The Available Parent - A Review

As I have mentioned in past posts, we have been having some struggles with our teenage daughter. I have taken to reading parenting books to gain skills and tips on how to be a better parent to my teen.

If you have ever gone to the library and looked for teen parenting books, then you know it can be like finding a needle in a haystack to find a good current book. 

On my recent trip to my local library I picked up "The Available Parent - radical optimism for raising teens and tweens" by Dr. John Duffy. To be honest I wasnt sure if I was going to get the '70 or '80's version of parenting or something a little more to date. I was pleasantly surprised, a really great book with honest advise.

"Embracing fearless parenting" that is the main subject of this book. Parents put your fears, doubts, and egos aside. Each chapter of the book starts with a quote from real teens, honest thoughts that can lead to better parenting.

"Don't assume I don't care what you think just because I say I don't care you think. Jamie, 15"

Here are the main points of this book:

1. Be an available parent

2. Always have open communication

3. Be present

4. Put fear aside

5.  Put your ego aside

6. Do NOT live through your teen / tween

7. Lectures do not work because your teen has heard it all many times and check out before the main point

8. Keep your message short and to the point

9. Don't micromanage

10. Listen to your gut

11. Laugh with your teen - life doesn't have to be so serious

12. Find common ground with your teen - you have to talk to them to find common ground

13. Unplug (you and your teen)

14. Have appropriate consequences

15. When you say NO stick to it

16. Support your teens interests

17. Build self esteem

18. Lead by example

I hope that you go and check out or purchase this book. It is a great book to read even if your children are 10 or 18 (as long as your 18 year old still lives at home). Its never to early or too late to get knowledge and skills to be the best possible parent. When we are good parents and provide a safe, fun, and encouraging home we raise great kids.

This is an independent book review. I was not given this book or paid for this review.

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day was first associated with romantic love in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). 

In our home we express Valentine's Day love and celebration with the whole family. We try to make sure that our children know that we love them and want to celebrate that love with them.

There is someone else that has a heart filled with love for us God. "God so loved the world that he gave is only son." That son Jesus loved us so much that he willingly died on the cross to save us. Even though we sin and are not perfect God still loves us. That is unconditional love! 

Here are some passages that show the love God has for us.

1 John 4:19
1 John 4:8
1 John 15:13
1 Corinthians 13:13
Psalms 103:11

I've Got To Tell You Something...I'm A Home Decor Addict

I had to write you a quick little post to tell you a secret. I'm a home decor addict. LOL Do you ever watch movies and follow the background more than the story line? I do. I'm watching You've Got Mail right now and I keep looking at all the great home decor in the background.

Look at that clock and the little chippy table in the background. Uhhh I love it. And why can't my library / local bookstore look like The Little Store Around The Corner?

The funniest part is I love home decor so much, but if you come to my house there really is very little that I have decorated with. I can't wait to purchase my own home and fill it with all the great items and pieces that I see in the movies.

Hope you have a great day!

P.S. Little Cloe is doing slightly better today, but is still coughing up a lung and in a horrible mood. More cuddles and less everything else today to get her feeling better.

Prayers For Healing In A Time Of Sickness

My little Cloe bug has been super sick since Saturday. She has had a fever and a truly awful cough. The cough has made her throw up and break the blood vessels in her cheeks. I took her to the doctor today and she has a double ear infection, so we got antibiotics and were told to give her Delsum for the cough. I hate it when my kids are sick, especially when they are little, I feel so helpless. I'm sitting here writing this and all I can hear is my little one coughing and coughing...

If you have any tips for dealing with the sick little one (3 years old) please send me a message or leave a comment. And we would appreciate all your prayers for healing.

“Dear Heavenly Father, I entrust this dear child toYou as he/she suffers from what seems to be a (sickness name). Lord, I know (child’s name) is uncomfortable as he/she tries to rest. I also know that rest is so important to get beyond this minor sickness and to avoid progression to something more serious. Please give him/her the rest that they need. Lord, I lift (child’s name) up to You and know that \You will perform Your perfect will for his/her recovery. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen”

Lord God,

You are the Great Physician.

My child is sick and needs your healing touch.

Lord, you are the healer of weaknesses, colds, flu, fevers, viruses, chronic conditions, tumors, cancer and other diseases, and you are the healer of my child.

As I ask you to heal my child, I will declare by faith that my child IS receiving your abundant healing power right now and that my child's health IS steadily improving.

I declare that I will not look at what my eyes see, but I will look at what my faith sees.

I will feed my faith concerning the healing power that is bringing health to my child.

I will stand strong behind your biblical words:

"By his stripes, we are healed." *

Thank you, Lord, for bringing your awesome healing power into my child's body.

Lord, I will praise you for healing my child.

In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen

Copyright © 2012 Beth McLendon of Inspirational-Prayers.com

Family Changes

Well it's official I have a preschooler and soon to be high school freshman. My youngest daughter started preschool today, and can you believe it my oldest is about to graduate from 8th grade. Taking Cloe to her first day of preschool brought back so many memories of taking my oldest Shay to her first day.

Cloe

Shay

Everyone keeps asking "what are you going to do with your free time?" (the time that Cloe will be at preschool) And I'm not sure! Crafting and sewing is definitely on the list, but more than likely the time will spent running errands and cleaning.

When I dropped her off she took right to it. Started playing and never looked back. So here I am sitting in blissful silence today in my empty house thinking about how things are changing with my girls and with our family and what will the future hold?

Finding My Blessings

I really should have posted this earlier in the week, but I had to end my fast early. Because of being sick coupled with fasting and being stressed my body was not recovering like it should have. I was really stressed over the weekend due to some financial problems. Tuesday I felt so sick causing me to get up at 2:30am and never going back to bed. I ate breakfast and drank hot tea all day and I am finally started to feel myself again.

It kind of feels like failure. These are the times when it seems hard to find the blessings and see the positive. Its easy to count our blessings when things are going great and the world is filled with sunshine and rainbows. I really had to dig deep this week to remember that I have to give God the things that are making me stressed and find my daily blessings.

Here is my list of what this fast provided me:

1. A closer relationship with God
2. A lasting habit to spend quiet time each morning - read the bible, study, pray, etc.
3. Release of the problems that are out of my control - to stop trying to control all of these things.
4. Slowing down - to be present
5. Take the time to nurture the relationships in my life
6. Pray, pray, pray - and the power in it!
7. Although I wasn't able to finish my fast I am more thankful for the things that I fasted from - breakfast, drinks other than water, social media each morning (Which I am spending less time on permanently).
8. I made the commitment to get us all out of the house, the kids need to be outside and unplugged.
9. Spreading Gods words openly to my friends in need of comfort and advise.
10. To live fully, love fully, and remember to TRUST god always