Standing on my Soap Box

This past two Sundays we have been hearing about family in church. I figured seeing as I have a soap box, I will give you my two cents worth of opinion (cause isn’t that what a soap box really is, a place to stand up and give your two cents?).

I have been told that I do not have a normal family. We get along, and enjoy spending time together.

The following is partly my summary of what the pastor talked about last week and also my ramblings on family…

My own summary – Be and Do what you expect your kids to do, plain and simple. If I expect my children to keep their rooms clean, then mine better be clean — which is not at this moment as my side is not de-cluttered, but it is something that I will be working on. If I expect my children to eat their vegetables then so should I – this I am doing.

I also think that children watch how you treat other people. I was brought up believing that Grandparents left a legacy for their grandchildren. When I was a child we would travel to my grandparents in Carrick one weekend, and them my other grandparents in Portage La Prairie the next weekend, and that was the cycle. Now every week usually on a Sunday, we have supper with my parents (my husband’s parents live in Edmonton, so it’s a little bit of a drive to have meals with them every week – which sucks). We alternate between my parents place and our place. It works well.

How often do you pray for your children? I have been praying for my children and their upcoming spouses since my boys were born. I absolutely believe in the power of prayer. I have been praying that God would protect their future wife.

Are you consistent? The answer of “No” this week on a question should be “no” next week. Children will try you. They want to see what they can get away with. Parents should also be on the same page, they work together as a team. If one parent says no, then it is no. If you do not agree with your spouse then the answer stays no until you can sit down together to discuss it and come to a resolution. There needs to be an agreement, a united front, otherwise children will wear you down individually to get what they want.

Children also need to see parents who LOVE each other. My husband and I joke around a lot, and will say that we ALWAYS love each other; we may not always LIKE each other though. We do not however, spend enough time together without our children. We acknowledge that, and will be working on that. When we are going to be apart, we will kiss each other goodbye (even if the other person is still in bed), and then we give each other a hello kiss when we are back together. My husband walks in the door, and I stop doing what I do in order to meet him at the door and welcome him home. We each have needs. As a woman, mine is to be loved. As a man, my husband’s need is to be respected. According to Emerson Eggerich of Love and Respect Ministries, when I respect my husband I receive love. When I receive love, I give respect. It is like an ongoing circle.

So, once again, why am I telling you all this? There is an attack on families that needs to be addressed. My marriage and my family are FAR from perfect, but these are some of the things that we try to do to keep things strong