Parenting Blues or Bliss?

Happy Friday!

(Deep breathe and sigh of relief!) I made it through the week!

My 1st grader has just completed 7 weeks of school! Hooray! It's Oct. 1st. Time continues to fly by no matter how much I want my little man to stay little, the reality is that he's growing up mighty fast. I find many parents in the same boat with me when they start to think about their little ones and how capturing those special moments are priceless.

This week has been a rough week for Peter in school. As I look back over his behavior charts for the past 7 weeks, he has had many struggles with self-control. Peter's school utilizes the "Honorable Character/Defining Character" charts to capture specific characteristics the children exhibit throughout the course of the day. This system works to identify the following in kids:
1. Honor (Give preference to one another. Romans 12:10)
2. Obedience (Obey...for this is right. Ephesians 6:1)
3. Diligence (Whatever your task, work at it heartily. Colossians 3:23)
4. Wisdom (Who among you is wise? Let him show by his good behavior. James 3:13)
5. Kindness (Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving. Ephesians 4:32)
6. Self-Control (Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. James 1:19)
7. Orderliness (Let things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40)
8. Service (Serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13)
9. Attentiveness (Hear and increase in learning. Proverbs 1:5)
10. Cooperation (Look beyond your own interests and consider others. Philippians 2:4)
11. Initiative (Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. James 1:22)
12. Honesty (Delight the Lord with truthful ways. Provers 12:22)
13. Forgiveness (Do not pay back wrong for wrong. 1 Thessalonians 5:15)
14. Responsibility (Each of us will give an account for himself. Romans 14:12)

It's really a great tool to help raise a child up in the ways of the Lord. Periodically throughout the course of the day, the teachers document positive and negative behavior to help parents know how their child/children behaves. I'm sure we all know our kids like to twist the truth a little, but this tool really help alleviate any "stories" that may be told. (And, I must admit they are pretty creative!)

As mentioned previously, this week has been a bear for Peter. I'm not lying, it has been stressful for me too! There's just something about disciplining your child that is exhausting, especially when it's on a daily basis for the same thing!

Some of the things he has gotten into trouble for have been: running into the wall at PE (safety violation), yelling and playing in the bathroom, talking in the lunchroom, talking and running in the hallway, poking his friends, not being attentive, etc...all of these fall under lack of self-control, showing no kindness, and not being obedient.

My biggest frustration lies in the fact that he gets multiple warnings throughout the day! It is my understanding that they get a verbal warning, the 2nd warning they get their name on the board, 3rd offense they get a check mark next to the # they violated. Then, they can have up to 3 marks before they go to the Principal's office. The first visit to the Principal's office is a "freebie" for consoltation, then the 2nd time they go to the Principal's office they get a spanking. So, yesterday Peter made it to the Principal's office... Today, he had 2 warnings....all for lack of self-control. He is smart and knows the rules. He knows what to say... I just pray that he isn't manipulating the rules.

I don't remember being an aggressive kid in school. I think I was a pretty good kid. But, I do recall that I was always busy...thus, Peter is a busy-body as well. He is constantly on the move. His little bottom has trouble sitting still and concentrating at the task at hand. His little mind is just thinking all over the place. I hope to find a way to channel that concentration into something constructive!

Well, I better get going. I just wanted to share some thoughts about my little one... tomorrow is another race so I better get some sleep! Ugh! Wish me luck!