Motherhood Archives - Page 6 of 13

3 Cheers for Chores

Getting things done around the house is a dilemma for EVERY parent. It’s especially challenging for those of us who are (ahem)…messy.

From the time my oldest son George could walk and hold a broom, I started having him help around the house. He was DELIGHTED to help me when he was a toddler. However, the DELIGHT soon wore off and he’s no longer excited about holding a broom.

Sometimes, I’ve wondered if it’s really worth giving my kids chores because of the CHALLENGES that come with asking my kids to help.

Challenges with kids doing chores:

It can leave me with a a bigger mess,
It takes more time than if I just did it myself,
It usually involves some whining, crying, and complaining about how HARD life is because of ALL.THE.WORK.

However, when I step back and re-evaluate, I know that the benefits FAR outweigh the challenges.

Benefits for kids doing chores:

Children learn how to contribute to the family,
They learn how to keep things tidy
Their future spouse will THANK YOU,
They learn that they can do HARD things – which builds their self-esteem,
Chores help them mature,
Doing something with their hands releases feel-good chemicals in their brain that protect against depression.
Many studies show that kids who help at home are more confident, compassionate, resilient, and grow up to be more successful!

Chores are one of the best mediums we have for teaching kids about being part of a family, and about belonging, significance, and teamwork.
Lynn Lott

You aren’t just giving your kids CHORES, you are teaching them LIFE SKILLS – things they benefit from the rest of their lives!

How you keep track of chores is up to you. There are chore charts of every size and every price available online … and I’ve tried several of them!

Here’s a simple chore system that’s working for us this summer.

Find one container for every child in your family.
Write your child’s name on the container.
Take several clothes pins and write 1 chore on each one.
Clip the chores your children need to do on their cup
When your child has completed the chore, they can put their pin in the cup.

I didn’t come up with this system, it’s just one I found on Pinterest!

My sister started this simple system, and then sent me this picture of her girls (ages 4 and 7) cleaning their bathroom!

She said, “My girls love this visual and tactile system.” They see what they need to do, then get to put their clips in the cup when they are done!

When my boys ask to do something, I can just look to see if there are clips on their cups, and I say: “As soon as your chores are done, sure!”

Here are some ideas of chores your kids can do:

Do you have a system that’s worked for you? Leave a comment and share it with us.

And to everyone reading – Best wishes for you getting things done in YOUR house!

July 21, 2019 By Kathryn

3 In Motherhood/ My Journey/ Raising boys

The struggle with housekeeping…

Oh how I wish I were tidy.

I love it when my house is clean. I feel more relaxed and enjoy my home more when I see clean surfaces and organized rooms. What I want and what I have (most days) seem opposite.

Housework can make me feel like I’m drowning. If I stop and reflect on all that I need to do to have a spotless home (from a clean fridge to clean closets), I feel overwhelmed.

When I cook, my kitchen is a hurricane. I was mortified the other day when a neighbor walked in and saw the mess. I was too humiliated to even apologize.

I feel guilty hiring someone to help – I shouldn’t need to because I don’t have a ‘job.’ I should have time to keep up with it all. But I’m struggling.

If any of you text and say, ‘I’m coming over in an hour’ … I will spend the next hour cleaning because I want you to think I always keep my house clean. I don’t clean to be hospitable, but for my own darn pride.

I visited a friend in Nashville once and when I walked into her house she said, ‘It’s not always this clean, I just had a housekeeper here.’ Her honesty was refreshing.

Another friend invites me into her home anytime …messes and all. She doesn’t apologize for it or expect me to have my house clean when she comes over.

Then there are the friends who always seem to have SPOTLESS houses. How? I want my house to look like that too!

I realize that I’m in a season of life that is busy and messy. My kids will grow up and (perhaps) I’ll miss the fingerprints, crumbs, and dirty socks.

I’m a person who would MUCH rather play than clean. If there’s a choice between a game or a chore – pass me the cards. If I have to choose between an adventure or dishes – Um, bye!

I can go from one activity to the next without cleaning up first. I think: ‘I will do it tonight.’ But then I’m too tired at night! I’m (slowly) learning to pause between activities and allow time to clean up. I’ve recently found an easy way to implement “chores” so that my boys carry some of the load. Click here to read about it.

I honestly don’t want to publish this post because it’s making my heart race putting this out there. However, I want to be more real and less prideful. I need to invite you into the mess.

I want to clean for the sake of hospitality, and with gratitude for the beautiful home God has blessed me with..not because I want you to think I’m a superwoman.

Feel free to come by un-announced. Walk into the kitchen, scan the fridge and ask to use the upstairs bathroom…it will humble me. Or, ask for a cleaning rag. I’m happy to let you help make my house as clean as I want it to be.

If you are a mom who’s figured out the secret to keeping the house tidy…send me all the tips!

PS – Since writing this post, I have found a housekeeper that comes once a month. She’s way better than the previous one (me).

Click here to read: Three Cheers for Chores

July 19, 2019 By Kathryn

6 In Family/ Memories/ Minnesota/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys

Life through the lens of a 5 year old

It seems like Luke Washington was born 5 minutes ago…but somehow, it’s been five YEARS!

On the night before Luke turned five, he asked if his daddy would be there for his birthday. I reminded Luke that Ted was working in Colorado but couldn’t wait to give him a BIG Hug and Kiss when he got home.

“Dad probably won’t even know me because when I turn five, I’ll be SOOO big!” Luke said enthusiastically. ‘Is it bedtime now? I want to go to sleep so I can be five!’

Luke showing that he is four one final time!

When Luke woke up on the morning of his fifth birthday I asked, “How does it feel to be five?”

“Perfect,” he responded…”PROFESSIONAL.”

Luke and I ran some errands after his brothers left for school. As we passed complete strangers in the store, he asked me why people weren’t wishing him a happy birthday.

“No one knows it’s your birthday unless you tell them,” I answered.

For the rest of the day, he told everyone it was his birthday and was rewarded with endless smiles and birthday greetings.

We joined his brothers at their school for lunch. His brothers and their friends were SO happy to see Luke. Everyone asked for Luke to sit by them and the ENTIRE cafeteria sang Happy Birthday to Luke! He was so embarrassed he climbed under the table. However, he had the BIGGEST smile on his face and loved all the high fives from the ‘big kids!’

After school we invited the neighborhood kids over for cake and games. I honestly wasn’t planning a party for Luke because we had a “family” party last weekend. However, Luke was inviting nearly everyone he knew to come to his house on his birthday for his “party”…apparently he would have a party with or without me…So, I got a cake and the neighbors came!

At bedtime Luke realized that dad was almost home and it triggered his memory of “growing so much dad won’t recognize me.”

“MOM!!! Why haven’t I gotten any bigger today!?”

Luke’s 5th birthday is a little bittersweet. Luke isn’t a baby anymore. I’ll miss those baby snuggles I’ve enjoyed over the last decade! I’ll also miss the hilarious thoughts and questions that come out of the mouths of our little ones.

However, I’m looking forward to the adventures we will take now that he’s a little bit bigger. I also love that I have four boys who put on their own shoes, buckle themselves in the car, and SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT!

May 17, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Faith/ Family/ Inspiration/ Joy/ Memories/ Motherhood/ Traveling

Leaving Hawaii, Keeping Aloha

Today I have a guest post by my sister Krista!

Krista is a loving mom to four beautiful kids, a wife to her childhood sweetheart, and an Interior Designer in Indiana.

Since arriving home after our family vacation in Hawaii, I’d been feeling a sense of longing for something I can’t put my finger on. I am sure the gray weather hasn’t helped, but it’s something more. While away, I had many awakening moments, and felt so much joy and peace. Even simple things like driving a Jeep with the rag top off, my hair blowing in the wind, the sun warming my skin and the tunes lifting my soul, felt almost supernatural; especially with the backdrop of the Hawaiian scenery unfolding before me with each twist and turn of the road! I had a few ‘once in a lifetime’ adventures like hiking 8 miles along one of the most majestic and rigorous coasts in the world, to a breathtakingly beautiful waterfall; it seriously did take my breath away for a moment. Another incredible moment was when my daughter Kate’s prayer was answered. Since the moment Kate heard we’d be visiting Hawaii, she’d been praying each night for God to let her meet one of her role models: Bethany Hamilton. God answered her prayer when we happened to be in the SAME place at the SAME time as Bethany!

Kate is SO happy to be meeting Bethany Hamilton!

The green church we visited on Easter Sunday

I can remember sitting in a quaint green church on Easter morning trying to hold back tears. I was feeling a sense of awakening to how I was made, how God made me, as well as what makes me feel alive and engaged with who I am and the life around me. It also was an awakening to some ways I’m conforming that aren’t really true to how I am made – conforming to my environment and people for one reason or another.

Back at home, I was cleaning up breakfast, doing laundry, and picking up toys (that were just picked up). I felt a since of sadness and frustration wash over me. I thought, “Is this all I’m ever going to do?” I turned to Nate sighing. He asked what was wrong and what was fluttering through my mind. I told him how I wanted to feel the way I did in Hawaii. In Hawaii, the mundane chores were enjoyable. I wanted to go back to the way we were in Hawaii-completely natural-with no make up and no hair brush. I loved how I could let the ocean water and air style my hair, and it was beautiful. We could walk barefoot almost everywhere, even shopping! I felt a sense of belonging and at home in a place I’d never been.

Nate reminded me of what the Hawaiian pastor taught one Sunday in a Hawaii…

Pastor Steve, in a small tent with maybe 100 people, taught from a passage in Philippians. This passage talks about praying with joy. He went on to describe how amazing it is when you think about Paul and all he went through. Paul wrote about JOY while in prison! Throughout Paul’s life, he had times where he was in need, and other times when he had plenty, he experienced the best and worst of life. Paul encourages us, as believers in Christ Jesus, to choose contentment and joy in all things, situations and places. Paul tells us to count it “all” joy. Pastor Steve paralleled this all to the deeper meaning of Aloha.

Aloha means ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye,’ but it also mean SO MUCH MORE. Aloha means joy, and more specifically, finding joy in the mundane…maybe even choosing joy in the mundane. It is being in harmony and unity with your REAL self, with God and mankind. It involves being honest, truthful, patient and humble. Aloha (joy in the mundane) isn’t just something to experience in Hawaii, it’s found…WITHIN!! Even though I experienced it in such a deep way on an island in the Pacific, it doesn’t stay there. I can experience “Aloha” wherever I am! Joy is on the inside of me and I will CHOOSE it!

There is a part of me that wants Heaven on earth and life to be easier than what it is, for me and for others. I’m beginning to see that the longing itself is beautiful. We were made to long for more. The longing actually leads us to “Aloha”. It can lead us to unity and harmony with our real self, God and humanity. I am a living example that He does satisfy, amaze, and leave us at peace like nothing else when we seek Him in what He is saying and doing in the mundane. I believe true Aloha only comes from Him and is also a journey with Him.

So I leave you with a heart full of Mahalo. Mahalo simply means “Thank you!” However, the deeper meaning involves thankfulness to God for our past, present and future. I’m hoping it touches a part of your heart and awakens you as it did me!

Krista and her 3 oldest kids – Kate, Mason, and Jack

April 24, 2019 By Kathryn

2 In Faith/ Family/ Inspiration/ Motherhood/ Raising boys

8 habits that lead to a healthy, long life

As a mom, there are two things I want for my kids:

One, that they know and love God.

Two, that they live long, happy, healthy lives.

I was so excited to read an article in Parents magazine about some research that was done on how our kids can live the best, longest life. I’ve captured what I learned here.

8 habits that lead to a healthier, longer life.

Spending quality time with friends and family
Daily Physical activity
Engaging in Nature
Consuming water and vegetables
Getting enough sleep (13 hours for kids ages 3-5, 9 hours for kids 6-12)
Attend church or temple
Having a positive mindset and believing that positive actions today will result in a better future
Volunteering, performing charitable acts and practicing selflessness

Study done by Dr. Rhonda Spencer-Hwang, PhD, associate professor at Loma Linda University

Read my post about Volunteering entitled “17 Reasons to Serve” by clicking here

April 7, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Colorado Springs/ Motherhood/ Raising boys

6 Simple Steps to make a Great First Impression

Recently I was asked to interview a handful of 5th grade students in preparation for an upcoming field trip. The students were going to BizTown where they would have a “job” to do.

Before I asked the first interview question, I was to watch for and answer this question:

“Did the student come in and shake your hand, make eye contact and state their name?”

Honestly, most 5th graders came in and looked down, nervously. They didn’t know how to introduce themselves.

However, I watched as George came in, reached out his hand, gave a firm hand shake, made eye contact, and stated his full name with a smile on his face.

This simple action made my heart swell – I was so proud of him and I know he made a great first impression!

However, I can’t take the credit for teaching him how to do this. My husband, Ted, started teaching our boys how to introduce themselves from the time they started talking. George also learned and practiced simple manners, like introducing himself, in Cotillion.

Ted or I will often remind our boys how to meet new people before we enter a building where they may encounter strangers or new friends. The morning before his “interview,” I practiced with George and reminded him how to introduce himself.

Parents, it’s really easy to teach our kids how to make a GREAT first impression. This is NOT something that our children inherently know how to do, but we get to teach them how to do it! This simple lesson will be a GIFT to them!

A proper introduction is a tool they will use, and benefit from, their entire lives!

A fun book to read with your kids about manners:

March 29, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Faith/ Inspiration/ Motherhood

God-propelled vs. Self-propelled

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Marianne Williamson

Every day…every moment of every day…we get to choose to be SELF-propelled or GOD-propelled. We can live solely on our own energy, patience and wisdom…or tap into God’s LIMITLESS energy, patience and wisdom.

As Christ-followers, we get access to the unlimited power of God!

Self- propelled

Self-propelled looks like:

Limited focus, energy, and strength.
Short-tempered and impatient.
Harsh words.
Frantic or angry.

God-propelled

God-propelled looks like what the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit. It means going about our day with LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self –control.

We can’t control what happens throughout the day:

Our kids will keep us up at night,
The baby will have a blow out at a totally inconvenient time and place,
Our kids will fight or they will break something…

We can’t control what happens, but we can control our response to what happens!

Tapping into the power source allows us to keep our joy in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Each day, each hour, each minute is an opportunity to chose either “Self-propelled” or “God-propelled.”

How do you stay God-propelled?

For ME, it means that I’m talking to my Father God throughout the day.

I usually start the day with a prayer before I get out of bed.

The prayer can be as simple as “HELP!”

I love this verse:

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5

I ask for wisdom THROUGHOUT the day. Why not? Scripture encourages us to do that!!!

Also, this is my favorite book regarding prayer:

Each chapter contains a different topic and a prayer. It also includes Scripture verses regarding that topic.

Staying tapped in to God, or living “God-propelled” means that:

If I’m tired, I ask God for strength.
If I’m feeling angry, I ask for help and/or patience.
If I need to have a tough conversation, I ask God for wisdom.
It means I’m praying for people as they come up in my mind.
It means stopping to pray with my kids when they have a concern or when they get hurt.
It means pointing out where I see God throughout the day. Do you notice a beautiful flower, bird, sunset? An answered prayer? Talk about it!
It means asking my kids, husband, or someone else to forgive me when I mess up.
It means keeping a heart of thankfulness. “Thank you for food to feed my children.” “Thank you for a washing machine.” “Thank you for eyes to see my child play and ears to hear their laughter.”
It means open communication with God throughout the day.
It means taking time to read my Bible, to then think about it, and memorize specific verses.

Do I do ALL of this everyday? No!

Am I self-propelled at times! YES!

I, too, have to choose every day, each hour, and minute-by-minute, to be God-propelled and not self-propelled!

I encourage you to try ONE thing from the “God-propelled” list above and do it today.

Each day brings a new opportunity to give Him thanks and invite Him to empower us.

There’s a popular verse in the Bible that says:

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

I love this verse and say it often when I’m feeling weary…but I also want to point out that it doesn’t say that we are to do ALL THE THINGS ….sometimes we try to do too much and we are left feeling exhausted.

Seek God before you add another thing to your ‘to do’ list.

Being a parent is challenging. Marriage can be challenging. However, we DON’t have to do it in our own strength. Rely on God to make you the wife and parent He wants you to be…Give HIM your weaknesses and burdens and let Him carry those for you and then go about your day in peace and joy!

When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you. So I am very happy to brag about my weakness. Then Christ’s power can live in me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

If you have prayer requests … leave me a comment. I want to pray for you.

Let me leave you with this:

May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and PEACE as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the POWER of the Holy Spirit!
Romans 15:13

Important Note: I am NOT a parenting/marriage expert. I am a guinea pig and mess up every single day (you can ask my husband). I’m on this journey right along with you. When I write about something, it’s NOT because I’ve mastered the topic but because this is what I’m learning. Thanks for joining me in the journey. Leave a comment and let me learn from you too!

March 22, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Family/ Motherhood/ Raising boys

Peace Begins with a Smile

Mom, why are you mad? Luke asked from across the room.

“I’m not mad,” I responded.

“But you have a mad face.”

I paused and realized whatever I was thinking about must be causing me to have a “mad” face, so I turned to Luke and gave him a BIG Smile.

“Now that’s my Boy,” he responds, “Wait…no…”

“Now that’s my GIRL! … Wait….um…

“Now there’s my mom!” he finally says.

Our kids are always watching us. They read our faces. They feel what we feel.

Are you feeling overwhelmed and angry? They can sense that. Are you mad, disappointed…They can see it and feel it.

I’m reading a woman’s devotional and each week there’s a section called “Mom Tips.” This week’s tip was to SMILE MORE! In fact, it recommended writing a reminder note to SMILE!

So that is exactly what I did.

I put a reminder note by the kitchen sink and another as a “bookmark” in the book I’m reading.

Smiling at our kids fills them with confidence and peace and is a simple way to show our love for them.
Smiling also calms us. Try smiling when you are upset…you can’t stay mad when you’re smiling!
Free beauty tip: Smiling makes us prettier!!
Free health tip: Smiling keeps you healthier! Research shows that joy lowers stress and increases immunity and even lengthens your life! Smiling leads to JOY! Thus, smiling leads to health!

Stop right now and smile at whoever is close by.

When I posted this suggestion on Facbeook, my mom added this:

A smile is a very powerful thing. It can help brighten someone’s day, show someone how much you care for them, or even change your entire mood. Smiling is also good for the soul, and it helps put your mind completely at ease.
Smiles make everyone else smile. Even the grandkids like it when I have a smile on my face! I know my hubby does! 😀😊😍
Rebecca Bornman

“A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.” Proverbs 15:13 MSG

Here are 15 BENEFITS of a Simple SMILE!

March 18, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Book Review/ Family/ Memories/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys

Peek into our winter week(s)

Mom’s Morning Out

I had just started writing for the Colorado Springs Mom Blog when I found out we were moving to Minnesota. I subscribed to the Twin Cities moms blog right away because I knew it would be a helpful resource and a good way to connect with other moms. It’s been all of that! Last weekend I gathered with other moms from around the Twin Cities to create something original at a place called Projects in Person. If you are a mom who is looking for a helpful resource and connection with other moms, click here to find out if there’s a City Moms Blog Network in your area.

Daddy Day at Preschool!

Luke woke up saying “TODAY IS DADDY DAY,” with a big smile on his face. Ted comes downstairs a few minutes later and says, “Today is Daddy Day!” Luke smiles and says, “I JUST said that!” And they both laughed.

Luke really pays attention, because when describing his dad, he was pretty accurate…

He knows his dad works on the computer (that’s what he SEES him do…though that’s only a small part of Ted’s job), he likes to eat Salad (YEP!), and he knows Ted loves him SO much!

But he must also think Ted has a really big nose….:)

Clark breaks his thumb

During our super cold spell in February, we were cooped up inside for four straight days. We were all going a little stir crazy. On the fourth day, Clark was doing a fancy jump trick off the couch and landed on his thumb. At first I just thought he’d just bruised or jammed it, but the next day it it was getting worse, so I took him to the doctor. He had a broken thumb and had to wear a cast for 3 weeks.

Draw your favorite book

It was Read Across America last week at school, and the boys had to do a drawing of their favorite book. Clark and Paul chose our book, and I think they did a great job re-creating the cover of Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore! Paul also mentioned to his teacher that his dad’s book is also one of his favorites. Paul hasn’t read it, and could not remember the title, but he did a good job remembering what it looked like!

Clark’s Drawing of Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore

Paul’s drawing of my book and Ted’s book

My Goodwill find

I’d been watching for a good deal on hiking shoes the entire time we lived in Colorado. I finally found a GREAT deal. Goodwill had a pair of Merrel hiking shoes that were practically brand new and only cost $2.50! The same ones are currently selling for $99!

What I’m loving right now:

Playing games with my boys…

This super fun snow ball maker...

A great book….

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines – This book was absolutely delightful! Chip and Jo share stories about their lives growing up, how they met, and the hilarious story about how their show Fixer Upper almost didn’t happen. If you need an easy, entertaining, funny, and fun-to-read book, this is the one!

March 11, 2019 By Kathryn

9 In Family/ Inspiration/ Motherhood/ Parent Tip/ Raising boys

Helping Kids Through Bullying: What Parents Can Do

Not long ago, one of my sons started getting bullied on the bus. It wasn’t just teasing, he was being threatened. This other boy told my son that he should be dead, that no one liked him. Words like that cut deep, and no parent ever wants their child to hear them. When our son finally told us, my husband and I were heartbroken.

We didn’t know the boy, but we got his name and reached out to the principal, and we encouraged our son to talk with the bus driver as well. Soon after, while volunteering at school, I was assigned to interview students for an upcoming BizTown field trip. I looked at my list of names and froze – the first child I was scheduled to interview was the very boy who had been bullying my son.

I could not wait to see this kid.

As he struts in to the conference room, the first thing I notice is that he’s probably the biggest, toughest looking kid in school.

I reach out my hand and introduce myself. He hears my name and realizes that I’m the mom of the kid he’s been teasing. He gives me a soft hand shake, keeps his eyes down, and responds with a quiet, “Nice to meet you.”

Mama Bear thoughts roll through my head like: I should make this interview really tough. I should ask him why he thinks it’s okay to bully smaller kids.

But something in me shifted. I knew that hurt people often hurt people, and I wanted to understand why.

As we talked, the tough exterior cracked.

I see on his “application” that he wants to work for a specific company and I ask him why. He lets me know its because his mom works for that company.

“What does your mom do there?” I ask.

“Well, I’m not really sure because she has a new job. Her boss was mean to her at her old job.”

“That’s hard,” I respond empathetically. “Have you ever had someone be mean to you?”

“Yeah….” he says slowly and stops for a moment.

Tears fill his eyes as he says: “Kids say things that hit me where it hurts.”

And then tears start rolling down his cheeks.

Here is the biggest, toughest kid in school crying.

My heart immediately breaks for him. I find some tissues and tell him that I’m sorry that is happening to him. I ask if he has anyone to talk to about this.

“Yeah,” he replies, “my dad died a year ago so I have a counselor and we talk about stuff.”

‘Wait … Your DAD died?!’ I think to myself… Oh my goodness! This young kid has been through so much.

Again, I tell him that I’m so sorry. During our ‘interview’ I find out that:

He doesn’t have any brothers or sisters.
He’s a ‘latch-key’ kid. He gets off the bus and goes home and hangs out by himself until his mom gets home from work.
He just got a cell phone and loves talking to people on the phone.

“Well,” I replied, “if you wanted to share your number with my son, we could keep in touch with you. You are welcome to come our home and hang out with our family.”

His face lights up with a smile, “I’d like that!”

We end the interview and he leaves smiling.

When my son got home that afternoon he says, “The weirdest thing happened on the bus today. You remember that kid who was always mean to me? Today he asked if we could sit together and he gave me his number.”

“Wow, that’s awesome!” I respond…. “Let’s call and invite him over.”

What started with bullying, has led to a friendship. Ted and the boys play basketball and football with him. We’ve gotten to watch him grow and heal.

I would not have gotten to know this kid if he hadn’t been a bully to my son.

Our pain revealed another person’s pain.

One conversation changed the trajectory of the relationship.

If you have a child who’s being bullied, don’t hesitate to let someone know. First, commend your child for telling you, then get a teacher, bus driver and/or principal involved. And if possible, try to get to know the BULLY, there’s probably something missing in his (or her) life and perhaps YOU can help!

If your child is being bullied, here are a few things that can help:

Commend them for speaking up. It takes courage for a child to admit they’re being hurt.
Get others involved. Teachers, bus drivers, and principals need to know what’s happening.
Remind your child of their value. Tell them often that they are loved by you, by your family, and most importantly, by God. Their worth is not defined by cruel words but by the truth that they are wonderfully made.
Pray together. Prayer can bring comfort, healing, and strength for both you and your child.

–

Sometimes, behind a bully is a hurting child who needs compassion as much as correction. Our pain can open our eyes to the pain of others. My hope is that you and your child can find hope, healing, and maybe even friendship.

Click here to read some ways to read how to deal with a difficult person.

Here are 12 verses to replace fear with faith.

Thanks for reading and please consider subscribing.

March 2, 2019 By Kathryn