Several years ago I was at a homeschool convention and saw a lady name Kathy Morrisey speak on teaching your children to love the word!  She has a great company called Courtship Connection, on that website you can order this tape-it is so good.  How do you get your children to love Gods Word at a early age?  This is  so important because the older they get the harder it gets to have your children want to read the Bible on their own.  Its true that us parents can require it, and we should, however I wanted my children to Love it, to have a longing to go to it on their own.  I wanted them to know when a tough decision had to be made or someone was sick or when they were discouraged with their own sin or trial thats where they needed to go.  It was a great talk and it taught me a lot.  One of the things she suggested was to have 15 minutes a day where your young children have to read their Bibles, she even suggested for our non-readers to just look at picture Bibles for 15 minutes and they could talk with you about what they saw. Your older children could do longer if you wanted.  This was great because at a young age they would begin to expect Bible time and begin looking forward to it.  Its like anything, its a training time (this might not go smooth at first), it helps to have a timer.  I did this for awhile and then stopped the rountine, so we are starting it again.  She reminded me in another tape of hers that loving the Lord with all our hearts, souls and minds should be first in our children, second, character, and third, academics.  We often forget that its why we Homeschool the Most, yet we often get more worried about math then we do Gods Word.  I'm the first to admit, I'm guilty. 

Another great idea is when you have a child read the whole Bible you have a party for them.  This would be the readers of course.  She says she makes a big event out of it.  They get a certificate and a present from Mom and Dad, she actually sells the certificates on her site.  She wants her children to know that this a great accomplishment, more then anything else they can do except, accept Chist as Savior.  Most adults never accomplish reading the Bible all the way through  so what a great thing to celebrate! Anyway thats a couple of ideas she has for teaching your child to love the Word, she has many more on her tape/CD. 

We have our Bible Study together and devotional time during school and I know my childen see me reading my Bible (which helps)  We set the example, if they know where we go for answers they will remember that as well,  however the ideas Kathy has is a great way to develop our kids personal time with their Savior!

Angela

We have been doing the accountable kids program and we love it.  Every child has a board that has their daily chores on it, we have morning, afternoon, and night chores.  After doing their chores for 10 days they get a date with mom or dad (it doesn't have to be expensive, it can actually be free) bike riding, sled riding, an ice cream or movie together) 

They can earn special character cards for doing something exceptional, however they can't ask for it (For example when my older son told his brother he could have the last piece of cake, even though he wanted it), at the end of the week we have a special drawing with the character cards in a bowl and someone wins a small toy (usually from the 1.00 store)  

They can also earn the special priv. card.  This is a card that helps them with something that has been difficult.  An example of that would be when my 4 yr old kept coming out of his room every night with every excuse in the book, he knows now when he stays he will get a card on his peg in the morning and that will earn him 15 min. extra time up with mom and dad at night or 15 min of an activity of his choice (like us playing cars with him or a project)  You only use the card for a little while and then once they have mastered their problem then you just reward them once in a while with special character card. 

 Another thing they have to  earn everything so when they finish their morning chores they get a card from you that lets them earn time on the computer, tv time, outside time (whatever is a privilage to have)  The point of this is that children need to know that everything in their home is a privilage not a right just because they are there.  It has worked great for us, I will be glad to answer any questions, the website to check out is accountablekids.com, we found this at our homeschool convention.  A couple decided they were tired of so many chore systems that had failed them and they wanted something there kids could run, they wouln't have to run it for them.  The kids are responsible for their own boards, we are going to paint ours soon, I will post pictures when we do.

Angela

I was just thinking yesterday how great it was that my son was doing school in his pajamas.  Don't get me wrong, we usually get dressed but yesterday was a cool dreary day and my son has these soft flannel pj pants that he likes and it was the kind of day you don't feel like getting dressed up.  So I let him stay in them.  I couldn't help but think how wonderful it is that I get to homeschool him, that I get to know my kids better then anyone else and be their teacher.

Its the same way when I hear the schoolbus at 630am outside, I just pull the blanket over my head and yell (in my mind of course)  better you then us!  I want no part of my kids being on a bus for an hour or more to go to a school thats 5 minutes away while they can be sleeping.  One time a lady I met at a hostess party said to me, I just couldn't do it, homeschool that is and I said well I just couldn't do what you do (get up at 5:30 or earlier to catch that bus)  I would take my life any day to that. Of course as you can tell I'm no morning person!

Of course on a more serious matter I see how children all around us are struggling.  Some are struggling with academics, and some in other areas as well.  What really amazes me is to see the youngest children struggling.  A cousin of my dh has some many issues with her young children, I hear of children in 1st grade coming home angry as can be and why?  Don't get me wrong, I have some friends who do regular school and they do great and they are in Godly homes, but in these cases the parents are heavily involved with their kids on every level. I also see homeschool families that are a mess and don't have the hearts of their children. We need to be careful and not think homeschooling cures all because its not enough, especially in todays world.  However we are at an advantage, we have our kids all day every day and we can help shape their lives into something beautiful and hopefully most of all for Gods Glory!

I used to think I would only homeschool until junior high or high school but you know I am rethinking that.  I can't give my children to these schools for 8 and 9 hours a day, letting them shape the important attributes of my children, I just feel too much is at stake like their hearts! Every family has to do what they feel called to do and to be at peace in their decision, for me  I want to keep on teaching them in their pajamas and sleeping in for the bus rides.

Angela

I tell you, if its not one thing its another.  I'm beating myself up wondering what I have done wrong so I need your experienced advice.  When I was growing up my parents were so over protective.  I wasn't allowed to play at the park, I never learned to swim, ride a bike, skate, anything.  I vowed I would never do that to my children, I wanted them to try new things, have some adventure and just be kids.  However despite that desire for them, my children seem to be afraid of everything.  My oldest is somewhat growing out of it but still has several fears.

My four year is old who has the will of steel and has always seemed to be the toughest is now all of a sudden afraid of EVERYTHING!  I know children go through stages but I am really wondering if this is normal.  We almost can't go out anymore.  He is afraid of thunder, firework noise, the garbage man, the mailman, the boat hooting on the river, loud cars, campfires, the dark, any bug, vacum cleaner, construction trucks (although he loves to look at them)  if they are moving he is afraid.  He used to love to take walks, he won't go anymore because of the sounds, he has complete panic attacks when we are out.  I don't know what to do, I'm feeling helpless-we can't stop living.  Of course my 2yr old is feeding off of this and says she is afraid too but I think its just she sees her big brother terrified so she thinks she should be too.

We have a family night special thing once or twice a month on Friday nights.  My husband planned a camping adventure in the backyard because thats all they talk about is camping in a tent.  He went all out an built a fire and roasted hot dogs and had all kinds of things planned.  Neither boy lasted through the night and had to come in, I just don't understand.

My four year old doesn't ever play without me, he always stays in the room with me.  I don't mind him being with me but shouldn't he want to do things on his own sometimes?  Any advice would be great.  What are some things you have done?  Have your children experienced fear like this?  I really don't feel I over protect, I never show my fear in front of my kids even when I feel it. 

Angela