Parenting Tip: Give Your Kids That Fighting Chance!
Don’t make that mistake with your children. We often forget that life is not the same for everyone: our capacities vary, as do our experiences and the lessons we learn. As parents, we have the PRIVILEGE AND HONOR to wade the battle against this world in behalf of our offspring to give them a head start. To take that extra blow that would fell the best of us.
No human was designed to live life alone. Yes, they’ll make mistakes and choose paths other than the ones you point out for them. It frustrates you, I understand. Truth is: they’re most likely following the example you set with your own parents. Consider it poetic payback. Take a breath and remember: they’re WORTH it!!!
Today I say:
Ok world, you want to step on me? That’s fine, I can take it. Just know that when you pick on my kids, they won’t stand alone. Not only do I have their back…you gave me a hammer and taught me how to hit back.
Dedicated to my kids. I love you & dad’s coming home today =)
…now go out there and raise a better generation.
Read MoreDead, Decaying Ewoks.
When you have as many children as I do, you hope that there will be a certain level of drive when it comes to self-sufficiency. A passion to solve problems, because as a large family, we have a greater share than most, even if it’s simply due to the numbers.
Now I’m not saying my children don’t get things done. Quite the opposite, in fact. They are amazing in darn near everything. However, when it comes to unclogging a sink or a bathtub, everyone looks at me. Bugger.
I’m not a plumber. In fact, when fixing things, professional services love a guy like me.
“Are you sure it needs a whole transmission replaced? I just bought the car from the dealership yesterday…” Then I nod like a moron and write the check. Ok, I’m not that bad, but you get the idea. Now plumbing is just,….foul. I don’t think women should have to do plumbing personally. On the other hand, I’ve seen my own wife clean up things from a baby that would make a plumber cry.
Back to the point…
I just cleaned two of our bathrooms while my 17 year old son and 16 year old daughter watched me. This wasn’t replacing a pipe or changing the fixtures, something I could truly understand. It was “the water won’t go down the drain dad”, and since neither my wife nor my seven daughters were willing to shave themselves bald and wear wigs, I had to get down and pull the dead, decaying Ewok from the drain pipe.
To save you some time and trouble, let me give you the modern day 2-step shortcut to unclogging a drain.
- Google “How to unclog a bathtub drain.”
- Do what it says.
…and for the advanced search:
- Place a “,” after the Google entry and add “without tools”, or “makeshift tools”, or “for an idiot”
So have fun. It’s not likely, but thought that was the polite thing to say.
As for me, I’ve gotta find a place to bury this foul smelling Ewok.
God Bless.
Jaime Buckley
Kids: Why Don’t We?
Children are amazing. Children are precious. Children are the gems of life.
I know a great many people and I mix with ever-growing circles in society through my work. During these moments, I get to know the personal side of folks from all over the planet.
The one thing I look for, to see how well we will be able to connect on a personal level, is what they think of children. It’s key.
It will tell you how they think of the world, how determined they are according to being of service or selfishness and it tells me how committed they are to their fellow human beings. These are all critical factors in my line of work, and my beloved children have given me the key.
How do you feel about children?
Are they an inconvenience, or do they make your heart sing, your lungs fill with laughter and you mind twist to follow them through the uncharted waters of their imagination? Do you take advantage of seeing the world again for the very first time and living life from a view free of judgment, cruelty and malice?
Try it sometime, it’s bliss.
Children make everything worthwhile and give my own live extreme value. They are the motivating factor of my existence and the power that allows me to get up one more time…and to reach for the impossible.
I feel sorry for the selfish and ignorant who choose not to have children.
…for those of you who have been denied children, you’re in my prayers.
Read MorePotty Training
Those of us who are parents know that one of the great marks of progress is when our little one can use the toilet like their parents and older siblings. We appreciate is for the savings on diapers, able to take the children to public locations without worry of changing nightmares and more.
Yet there’s always that moment when the practice and the timing go wrong.
Simon as you know, is the Mr. Incredible of our family. He was so excited to start potty training and wanted to be like his big brothers, refusing to wear diapers one morning, because ‘he’s big now’. Well, we learned that his intense concentration when playing can become a huge distraction to the more important body functions we were trying to teach him about.
He was out jumping on the trampoline and chasing the chicken, giggling away when he suddenly froze still. His eyes looked left and right and then dropped to check the front of his pants. It a blue blur, he ran across the yard, dashed down the cement steps and into the house, screaming that he needed to pee.
We all chuckled (for he still feels he has to ask permission from someone before he goes) and he throws open the door to the bathroom. You hear the lid of the toilet thrown back with force, and then a small scream. Simon comes bolting from the bathroom and runs up to Leilani in the kitchen wide-eyed and red faced, screaming ‘Help! You need to unbutton my pants!’
Kneeling down, my daughter tried to get a grip on the front of her 3 year old jumping bean brother. But when she finally got a hold of the button, Simon froze, the expression on his face instantly relaxed.
“Ahhhh.” he whispered….as a puddle formed under his feet.
The kid still gets an A- for effort. We now have a working program to show him how to undo his own button…or we put him in elastic pants (grin).
Read MorePrinciple, Not Personalities.
How do you raise your kids?
Mine would probably say by ball and chain. Well, ok, that is until they get a bit older and get some experience under their belts. Then they see that mom and dad are consistent. We base the rules we live by and move our family by principles and not the personalities or feelings of the moment.
The advantage of principles is that they are the same now as they were with Adam and Eve. They’ll be the same long after I’m gone. Doesn’t matter the circumstances, the threats, the whining, the tantrums or the deception…the principles remain the same.
That means you can count on them. It means the decision in compromising situations has already been made and when all is said and done, you will be a parent known for your solid foundation that your children, believe it or not, will eventually admire and (hopefully) emulate.
Read MoreDad The Monster Killer
If you have little ones, you will most likely have the opportunity to defend them from the great beasts of the imagination.
Its a personal challenge I live for.
Simon is one of the most creative 3 years olds I have ever met. His 10 siblings would agree. He also has an imagination second to none. I’m just waiting to convince Kathi to let me do a string of YouTube videos on the kid, just for laughs.
His biggest challenge: monsters.
Here’s some tips that has proven to be the best solution for my son and his sisters when they feel afraid of the big bad beasts.
- Smile as you talk to them. Kids react to the degree you do. Smile so they know this is fun and they should not worry.
- Tell them they are in charge and they need to warn the creatures that dad now knows they are in the house.
- Tell them monsters are afraid of you, because you hunt them, catch them…and eat them. This is key.
- Have a BBQ and let the kids eat some monster. Chicken works well as the cheek and hindquarters, seasoned steak is great for the arms and legs. Make a big deal about eating the meat with the kids and smile big when you tell them THIS is why monsters fear you.
Trust me on this. We don’t have monster problems at my house anymore. We do, however, have some great BBQ’s.
Read MoreMy Latest Book
