Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Teaching Kids to Share
Teach your kids to share at a young age. By implementing the basics about sharing with your three, five, and seven-year-old children, you are preparing them for a happier childhood. While kids don't initially feel like letting a sibling or a friend use their special toy, they quickly realize that sharing results in lots of fun. Besides, if kids don't learn to share at a young age, they're likely to grow into selfish adults. And selfish adults are no fun. You've heard the adage "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" right? So, keep it simple and teach your little angels to share right from the start.
Be a sharer yourself. By being willing to lend your own stuff to others, including your kids, they will emulate your actions. If your kid wants to borrow your colorful rainbow hat for part of her dress-up costume, you should say "Yes" even amidst a fair amount of apprehension. Now, it's alright to have conditions, such as, "You may use this if you take good care of it." Also, when you happen to get the last piece of chocolate cake in the fridge, it's likely that your spouse will ask for a bite. Again, here's an opportunity to say "Yes." Let your kids see that you're a giving person. Most people see that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If you think of a kid who shares, you probably see that the parent does as well.
Sharing can be hard. But, we should force our kids to be sharers anyways. Though this sometimes causes awkwardness, you should put your kids into situations that are less than perfectly comfortable. This happened to me recently when I offered to let my son's best friend borrow one of his "Buddies" videos. My son responded, "But that's one of my new videos. I've only seen it once." I explained that it's one that his friend has really wanted to see. I added how we could easily get it back since this friend only lives four houses down from us. Though this wasn't easy for my son to handle at first, it gave me an opportunity to explain why we share things with the people we really care about. My son stretched his abilities that day, which was a good thing.
Sharing is practical. When one of my three kids gets a new pack of candy or gum, I ask them if they want their sibling to share with them the next time he or she gets a new pack of treats. The kids always seem to understand this concept and generously hand out a piece or two to their brother or sister. Though the temptation to be greedy arises, especially when it's the last piece of candy or gum, my kids generally like to share because they get to enjoy their treat with someone else. They realize that making someone else happy is a reward in itself and that the kindness will pay them back as well.
You can share all kinds of things. As mentioned earlier, you can share your gum, candy, or a toy, but there's so much more. We donate our kids' items to families with younger kids than ours. Whether it's an outgrown winter coat or a box of books, it just makes sense to bless someone we know who can use the well cared for items. One of the reasons we've been so moved to do this is because other families have blessed us along the way as well. We've been gifted with everything from our crib to shoes, toys, and blankets. Especially during this tough economy, you should think about the people in your own community who could use some of your gently used items. Generally, people are thankful and truly uplifted by the generosity.
Share your time. Sometimes, people don't even want your stuff. They just need a home-cooked meal because they've been really sick. Even more than a hot meal, some people long for a conversation about "whatever" or a card. Some of your acquaintances who need a loving reminder of their value are those who look like they have it all together. They're always racing, always busy with a loaded calendar, and weighed down with the newest techy gadgets. But they're lonely. What about a text message reminding her that you think she's great? You never know how far an e-card goes. It might even make someone's whole day.
Be a sharer yourself. By being willing to lend your own stuff to others, including your kids, they will emulate your actions. If your kid wants to borrow your colorful rainbow hat for part of her dress-up costume, you should say "Yes" even amidst a fair amount of apprehension. Now, it's alright to have conditions, such as, "You may use this if you take good care of it." Also, when you happen to get the last piece of chocolate cake in the fridge, it's likely that your spouse will ask for a bite. Again, here's an opportunity to say "Yes." Let your kids see that you're a giving person. Most people see that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If you think of a kid who shares, you probably see that the parent does as well.
Sharing can be hard. But, we should force our kids to be sharers anyways. Though this sometimes causes awkwardness, you should put your kids into situations that are less than perfectly comfortable. This happened to me recently when I offered to let my son's best friend borrow one of his "Buddies" videos. My son responded, "But that's one of my new videos. I've only seen it once." I explained that it's one that his friend has really wanted to see. I added how we could easily get it back since this friend only lives four houses down from us. Though this wasn't easy for my son to handle at first, it gave me an opportunity to explain why we share things with the people we really care about. My son stretched his abilities that day, which was a good thing.
Sharing is practical. When one of my three kids gets a new pack of candy or gum, I ask them if they want their sibling to share with them the next time he or she gets a new pack of treats. The kids always seem to understand this concept and generously hand out a piece or two to their brother or sister. Though the temptation to be greedy arises, especially when it's the last piece of candy or gum, my kids generally like to share because they get to enjoy their treat with someone else. They realize that making someone else happy is a reward in itself and that the kindness will pay them back as well.
You can share all kinds of things. As mentioned earlier, you can share your gum, candy, or a toy, but there's so much more. We donate our kids' items to families with younger kids than ours. Whether it's an outgrown winter coat or a box of books, it just makes sense to bless someone we know who can use the well cared for items. One of the reasons we've been so moved to do this is because other families have blessed us along the way as well. We've been gifted with everything from our crib to shoes, toys, and blankets. Especially during this tough economy, you should think about the people in your own community who could use some of your gently used items. Generally, people are thankful and truly uplifted by the generosity.
Share your time. Sometimes, people don't even want your stuff. They just need a home-cooked meal because they've been really sick. Even more than a hot meal, some people long for a conversation about "whatever" or a card. Some of your acquaintances who need a loving reminder of their value are those who look like they have it all together. They're always racing, always busy with a loaded calendar, and weighed down with the newest techy gadgets. But they're lonely. What about a text message reminding her that you think she's great? You never know how far an e-card goes. It might even make someone's whole day.
Friday, January 22, 2010
The Rain and the Rainbow
The rain calls us indoors. We must take shelter from the downpour or we will get soaking wet. For those living in the midst of a storm, they know that taking cover means protection from the harsh wind, rain, and hail. But, some people refuse to stay inside; instead they resist the storm's darkness and fury. After hours of effort, they collapse from exhaustion and eventually crawl into a warm place where they can find rest.
When the Lord calls us to rest, it means He has good plans for us. He has not forgotten our dreams or our investments in this world, for He uses all things to the good of the one that is to come. The Lord calls us to slow down so that we may hear from Him. As stated in a quiet time from Streams in the Desert, "There is no music during a musical rest, but the rest is part of the making of the music. During those rests, we foolishly believe we have come to the end of the song. He (God) counts the break with unwavering precision and plays his next note with confidence, as if no pause were ever there" (selected).
While experiencing the most rain we've had in one week here in Southern California during my three decades of life, I've been inside a lot. Last night, I couldn't even sleep well because the rain beat against my windows with such passion and fervor. Instead of the tranquility that the droplets might usually bring, I felt anxiety and darkness. And that is how I've felt in some areas of my life as well: anxious and dark. God's voice has been very quiet over the past three to four years and I have been waiting to hear it clearly for some time now.
But, then I was reminded of a sign the Lord gave to me yesterday during a slight respite from this crazy storm. A beam of light shone through my upstairs window, calling me to the outdoors. I said to my kids, "Let's go, there must be a rainbow outside." And to my wondering eyes, there appeared the most dazzling rainbow, as if it had been colored with brand new Crayola markers. Its beauty took my breath away, but as I called my neighbor to inform her of the colorful beams of light, it vanished. The rain started up again. It was gone.
Though the rainbows of life occasionally come and go, their significance never leaves us. The symbol of the rainbow represents hope and promise. It reminds people of God's mercy and compassion. While in the midst of the tempest, we must keep our eyes fixed on what we know, that the rainbow is still there, waiting to peek through the clouds. Similarly, the Lord is ALWAYS there, especially during the storms! In truth, a rainstorm is a sign of hope as well because it reflects what is yet to come, the colors of promise and for we who believe, eternal life with our KING.
So, don't give up friend. That is what Satan would want you to do. He would call you to hide your head, to quit dreaming, and to shut down. That is not the message of the God of Israel. God calls you to "Trust in (Him) with all your heart and (to) lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways, (to) acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5+6). In the New Testament, the hope continues on. John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have LIFE, and have it to the full."
Share how you've weathered a tough storm. Give some stories of the rainbows that God has placed in your path. I'd love to hear from you. To God be the glory for the storms and the rainbows! :)
When the Lord calls us to rest, it means He has good plans for us. He has not forgotten our dreams or our investments in this world, for He uses all things to the good of the one that is to come. The Lord calls us to slow down so that we may hear from Him. As stated in a quiet time from Streams in the Desert, "There is no music during a musical rest, but the rest is part of the making of the music. During those rests, we foolishly believe we have come to the end of the song. He (God) counts the break with unwavering precision and plays his next note with confidence, as if no pause were ever there" (selected).
While experiencing the most rain we've had in one week here in Southern California during my three decades of life, I've been inside a lot. Last night, I couldn't even sleep well because the rain beat against my windows with such passion and fervor. Instead of the tranquility that the droplets might usually bring, I felt anxiety and darkness. And that is how I've felt in some areas of my life as well: anxious and dark. God's voice has been very quiet over the past three to four years and I have been waiting to hear it clearly for some time now.
But, then I was reminded of a sign the Lord gave to me yesterday during a slight respite from this crazy storm. A beam of light shone through my upstairs window, calling me to the outdoors. I said to my kids, "Let's go, there must be a rainbow outside." And to my wondering eyes, there appeared the most dazzling rainbow, as if it had been colored with brand new Crayola markers. Its beauty took my breath away, but as I called my neighbor to inform her of the colorful beams of light, it vanished. The rain started up again. It was gone.
Though the rainbows of life occasionally come and go, their significance never leaves us. The symbol of the rainbow represents hope and promise. It reminds people of God's mercy and compassion. While in the midst of the tempest, we must keep our eyes fixed on what we know, that the rainbow is still there, waiting to peek through the clouds. Similarly, the Lord is ALWAYS there, especially during the storms! In truth, a rainstorm is a sign of hope as well because it reflects what is yet to come, the colors of promise and for we who believe, eternal life with our KING.
So, don't give up friend. That is what Satan would want you to do. He would call you to hide your head, to quit dreaming, and to shut down. That is not the message of the God of Israel. God calls you to "Trust in (Him) with all your heart and (to) lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways, (to) acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5+6). In the New Testament, the hope continues on. John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have LIFE, and have it to the full."
Share how you've weathered a tough storm. Give some stories of the rainbows that God has placed in your path. I'd love to hear from you. To God be the glory for the storms and the rainbows! :)
Labels: Bible, family, rainbows, rainstorm
Friday, January 08, 2010
The Lost Art of Lingering
As Americans, we sprint at 110 miles per hour and then when we do stop, we pause for mere moments and crank it back into fifth gear within three seconds flat. We don't know how to linger. Instead of assuming that it's a good thing to lazily stroll the aisles at the grocery store, we load the cart up as if we were on a reality show about finding the best deals the fastest. My advice? Let's linger a bit.
No matter what you're doing, it's worth it to slow down. Why not linger in front of the mirror in the morning? Take a moment or two to stare at your beautiful eyes and reflect on your own personal strengths. Afterward, you should definitely steal a few sips of your freshly brewed coffee before sprinting out the door. Why not break out of the rat-race a bit during the school drop-off as well? Even if you have a loaded schedule, you could pause to chat with a fellow parent about the beautiful weather or about the upcoming Valentine's party. While at work, even though the deadline is all but painting out a line of death on your desk, you could stop to touch base with a coworker while refilling your coffee or tea. Saying "Hello" or asking how someone's new year is starting out goes a long way.
While at Sprout's recently, I enjoyed a relaxing visit by myself. I chatted with four store associates. I checked out the plethora of apple varieties and even discovered a new bean: the mung bean. I didn't even know it existed, but if you're Asian or Indian, you're probably quite familiar with it. Before checking out, I sampled a 2 oz cup of coffee and perused the bulk item bins just for fun. I happened to pick up a half pound of yogurt chip trail mix because it was on sale and I love all the tasty dried fruit as well. In short, I lingered. It was like driving on the Pacific Coast Highway instead of the 15 or the 91 freeways.
Why is it that we don't take time to chill out more often? Sometimes, it seems sacrilegious to slow down. Even taking that extra five minutes in the shower after you've already soaped and scrubbed feels selfish. You think, "But, I have so many other things that I could be doing." We need to avoid the busy traps that are set all around us. The laptop glares at you while the cell phone begs to write out one more text. And the fax machine always seems to have something sitting in its tray. Inevitably, we get the notion that more is always better. We inaccurately assume that a fuller calendar is a better one, but it's simply not true.
So, take a little sigh and give yourself permission to lower the RPMs. You don't have to sprint every single moment because the race we're in is more like a marathon. You don't want to burn out and get thrown off the track. The truth is that less calls, less emails, less texts, and less errands actually equate to less stress. You might not end up with the paprika spice you were going to use for your husband's pasta dish because you forgot to read his text message, but then again, pancakes and eggs were sounding kind of tasty anyways.
Share your thoughts about lingering. We'd love to hear from you. Also, does anyone have a good recipe for mung beans? I may let them linger by soaking them for a week until they sprout and then saute them in a stir-fry, but I'm just not sure yet. Cheers to life and a toast to enjoying its peaceful moments!
No matter what you're doing, it's worth it to slow down. Why not linger in front of the mirror in the morning? Take a moment or two to stare at your beautiful eyes and reflect on your own personal strengths. Afterward, you should definitely steal a few sips of your freshly brewed coffee before sprinting out the door. Why not break out of the rat-race a bit during the school drop-off as well? Even if you have a loaded schedule, you could pause to chat with a fellow parent about the beautiful weather or about the upcoming Valentine's party. While at work, even though the deadline is all but painting out a line of death on your desk, you could stop to touch base with a coworker while refilling your coffee or tea. Saying "Hello" or asking how someone's new year is starting out goes a long way.
While at Sprout's recently, I enjoyed a relaxing visit by myself. I chatted with four store associates. I checked out the plethora of apple varieties and even discovered a new bean: the mung bean. I didn't even know it existed, but if you're Asian or Indian, you're probably quite familiar with it. Before checking out, I sampled a 2 oz cup of coffee and perused the bulk item bins just for fun. I happened to pick up a half pound of yogurt chip trail mix because it was on sale and I love all the tasty dried fruit as well. In short, I lingered. It was like driving on the Pacific Coast Highway instead of the 15 or the 91 freeways.
Why is it that we don't take time to chill out more often? Sometimes, it seems sacrilegious to slow down. Even taking that extra five minutes in the shower after you've already soaped and scrubbed feels selfish. You think, "But, I have so many other things that I could be doing." We need to avoid the busy traps that are set all around us. The laptop glares at you while the cell phone begs to write out one more text. And the fax machine always seems to have something sitting in its tray. Inevitably, we get the notion that more is always better. We inaccurately assume that a fuller calendar is a better one, but it's simply not true.
So, take a little sigh and give yourself permission to lower the RPMs. You don't have to sprint every single moment because the race we're in is more like a marathon. You don't want to burn out and get thrown off the track. The truth is that less calls, less emails, less texts, and less errands actually equate to less stress. You might not end up with the paprika spice you were going to use for your husband's pasta dish because you forgot to read his text message, but then again, pancakes and eggs were sounding kind of tasty anyways.
Share your thoughts about lingering. We'd love to hear from you. Also, does anyone have a good recipe for mung beans? I may let them linger by soaking them for a week until they sprout and then saute them in a stir-fry, but I'm just not sure yet. Cheers to life and a toast to enjoying its peaceful moments!
Labels: cooking, family, lingering, sprinting
