My kids are home all summer.
My kids are home all summer!
I am starting out the summer with an extra hop in my step and extra dedication to making the second option me… well at least today I am.
It’s all in perspective… and a fair bit of preparation.
I am restricted by money, nap times and a wide range of children in age and interest. So here’s how I’m preparing my summer survival kit.
I’m not their Fairy God-Mother
Their wish is not my command. I have to feed them, protect them and nurture them. But it isn’t up to me to create summertime magic.
Readers are the leaders
I had a professor in college who responded to every question I asked with this statement. It annoyed me. It annoys my kids. But hey, readers ARE the leaders. So books will be part of our daily routine.
Sleep
So I don’t plan on being the bedtime Nazi mom, but they do need to sleep eventually. And an occasional nap might do them and me some good.
Outside
“Get out of my house” is my battle cry as I scoot little people out my backdoor. I have equipped the homestead with a kiddie pool, slip n slide, trampoline, a tree house, swing, slide and lots of things with wheels. If you have to keep is smaller, cheap beach balls and a sprinkler go a long way. And feeding the little boogers outside saves a ton of clean up too!
Invite Jesus
But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” Mt. 19:14
Jesus wants my kids. I need to invite him to every play day, lunch date and picnic we have this summer.
Change my heart
Tonight I hid in my husband’s office from a child’s machine gun, “MOM MOM MOM MOM.” I whispered, to him, “I really hate when she does this.” Moments later, I opened my bible to this:
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” Mt. 18:10
Talk about nauseating. God doesn’t want to hear the word hate in a sentence that has anything to do with my children unless they are engaged in unrighteous acts against him. Tonight I am repenting and changing my heart. I want to treasure my little ones. I want their angels to know their mother is on their side too.
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