moment in time later to come.
How can you instill a love of reading in children?
1. Use the library. We go to the library some for story time. My boys are harder to sit still than some others but we still attempt it and its good song and play time too. The public libraries, especially in bigger cities, are great resources (and free)!
2. Buy them books. Buy them at thrift stores, online book clubs, ask for them for presents.
3. Read to them. Use some time before bed, or after breakfast to read to them. It teaches them to pay attention and sit still but also helps stir up an amazing appetite to read.
4. Be patient with them as they learn to read. My boys aren’t to that stage yet, but I have to be willing as their Mommy to be patient, let them stumble over words, help them when I need to, and listen to them.
5. Encourage them to write their own stories. This time will come too. I still have the first book I wrote in 4th grade – all about animals. I can’t wait to show it to our boys. I hope they will love it and not laugh!
6. Read different genres. As a gospel Christian, I do like to read boys about Jesus to them. But…I love to read them other books about the world God created and things that happen in it and teach them about a Christian worldview – seeing everything through the lens of the Gospel. That is so important to teach to our children early in their learning adventure.
My friend Leah is an Usborne consultant. They have delightful and interactive books for children of all reading levels. Here is a link to an online party I am hosting for her. I have been pleased with the Train book so far – and so has our toddler. I’m sure you will find some your children like as well.
What are your favorite books to read to your children?
by Kimberly | Oct 20, 2014 | Books, mothering, parenting
Sometimes it may take me a while to get to a book, but God knows why he had me pick it up at that moment. I’ve had this book for a while, and just really picked it up in earnest this weekend. As you can see by this review – I’m done with it and it has many underlines and !!! sections!
Kimm Crandall is a mommy of four – and a funny one at that – and one who knows her weaknesses and is steeped in the Gospel. And even though she has written a helpful and gracious book, she would probably tell you herself that she needs to practice and rehearse the gospel every day (even after she wrote the chapter on rehearsing the gospel).
I liked this book because she shared stories I could relate to – even though her kids are definitely older than mine. She pointed me not to my mistakes and where I fail every day as a Mom, but instead she pointed me to Jesus – who is perfect in every way and intercedes for me as my Great High Priest.
I liked it because it was short and practical – two things I need as a Mom to two active toddler boys.
I liked it because she encouraged women to be honest with other women – and to use wisdom in sharing – but not to hold on to this idea of perfection that we seem to do so well in many of our churches.
I would recommend this book to any mom but especially ones who are :
1. Like me, in the throws of teaching two boys what it means for mommy and daddy to have authority and how they won’t get everything they want just because they throw a temper tantrum.
2. Like me, who loves their to do lists and hates it when everything isn’t marked off by the end of the day.
3. Like me, who knows the Gospel but still needs help in accepting it every day and also passing along that acceptance to their husbands and children. Oh, ladies – how I struggle with that. Teaching my boys to obey and listen and accept authority – and doing it with the love of Christ in my actions, words, and tone of voice.
Here are some of my favorites from the book:
“God’s faithfulness is not measured by tangible blessings. It’s measured by his character and his promises to us.” (22)
“God’s grace leaves us with nothing of ourselves but all of Jesus.” (32)
“Grace is a mystery so disturbing I can’t bring myself to look away.” (44)
“When you know you are being pursued by a merciful admirer, the lure of sins’ crude pleasure loses it’s sparkle.” (51)
“Take off the strong mother mask and embrace your weakness. Stop hiding the very inadequacy God wants to use to display the Gospel.” (61)
“Everything in Scripture points, not to our obligations, but to our Redeemer,” (67)
When you live in light of the Gospel – you are set free from your incessant need for approval.” (93)
Live in light of these truths – grounded in the Word and the Gospel.
(Thanks Kimm for providing me with a copy of this to read. All comments and thoughts are my own.)
