Laugh a Little

Kids truly say the darnedest things! I feel so blessed in my job, because I'm around small children all the time. I'm able to talk to them and mainly listen to them a lot. They make me laugh.....a lot! I'm also blessed in that you parents send me funny stories from your kids a lot. Thanks! I love it! I love to laugh........and kids make me laugh.

I was just reading a great story by e-mail from a friend and her 6 year old. It reminded me of stories from my kid's childhood. I won't share them............too many for this space..........and besides, they would hate me for it. But I did write them down. I kept baby books and calendars when my kids were preschoolers. We have buckets of stories and pictures and awards from their school years. This summer we cleaned out the attic and spent days reading the stories and laughing so much.

So I want to challenge you preschool parents:

• Laugh, laugh, laugh.............enjoy your kids. They are funny. They need to see the joy they bring to you. So laugh at some stuff.
• Document, document, document............journal..........write, save the stories. You will be surprised how quickly the mind fails and you begin to forget. Save the stories.
• Share, share, share...........with close friends and with your child's consent. Don't embarrass your child by telling everyone everything, but share with close friends and family.
• Tell me................I love to hear stories of my PeeWees and I love to laugh.
  

Life goes by quickly........cherish the moments........and laugh a little. Parenting doesn't have to be all serious business. God gave us a sense of humor and the ability to laugh, so enjoy His creation!

Lifelong Friendships

As you made your Yardstick List for your child/children.........did you list something about friends? I know I always did. I wanted my children to be good friends, to have good friends, to know the joy of having someone to lean on and laugh with, to be able to go through life with someone and not be alone..........

I think God created us to crave friendship, to not want to be alone, to need the help of a friend.
Ecc 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
Ecc 4:10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Parenting is hard work. You need the help of a friend. I have had many acquaintances, but I was blessed with 3 lifetime friends that helped me through hard times in my parenting and celebrated the happy times of my parenting. Even when I have moved away from them - the friendship remained. One of these friends was with me when my father died, 2 of these friends were with me as I gave birth to my children, and all 3 were at the wedding of my oldest daughter last month. Of the 3, one is more like a sister to me than the others, but all were there for me; and I know that all of them will be there for me when I need them.

The values of parenting with close friends are:

• Sharing the struggles
• Laughing together
• Learning together
• Giving your children other adult role models
• Having someone to lean on

And the list goes on......................

If you are parenting alone right now, pray for God to send you a friend. Pray for someone who shares your likes and passions, someone you will enjoy spending time with, but also someone who will challenge you in your Faith Walk. Pray for someone who has the same values and ideals as you do. Pray for someone whose Yardstick List is similar to yours. Pray for a friend.

Then begin to be a friend to others. Begin to develop friendships. Take a risk and talk to someone. Take a risk and let someone know you.

If you are not currently in a Small Group setting studying the Bible with others, join a Small Group. At Clear Creek Community Church you can get involved in a Small Group through Grouplink.

Talk to other parents when you drop off and pick up your child at church or preschool. Attend family events at church or preschool. In PeeWeeVille next month we will host a Family Valentine Making Party - February 7 9am-11am. This is a great chance for you to interact with other families of Preschoolers at our church.

Make some good lifelong friends for your sake as a parent, but also for your PeeWee. Be the example to your child of how to be a friend and the value of friendships.

I received an e-mail from a woman last week who was disappointed that she hadn't made any friends at our church. I hate that too, but as I talked to her I realized that she hadn't made any effort to meet anyone or put herself in a position to get to know others. Friends will not fall in your lap! You must prepare yourself to be a friend and then practice being a friend. But oh, the beautiful flowers that will grow in that garden if you put the effort in the beginning.