October 2011 Entries
My parents divorced when I was very young; and my biological father was then out of our lives for good by his own choice. I was, however, blessed with a loving stepfather who took care of my older brother and me and eventually adopted us. I never knew anything different; and I praise God for that. I am not so much a product of divorce, but the product of a successful blended family.
Do you sometimes wonder if your children are the only ones who cannot even stand next to each other without a confrontation? Are you dealing with hurt feelings, stolen toys, and anger between your children on a daily basis?
You are not alone. Sibling rivalry is as old as the book of Genesis and it doesn’t stop there. Cain and Abel are the first tragic examples of sibling rivalry.
My son is as smart as they come, which in most ways is wonderful. But as I dialed the Poison Control Hotline in hysterical tears for the third time in six months because it seems my son can out-smart any childproofing device, I realized I am overwhelmed. Thankfully, it turned out to be fine. However, as I cried to the calm voice on the other end of the call, I couldn’t help but feel exasperated by my life.
I have two young daughters and often I wonder how I will protect them from broken hearts. Even with my son, I worry about the way the society he is growing up in defines love. It is important to talk to your children about the reasons to stay pure until marriage, but this is not just a one-time conversation. They need to define their self-worth through God’s eyes. And as parents, it is our responsibility to show them what that means.
It is impossible to completely ignore Halloween. Stores are already stock full of Halloween supplies and costumes, and schools and TV shows will undoubtedly celebrate it as the holiday approaches. As parents and Christians, you may be wondering how to shelter your child from it. It seems as the years pass by, the costumes and decorations become more and more realistic and scary. My younger daughter will not even enter an aisle that has a Halloween selection in it.