1. Taking them to church. So maybe they don't pay attention and they run around, but they're there and they see their family there and they know it's important somehow, and one day they will get that.
2. Family time. Eating dinner at the table together at night. We eat together around the table almost every night and talk about our day. We ask John questions and allow him to answer. And family time should include everything, kids can do anything with you, sometimes things get messy or aren't perfect, but that's the fun in having kids!
3. Tell them you love them. Tell them you are there for them, that they can talk to you. Don't make children feel like a burden or a bother, ever. I've had the joyous pleasure in helping raise my goddaughter who is now 10 and I can not tell you how important it is to make sure you allow children to be comfortable with communicating with you as they get older.
4. BE THERE. BE THERE. BE THERE.
5. Create boundaries and don't spoil them. I struggle with this one BIG time. who doesn't want to give their children everything? But I am afraid that we get the whole "entitlement" issue from spoiling them! Just say no and stick with it. They'll get over it. And they won't hate you for not giving them the candy. Just ask John. Last week he was sneaking into the treat cabinet for the hundredth time and I was tired of it. So I dumped the treat bucket in the trash can. Yeah, he hasn't done any more sneaking.
And here's another piece of my mind that I'm sure no one cares about: DAD'S. BE A DAD. Good grief. Every time I watch intervention or First 48 it seems that every screwed up drug addict or violent criminal had a dad the checked out when they were young. And in all honesty, most of the time Mom's/Family's who didn't pick up the slack. But Mom wouldn't HAVE to pick up the slack if Dad would just step up. Dude, if you have a baby, you have to lead that child. Lead by example and be a good one. I am so tired of so called fathers not stepping up and taking care of their responsibilities and I passionately feel like father's make a real and huge difference in their children's lives. Not just son's either. Dad's, please be dads. Not part time dads. All the time dads. Not when it is convenient. ALL THE TIME. Children are not a matter of convenience. Whether you are in a relationship with the child's mother or not, parents have a responsibility to get along for the sake of their children. And if you know a child who is living in a one parent household, you can be the person to be a support for that parent and child. It truly DOES take a village to raise a child.
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Proverbs 22:6
