That Family Home Plan

A Family Home Plan

~~Devise a regular routine of living in our lives:
daily family & personal devotions
daily schooling
daily snack & meal time
daily chore assignments

This is definitely something very key we need to get back to again. There's just too much freedom and chaos when there's no routine expectations.

~~Develop consistent & proper study habits

Obviously something we have been lacking here.

~~Teach proper table manners:
Eat and drink at table, seated properly
Wait for meal blessing quietly

This too has gotten a bit lax, although we don't tolerate games at the meal table, and we always eat meals at the table together as a family. We don't grab bites here or there, eat whenever the mood strikes, etc. Ok, well, this morning they did eat in the kitchen...scattered around sitting on the floor of all places. But in my defense folks, I have a quilt laid out on the table while I get it basted ;o) Pancakes, syrup and quilting just doesn't seem a likely combination kwim?

~~Respect for other's property
~~Unfailing courtesy, esp. with siblings

Both something we need to get back to enforcing here for sure. The attitudes lately have really been poor.

~~You receive nothing you cry or whine for
~~Praises always for obedience and acts of respect

We have been doing far more whining and crying stuff lately than praising and respecting :o( But, nitty gritty is if they want something, they have to ask nicely without any show of attitude, period. If they whine about it, it's a definite no. I do not, do not, do not tolerate a whiny child on a level. There's just no ounce of patience in my spirit for a child that whines everything in some mousey little tone. That's always been a nerve-grater for me.

~~Respect the Sabbath/Lord's Day

We are moving to quiet afternoons again. Perhaps some fellowship time with like-minded families, but still, quiet times. No loud playing, no jumping about, no work on outside tasks, etc. We will keep the activities to those that edify and encourage devotional times.

~~Teach purity of language -- no slang terms

I've had alot of slang time here, and I'm just as guilty as the rest, that's for sure. No doubt it's that trickle down effect of parenting. But, it needs to stop. Most the slang terms out now are just ridiculous and you sound like a totally uneducated numbskull trying to use them. Please...there are enough uneducated teens in the world, let's not encourage more. I don't see us going British-proper here, but there has to be a middle ground....right?

~~Recognize and accept differences in ability & personality

Obviously, and in a large family you have plenty of study time on that one.

~~Accept that problems and interruptions will occur

LOL....yeah....we need a big study in that one!

~~Assign regular & consistent family chores
~~Maintain proper priority of work & study

Again, without it you are going to have chaos, either mild or over-blown. Our school work took a backseat for a while and see the consequences...waste of time it all was. Now those fruits of uselessness are coming back to bite my backside big time.

~~Accept responsibility for the education of children at home

I am a total believer in the lack of the public school system, and honestly, anymore, most of the so-called "Christian" schools out there. They teach far too many things that are contrary to The Word of God...but maybe that's just my Bible version. Either way, I fully believe as parents we are called to teach our children ourselves and not sell them off to the public government system. I'm not debating this, just giving my point of view, take it or leave it.

~~Conquer the Will of your children, not their Spirit

There's a fine line between the will and the spirit. Children are naturally prone to give in to their wills, and that is what needs to be controlled. Most adults never learned this and it's an on-going problem for them as well. If you have never learned to submit to the authority of another and are constantly wanting what you want when you want it, you have some self-control issues and your will is not conquered to Christ. The Bible clearly says you can not serve two masters...too many Christians these days are being taught in church that they can. If you are working for yourself, or following another, you are not following God or working for him, plain and simple.

~~Maintain consistent discipline:
encourage open confession & forgiveness of wrongs
praise all acts of obedience
allow no sinful act to go unpunished
never bring up past offenses
accept intention over perfect performance sometimes
maintain priorities

Work work work....we need alot more work on these areas here. A lot of troubles are so easily avoided if we just kept these things in their proper priority. Oh, the time and effort I could have spared myself had I heeded these more closely all these years, for myself as well as for the children!

No indulgences of self will can be trivial, no denial unprofitable; Heaven or Hell depends on this alone. A parent who studies to subdue it in his child works together with God in the renewing and saving of their soul. The parent who indulges it does the devil's work, makes religion impractical, salvation unattainable, and does all that in him lies to damn his child, soul and body, forever.
Susanna Wesley