Being a part of a family is not something you can opt out of, just because you don't feel like it. Parents don't even get to take a day off from being a parent when they're sick. So, a child's lack of initiative is not be a viable excuse. If said chore is not done on given day, unless otherwise pardoned, that child could be gotten out of bed at mid-night, if need be, to get it done.

Note: daily chore should be lighter provided item #3 is also implemented.

3.) Learning to work as a team is a necessary tool for life.

Upon age of ability to learn, every child would have a part in preparation of meals and or clean up of kitchen; without complaint.

Those who participate in preparation of a given family meal may or may not be excused from cleanup, depending upon fairness and necessity.

Children may have option of choosing their particular kitchen chore(s), provided that works toward benefit of whole; final decision is up to adult(s), which decision may or may not alter daily and may also depend upon an individual child's need to learn a new task.

No one is excused from kitchen detail, unless otherwise pardoned, until entire project is complete. Therefore, it is to benefit of whole to help each other toward completing needed tasks. And, it goes much more smoothly when everyone makes up their mind to get along.

4.) If children have such excessive penned up energy but what they can't seem to stop picking on each other or a general running off of mouth which seems to be controlling them, these precious angels must have a serious physical problem they need our help with.

Therefore, except a stronger response is deemed necessary, each and every verbal and physical unkindness will be met with an additional chore that is to commence being accomplished from moment so assigned. Of course, this law of consequences is only offered as a means to help them work off some of that penned up energy.

In such event, first chore is to be minute. Then, if behavioral issue is not immediately resolved, kindly let them know they can complete another chore when they get that one done. This procedure is to be continued, slightly increasing degree of pressure, with each offense, until a task can be completed (from start to finish) without sounding off or otherwise having acted out.

The remarkable thing is that most children catch on really fast. And, you thought it couldn't be done. :-)

© 2005 by Joyce C. Lock http://www.angelslight.org/viewauthor.php?id=8 http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/ This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact, for non-profit ministering purposes.

True, they will either be your heavenly cheerleaders or your heavenly sand paper. But, in either case, they have purpose.

I once heard said that Jesus' family did not recognize who He was, spiritually ~ that they only knew Him as family. So, I imagine He knew that hurt, too.

None-the-less, we may fail to realize that others are also looking at us to validate who they are. And though we can't be their everything, we can make sure our mouth doesn't call others things they are not.

When we have checked our heart and motive, and our heart condemns us not, God is pleased. He doesn't look for perfect people, just perfect hearts ~ as God knows who we are spiritually. Therein is where we get our confidence, assurance, self esteem, and such.

And even when our behavior is out of line, due to other's blows, God sees source. Yet, as we grow in seeking and accepting only God's approval, we have less need to respond to negative input ~ as their opinion isn't what counts.

When we depend upon people for our self worth, we set both them and us up to fail.

People fail us. But, God never will.

© 2005 by Joyce C. Lock http://www.angelslight.org/viewauthor.php?id=8 http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/ This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact, for non-profit ministering purposes.