Susan Merrill's Blog, page 33
August 4, 2013
August 2, 2013
Forgiveness Lessons for Kids
Your children will mimic exactly what they see. Your role as parent is to lead by example. In this case, you are called to practice forgiveness instead of walking away angry from situations. Remember these guidelines to keep the practice of forgiveness alive and well in your family.
1. Show forgiveness to your children
2.Model forgiveness in your marriage
3. Practice forgiveness in community and school relationships
4. Show forgiveness in extended family relationships
August 1, 2013
How to Balance Your Helicopter Tendencies
I just saw a very funny skit on helicopter parents. At the time I laughed, even though the skit kind of convicted me about a couple of things I do for my kids. Days later I started to get annoyed because my laughter had turned to paranoia. Was I a helicopter parent? What exactly is a helicopter parent? Wikipedia says this… Helicopter parent is a colloquial, early 21st-century term for a parent who pays extremely close attention to his or her child’s or children’s experiences and problems, par...
July 30, 2013
How Your Husband’s Friend Can Help Your Communication
It is amazing, seriously, miraculously amazing what an objective point of view can do for your marriage.
Mark and I have had communication struggles forever. We have earnestly tried different ways to make each other see our point. We have made progress but nothing compared to the “communication epiphany” that occurred on our vacation with the Hohfelers.
It was a very simple, natural, unplanned inspiration, but in my life it was a game-changer. The Hohfelers have been friends forever, but they m...
July 26, 2013
How You Can Prepare To Help Your Child In School
If you want to be prepared to to help your child do well in their world, it is important that you havegood relationships with all of the people who intersect with your child’s life. They will help you prepare a plan foryour child by guiding you with information about your child’sdevelopment and behavior. Here are some examples of peoplewith whom you should have sound relationships, as well as afew tricks you can use to put yourself in a position to interactwith them if you are not overtly soc...
July 23, 2013
It’s What A Mom Must Do: Poop Clean Up!
I met Chrystal a year ago. Her father, Tony Evens, was the speaker at our Family First Dinner and Awards. Her sister, Priscilla Shirer, was also there to receive the iMOM award and her brother Anthony Evens sang. Amazing family! That night each of them had a memorable take-away for me, but it was Chrystal that I was most drawn to. For some reason God opened a door in the over-scheduled evening for a few moments to really talk. A few moments is all you need because Chrystal is real, warm and...
July 19, 2013
Do You Have A Plan For Your Child?
No matter where your parenting path takes you, you mustknow that you would not have been given the privilege ifyou were not up to the responsibility. And that responsibilityincludes having a plan for the life of your child. Without aplan you are leaving your child to chance. According to authorand former chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers MichaelHyatt, few of us have a plan for our own lives. How much lessdo we plan our children’s?
I have met very few people who have a plan for their lives.M...
July 18, 2013
How To Know If Your Child Is Ready To Make Choices
Choices–lots of choices. Too many choices. I get confused by the multitude of choices, so kids must be uber confused! Whether your child is 5, 10 or 15 years old they will be required to learn to choose and choose well from the oodles of options surrounding them. No child will escape the forceful that will daily demand that they choose and so every child must learn to make wise choices on the path toadulthood. Little children make little choices and are rewardedby being given bigger choices....
July 13, 2013
July 12, 2013
Love Your Child By Praying For Them
It happens more than I would like. I shift from praying for my kids and trusting God for every aspect of their lives out of my control to worrying as if I alone can do something about it. I always end up shifting back. I want to enjoy my children before they are grown. Worry kills the joy. So I shift back and pray. Prayer is guaranteed panic prevention. Prayer allows me to let go and enjoy parenting.
Some of you may be thinking there has to be another way. Prayeris so inconclusive—I can do thi...
