Morning Lord! As someone jokingly pointed out to me at kindy this morning, it’s seven months until Christmas Day today! The scariest thing about this is just how fast the year is flying by. As ruler of the universe you are probably the best person to ask this question of: Is time actually speeding up? If the answer is “Yes” it wouldn’t surprise me.
Unfortunately seven months is a bit too long of a time frame to use as a viable threat for naughty children – something that after this morning’s performance I am feeling in need of. Now that Faith, Trinity and Christian are no longer in residence (and in some small way a common enemy) I am starting to see some degradation in Nathan and Emily’s behaviour. Now that they don’t have a need to be so closely aligned with one another in order to gain or keep territory they are once again back to vying for supremacy with each other. The bickering over who sits where in the car, whose turn it is to choose what to watch on television, even “I had it first” comments are coming thick and fast, culminating in an all-out shouting match this morning.
So, instead of threatening no Christmas presents (a stupid threat anyway because I love the excitement of seeing the kids open their gifts on Christmas Day) I have banned television for two days after school and am promising confiscation of toys if no improvement is seen. Is there any way to retain the sibling serenity of the last few months, I wonder? Asking another family to move in with us might work – but that does seem a bit drastic. So, any ideas you might have would be greatly appreciated, Lord.
Bless our family, Lord, according to you will. I continue to pray for the salvation of my children and for your hand to be on them as we raise them towards independence and adulthood. Work in and through me today for your good purposes I pray…Amen