Parenting

When all four of the kids were little, Jeff and I would have to set on the calendar... dates, that each of us could have some one- on- one time with each kid. If we didn't schedule it, then somehow someone seemed to get left out, or not enough attention that they needed. We picked a child a week to be V.I.P., they got to pick where they wanted to sit at the table, they got to pick their chore, they got to pick their favorite meal,  it was their week for a Daddy Daughter or Son date and of course if they were old enough ...they got to ride shotgun in the car. Life was so busy that it seemed the more organized we were, the more smoothly our house ran. Not that we were perfect, but every now and then ...we did have things go as planned! ( I was always shocked when it did! )

Now here I am, years later and trying to have the grown kids find time in their busy schedules... to do something with me. Tonight was one of those nights, Jeff got to hang out with Brad and Lee. I on the other hand got to spend the evening with Amy, Krystal and Miss Jenny ( Angie is with her other grandmother). It was a wonderful evening and we really laughed and just enjoyed being together. I am already starting to miss Krystal, they leave next week to head back to school. How glad I am we had this chance to get to know each other better. What a sweet addition she has been to our family.

I heard a speech today about parenting, and how vital it is that we teach our children properly. How we need to expect them to participate in our family chores,activities and life. How we shouldn't give them everything, it was a great reminder for me as a parent. Here is the quotes and comment that was mentioned in it.

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."         ~ Lao Tzu

"We shouldn't be in the business of handing out fish, but we should be in the business of teaching our children how to fish."               ~ David A. Bednar 

"So frequently we mistakenly believe that our children need more things, when in reality their silent pleadings are simply for more of our time." Thomas S. Monson