Family Workshop

We spent our Valentine's Day attending a family enrichment workshop. Since the boys were still a bit if-y on their health (B still has a low grade fever), I went on to the workshop alone and left D to hang out with the boys and get the twins to a basketball game. After the game, he dropped them at my dad's. I appreciated the time away, as I've been feeling a bit cooped up with all the sickness and winter blahs.

Our dear friends and group leaders, the T's were here from Phoenix, Arizona to lead the workshop. We have been blessed to sit under these folks for almost three years. Every Thursday evening from 5:30-8, we meet and have lesson time and group sessions. Through the blessing of technology, they come to us live to lead the group. This has been the most intense and effective form of counseling and discipleship that any of us have ever experienced. The weekly accountability keeps us on track and motivates us in our walk with the Lord.

At the end of the workshop, C and T shared some very practical ideas for developing good habits in our homes, especially where it pertains to our children. I added a few of my own to the list.

*Dinner together most nights. Catch up on each other's lives. Consider a "High, Low" discussion, share a "Blessing and a Bummer" from the day and pull out the emotions felt with each one.
*Turn the TV off. Unplug it so it takes more effort to watch it.
*Limit video games.
*Read good books together.
*Have a weekly family game night.
*Stop underestimating what our kids are capable of. Give them responsibilities, being in a family takes teamwork.
*Don't indulge our kids. This one really hit me hard. The T's suggested that after a certain age, kids don't need lavish birthday parties with hordes of gifts. I know some families donate to charity in the child's honor. We may pray about and consider this one. Perhaps an even/odd year system would work too. Even years, make it about the child. Odd years, do a service project. I will continue to ponder this.
*Get kids out of their comfort zones. If they are shy, sign them up for acting or musicals. Take them camping or on local missions trips. DO HARD THINGS FOR GOD.
*Involve them in activities that strengthen their weaknesses.
*Encourage them to achieve new goals once they have conquered old ones.
*Establish house rules...Make beds before leaving the room, eat what you take, pick up after yourself, chore schedules, etc.
*Be on time. It shows respect for others.
*CHOOSE FAMILY OVER FRIENDS. This one is HUGE. As with all these areas, parents must model these behaviors for children to learn them. If we are always flying off to this social event or that hobby, our children will believe that they are not important to us. As we show them that family matters most, they will also begin to value relationships with those who are in their family. In this season of life, I can attest to this being true. My boys enjoy having their friends over, but they are perfectly content to hang out with mom and dad and brothers.