Operation: Attack of the Good Parents, Update #1

Last night as I was laying in bed, trying to fall asleep, I was thinking over my blog that I had written and the whole issue of parenting. I was brainstorming some ideas for our "Plan of Attack". In the midst of this line of thought, I started thinking about how in the Psalms, David refers to our children as arrows. I started thinking about how I want my children to be able to fly straight and true..but how I'm so inadequate to be able to shoot the arrows. I *think* that *maybe* at some point in my growing up years I have shot a bow and arrow before..for the life of me I can't remember where, or when..maybe outdoor school? I don't know. But the fact is, I have no experience as an archer..(archerist? what are they called?) I don't know how to hold the bow, I don't know how to position the arrow, I certainly don't have the strength to pull the string back far enough to actually make the arrow go anywhere...how discouraging. As I'm thinking this, I'm picturing myself trying desperately to shoot this arrow and getting more and more discouraged about my failure. All of a sudden (In my mind's eye) as I'm fumbling and finally get an arrow shot out of my bow (terribly I might add) I see this huge hand come out of the sky..it sort of looks like a cloud. But this hand grabs the arrow that I have just shot, which barely made it out of the bow, picks it up before it hits the ground and then holds the arrow up and moves it straight and true across the field. I'm actually getting teary as I recall my "vision". God spoke to my heart in that moment, saying that of course I'm not going to be a perfect parent..but it's my job to do my best to shoot that arrow. After I shoot it, it's His job to take that poorly shot arrow and place it where He wants them to end up. And my kids will always be in His hands..but they won't always be in mine. Now that I think back to my picture, I never did see the target..I never saw where they were headed or what I was actually aiming for. This picture provided me with immense comfort and encouragement so I wanted to share it with you all out there hoping it will do the same.

In "other" news, I have begun the process of putting a plan into action for the girls..I decided to buy a couple baby gates so effectively they will have access to a lot less of the house. I am going to "parent in the funnel" as babywise puts it..basically this means that the younger the child is, the more restrictions, and less freedom they have. As they learn to follow basic commands, follow instructions and gain some self control, the funnel can expand and so does their freedom. I am also going to be installing some locks on the drawers and cupboards in the kitchen (which I should have done a long time ago) and set up some play area in the house. Each girl will take a turn every day in the bedroom learning to play by herself and we will concentrate right now on staying seated at their table while eating and staying in their beds when told to. So far the baby gates are NOT a hit. (Except for me who is thrilled that I can take back some of my house and can confine the disaster areas to a smaller percentage of my house..the rest of it might actually get clean and stay clean...imagine!)

As for the boys..Josh and I are going to go on a date hopefully this weekend and together come up with a plan of action, beginning with a list of "House Rules". I realized that we don't even have this..no wonder we're having problems..the boys don't know with one hundred percent certainty what is okay and what is not. I'm going to do some "fun" things with a magnetic dry erase board and today I purchased some fun things for them to get as rewards..including a snow cone maker which I think Bryce will be thrilled about. Just to clarify, he doesn't earn the snow cone maker, he gets to earn the right to make one. =) On Sunday night probably (because it is our typical family night) we will then host a family meeting and talk about all the changes, new rules and expectations that we have. And then we can put our plan into action. I hope that once all these things are written out and planned out, it won't feel as overwhelming as it does right now.

Well, my plan is to update hopefully about once a week on how things are going in addition to my regular blogging..this will hopefully give me more motivation and encouragement to keep going and to stay on track. Thank you all for the prayers and encouragement. I truly, truly need it!

Oh yeah, if anyone has a list of "House Rules" that they enforce at their house that is working for them that they wouldn't mind sharing, I would love it if you either posted it in the comments section or emailed me. I'd love to hear some other ideas from people.