Serving at Home

Blessed Turkey Day--and how are your precious "turkeys"…sleeping, arguing, serving, studying, shopping...and the list goes on and on? Everyone wants Respect…everyone wants Privileges but not everyone can handle the
 
Responsibilities that come with both Respect and Privileges. "Train up a child in the way they should go…" is a great scripture with a definite promise but often times it gets misused and abused. Today, Thanksgiving of all days, shouldn't Mom and Dad get some RESPECT and have a few PRIVILIGES after working so hard on the house and a magnificent dinner -- surely they deserve it. Well, often times during the Holidays it's not only the turkey that gets overcooked, but our families' courtesies get overheated and as a result there is a chill in the air on what should be Holy-days. Holy means to "set apart" so let's set the example at home and around others to be watchful and to recognizing the God sightings this season.
 
How do we get our kids to "serve" wholeheartedly around the house?  Your same little darlings that others praise their wonderful manners, helpfulness, and expressions of thanks walk through their own home's front door and something happens. What happens to the manners, why is it so hard to get them to pitch and have a grateful heart for their home? What is it…why the disconnect? Hello, anyone home, anyone listening? 
 
Do you have clear guidelines about what is expected from your kids…clearing the table, dishes into the dishwasher, picking up around the house, actually seeing the floor of your child's room? Remember the adage that "I would rather see a sermon than hear one" or "It's easier to be caught than taught?" Dad and Mom, our being an example is the batter's box (starting point) for our kids to see, hear, feel and pick up serving habits/lifestyles for home and beyond. You're not going to get a homerun every day but you should expect effort.
 
There are rules to every game. Are there rules around your house? CAMP'S number one rule is "don't waste fun";however that broad base invitation is backed up with plenty of reinforced standards such as sportsmanship, words that build up and respect for one another.
Back to the home front: what would happen if mom quit keeping house? How many days can your kids outlast your patience? Is the game worth playing? Let's play FAIR and play WELL.
Fix clear expectations and flex when appropriate                          Work together
Attitude of gratitude will motivate and elevate                                 Examine results
Inspect what you expect                                                                     Learn the rhythms
Respect personal space, timeliness and communication             Listen
 
Be consistent in using the Fair and Wel lguidelines-- communication and consistency will not only instill service in the home, but spill over into other parts of their lives. Remember… you are training Champions and Warriors for life's conquests in the classroom, field, courts, band hall and everyday living. Hang tough, they need you to believe in them and to help them see the BIG picture of who they really are - beautiful where it counts from the INsideOUT! They are a gift from God and more than likely they act just like you - -Parenting is HARD WORK but the dividends are divine!
 
Blessed Turkey day from all us TURKEYS