Yes, I know I skipped a couple here, but my other posts to MOMYS were rather disjointed and disconnected and just wouldn't have flowed well here.

First of all, I've never considered myself an angry person. Many people who know me tend to describe me as "even keel." I suppose that is b/c I do a lot of my emotional stuff alone or inside myself--I am a very introspective person. So, I really didn't think there would be anything in this chpt for me.

Boy, was I wrong!
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I never thought about James 1:20 and the fact that we really can't be working for the Lord's kingdom as long as we are angry. The 2 just cannot coexist. So, while it may look like I am teaching my children or ministering to others, I'm really not working the righteousness of God--it's a false front of sorts--a show. This is true whether I am outwardly showing anger or not.
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I had a lot of questions initially concerning Teri's thoughts on lowering expectations and continuing to patiently teach and train even when there seems to be no discernable progress. I kept thinking, "But don't I deserve to be upset that they keep getting it wrong???" Finally, I got to the portion where she explained the process as Train, Patiently Correct, and after a time deal out appropriate discipline CALMLY when they don't do as they have been trained to do. I wonder if I have been too quick to think they should be getting it by now? Or have I been too slow to discipline?
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I am still not sure how I feel about EXPECTING them to fail or fall short.
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I do definitely see where I get irritated when something the children do inconviences ME. When teaching, if they just keep fussing about something, I feel like they are cutting into the time I need to be spending w/ another child or the time I need to be spending grading papers, or something along those lines. I have a pet peeve w/ repetition and this REALLY shows when I am teaching--I HATE to repeat myself more than once and after that I start to get a very irritated tone in my voice. NOT a good thing.
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I LOVED her idea about the interrupting child--I have one of these and it would probably help him to put his hand over his mouth and wait. He is getting better w/ LOTS of reminding.
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Proverbs 16:21 is a GREAT verse for us homeschooling moms! "Sweetness of the lips increaseth learning." And she is definitely right when she says, "Anger breeds anger." If you've ever had someone speak harshly to you, what is your reaction? Usually it is defensiveness and anger. Should we expect any less from our children?

And the idea of being pleasant while we discipline seems so foreign...almost like my kids may not take me seriously if I am nice! However, wouldn't you take correction much better if it came sweetly and calmly? I know I would!