A Word of Wisdom from a Grandmother of Eight (Soon Nine!)

by Janis Williamson - 2/18/2014 - Used by permission

(Note from Lois: Janis is a dear friend of mine from childhood, and getting to know her even more in recent years has been very sweet!  Her mother used to be my Sunday school teacher and my mother used to be hers! 

By purposeful thought, we have one TV in our home.  It is upstairs in the bonus room.  My kitchen is quiet, peaceful, with a large farm table as its centerpiece.

My grandson, Ocean has been with me for several days, and during that time the TV has only been in use for two hours.  He has spent the remaining hours, at the farm table building trucks, cars, and airplanes, and reading books to me while I cook his favorite food.  The bonus room is a giant Knight’s Kingdom with medieval battles being fought, surrounded by more books piled high that take us into adventures far greater than the zombie-staring boredoms of an electronically talking box.

Dear Parents, you do NOT have to be so busy!  Control your television.  You can do it.  Do NOT let it control you!  Neither allow it to be the babysitter that will demand far more pay in future consequences than you will ever want to realize.

Your children are little people who have eternal souls to be nurtured for God and heaven.  For heaven’s sake, as Frederick Douglass wisely said so many many years ago, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

You want your kids to grow up and be your friends, right?  You want them to have a heart for God, right?  I do hope so!  Well then, TURN OFF THE TV, and find the joy in the little people, the eternal treasures, gifted to you by God, your precious children.

25 Special Ways to Spend Time with Your Child

by Lisa Jacobson - February 3, 2014 - Club 31 Women (a passion for husband, home and family) - Used by permission
http://club31women.com/

 

He was a young man by then. Seventeen. Nearly grown and gone.

 

And at the time his mountain bike was a big part of his world. He had built it himself, piece by piece, and was anxious to take it over to the bike shop to get the necessary repairs.

 

Realizing this, I had put it on a long list of other errands I needed to run. That week was so busy that my head was spinning, so you can imagine the relief when my husband offered to go into town for me. Yes, please! And, I’ll love you forever.

 

But I saw our son’s face fall. Disappointment clear across his countenance. Not understanding, I reassured him that his dad would drop off the bike too and all would be well.

 

And then this came out of his mouth. Out of his heart. “But Mom, I was really looking forward to spending the time with you.”

 

Oh.

 

He doesn’t simply need a ride to the cycle shop. He’s not merely looking to have his bike repaired. He wants a relationship with me. His mom. Even at seventeen. A relationship that began from a very young age.

 

Surprising.

 

That a son – nearly grown and gone – would want to hang out with his mom. But that’s how our friendship began, by simply spending time together.

 

Now in case you haven’t experienced it yet? The years slip by faster than you think they will. The next thing you know that little boy – or little girl – is all grown up. Just like this. So don’t wait. Spend time together.

 

25 Special Ways to Spend Time With Your Child

 

1.    Fix a cup of tea
2.    Drive up to the lake
3.    Find a fun playground
4.    Play a board game
5.    Go for a drive
6.    Stroll along the river
7.    Share a bowl of popcorn
8.    Work on a craft together
9.    Ski down the mountain
10.  Go out for an ice-cream cone
11.  Watch an old – or new – movie
12.  Head over to the library
13.  Dip into some frozen yogurt
14.  Attend a music concert
15.   Head up for a hike
16.   Sip on a cup of hot chocolate
17.   Cheer together at a sports game
18.   Take a walk in the park
19.   Sneak out for some breakfast
20.   Go window shopping
21.   Plan a special trip somewhere
22.   Put together a picnic
23.   Bake something yummy in the kitchen
24.   Build a project – just the two of you
25.   Curl up in a quiet corner to talk and laugh

 

Take the time now. Before they are truly grown and gone. Because what do your children really want? They want a relationship with you.

 

*This list is a follow-up to the post: 10 Strong Reasons to Set Aside Time With Your Child