(To listen to the podcast, see this link.) Sometimes our girls are asked about their plans for the future. Right now they are 17, 22, and 31. They are all unmarried and living at home.
Here is a question along these same lines that we were recently sent via e-mail:
“My husband and I have just finished reading Keeping Our Children’s Hearts. We read it out loud while on a long trip so it provided opportunity for open conversation while reading each chapter. This is quite a new perspective for us, but not one with which we disagree as you have supported each point so well with Scripture.
“However, we have a question about adult children in the home. We have four girls, ages nine to thirteen and have a few years before adulthood, but a question still arises. If they never marry, do they live with us forever? What happens to them when we are gone? This is a question my husband raised. We are not opposed to their living with us, but do they work? So many questions. Did your children ever work outside the home? We would love your thoughts. I am excited to see the Lord work. My husband has been leading our family in Scripture reading for the past few weeks and now we are seeing another opportunity to follow the Lord as we look to shelter, not isolate, our children.” Heather
When we were saved in our twenties, we began reading the Bible and following what we learned there. A whole exciting new way of life was opened up to us that challenged us and caused us to question much of what we had been raised doing and thinking. We both went to college and graduated with bachelor of science degrees. However, when we had children Teri wanted to stay home with our children, and we decided that was what she would do.
As we grew in the Lord and raised our children, we desired the same for our grandchildren—fathers who supported their families and mothers who were home with the children, hopefully homeschooling. We discussed with our children the benefits of that lifestyle and Scripture to support it. “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:4-5). “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8).
We have given our girls learning opportunities just like our boys have had so that they not only have homemaking skills but also have income-producing skills. Sarah has learned business management skills, including Quickbooks, inventory, shipping, taxes, marketing, and more. Not only that, but she also has now authored eight successful children’s books. Anna has bookkeeping skills she learned as she managed the boys’ construction-business books, has her A+ certificate, and much experience in nutrition and exercise. Mary is taking art classes.
Our girls have chosen not to work outside our home, and they have also chosen to live in our home until marriage. They have made those decisions because of the protection and sheltering they have within our home. That doesn’t mean they live secluded lives. They have many interactions with people in our community, church, and across the country as we travel. However, they aren’t going outside our home each day into the workforce. Sarah and Anna are at ages where they could make different choices as to their work and living environment if they so desired, but they prefer it here. Mary will soon be at that age, but she also indicates that she is happiest at home until marriage.
We talked with our girls about the questions that were asked in this e-mail, and we asked them how they would answer those questions. They said that if they don’t marry, they couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. They said they love living here. Yet, if the Lord brings the right man along as a husband, each will be happy for that too. They told us they aren’t concerned about what to do when we are gone because they are already income producing and know they can be self supporting should they need to be.
We like to encourage families to challenge their teens—both young men and young ladies—to be productive during their teen years. When they are teens, they have active minds, they have time, and they are creative. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). They can be learning new skills and then utilizing those skills in income-producing ventures. Through this kind of a family vision, our sons have developed their own businesses, avoided the influence and cost of college, and started their married lives with debt-free homes. Our daughters have purpose in life and activities that fill their days. If the need should arise, they could support themselves.
We have so enjoyed family life with adult children living in our home. Our culture typically says for young people to leave home when they are eighteen, and often the parents are happy to be free of them. We love conversations with our adult children. We like doing things with them. We seek their counsel, and they ask ours. Plainly and simply, we love each other and like to be around each other. Allowing our adult, unmarried children to live in our home provides accountability for them that they have wanted, and it is economical as well. They are our best friends, and we are delighted that they want to live in our home. Our girls are welcome here until marriage, and if they are never married, they can stay until we are gone, and then the house will belong to them.
Last month we began delving into a topic that families question us concerning quite frequently and that is Internet protection for computers and hand-held devices. If you haven’t read that first article, we suggest you do so before moving on to this one. Here is the link. While we want to focus in this article on mobile devices, there is more we would like to cover concerning personal computers.
Our boys have chosen to have their computers set up so that their screens are facing the door by which people enter the room. They felt that gave them even greater accountability. There was the added accountability of how they were spending their time on the computer even if it was an acceptable website since they wanted to be productive with their time not time wasters.
When our children were young, they didn’t have Internet access. When they became teens, they were allowed to use the Internet if an older sibling or parent were sitting beside them. By the time they were fifteen or sixteen, they would generally have their own computers (we have lots of hand-me-downs because of business use of our computers) and have Internet access with web protection.
Our children did not have e-mail until they were older either. We finally gave Mary, our youngest, e-mail when she was fourteen, earlier than the other children had it, simply because so much of our family “organizational” communication had become via e-mail. E-mail and texting is an easy way for us to make sure every family member knows what time we were leaving for an event, what prayer requests have come our way, or when Mom is headed for a Wal-Mart trip. Mary was the only one who wouldn’t know what was going on because she didn’t have e-mail or a phone for texting.
We keep personal e-mail addresses private for family members and close friends. Then we each have a public e-mail address that we use for ordering on the Internet. We now use Gmail, which has eliminated the spam and bad e-mail that kept us from allowing our children to have e-mail during the years when there was no way to stop those awful e-mails.
When our children get a Gmail address, they give Steve their Gmail address and password. Remember accountability is a strong ally of resisting temptation and remaining pure.
Often we are asked what we do about ads that pop up on sites with immodest women. We have installed an ad blocker on our Internet browser. The browser we like to use is Chrome. If you don’t already use this browser, here is a link to it. Chrome has an ad blocker extension as we believe most, if not all, browsers have. The ad blocker has done a great job of eliminating ads and particularly the ones that were objectionable. Here is a link to it.
We use Google Safe Search, so there isn’t as much possibility of accidentally stumbling onto a bad site as there was in earlier years of the Internet.
What about accountability on mobile devices? That is Accountable2You as well. Accountable2You uses something called VPN that we enable on our phones that allows Accountable2You to track phone web browsing activity.
Can we eliminate every bad influence from the Internet on our children’s lives? Perhaps not, but we are trying to do all we can do. The most important protection for our children is to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. As we are in the Word, as we discuss right and wrong, as we look at the pain sin brings, and as we draw our children’s hearts to a deep love for their Savior and obedience to His Word, we give them the best protection of all. However, as Steve shares in our Keeping Our Children’s Hearts workshop, we have all heard of pastors who fall to immorality. These are men versed in the Word, who have been shepherding a flock, and counseling their members. However, they have the flesh, they don’t shelter themselves, they don’t have accountability, and they fail.
Scripture tells us, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I” (Romans 7:15). It also gives us the answer to victory, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:24-25).
We want to educate our children on the lures of sin, the frailty of the flesh, and the power of Jesus Christ. He has given us wisdom and direction through His Word to help us such as, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). For our family that equates to the plan for Internet protection and the sheltering that we have chosen to have in place in our hearts and on our computers and devices.
So far we are very pleased with Accountable2You. The links for Accountable2You are Titus2’s affiliate link. If you sign up, we’ll receive 15% every month you’re in. This blesses our ministry and helps with the cost of running it.
During the family panel discussions that were part of our conferences, we almost always got a question that went like this. “We know your family uses the computer and Internet for business, ministry, and personal things. Plus many of you seem to have smart phones. You mentioned that you have protection on all of them. What do you use, and how can we protect our families?”
That question is important to us, and we would like to share information on this topic with all of you. It has taken us years of research and trial and error to come up with our plan and what we utilize to implement it.
Regularly our time is spent on the computer and the Internet. Our sons’ businesses are all computer related. The Titus2 ministry is mainly conducted via the Internet. Much of our business and personal communication goes on through e-mail. We use texting for quick, easy communication between family members and close friends. It has become imperative to us that we have safeguards on our computers and devices so that none of us unwittingly or purposefully happens upon immoral sites.
We regularly receive e-mails from moms who are devastated by the addiction their husbands have to the immorality that is readily accessible via the Internet. As families share with us their problems concerning losing their children’s hearts, regularly the Internet has been a factor. Usually the privacy of a bedroom, where there is no accountability, is the path the young person treads leading him deeper and deeper into sin.
As we have become more aware of the dangers of the Internet, we have wanted to protect and shelter our children from those dangers as we could. There are several things we have done to help avoid those problems.
Obviously, the most fail-safe way to protect them is not to have the Internet in your home. However, for us, because the Internet is so involved in our livelihood that was not a reasonable option for our family so we sought ways to minimize the negative influences. Just as one uses a chain saw, which is very dangerous but can be powerfully utilized with proper training and safety precautions, we have chosen to do what we could to safeguard the Internet, using it as a tool not a toy in our home.
First, we have had our children share bedrooms—a boys’ bedroom and a girls’ bedroom. With less privacy, there is less opportunity for failure since there is often accountability and even when a child is alone in his bedroom, he never knows when a sibling will enter.
Years ago, we had a family conversation and discussed some of what we were hearing about moral failures among Christian young people. As we discussed this topic with our children, we asked them if they would like accountability in order to help them avoid being in similar situations. Everyone agreed, and as a family, we took some steps toward that accountability. We have an open device and open computer policy. That meant that we (Steve and Teri) had full freedom to get on the children’s computers, see their e-mail, and look at their phones. Since they knew we would do this, it provided them with accountability. In a similar way, we (Steve and Teri) have an open policy with each other concerning our computers, e-mail, and phones. “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:21). Accountability itself goes a long way in reducing temptation and sin. “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).
We use Accountable2You for our computers and device accountability. With Accountable2You, I get a daily report for each device. Steve gets my reports. It is a summary. I can go online for a detailed report. If there is questionable usage, I will get an immediate email. (The Accountable2You is a Titus2 affiliate link and blesses Titus2.)
There is still quite a bit more we would like to tell you concerning protecting our families in this technological world from the evil that would like to prey upon them. We will continue on this topic next month. We pray that each of our heart’s desire is that we would be as Peter encourages us, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). That is only possible through the Lord Jesus Christ. As we raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, may we be willing to invest of our time and finances to shelter them. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16).
Talking about building strong sibling relationships has spanned the course of many articles. Here is the link to the previous ones in this series if you have missed them.
As these articles began, I shared with you things that I remembered from our parenting days with younger children and the positive outcomes we have observed as our children grew to adulthood. Then I asked some of my friends with older children if they would give me their ideas and suggestions. Because they have children with good sibling relationships, what they have to say is proven to be effective. This article includes the final information that I have to give you from my friends.
Let me start with Anne.
Here are some of the ways the Lord has led my husband and I to build sibling relationships:
We always have told the children that they, and all children, are gifts from God and blessings from Him. When I asked the children this evening some of the things their dad and I have done to help their relationships, my oldest daughter said, “You always remind us that each of us is a gift to each other.” I also will encourage the children in front of each other and say, for example, “Isaac, Luke is so blessed to have you as his big brother!”
You mentioned praying for godly sibling relationships. I have spent much time in prayer privately, in church, and in our family devotions, for the siblings to have blessed relationships and be each others’ best friend.
I have also used reenacting. If there is a squabble, I will have the children reenact the entire event, but respond to each other in a godly manner, discussing the godly behavior prior to the reenactment.
After a disagreement, we will discuss what each sibling could have done that would have led to peace. Most of the time each individual could have done something that could have led to peace. I pray much for all of us to do what leads to peace.
When I notice that the children are consistently not being encouraging, I will put out jars with each sibling’s name on them. Each time someone says an encouraging word to another sibling, I put a piece of candy in the jar. We have dessert two times a week, so on dessert day, they get to eat extra sweets for being sweet! The older children still enjoy this :)!
Isaac said, “You always told us that we should look at our siblings as being more important than ourselves.”
I also would encourage the children with the golden rule/Scripture, to do unto others as we would have others do unto us. I have also suggested that they do to others as Jesus would do, or as they would do to Jesus.
I praise God for showing us many ways to build sibling relationships. We always try to do all things together. Also, if one child has an interest, we would all partake in learning about that interest through research, outings, etc.
The older children have taught the younger children singing, piano, voice, and help with home education. When this would happen, I would have the younger child give the older child a gift or treat with a thank you note.
Luke said, “If we didn’t treat our sibling in a godly way, there was a consequence.”
Morgan mentioned that having all of them work together on their business and saving up together to start the business has drawn them closer together.
We talk a lot together about issues, joys, and sorrows.
When one of the children is sick, I allow one of the others to take care of the sick individual.
Here is what Sandi told me.
I have been thinking a lot about sibling relationships since you have been writing about it in the Mom’s Corners. You have done a wonderful job with it. I wish I had something new to share with you about children getting along.
I can honestly say we don’t struggle much with the children fighting. Sure, the little ones will fight over a toy. We have done pretty much the same thing that you did with your children.
Shawn wanted to share a room with the younger boys like Christopher did, and Sabrina wanted to share with Emma. I think sharing a room is SO important. It encourages them not to be selfish. I loved sharing a room with my sister, and we are still close. Every night sounds like a party downstairs when the boys go to bed after Bible time.
The one thing we have always told the kids is that God knew just who their friends should be, and He made them their siblings. I think they get along so well because we do everything together. Mike and I have learned so much about forgiveness from watching how the children handle conflicts. It’s sad to say, but they handle it so much better than we do. Sabrina and Shawn really are best friends, and it is so interesting to watch them work through conflict. They work very closely together at the farm. At times they will have disagreements, but they work it out so quickly and forgive each other. Working together is so important. The farm has really been a blessing for that.
We also do what you guys did and limit time with other friends. I think it is key for siblings to get along. I remember growing up how sad I was when summer was over because my sisters were finally being nice to me. It got so much better with Sabrina when we took her out of ballet.
Finally, my friend Becky, who has been a widow for sixteen years, responded to my question concerning how she and her husband helped their children toward solid sibling relationships.
Stan’s wanting the kids to be on the “same team” applied to many areas in our parenting. For example, if they were playing cowboys, they were not allowed to have some of them be the good guys and some the bad guys. If they wanted imaginary bad guys maybe that was okay, but Stan felt if they teamed up AGAINST each other, that might carry over later in the day. Little ones can get mad easily sometimes at something that comes up later, and it would be easy to say “You’re the bad guy!”
In a more important spiritual sense, we’ve talked about how Satan wants to put the mom against the dad in a family, or Mom versus daughter, or older brother gets annoyed at the little brothers. We need to remember that is Satan’s PLAN.
Also an effective military strategy is to divide and conquer. If Satan can put a wedge between little brothers playing cars or Legos, he can do it when they’re older. It’s not me against my son, or one girl versus one brother, but we ALL need to realize it’s Satan versus the entire family—he’s trying to take us down and will do it any way he can. We need to band together and be strong! We taught our children to pray for each other, be accountable to each other, speak words of encouragement to each other. It is so amazing to my kids when they see families who are OBVIOUSLY NOT doing this! Some siblings they talk to seem very out of touch as to what their own family members are going through!
My heart’s desire is that this information will be an encouragement to the young mommies who are dealing with the constancy of little children’s selfishness toward their siblings. I realize that can be quite discouraging. I hope that these mommies will say in their hearts, “It is worth the investment of my time, prayer, and emotions to help these children toward strong, positive, lifelong sibling relationships.” “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Psalms 133:1-3). May I encourage you to build that unity in your children’s lives?
During the years we have our children living in our homes, we have the ability to influence their relationships with each other. There is much that we can do to help them become best friends, learn to deal with conflict, and become each other’s greatest encouragers. If you haven’t read the other articles in this series, I suggest you do that before reading this one. Here is the link.
When I e-mailed several friends with grown children asking them what they felt had positively influenced their children’s sibling closeness, I received some excellent feedback. It both challenged and encouraged my heart. I think it will yours as well. I shared some of it last month, but I have more I want you to read.
“I see our children truly loving each other, and continuing to work at a close and spiritually connected relationship with each other, even once they leave home, and it is an incredible blessing. On the surface, I really have no idea WHY, other than the grace and kindness of the Lord. We did set up expectations of kindness from the time they were very small, that I honestly just thought EVERY family did. It was not until more time went on, and I observed more families, that I realized how different our children’s relationship with each other were. I have taken it for granted. So, again, I will read through your Corners, and pray, and think more because I don’t know that what we did was very intentional, but rather just biblical love and kindness extended to those closest to us—our family, first.” Debbie
Then Debbie followed up with this note:
“Well my friend, I’ve read all of the Corners in the Sibling Series and honestly, I cannot think of anything I did in addition to the things you mentioned. I found it fascinating how similar our approaches were/are with a few exceptions. I think many of the things we ‘stumbled’ into, sometimes for different reasons, but having a similar result. I was thinking how we limited outside friendships and outside activities. It was often for reasons unrelated to specifically choosing to work on building family closeness, but the result was family closeness. I think that is one side of it, eliminating part of the common cause for children’s discontent with family. The other side is dealing with the inborn sin nature we all have. Even if we never let our children play with anyone else, they would still be selfish and unkind and need to be taught and trained in biblical kindness and love. As you pointed out, we simply cannot afford to grow weary, as much as it is a temptation some days.
“I guess one thing I pondered on, and it is just an observation from our own family. I feel like we worked very, very hard on our first four children. Parenting just felt harder (more intense) with them. It was not that they were any more naughty, but maybe it was because I was younger and less experienced as a mother and was learning what works and what doesn’t. However, God was so kind to bless our work and perseverance, I think, and the younger children have had good examples to look up to. I think part of it being easier to train the younger ones now, is that they have wonderful examples to follow that the older ones did not have. The work I suppose DID pay off in that way, as well as just in the tremendous blessings you mentioned of having children who love each other, get along, are kind, and genuinely and cheerfully helpful.
“We always called it the trickle down effect. When an older child was kind to a younger child (and conversely if he was unkind), that child would treat the next one below him the same way, and down, and down, and down the line it went (and still goes). I have been known to use that, in my teaching and training after an incident.
“‘Do you realize, when you spoke that way to __A__, that __C__ was watching? And tomorrow, or the next day __C__ will then think it is okay to speak that way to __H___, and on down the line. You are setting an example, for good or evil, for all the siblings coming up behind you. You need to be so careful to be setting a godly example (or depending on the offense, I might give it a more specific name).’ I have found that when they really realize the ‘family’ impact of an action or an attitude, it has a bit more weight. They DO love their younger siblings and don’t want anyone else being unkind to ‘the baby’ for example. When they realize their potential part in being unkind to ‘the baby,’ it truly does bring a sober mind to the situation.
“When I really think on it, I believe one of the major things we did, that you’ve already mentioned, is simply not allow unkindness when we were aware of it. Like you, physical things were not tolerated – no hitting, kicking, biting, or throwing. Verbal unkindness was treated with the same seriousness. All those things, when the children were very young, we gave the children consequences for. We wanted to send a very clear message from the earliest time. People used to mock us for not allowing ‘kids to be kids.’ Well, our fruit is now much different from theirs, and I am grateful for the fruit we have.
“Of course, all of that was alongside giving Scriptural reasons WHY, though I wasn’t as thorough in that area as I wish I could be. My husband has always been better at that than I. We didn’t want the teaching to just be surface, outward behavior, but that God’s Word could get into them and do God’s work, which is so much more effective.
“I am so very aware that of course we did ‘something,’ but I just believe the fruit we have to this point, is by the grace of God. I know, because we regularly prayed James 1:5, that God gave us wisdom when we cried out for it, when we were SO stumped as to HOW to teach or train or deal with a certain behavior, that GOD gave wisdom.
“I wish I had more specifics to offer you to share, but honestly, we very much did as you did. Maybe you really have given your readers a good list of possible things God might use to help them, but I have found that people are often just wanting more and more suggestions and not really APPLYING what has already been given. They also need to be crying out to God with James 1:5 since every family situation is different, and God alone knows how to reach the heart of each individual child. We actually felt that on occasion, God did not allow us to ask advice of others so that we HAD to search it out for our own family. Other times, He seemed to allow it and gave us help through the wisdom and experience of others.
“Parenting is just plain HARD work, day after day after day for a very long time. But it is SO very, very worth it, when you see your children sincerely and faithfully walking with the Lord in very personal relationships with HIM. Seeing my older ones, encourages me to stay the course with my younger ones, and I still have plenty to work on.” Debbie
These are the years to be sowing seeds in your children’s lives that will produce strong life-time, sibling relationships. May I once again encourage you to be determined to set your heart on helping your children learn to communicate with each other, work together, and just be nice to each other. I believe they will thank you in the years to come.
For many moms, August means that the return of school is just around the corner. The slower-paced days of summer are the perfect time to prepare for the routine that school days bring to your home. That way when school starts, you will be prepared for productivity and efficiency. I want to encourage you that a daily schedule is the key to bringing order to your life and accomplishing all that needs to be done in your home.
There are so many benefits to using a schedule that I love directing busy moms toward learning to make and use a schedule. I believe a schedule is vital for relieving the stress that moms often find themselves living under as they try to be a good wife, mom, homemaker, and maybe even homeschooler. Any one of those jobs is hard enough by itself, but as you put them together, the potential for falling behind and getting discouraged is magnified.
“Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). In this verse, Paul is specifically talking about order within a church worship service. I believe, however, that we can apply it even more universally to many areas of our Christian walk and see that it could easily relate to God’s desire for order in our time usage. A schedule allows us to have that order for our time and for our children’s time as well.
“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). How do we redeem our time? I think that is done by being productive and efficient with the time God gives to each of us. My schedule facilitates the organization of my day that has an outcome of redeeming the time.
When I use a schedule, I know exactly what I need to do next. There is no time spent trying to figure out what is the most important task to dive into, and there is no time wasted getting sidetracked with the unimportant. I simply follow my schedule.
Some have questioned whether using a schedule prevents one from being able to follow the Lord’s leading in their lives. My experience is just the opposite. As I pray about my schedule, seeking the Lord’s direction for how my time is used, I am doing exactly what He wants me to do with the hours He has given me. Without the schedule, I find myself drawn into time-wasting activities, usually driven by my selfish flesh, that don’t focus on His best plan for the days He has entrusted to me.
“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:17-18). God’s will for my life is the foundation of my schedule. It is His Spirit that directs the schedule, enables me to follow it, and shows me when to be flexible within it. Here are links to two Mom’s Corners I wrote on this topic of whether following the Lord and a schedule are antagonistic or compatible: Can a Scheduled Mom Be Spirit-Led? Part 1 and Can a Scheduled Mom Be Spirit-Led? Part 2.
A schedule directs not only you but also your children. I can’t tell you how often moms write me and say that they decided to take a break from their schedules for the summer but discovered it meant disaster. The disaster came about because the children had too much free time, which resulted in a great amount of squabbling and bickering among them. It also was hard to get the children to do their chores. In addition, all that the mom hoped to accomplish during the summer didn’t end up happening, because there was no schedule to help her keep up with life. She will end her e-mail by telling me that next summer she plans to put together a summer schedule to avoid the problems and gain the benefits her school-year schedule provides for her and her children.
Your children will be well occupied and productive with a schedule. That means you know what they are to be doing at any given moment of the day. You don’t call them each day for chore time if they are at an age to be able to read the clock for themselves. If you are a homeschooling mom, a schedule will enable your children to accomplish their schoolwork each day and keep that schoolwork contained within time boundaries. The schedule builds order and variety into the children’s days. With that order and variety, boredom is more limited, and so is typical sibling fussing.
As I use a schedule, I love the sense of contentment it gives me. That contentment arises from knowing that I’m accomplishing what the Lord wants me to do. I feel it when I can look back after a day and know exactly how my time was spent. My schedule brings joy to my heart because it carves out time for what is the most important to me—my Lord Jesus, my husband, and my children.
There is time in the schedule to spend alone with the Lord. That is special time to read the Word and pray. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). It is necessary nourishment for my soul, and it happens every single day because it is part of the schedule. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
If you could use help in making a schedule, I recommend Managers of Their Homes to you. That book gently takes you step by step through the scheduling process, and it has a Scheduling Kit to make it even easier. If you have the book already, dust it off, review it, get your Scheduling Kit back out, and spend some time preparing a schedule to be in place when school begins.
Some who have Managers of Their Homes may not know that there is now a companion software available to help you make up your schedule if you would prefer to do it on the computer rather than on paper. I love the drag and drop functionality of Schedule Breeze, the ease of revising a schedule, and the ability to print it out for my reference and the children’s. You might as well. Schedule Breeze costs $15 per year, but that is a very small cost compared to the benefits a schedule brings to a home.
My life has been so very blessed by using a schedule, and I have been able to help countless moms receive the same blessing. May I encourage you to take some time before school begins to prayerfully work on your schedule? Be prepared when school starts to utilize this powerful tool the Lord has given you for bringing productivity to your time, order to your home, contentment to your heart, and joy to your spirit. I think you will be as excited about using a schedule as I am.
As I conclude this series of Mom’s Corners on topics to help you be productive with your summer days in order to be prepared for the start of school, I want to share a testimony with you that I hope will encourage you in making use of tools that are available to help you in this process.
“I wanted to write a quick note to say Thank You!! To keep this short, my husband and I never thought we would have a ‘large’ family, homeschool, or that I would ever give up my career to raise children.
“We are now pregnant with our fourth child. I have been a stay-at-home mom since the birth of our first child. After I heard his first cry, I decided I would not leave him in daycare. Everyone said I would get over it and just needed to work through it. But I simply couldn’t do it. So, my husband and I started trying our best to figure out how to live on his income. IT WAS UGLY.
“The only thing uglier was my homemaking skills! Seriously, I didn’t know how to make a hot dog in the microwave when we got married! YIKES.
“I love being a homeschooling mom and REALLY appreciated your books: Managers of Their Homes, Managers of Their Chores, and Managers of Their Schools. They have REVOLUTIONIZED our home!! I appreciated being mentored by you through your writings. Before I read the books, I had a heart to provide a happy, organized, clean environment but had NO IDEA where to start. My hubby and I are just THRILLED with how God has blessed our home through your books.
“We are doing so much better at feeling more secure that we are allowing God to grow our family because our home is in order now. Our kids are doing great and so are Mom andDad. Now we feel like we have a game plan for how to run our home even with a new baby on the way.” Stephanie
We are reprinting Managers of Their Schools, so I was rereading it for any necessary updates. As I went through it, I was as excited and enthusiastic about the information in it and the potential it has to transform homeschools as I was when we wrote it. The same is true for Managers of Their Homes and Managers of Their Chores.
May I encourage you to get your home organized before the start of the school year?
When dinner finishes, the eight of us get up from the table, functioning like a well-oiled machine to complete dinner cleanup, which usually takes us ten minutes—1, 2, 3 fruit. When we arrive at a church for a conference, each person begins to accomplish their part of the set up process without needing instruction or prodding from Steve or me—1, 2, 3 fruit. When we recently spent time with friends and helped them paint their house, everyone worked hard to get the job done, even cutting down on sleep to complete the project in the available time—1, 2, 3 fruit. We think the basis for young adults who are willing and able to work came from consistent chore work in our home in their earlier years.
Steve has been writing a series of Dad’s Corners about some basics of being self-employed. We know many dads who have a dream of self-employment, especially something that will allow him to have more time with his family. “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men” (Proverbs 22:29). Did you know the fulfillment of a dream of self-employment for your children can begin right now in your home through a chore system?
Children who grow up on a diet of entertainment and self-indulgence will have more difficulty developing the self-discipline and initiative needed for self-employment and even in-the-home work projects than the child who has been given chore responsibility and taught to fulfill it. “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8). There are so many benefits of children doing chores in your home. We want to encourage you not to miss out on all that your children will gain from chore responsibility—1, 2, 3 fruit!
Summer provides the perfect opportunity for making or revising your children’s chore system. During the school year, you will need that well-oiled, efficient team working together to accomplish what should be done in your home each day—1, 2, 3 fruit. In order to make that a reality, I suggest you invest time during the summer working on your chore system and implementing the system if it is new or the revisions if you have already been using a chore system.
Without all the time of school and study that fills the typical school season, children are available for learning how to do chores. Mom has time to work with her children to show them what they are to do, when they are to do it, and how they are to do it. She will also be more available for the oversight needed to help the children perfect and polish their chore skills.
Many moms need help with the details that would go into a chore system from what chores to assign their children, to how to schedule the chores, to how to check chores, and what consequences to use if the chores aren’t done. That is why we wrote Managers of Their Chores.
We struggled with those details with our older children, but with prayer and experience, the Lord began showing us viable options for making a productive, effective chore system that we were able to share with others in Managers of Their Chores. We can see the results in our children’s lives (ages 16 to 36) of having benefitted from chore responsibility growing up—1, 2, 3 fruit. “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute” (Proverbs 12:24). If chores are a struggle in your home, we encourage you to get Manager of Their Chores and let it help you to success as it has for many others.
I also want to suggest as you work on your chore system if you have Managers of Their Chores or are going to purchase it that you consider ChoreWare to help streamline the process. ChoreWare (only available to book owners) is an add-on to the Managers of Their Chores book that allows you to develop, print, and store your chore system on your computer. Some of you may have purchased Managers of Their Chores before ChoreWare was developed, but even at this point you could buy and begin using it. If you like using the computer, I think you would like ChoreWare. For those of you who already subscribed to ChoreWare, now is the time to renew it if it is expired so that you can get to work on your summer chore revisions. There is a 20% renewal discount so it is only $9.60 currently.
I know this part of the Mom’s Corner sounds like a sales pitch, and truly it is. The small amount of money you will invest in the tool of Managers of Their Chores and maybe ChoreWare is nothing compared to the harvest you will reap if you utilize the information it contains. We have seen this material transform countless homes and bring renewed joy, productivity, and contentment to nagging moms who were frustrated and at their wits’ end concerning their children and chores. We want to see you successful in this area, and we know Managers of Their Chores is a key to that success.
There are moms who will tell me they are weary fighting their children to get them to do chores. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). Perhaps I can give you some advice to help you get back onto the battlefield with determination and courage. “Be strong and of a good courage . . .” (Joshua 1:6).
First you need a solid chore system with assigned chores and scheduled time for those chores. Then you must have a determined mindset that you are going to work with your children to bring them to success in doing their chores. That means an investment of your time.
Start by doing the chore with your child for several days. Then have the child do the chore alone while you watch and coach. Finally release him to doing it on his own. We think the ChorePacks that come with Managers of Their Chores and the information in the book will facilitate this process for you. Each time your child does the chore, inspect it. Call your child back if it isn’t done properly. Have him redo it. I would encourage you that this is a valuable investment of your summer hours, and it will reap huge dividends in the coming months.
After your child has had his instruction and been independent doing his chore, with your daily inspection and suggestions, for a week or two, it is time to implement consequences if the job isn’t done or isn’t done right. Do you know what the simplest, natural consequence is? It is sitting on a chair, perhaps a dining room chair. Why doesn’t your child do the chore, or if he does it, why does he do it poorly? It is because he wants to go play and not be bothered with work. If he has to sit on a chair as a consequence, you have impacted the very reason he didn’t do his chore—his free time.
Sitting your child on the chair is an easy consequence for you to give, and used consistently it will motivate him to make the choice to do his chores well. When our children were little and needed consequences for not doing their chores, and we used chair sitting, I had a kitchen timer that I set for the designated amount of time. For younger children, it was only five or ten minutes. When the timer went off, they could go try doing what they were supposed to have done again, with hopefully better results.
I want to motivate you to spend time on your children’s chore system this summer. There are so many benefits for children when they have chore responsibility. Here are links to several other articles I have written on this topic: Holly Homemaker, Part 3, Holly Homemaker, Part 4, and Holly Homemaker, Part 5.
Our children are no longer children, and as adults with their own businesses, they have the huge advantage of enjoying work and being aware of its value in their lives. They work hard in their businesses because they learned to work as they grew up. How nice that I no longer have to remind them to do their work! That is just another example of 1, 2, 3 fruit. In case you’re interested, here is a link to our blog from last summer when we were helping Joseph remodel his house. You can see what all we can accomplish as we labor together, and we like doing it! I’m convinced that the work ethic we are encouraging you to adopt for your children, has been the major factor in three of our sons owning their houses debt-free.
As a family, we have discovered the delight of having a project in front of us, working together toward its completion, and then the satisfaction of reaching the goal. When we work, we learn new skills, we fellowship, we sweat, we laugh, and we accomplish so much in our home and in our ministry. It started with a view that chores were important for our children. We want to encourage you to have the perspective that chores are beneficial for your children and then experience as we have the blessing of 1, 2, 3 fruit!
This photo was taken several years ago when we put a sidewalk in from the front of the house to the shed we had just built.
I wonder how many of you who are homeschooling are thinking about curriculum decisions for the next school year. You are considering your options, looking at what is available, consulting with your husbands, and praying for direction.
Through our twenty-eight years of homeschooling, we have observed many homeschooling moms wilt under the stress of trying to do all that their curriculum requires of them. They love the idea of what they have chosen for a homeschooling method, but the reality of preparation and fitting the school work into their day leaves them harried, tired, frustrated, and irritated.
This has been such a concern of my heart that several years ago, I began sounding a trumpet for a type of homeschooling that is usually viewed negatively in the homeschooling community—using Christian textbooks—but in practice it is stable, productive, and extremely functional for the homeschooling mom and her children. It allows her to be successful without being stressed. I have written three other Mom’s Corners about this topic, and then a book, Managers of Their Schools, giving specifics. Here are links to the Mom’s Corners.
If you will read those previous articles, you will discover why I am such an advocate of Christian textbooks for the homeschool family. My heart longs to see moms successful and not discouraged. Let me share with you a few testimonies of families who are making the choice for Christian textbook homeschooling.
“Because I have been homeschooling for sixteen years and have graduated two of my boys, I almost did not purchase Managers of Their Schools. I am so thankful, though, that I did. I learned so much from it, and it helped me to be more of an encouragement and to give better guidance to the moms in my homeschool group. I have made some positive changes to my homeschool as a result. We had a fantastic year because of those changes and are looking forward to the coming year. We have been so blessed.”
Here is another testimony from a mom who has three little girls.
“As our school year draws to a close, may I express my deep gratitude for the direction you provided in pointing out the traditional Christian textbooks. We absolutely loved it!!! It has been so much more manageable (especially as I dealt with my depression issues), productive, and structured due to your excellent advice on the choice of materials and scheduling in general in Managers of Their Schools. I am so relieved now as I look into the next school year because the direction is set, and we can now focus our energies on the daily walking out of our faith in the Lord Jesus!”
This mom found so much benefit from textbooks that she is continuing to use it for her large family.
“I have always used Christian textbooks and have found them to be economical as well as thorough. Using textbooks has taught my children self-discipline, a strong work ethic, and many other positive attributes. In the years that I seemed to always be nursing a baby or pregnant, it was extremely helpful to know that I taught the children to be more independent in their work. I have always been there when they needed help and to listen to them tell back to me all the neat things they learned that day.
“When I was asked what curriculum I used by other homeschool moms, I was often frowned at and corrected because we used textbooks. I am so thankful that I stuck to my guns and kept going despite the negative comments. If I had listened to the opposition, I don’t know if I would have continued homeschooling due to the great stress that ‘Being everything to my children’ would have brought. My oldest is in his senior year now, and I plan to continue using textbooks for the seven younger children. Thanks again for your encouraging words and for expressing the truth rather than popular opinion.”
Textbooks can even be used with children who have learning disabilities as this mom testifies.
“When we decided to homeschool our youngest son and then his sister who was two years older than him, we began homeschooling them using Christian textbooks. We have used textbooks with our son from the first grade up and with our daughter from the seventh grade up, and we have been very successful.
“We are homeschooling two special needs children and there are times that we have had to adjust our lesson plans and cut down on the amount of work we do in a day or a week. However, having the consistency of textbooks and a goal to finish each book or class before moving on to the next grade level, we are now starting her senior year and his sophomore year. He has maintained an A/B average and she is maintaining A/B/C’s. Both of these children were diagnosed as mentally retarded, emotionally disturbed, ADHD, and the list goes on, by the public schools. He was repeating the first grade for the second time, and she had just finished the sixth grade but was doing work on a 3rd and 4th grade level when we started homeschooling them.
“We have used textbooks through all of our homeschooling. It makes preparing lesson plans, setting goals, you name it, easy for me and easy for them. Now they are able to check the lesson planner and get started on the day’s work on their own.They consult me when they need help, and I think they have a really good over all education. Their classes on any given day are theology, literature, spelling, grammar, history, science, math, government, economics, physical education, home economics, music, and art.
“They look forward to the spring when we get our new books, and they get to see what they are going to be doing throughout the year. We are getting the majority of our work done before noon. I completely agree with the use of Christian textbooks.”
These testimonies are from typical homeschooling families—one that has been homeschooling a long time, one with many children, one with children with learning disabilities, and one with young children. Our ultimate goal is to raise children for God’s glory in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Homeschooling is simply a tool to help achieve this goal.
A mom who is stressed often lives in guilt and defeat. What she needs is a homeschooling method that will allow her to be accomplish her homeschooling so that she has relieved herself of one of her major stressors. As these moms have chosen to use Christian textbooks, they feel successful, confident, and blessed. I want each of you to be moms like these moms and feel that delight in what is accomplished in your homeschool. I recommend traditional Christian textbooks, and I suggest Managers of Their Schools as a resource to help you on that path.
Sibling relationships should be the sweetest of relationships next to those of a husband and wife and a parent and child. But watching the way young siblings often treat each other, one sometimes wonders if it is possible for them to move into their adult years with close relationships. We have delighted in watching this very process happen in our home between our eight children, and we want to encourage you that it is possible. Here are links to the first five articles in this series in case you haven’t read them.
In the previous articles, I shared all that Steve and I can recall that we purposely did to promote strong sibling relationships. We even asked our family for their input as to what they felt made a difference in their development of strong sibling ties. We give all the praise to the Lord Jesus because we know that anything we do that ends up good is only because of His grace in our lives.
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). Just as we were continually crying out to the Lord for His wisdom in how to deal with problems between the children, we suggest that you do the same thing.
In this article, we want to share what others have done to build sibling relationships. I asked the Corners readers to share their suggestions. Here is what they had to say.
“Have them pray for the person they are struggling with.” Shera
“Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” (Luke 6:28)
“My idea for siblings is that I put on my children’s weekly lesson plans that they are to serve one person of the family in some way each day—to bless them. Monday is one sister, Tuesday is another, etc. The children love finding ways to serve their parents or siblings in this way. I think it helps develop a servant’s heart for Christ and helps keep peace between each other as we serve one another. They love to surprise each other with what they have done to help and serve. Sometimes they do a certain chore, clean a closet, or wash cars. They also love to do it in secret so they aren’t discovered. This is one of the proactive ways we attempt to avoid sibling rivalry and fighting.” Carolyn
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)
“I have three boys who are 9, 8, and 5, and a baby girl of 18 months. My boys are really struggling with this issue of kindness to each other right now. One of the things I have been doing because it can be applied quickly is this, ‘Try again.’ If I hear one of them saying something not nice to another, I will call out, ‘Try again.’ They have one minute to say something nice to the person they offended with their words. If they fail to say something kind in one minute, they get a swig of apple cider vinegar. It’s a substance that is good for them, but tastes terrible to ‘wash’ out the mean words from their mouths.” Shauna
“The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.” (Ecclesiastes 10:12)
I also asked some of my friends for their ideas beyond what I had already shared. These are moms who have older children with the kind of sibling relationships I believe you want your children to have. Their credentials prove the substance of what they have to say.
“We wanted to teach our girls to love each other so we came up with a plan. On Monday they needed to serve one another. Tuesday was edification day so they wrote encouraging letters or notes to one another. Wednesday they were to defer to someone other than their own self. For example, in our home, the oldest always sat in the front seat when that seat was available, so on Wednesday she might defer that seat to a younger sibling. Thursday was gift-giving day, and it could cover just about anything you consider a gift. They might make something for someone, or they could give of their time. Friday they prayed with each another and did a devotion together. This encouraged our girls to think about others, not just themselves, which we believe is key in relationships.” Tammy
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” (Romans 12:10)
“We love working on our farm together side by side. This has definitely helped in sibling relationships. My husband and I will often break the children into ‘groups’ to encourage sibling relationships. The groups change often.
Today my eighteen-year-old daughter and her fourteen-year-old brother went to the local feed and seed store to get more plants, do errands, and be together. My daughter said to me this evening, ‘Mom, I had so much fun with my brother this afternoon!’ I am glad they want to spend time together. “Today, I was with my seventeen-year-old son and four-year-old daughter all afternoon giving lawn estimates due to my son’s lawn business. We had fun and even slipped in a cold soda break at McDonald’s. My son has a very thriving lawn business. The family rule is that he cannot work alone. A sibling or parent must work alongside of him every day he cuts. This has been very profitable for building sibling relationships. My older daughter even works for the lawn business every Wednesday!
“Also, our children share rooms with someone. This has proven to be fun—at least for the girls! We have purposely limited the amount of time our children spend with other families and friends. Truly, my children really have no outside friends—just their brothers and sisters as friends.” Teresa
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
“We never let our children pretend evil or fight against each other. We didn’t want the children to develop the mentality of ‘being against each other’ but wanted them to always love, help, and support each other.” Becky
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.” (1 Peter 3:8)
I hope that when your heart is discouraged because you have just witnessed a brother grab his sister’s toy, you will stop to pray. Ask the Lord to give you the courage and strength to deal one more time with the same kind of situation you have often dealt with in the past weeks and maybe even earlier in the day. There will come a time when you will reap a fruitful harvest of brothers and sisters dwelling together in unity. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). You will have no regrets that you persevered through weariness, discouragement, and even self-pity. “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing” (2 Thessalonians 3:13).
I am not sure that there is anything that tears a mom’s heart up more than when her children are being unkind to each other. Encouraging family harmony is usually one of the top priorities of moms for the children. When a mom’s efforts and prayers have been invested only to have the children continue in their selfish ways, she usually experiences discouragement. We have been discussing ways to develop and strengthen positive sibling relationships in this series. Here are links to the previous articles.
I would like to give you a few more practical suggestions for things to use as consequences for siblings who are not choosing to be kind to each other. These are things we did with our children. Since my children are beyond the consequences age, I had to ask them what they remembered we had done with them when they were younger.
One of the first things they recalled is that we took away desserts from the offending children. If some of the children weren’t going to be sweet to each other, then they wouldn’t be allowed to enjoy the sweet dessert that the rest of the family, including the children not involved in the problem, were eating.
When our three older children were elementary school age, we would have them write blessing letters to their brother or sister if they had been in conflict with that sibling. The blessing letter was to document several of the positive things they could come up with concerning that sibling. Of course this consequence only works for children who are old enough to write. Sarah kept some of those letters and has given me permission to share one with you. I remember that in the midst of those conflicts, the boys could be adamant that there wasn’t anything good they could think of to write about the other child. That just showed how important it was to continue working with them through the difficulties.
Dear Sarah,
You have demonstrated hospitality by sharing your bears with me. I also like the way you demonstrate enthusiasm. For example, when you read, you demonstrate enthusiasm! You show initiative by stopping what you are playing to do chores when Mom gets out of the shower. I am excited about the Baby! And I enjoy you being my loving sister.
Love, Chris
Christopher was nine years old when he wrote that note to Sarah, and she was seven. You can see that even though this was to be a blessing letter, Christopher got a little poke in at Sarah by mentioning the chores. Although I don’t fully remember the schedule back then, I expect Sarah was supposed to be doing some morning chores while I took my shower. Stopping play and starting the chores when she knew I was out of the shower and she would have accountability was most likely not the schedule she was supposed to be following. From this note it is obvious we still had “heart” work to do on both sides.
A mom wrote to me after the last Mom’s Corner with an idea she had that was similar to the blessing letters. I am going to include her whole e-mail because she also acknowledged how she had become lax with giving her younger children consequences for their unloving behavior. That is often the case as we become busy with our older children plus caring for younger ones.
Your Mom’s Corners about sibling rivalry have been incredibly encouraging! I had used Scripture to correct problems with my older children but faded off to just quickly reprimanding the younger ones and getting back to my “work” of cleaning, cooking, school, etc.
Clearly that was not working. The Lord was merciful and showed me an idea for applying 1 Peter 3:9 to a squabble that my six- and eight-year-old daughters had. “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).
After gently, lovingly, and carefully questioning the girls individually about their personal roles in the disagreement, each agreed that they had indeed rendered evil for evil and railing for railing, and that it was not what they should do. Next came the blessing. I had each one write a list of three things that she could do that would be a blessing to the other. By the time they had finished their lists, which took some time, they were both excited about ways that they could bless their sister that day! I asked them each to do each thing today and save their lists so that they can add to them later. One daughter actually got so excited she wanted to give her sister all three blessings the first day! They had ideas ranging from doing chores for each other, drawing pictures, letting the sister be the lunch helper, to a hug. 2 Peter 1:13 says “. . . to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.” Thank you for doing that for me. Dawn
“Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife” (Proverbs 17:1). We used this verse to help us determine another consequence for siblings who were squabbling with each other. Part of our nutritional program for our family involved purchasing and then grinding wheat berries into fresh whole-wheat flour that we then made into whole-wheat bread. When I served the bread, the family didn’t prefer the outside crusts but rather the soft, middle slices. I dried the crusts in order to make bread crumbs or croutons with them.
One day, Steve and I realized our “dry morsels” on the counter that were waiting to be processed had the potential of being an effective discipline for children who weren’t being nice to each other. I would call the offenders to the dining room table and serve them a dry crust. The dry crusts didn’t make the children gag. They simply didn’t prefer them.
I could share with them that we would rather eat dry crusts all the time and have kindness and sweetness between them than to get to eat the way we eat in the midst of strife. This was a consequence that removed the children from the problem, was easy to administer, and in addition, it was healthy for them!
I expect many of you have some great suggestions for improving sibling relationships or for consequences when the bickering breaks out. If you are willing to share, e-mail them to me so I can collect them for inclusion in a future Mom’s Corner.
Once again, I desire to encourage you to be faithful to pray for your children and then to have a workable plan in place to lead them toward strong sibling relationships. It has been so long since we have had to use the consequences I share in this article that I had to ask my children to tell me what they remembered we did that they felt was effective. I want you to have that outcome for your children as well. Remember, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). May I encourage you to help your children toward dwelling together in unity?
Practical encouragement for homeschool moms by Teri Maxwell, and weekly e-mails for Christian men by Steve Maxwell.
