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I thougt of an interesting metaphor regarding personality types today. You're talking to (or reading...lol) a carpet bomber. I am a global, abstract, see the forest , whatever you want to call it thinker. I like getting things done...lots of things. I dont have time to mix the peanut butter with the jelly to get it to a perfect consistency. Just slap the pb & j between two slices of bread and there you have it. Needless to say, our checkbook doesnt get balanced in the old fashioned sense. I'm very fortunate to live in the technology age where I can check the balance online. If I had to be an accountant, we'd starve! I think of things in terms of broad principles...the gray areas are my playground. If you tell me a rule, I'll find ten exceptions to that rule. I guess that's why I chose law school. Legal issues and politics are brain candy for me. The ability to tear both sides of an issue apart, turn them upside down and put them back together again is advantageous in those fields. It's hard to argue with someone who has already figured out what angle you're going to come from and has the refutation already assembled. (Did I mention that I'm the logic & debate teacher for our co-op? LOL) Of course, my dear husband has many battle scars from this dynamic. The Lord had to deal with me for years about not having the last word all the time and not insisting on being declared the winner of every debate or argument. I jokingly told him once that he's right sometimes....when he agrees with me! HAHA! Most of the issues we're talking about here are opinions so there really is no right or wrong, unless of course a biblical princilpe is concerned where right and wrong are spelled out for us. I finally realized that many times we were saying the same thing, just in different ways. You see, my husband is a precision guided missile. He is detail oriented, analytical and very concrete. He spots the tiniest elements that a global thinker totally misses. He can see cobwebs and dust in places that I walk by ten times a day without ever noticing. He knows the exact amount of sugar required to make the coffee just right every time. For me, things are seldom done twice in the same exact manner unless it's necessary. When a problem arises I tend to get emotional right off the bat and once I settle down I can start to think it through. I've already reached the point where the world economy is gonna collapse b/c of the problem when he's calmly thinking it through one step at a time. My first reaction is that we have to do something... NOW! We need to fix it. His reaction is to slow down and analyze the situation. I have always found studying personality types and learning styles fascinating. Little did I know that our home with four kids and two adults would be the best observatory on earth! That's what I love about homeschooling....I can use what I know about each one of the kids to reach them with their academics.I'm thankful to God for showing me these lessons and keeping me from falling into the one size fits all trap. When I have a conflict with one of my kids I can usually trace it to a difference in our personalities and perspectives. Although they are still required to obey, many times I find that if I approach the situation in a way suited to their individual bent, then the rough spots can be eliminated. |
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My oldest son (almost 14) killed his third deer yesterday. He was ecstatic...it's muzzleloader season and it was the first time he'd ever shot that kind of gun. As a mom, it makes me very sad that my baby is growing up so fast. As a girl and an animal lover I don't really like it that he's so taken with hunting. However, "he kills it....we eat it" is the rule. (Well, he eats it at least. I cant get anyone else in our family to touch it.) That reminds me of a story told to me by a local pastor's son. He said when they first started their country church they quickly learned about the "deer tithe". Every fall and winter, their freezer would be full from the venison brought to them by the hunters in the congregation. Only in Louisiana!!
My oldest daughter, by stark contrast, is a junior animal rights activist. She has registered her conscientious objection to an upcoming animal dissection in our science co-op. I told her she has to observe for educational purposes, but her partner can do the cutting. This is the child that stayed in a tree for hours with her injured cat that wouldnt come down. Even after dark, she wasnt coming down without kitty. It took three boys to climb and wrangle their way to that cat.
These stories remind me of how unique and precious God has made all of His children. My four kids have totally different personalities. Of course, I blame my hubby's genes for any flaws they might have inherited (LOL). Lord, help me to cherish this uniqueness and nurture each one of them according to Your purposes and plans for their lives.
This is one of the beauties of homeschooling....that we can tailor each child's educational needs individually. After writing a speech for co-op last week, my oldest daughter shared with me what she learned....that she can cross off "speechwriter" from her potential career choice list!!!!
I have been preoccupied with the news from the Middle East this week. We really need to pray for Israel!
I hear another load of laundry calling my name. I think I'm up to #15,431 by now! However, I have conquered the monster tonight. One kid is at his aunt's house and the youngest two didnt need baths b/c they were inside all day....that means I only did two loads and I'm at the bottom of the basket. Amazing what a mountaintop experience that can be, isn't it?
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I am new to blogging (other than reading a few here and there) so forgive me in advance if I mess up! I am excited about having a forum to discuss issues, share ideas and make new friends.
After science co-op yesterday we had a picnic in the park. The other moms and I were talking about kids growing up and making their own choices and decisions in life. We were lamenting the fact that sometimes no matter how well parents train them, they go through a time of testing when they might not use wisdom in the choices they make. Even more heartbreaking is when they walk away from their relationship with the Lord.
While thinking about this subject today I realized that we all come to a point in our lives where we must "choose you this day whom you will serve". As a parent I have tried so hard to insulate and protect and shelter my kids. I am quite bothered by the fact that there will come a day when I can't make everything better for them with a kiss and a hug. This is where trust in our loving Father comes in! We must fulfill our mandate as parents to train up our children in the way they should go and cover them with prayer. We must prepare them for the battles that lie ahead. Ultimately we must rely on the grace and mercy of our loving Father to keep them, just as it has been His grace and mercy that have sustained us through the years of raising them.
Please continue to pray for the people affected by the hurricanes. We are still searching for a "new normal" down here in southeast Louisiana. One thing that is clear....God has blessed us tremendously through the outpouring of love and support from all over the country and even the world. This has indeed been the church's finest hour. Walls and barriers have come down and have been replaced by a spirit of unity. People are coming together and working together for a common goal.. I believe that lives are being changed and the Lord will restore, repair and rebuild the lives of those that call on His name!
Blessings! |