On Sundays… when you pray for your family today, jot down areas of worry or concern, leaving spaces between the items on your list. Then go back to the top of your list and thank Jesus for anything you can think of to thank him for in that situation. After that, sit quietly and write a specific request. (The apostle Paul teaches this thank-and-ask process in Philippians 4:6.) Date your list and come back to it over the next weeks and months, giving thanks and filling in any answers to your prayers. And write down what you’re learning.
On Mondays… remember to avoid attacking children when they need correction. You can train yourself to focus on children’s behavior (“Your dirty clothes are on the bathroom floor”) instead of making personal attacks (“You never pick up your dirty clothes. Blah blah blah.”)
On Tuesdays… keep in mind that children’s education is primarily the responsibility of their parents. Schools exist to help parents with the job. So if your children attend school outside your home, choose a school where school staff are willing work together with parents as partners.
On Wednesdays…be aware that an allergic child will be less apt to rebel against his special diet if he knows everyone in the family is going to work on helping him feel better. So enlist the family’s help. Separately explain to your other children that helping sick people in the family get well is part of ordinary family love. Then describe how they can help, ask for their suggestions, and emphasize that the cook needs encouragement.
On Thursdays… make an inventory of each of your children’s special likes and interests. Then use your lists to come up with ideas for individualized incentives to help them establish good work habits doing their chores.
On Fridays… remember that your neighborhood will look nicer if you take a trash bag along with you and fill it as you go when you take a walk. Doing this as a family activity will help children develop a sense of their responsibility to their community.
On Saturdays… don’t forget that quality time with children usually occurs as an unplanned, happy gift. Most consistently it happens in the context of a relaxed atmosphere and LOTS of time.
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Insights & Reflections for Parents in September: from the Parent Powerline
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Insights & Reflections for Parents in August: from the Parent Powerline
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Insights and Reflections for Parents in July: from the Parent Powerline
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Insights and Reflections for Parents in June: from the Parent Powerline
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Insights and Reflections for Parents in May: from the Parent Powerline
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A Dream That Changed Me: reflections on spiritual warfare
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3/9/2022
Insights and Reflections for Parents in March: from the Parent Powerline
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Preventing Parent Burnout: insights from the Parent Powerline
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Playing Games with Kids: insights from the Parent Powerline
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Insights and Reflections for Parents in February: from the Parent Powerline
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2/1/2022
Insights & Reflections for Parents in January: from the Parent Powerline
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1/1/2022
Christmas Contentment: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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12/11/2021
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Golden Rule Respect: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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Insights & Reflections for Parents in November: from the Parent Powerline
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Enjoying Money Without Spending it: insights from the Parent Powerline
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10/14/2021
Insights & Reflections for Parents in October: from the Parent Powerline
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Yes Means Yes, No Means No: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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9/26/2021
The Tire 'Em Out Principle for Long Trips and Schoolwork: insights from the Parent Powerline
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Insights & Reflections for Parents in September: from the Parent Powerline
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The Handy Dandy Adaptable Review Game, Cooperation Concentration: Parent Powerline insights
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Insights & Reflections for Parents in August: from the Parent Powerline
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7/30/2021
Camping with Kids: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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7/28/2021
Insights & Reflections for Parents in July: from the Parent Powerline
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Why Smart Kids Can't All Read by Age 6: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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6/10/2021
Insights & Reflections for Parents in June: from the Parent Powerline
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Home Style Secrets of Kids' Learning Success: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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The Balances of Parenting: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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5/18/2021
Letting Daughters Grow: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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Insights & Reflections for Parents in May: from the Parent Powerline
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Reading Lots of Easy Books Produces Fluent Readers: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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4/22/2021
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Helping Kids with Math: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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Watching for the Positives: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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Give Your Children Sticky Minds: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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Being a Better Parent...One Week at a Time...in March
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2/28/2021
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Reading to Babies: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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Being a Better Parent....One Week at a Time...in February 2021
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Hooray for Mother Goose! Parenting Insights from the Parent Powerline
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Being a Better Parent....One Week at a Time...in January 2021
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Working With -- Not Against -- Life Seasons: parenting insights from the Parent Powerline
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9/10/2020
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Parenting in the Mess: Tips from the Parent Powerline
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TALK: A Simple Way to Help Kids with School: tips from the Parent Powerline
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7/21/2020
Raising Fluent Readers: tips from the Parent Powerline
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5/29/2020
Family Funnies: Tips from the Parent Powerline
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5/22/2020
Let Kids Cure Their Own Boredom: Tips from the Parent Powerline
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4/15/2020
The Hundred Chart: math lesson tips from the Parent Powerline
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4/8/2020
Household Management During COVID-19 Time: tips from the Parent Powerline
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3/23/2020
The Love & Diaper (Nappy) Connection
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