Charleston GFI Family Newsletter

Well, it finally happened. Mr. Ezzo has always said not to bring up or push these parenting classes on other parents, but to wait till somebody asks you how you get your kids to behave so well. I have waited 6 years now for some one to ask. I was beginning to think it was never going to happen. Most parents I met at the park or out somewhere either didn’t pay attention to what their kids were doing, no less mine, or they were so busy chasing theirs around they didn’t seem to notice anyone else, especially children. So, when it finally happened, I was caught off guard. It happened at the pediatrician’s office. Since my youngest had to get shots, I took things for the other two to work on in the lobby, so they didn’t have to listen to the baby scream. I put them at the small table, gave them their backpacks and told them not to get up unless it was an emergency. I was happy they lasted about 20 minutes before my oldest came walking back to the room we were in and said she had to use the bathroom. After she used the bathroom she came back in to chat for a bit, then I asked her to return to the table. She did and added a “yes mommy” for good measure. All was good and I was happy. On her way, she saw that the nurse was drawing up the shots and asked if she could watch, the nurse said yes, and she turned and asked me from the end of the hall if she could. I agreed and then she returned back to the table. Of course, my three year old wanted to know where her older sister was so she tailed along for the preparation of the shots and then back to the table. After the shots were administered and the baby stopped screaming, both girls came in to check and see if their younger sister was okay, and of course, ask for a lollipop. I told them, “No, it’s too close to lunch.” I couldn’t believe it, but neither child objected and both returned to the table while I redressed the baby. The nurse stood there with an open mouth and asked how in the world I got my girls to obey and be so happy about it. It happened! I finally got to share the good news! She was really interested in the program and said she would like to learn more. I immediately went home, got a spare book I had, and took it to her with the GFI website and GFI Charleston website for reference and class schedules. I was so excited! What an opportunity to expand our community through a pediatrician’s office. God works in so many ways in our daily lives, sometimes we forget to stop and give thanks for the little things. Today, I remembered. I thanked God for my wonderful children who had the opportunity today to glorify God and used it. I thanked God for the Ezzo’s and their ministry and I thanked God for all those difficult days I have training my children for just this one opportunity. Then I realized, we have many opportunities every day. You never know when or where they will be, few or far between, but every day in every instant there is an opportunity for someone to notice the light of God in your children. We just have to remember to pay attention long enough to see it.

Summer is over and school is back in session. Whether it be public, private, Christian, or home school, mothers are often conflicted when entering this new season. Those lazy days by the pool are now over, and the daily activities of school reveals how easily we fall out of a structured routine during the summer and my dear 5 year old reminds me through her ‘attitude’.

There is a pattern I’ve noticed in my household over the past five years, that with less structure and routine, there seems to be many more problems during the day. During summer I think we need to relax, be flexible with the daily routine, except I find my children are the ones who suffer. They have no idea what’s coming next, usually because, I don’t. For example, one day, we were on our way to the movies after a plan for a play date fell through. Meanwhile, a friend calls to say that she and her daughter were going to Barnes and Noble. While I was explaining to my 5 year old the change from Plan A : the movies to Plan B: Barnes and Nobles, my 3 year old lost her temper (and her mind) and hit the back of my head. My first reaction was to take the privilege of the movie and/or play date and take her home for chastisement. However, after I thought for a moment about the schedule that was promised and planned for the day, I changed my mind. The changes that were made not once but twice must have been frustrating for my three year old. Of course, she didn’t get away with the bad behavior, but I did make some immediate changes to our daily routine. I was thinking a relaxed schedule and atmosphere for the summer would make everyone relaxed and happy. Wrong!

After much prayer God laid on my heart that these three little ones of mine, need to know what is going to happen every day and generally what time or order they will take place. I started with what came easy, meal times. Then I added in naps, chores and personal hygiene time. After that I made a list of things that are important to our family like, exercise, quiet devotional time, family time, service projects and character training. The time that was left went for play dates, learning and organized sports. Once I started implementing this schedule, my children started reminding me what was next in our day instead of asking me. The children were a whole lot happier and I, more relaxed!

So, be it kindergarten, elementary level or beyond, it is still tough letting go of children having them leave our household and enter the public domain of school; or spending hours of time on the first few weeks of lesson plans for home schooling. I’m looking forward to this new season of life as my five year old starts school for the first time and as I sit down to plan my days events, the Lord Jesus reminds me that He is the power and energy behind our household. He is the wisdom behind our schedules so we must go to Him prayerfully first before planning our days and scheduling our time.

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)