Day 28 . Intentional Parenting

I am honored to have a guest post today from an inspiring woman after my own heart! 

Babychaser, as she likes to be called, is a homeschooling mommy to 4 blessings (5 and under), wife to 1 wonderful husband, and follower of the Lord Jesus.  She is the keeper of their little home where she cooks from scratch, grinds her own flour, chases babies, and hires out the cleaning (for now), trainer of those precious souls, and dreams with her husband of living on a little farm one day.  She blogs at Chasing Babies... Growing in Grace about all of the above and more.  

I have been incredibly challenged with her series this month on Intentional Parenting and knew a lot of my readers would benefit from her wisdom. Enjoy the post and be sure to visit her at BabyChaser.com!

Intentional Parenting

I was simply honored when Beth asked me to share with you, her readers, about Intentional Parenting.  I've been enjoying her series and getting to know her a little bit through her blog.  

When she invited me to share with you all, she did so with a little light hearted confession:  "Parenting in general is something I was confident in... until our oldest turned two."  I have to admit that when I read it I laughed with her, but I'd read it wrong.  What I thought she said was... "Parenting in general is something I was confident in... until our oldest two."

I thought it was hilarious because, of course, she only has two children.  But really, I was agreeing with her.  Somehow I'd twisted it around in my head and, for myself, came up with something like this:  

"I had this parenting thing all figured out until my last four were born."

So let's get started...  Hi, I'm the mother of four children, 5 and under, and most days I'm still learning what it means to parent them.  As I've spent this last month focusing on Intentional Parenting, I've been reminded that parenting well is hard.   

Parenting intentionally means doing it every day.  Sacrificing my own desires.  Getting up off the couch.  Keeping my cool.  And all of this whether I've had a full night's sleep or not.  

Parenting intentionally means looking to the Word of God to guide me.  Thinking Biblically about my children.  And dying to self.  

So how can we get started?  I'd like to share three things we can do to get started in parenting intentionally!

1.Start each morning giving your children to God! 

They aren't yours anyway, right?  God has entrusted them to us to train up for His glory... for His will.  Whether it is before ever stepping out of bed, in a quiet "devotions" time on the couch, or while sitting with a two year old on the potty and a baby in your arms, talk to Him.  "Lord, these are your children.  Help me to be intentional today in how I train them.  Help every moment to bring You glory.  Amen." 

It can be as easy as that.  And Jesus tells us that whatever we ask in His name, He will do.

2. Unplug!

If you can't do this all day, at least strive for part of the day.  When I turn off my computer and set aside the phone (we don't have a TV or that would be off too), leaving myself in the dark ages, without reach of the outside world, I am able to be completely here... with my children.  This opens the door to being intentional!  It's so much easier if you can at least unplug during "kid hours".  

3. Keep them with you!

This is one of the keys to being intentional in your parenting.  If you aren't with them, you have no way of knowing what they are doing, not to mention no way of controlling what they are doing or to what they are being exposed.   You may choose to keep it as simple as staying together as you go about your days or as extreme as choosing not to use babysitters, keeping them in the church service with you and staying together throughout your days.
   

It seems so simplistic to say that this is all you need, but understand, these are three things to get you started.  This is your jumping off point.  From here you have the ability to train them, talk to them about God and his commands, build relationships and whatever else you want to do... and all intentionally.  

Linking up with the Barn Hop!

This is Day 28 of 31. Click here to see the entire series.

Thank you following along on our journey to simplicity & contentment. Please be sure to learn about our family, like our page on Facebook, and visit the right column to subscribe to our posts :)

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

Philippians 4:12

God bless!

Evelyn's Comedy Hour

In our house, our baby (Will) has slept through the night since birth. Meanwhile, our toddler (Evelyn) could stay up all night watching A Dolphin's Tale over and over and over. 

Yes, she is a night owl. Like me.

We've honestly tried every trick in the book the past few months when it comes to bedtime routines. Lavender baths, letting her choose her pajamas, reading books, songs, laying with her, not laying with her, reading more books, warm milk, movies, no movies, coconut oil massage... among many other things.

Unofficially, we settled on the fact that no matter how long we do her routine, she will still come out of her room for something at least 47 times before she finally goes to bed. This is officially known as, "Evelyn's Comedy Hour" (Sometimes it's only 30 minutes and sometimes it's 2 hours.. but whatever)

To set the scene, Evelyn's bedroom is directly off of our current living room. After the typical established night time routine of bath time, teeth brushing, book reading, prayer, and goodnight kisses. Tommy and I can finally settle in in the living room to "relax" for the rest of the evening.

But after not too long, there is a little voice behind Evelyn's door.

She's plotting.

We'll hear her chatting off and on for 5 minutes or so, occasionally reaching for the door knob to test the waters, then pausing to talk it out for a little bit. Reaching again, then backing away until finally she builds up enough confidence to present her first scenario on why she couldn't possibly go to bed. 

She opens the door, peeks out, and as soon as we acknowledge her she runs into the living room exclaiming, "Poooooooooopy!" 

A pretty good first attempt. I mean, what parents would we be if we ignored our child and put her back to bed in a poopy diaper? 

Grab a diaper and wipes, lay her down, unsnap her current diaper and waaaaaaaait a minute? What's this?

She looks up at us with a puzzled look on her face, "Oh, no! No poopy? Oh no." 

AS IF SHE DIDN'T KNOW. Alright, now that that's settled, it's back to bed.

We get settled back in to our TV shows, 5 minutes or so pass by and we hear that little voice again... 

Here comes the next one.

Door opens, she runs out with confidence yelling, "Miiiiiiiiiilk," in her best I'm-dying-and-will-pass-out-if-I-don't-have-a-drink-before-I-sleep voice. Back to bed with the reminder of the water already with her in bed.

Back to the TV.

Little voice again.

By now she's losing confidence so it takes her a little longer to get the courage to run out with her next scenario. 

Finally... she cracks open the door this time. Slowly walks out. Whimpering. Lifting up her shirt and point at her belly. She walks straight up to Tommy. "Owwie. *Sniff* Owww.."

Cue inappropriate parenting response: We both burst out laughing.

Evelyn laughs and runs over to her recliner and jumps in it as if our laughter was an indicator that we've fallen for her little scheme. 

Back to bed. And it continues

Other scenarios in the past include:

  * Needing her Nemo sticker book

  * Needing to give Will a kiss

  * Needing to say goodnight to grandpa & Uncle "Ricky" (who live upstairs)

  * Needing a snack

  * Needing a new diaper again

Oy. There are definitely nights where it is exhausting spending my two critical laundry/house keeping/relaxing hours getting her to bed but I have to give her credit for trying. It never ceases to amaze me how at only two and a half her little mind works.

And for those nights I do give in and let her stay up with me until 1:00AM watching movies... I've decided I'm just going to keep track of those and subtract them from her curfew when she's a teenager. 

Thank you following along on our journey to simplicity. Please be sure to learn about our family, like our page on Facebook, and visit the right column to subscribe to our posts :)

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

Philippians 4:12

God Bless!