Parenting
We can teach what we know and help reproduce who we are. We believe in a gospel philosophy or worldview. It's got to be fun, full of life, love and freedom otherwise it's probably not God's way. We know that boundaries produce pleasant places of safety for children. We have seen that control produces rebellion, prisoners and slaves.
We are finding out who we are and who our children are. We want to live out that God given idenitity and destiny both individually and as a family. We parent in a way that considers the whole family. Our family motto is 'we share in this family' and we have taught it from birth. We give up our personal desires to be controllers (a work in progress) and things to be done our way. We parent with heart desire to do it God's way.
We are parents who are learning to be parents. We have some understanding of boys because we have 3. We have more experience with younger children. We are growing as they are growing.
We're not aiming for perfect families. We want to see life and living; being loved by God and loving others. We're happy to let God build his life into us and through us rather than build what we think a family should be.
Here are some of the resources that have helped us. They are not perfect (so you'll find something wrong in everything if you look for it) but they produced life in us in some way. They may or may not do that for you.
We are finding out who we are and who our children are. We want to live out that God given idenitity and destiny both individually and as a family. We parent in a way that considers the whole family. Our family motto is 'we share in this family' and we have taught it from birth. We give up our personal desires to be controllers (a work in progress) and things to be done our way. We parent with heart desire to do it God's way.
We are parents who are learning to be parents. We have some understanding of boys because we have 3. We have more experience with younger children. We are growing as they are growing.
We're not aiming for perfect families. We want to see life and living; being loved by God and loving others. We're happy to let God build his life into us and through us rather than build what we think a family should be.
Here are some of the resources that have helped us. They are not perfect (so you'll find something wrong in everything if you look for it) but they produced life in us in some way. They may or may not do that for you.
Contending for the heart - Jim Ertel
A fantastic read of short stories written over different age groups. Easy to read and quick. Our big learning curve on this one was that you can smack your child's bottom as it cures the foolishness of the heart. Once it's given, it's all over. Much like the cross of Jesus was not punishment for our sin, but the cure of sin. He fixed the problem. When appropriate a smack to the bottom fixes the issue of the heart. It's not a fear based method of punishment to align behaviour. We've used this with our boys and it's brought tremendous freedom to them knowing that their hearts have been cured and they don't have to try and change themselves! He removes the psychological construct of a teenager, showing you how we are either child or adult. We'll let you know how we go when we get there, but feel free send us feedback if you are already there.
Purchase on Jim's website: http://heartofthefamily.org/
Purchase on Amazon kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Contending-for-the-Heart-ebook/dp/B003NX7MYS
A fantastic read of short stories written over different age groups. Easy to read and quick. Our big learning curve on this one was that you can smack your child's bottom as it cures the foolishness of the heart. Once it's given, it's all over. Much like the cross of Jesus was not punishment for our sin, but the cure of sin. He fixed the problem. When appropriate a smack to the bottom fixes the issue of the heart. It's not a fear based method of punishment to align behaviour. We've used this with our boys and it's brought tremendous freedom to them knowing that their hearts have been cured and they don't have to try and change themselves! He removes the psychological construct of a teenager, showing you how we are either child or adult. We'll let you know how we go when we get there, but feel free send us feedback if you are already there.
Purchase on Jim's website: http://heartofthefamily.org/
Purchase on Amazon kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Contending-for-the-Heart-ebook/dp/B003NX7MYS
Raising Your Children in Grace (MP3) - John and Beverley Sheasby
John and Bev know who their Daddy is ... and He is a good Dad. I don't think there was anything specific that spoke to us. Maybe that there really is no formula for parenting and you need to listen to the Holy Spirit. We've got a relationship with God and we need to go to Him for help. Easy listening and the Sheasby's revelation of Abba Father seems to come by impartation even if we couldn't put our finger on specifics.
http://www.liberatedliving.com/raising.html
John and Bev know who their Daddy is ... and He is a good Dad. I don't think there was anything specific that spoke to us. Maybe that there really is no formula for parenting and you need to listen to the Holy Spirit. We've got a relationship with God and we need to go to Him for help. Easy listening and the Sheasby's revelation of Abba Father seems to come by impartation even if we couldn't put our finger on specifics.
http://www.liberatedliving.com/raising.html
Shepherding your Child's Heart - Ted Tripp
We've not managed to read the whole book. We seem to get 'stuck' in the first few chapters and camp there. The 2 big things we have picked up so far is 1: We are not parenting our kids to make our lives easier or obtain perfect behaviour, we are parenting because we helping them be who God has made them; 2: Our jobs as parents are not to improve behaviour or make sure our kids get 'saved'. Our jobs are to help them keep their hearts open to the gospel and let God do the work.
Purchase on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shepherding-Childs-Heart-Tedd-Tripp/dp/0966378601
We've not managed to read the whole book. We seem to get 'stuck' in the first few chapters and camp there. The 2 big things we have picked up so far is 1: We are not parenting our kids to make our lives easier or obtain perfect behaviour, we are parenting because we helping them be who God has made them; 2: Our jobs as parents are not to improve behaviour or make sure our kids get 'saved'. Our jobs are to help them keep their hearts open to the gospel and let God do the work.
Purchase on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shepherding-Childs-Heart-Tedd-Tripp/dp/0966378601
Loving your kids on purpose - Danny Silk
There is a series of books, cd's, dvd's etc ... we've read parts of the book and listened to some cd's. It's inspirational stuff listening to the stories of transformed lives. We've not completed all the material so we're still working with this but again we are challenged to think about why we do what we do - for ourselves or for the benefits of our kids?
You can buy Danny's stuff at http://lovingonpurpose.com/parenting/
There is a series of books, cd's, dvd's etc ... we've read parts of the book and listened to some cd's. It's inspirational stuff listening to the stories of transformed lives. We've not completed all the material so we're still working with this but again we are challenged to think about why we do what we do - for ourselves or for the benefits of our kids?
You can buy Danny's stuff at http://lovingonpurpose.com/parenting/
Love and logic - Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline
Statement of the year 'I love you too much to argue' - now was that for me or from me to the kids? Lots of material here for parent's and teachers. We're still working through the material and it will be awhile before we can comment.
Steve's sister, Tracy Creasey at Pioneer Academy is using it and loving it .
Everything you need can be found at http://www.loveandlogic.com/
Statement of the year 'I love you too much to argue' - now was that for me or from me to the kids? Lots of material here for parent's and teachers. We're still working through the material and it will be awhile before we can comment.
Steve's sister, Tracy Creasey at Pioneer Academy is using it and loving it .
Everything you need can be found at http://www.loveandlogic.com/