Here's one for my archives--dedicated to new parents or teachers
Discipline can be compared to the way you style your hair. Are you "in-control" or do you just want it to be manageable? Neither seems right or wrong until you have "a bad hair" day. A person who controls their hair with curlers, spritz, foam, hair dryer, hair straighteners and mousse can really be thrown when this side refuses to lie down. Think now of the manager who brushes their hair, only to find one side with a wave-so that is the hair's choice today--something to be dealt with-the manager then tries all the optionsl--the barett, the raid, the hairband, the panytail, etc.and finds the plan that will work for today--sometime by the way-both resort to the hat! But in the long run, or the short run, consider which one maintains their sanity over the small issues-the controller or the manager?
So the next time you have a "bad hair day" with the kids, consider how much "mousse" you "usse"! Do you manage the situation and try all the options or do you try to control the situation?
Taking management a bit further is the training aspect. Remember, the days of wearing wings in your hair and when you first got them cut you had to "train" them to go back, otherwise they hung straight down by your face! It's the same with kids in a new situation, they need good training in the beginning, but once they know what to do--just like the bangs or the wings=--they will (on most days) fall right into place on manageable days! But keep that bag of baretttes and hair bands ready...
Showing posts with label discipline. Show all posts
Showing posts with label discipline. Show all posts
The 3 Gifts
Gifts are often clues to others' personalities and how they match your personality. I loved the gifts I got for my birthday last year from my kids. They not only were little windows into them, but helped me to see how they view me in their lives.
My first gift was an antique doorknob chime. It spoke of valuing the old while creating something new and recreating something to make it valuable again. From my child that finds value in everything and can make something beautiful from anything!
My next gift was some mocha mix. It said be decadent, enjoy life! From my child who lives most days that way. It's only worth doing if it brings you joy.
My last gift was bangle bracelets! Beautiful and noisy--just like my last child!!
But each gift made me realize the quality that each of the children liked best in me. First, how I value each of them and all that they try to be. Second, how I try to help them understand true joy in all situations. And third, how beauty and life should be expressed in praise by making a joyful noise!! I guess those qualities are worth celebrating!
My first gift was an antique doorknob chime. It spoke of valuing the old while creating something new and recreating something to make it valuable again. From my child that finds value in everything and can make something beautiful from anything!
My next gift was some mocha mix. It said be decadent, enjoy life! From my child who lives most days that way. It's only worth doing if it brings you joy.
My last gift was bangle bracelets! Beautiful and noisy--just like my last child!!
But each gift made me realize the quality that each of the children liked best in me. First, how I value each of them and all that they try to be. Second, how I try to help them understand true joy in all situations. And third, how beauty and life should be expressed in praise by making a joyful noise!! I guess those qualities are worth celebrating!
Don't Wait
We live in a world of don't wait. We completely ignore the saying of "good things come to those who wait" and what about the verse "Wait upon the Lord." Jingles come to mind---"I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now!"
We live in a world of certificates. For anything and everything we award people with pieces of paper and a chance to walk across the stage to applause. Especially in a child's world. Certificates of participation are my favorite. Wow--participating--now that takes alot of effort, doesn't it? It's alot like getting a reward for breathing! Our children don't really have to earn much anymore.
A very smart Sunday School teacher once told me that the only advise or criticism that really matters to people has to come from someone that they respect. An education professor that I had used to make the point that the only comments that were meaningful to students must be specific--not a general "good job," but actually what makes it a good job. And yet, we continue to hand each other pieces of paper that say "You did this." Did what? What made it worthy of appreciation? What made it worthy of notice?
I remember the value of my high school diploma and graduation because it was something I worked for and I waited years to walk across that stage. It documented that hard work. It said that the work was worth noticing. And my first limosine ride, after I got married, something to be valued and cherished and I waited for it. Again, it marked a once-in-a-lifetime event-something worth appreciating and noting. It also set that day apart from any other. Something that is getting harder and harder to do because we have all done everything so there is nothing left to set a memory apart from all the others.
And what about anticipation? The anticipation is part of a good thing. You know, the wait for your birthday. The wait for Christmas morning. Even the planning and packing for vacation is sometimes part of the fun. But what do our youth know of anticipation? of working hard for something, of watching others get things and thinking--I'm going to get that one day if I work hard enough? What do we do to encourage hard work and following dreams? Nothing--and then we wonder why our society is self-centered and materialistic. Well, I guess actions really do speak louder than words.
Even this blog is a bit narcissistic. I'm hoping people will look at it! But more than that I'm hoping my words help you today, to speak up and get creative and let's start giving each other true, constructive, valuable, personal praise to build each other up! And stop killing trees with the certificate game!
We live in a world of certificates. For anything and everything we award people with pieces of paper and a chance to walk across the stage to applause. Especially in a child's world. Certificates of participation are my favorite. Wow--participating--now that takes alot of effort, doesn't it? It's alot like getting a reward for breathing! Our children don't really have to earn much anymore.
A very smart Sunday School teacher once told me that the only advise or criticism that really matters to people has to come from someone that they respect. An education professor that I had used to make the point that the only comments that were meaningful to students must be specific--not a general "good job," but actually what makes it a good job. And yet, we continue to hand each other pieces of paper that say "You did this." Did what? What made it worthy of appreciation? What made it worthy of notice?
I remember the value of my high school diploma and graduation because it was something I worked for and I waited years to walk across that stage. It documented that hard work. It said that the work was worth noticing. And my first limosine ride, after I got married, something to be valued and cherished and I waited for it. Again, it marked a once-in-a-lifetime event-something worth appreciating and noting. It also set that day apart from any other. Something that is getting harder and harder to do because we have all done everything so there is nothing left to set a memory apart from all the others.
And what about anticipation? The anticipation is part of a good thing. You know, the wait for your birthday. The wait for Christmas morning. Even the planning and packing for vacation is sometimes part of the fun. But what do our youth know of anticipation? of working hard for something, of watching others get things and thinking--I'm going to get that one day if I work hard enough? What do we do to encourage hard work and following dreams? Nothing--and then we wonder why our society is self-centered and materialistic. Well, I guess actions really do speak louder than words.
Even this blog is a bit narcissistic. I'm hoping people will look at it! But more than that I'm hoping my words help you today, to speak up and get creative and let's start giving each other true, constructive, valuable, personal praise to build each other up! And stop killing trees with the certificate game!
Puzzling
Ever notice how when you do a puzzle, you have to touch every piece? You sort, you turn, you look carefully at size and shape and color, you try one then the other.
It's the same with other problems, too. To really solve it, you must touch everyone involved. You must sort out ideas and opinions. You must look from all sides at the problem and consider how each solution will affect each person. You may even have to try several solutions before it all comes together.
What a wonderful world we can look forward to when God has touched each of us. He will look closely into our lives and turn us in many directions, but in the end the "pieces" will come together!
It's the same with other problems, too. To really solve it, you must touch everyone involved. You must sort out ideas and opinions. You must look from all sides at the problem and consider how each solution will affect each person. You may even have to try several solutions before it all comes together.
What a wonderful world we can look forward to when God has touched each of us. He will look closely into our lives and turn us in many directions, but in the end the "pieces" will come together!
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