Mother & Daughter Time

Today we didn't have school... it was a "snow day". Jim and Kyle were working on snow removal here and at another home until midnight, so the principle gave us (Kyle) the day off.



Today started nicely with a pancake breakfast while listening to our new Patch the Pirate CD. After that the fighting started. He did this, so she did that, and since he did this, she did that.... SO, what is any mom to do. Send one of them to their room while I got ready to go out to get dog food and...


take the said "she" from the above story and treat her to a date with Mom. Now, I don't usually take either of the kids on "dates", but I try to spend some amount of time with them individually; which unfortunately hasn't been happening much lately, nor do I usually reward negative behavior. However, I have noticed a little trend lately with Beth, so I thought that is was time she got me all to herself.



So, after we went to get the dog food, we stopped at the library for about 45 minutes, just working together picking out the books she found using the computer and sitting talking for a few minutes. During that talk, she told me she really didn't want to go home just yet. At this point it was 1:20 and didn't really want to go eat, but she wanted to do something... so, I thought Dunkin' Donuts. I had a gift card, so I used it to get myself some hot chocolate and Beth got not one, but two donuts. We sat and talked about girl stuff and I pulled out my Bible and gave her a couple of verses that I think we all need to learn:


1Timothy 2:9-13
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

and

1Peter3:4
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.



Why do I think that she needed to learn this at the age of 9? Well, I can answer that with another question....is it ever to early to teach her to be in subjectin to authority?



I can see that over time, as Kyle has more authority and responsiblitly to be the one who watches her while we are out, Beth has more of a need to be in subjection to others. Why? Simple because that is what life is all about!


Shocking as it may seem, she didn't think the fight was really her fault. So, I stopped and took the time needed not only to spend some time with my not so little, little girl but also to help her see her part in the problem and Who we go to when things aren't the way we would like them to be.


As I was getting to this part I was thinking of some wonderful way to end this.... Then it hit me, tell them how they just had another little tiff. Well, Beth got upset by something Kyle just did and I could see the fire in her eyes. Kyle walked off and I asked Beth to come talk with me. I asked her what we talked about while we were at Dunkin Donuts. The reply, "I don't know". Hmmmm does anyone believe that?! So, I reiterated what I said and mysteriously she remembered it. She went off to pray and I spoke to Kyle about the situation and a few minutes later, Beth was happily playing with a toy. I asked her how she was doing and she just looked up at me, smiled, and said, "good".

It was such a blessing to have her actually do what I told her and our ever faithful Lord is there to help us as He says.