Hyrum Malachi

I have to admit that I’m a Dr. Phil fan.  I don’t get to watch it often, but I record it on the DVR and pick and choose an episode once or twice a week to watch while I feed Ian.  He said something today that really stood out to me… “We don’t raise children.  We raise adults.” 

I guess that is just restating the obvious but it reminded me that parenting is not just about now.  As parents our job is to teach our children what they need to know so they can face the challenges of being an adult with the knowledge and skills they will need. The degree to which we do that job has a lot to do with how prepared they are to meet the responsibilities of adulthood with success. continue reading...

Friday was a good day.  I have to blog about it because it was one of those day when almost everything went right.   The kids were happy, they played well together and kept each other entertained (without TV), and I got a lot done.  Laundry was caught up (for the night anyway), I made progress on getting the house in order (again), and I still had time to make Ian’s Easter basket.   When it was finished, I placed it on the fireplace with the other kids’ baskets in preparation for the Easter Bunny.  It didn’t take long for the kids to realize Ian’s basket didn’t have any plastic eggs in his.  Bethany, Hyrum, and Jenna each quickly put some eggs from each of their baskets into his.  His ended up with the most.  I thought that was so sweet. As a mom, one of my greatest desires is to teach my kids to love and serve each other.  Perhaps I’m doing something right. continue reading...