I’ve learned a new skill. I’ve found out this week that I can walk on the treadmill at 3.1 speed with a steep incline and read a book! Wow! Does this make the time fly by! I’m praying I won’t be acting out any of the hilarious stunts on Funniest Home Videos while doing this, but I am really enjoying the reading time.

1. The children shouldn’t dictate what is going to happen in your home. “I don’t want to go to Pizza Hut for supper! I want to eat at McDonald’s” It’s not that they can’t make the choice sometimes, but when Mom and Dad have made a decision, it should stick.
2. Mom and Dad need their own time. Children sleeping with their parents should be a rare occasion. Bedtimes give Mom and Dad an opportunity to talk, spend time together playing a game, or share a snack.
3. Parents need a date night. Don’t let the children’s cries keep you from leaving them occasionally. Let them know you’re going away to make a better home for them.
4. As the mom, recognize your husband’s needs and make sure you’re meeting those before doing extra things with/for your children. Are you always jumping up to do something for them, and don’t spend time just being with him?
5. Be sure you’re spending your recreational times together as a couple and not one parent running here with one child, and the other taking another child there. Be a family.

We all know that children have many needs – especially when they’re little, but the tendency is to keep allowing them to be needy and being the very center of the family’s circle where the parents ought to be. Take a good look at the circle of your family; who’s in the middle and who’s on the peripheral? Does there need to be a change?

I’d love to have a weekly small group study using this book. Anyone from BCBC interested? Let me know, either here in the comment section, contact me by phone or let me know at church. If you’re not nearby and are interested let me know – maybe we could use Friday’s to “discuss” each chapter!

See you in church!

With love,