More on Discipline

I am reading Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp.  It is part of a monthly Mom's Night Out that we do at church.  It is so much fun!  Each month a different "seasoned" mother will host us at her house & prepare a meal.  Another precious mother meets with us younger moms each time and she facilitates the discussion on the book. 
She talked about an "If-Then" consequence chart she used with her kids. I loved the idea, but was trying not to spend the money ordering it online here.   They do have a lot of neat resources on this site, though.
Here are some articles from Focus on the Family (based off the book Creative Correction by Lisa Whelchel).  It is a series of articles with tips on discipline, so once you get to the end just click to see the next one. 
When I was doing a search for a free chart one of my new favorite blogs popped up, Confessions of a Homeschooler.  She read the Whelchel book and made up her own chart.  Not only that, she put a copy on her blog (one with her consequences and one blank) for free download!  It is an interesting post, too, with some other ideas.  Check it out here. 
I am so gung-ho to get this thing filled in and up on the fridge!  My husband has had a crazy schedule lately and I really want us to pray over it together and determine the consequences.  It will not do much good to have to keep changing them because we didn't put enough thought into it at the beginning!
And just in case I have made it seem that my son is a monster in need of serious correction... please know that is not the case!  I just want a consistent plan in place for both of us!

And this picture is from the snow we got last weekend.  And there is ice and snow predicted starting tonight.  Snow can be fun, but did I mention I am ready for Spring?!?!!

I wonder...

I struggle with discipline these days.  Granted, I feel like I do okay sometimes.  But there are (more often) times when I wonder- did I react in love, was I hurtful with my words, did I try to teach him rather than just try to make him act better...?  So many wonderings. 

Over and over the same warning,

He is too wrapped up in his world to notice

Mommy is getting impatient

The last shred is grunted out, hands fly up in exasperation

He is caught, reality sinks in

What will mama feed his flighty soul?

What word to guide and discipline?

Will he leave wounded or restored?

 

He is always my little treasure.

How many whispered prayers are spoken over sleeping children? 

Mommy is learning, too, my sweet gift. 

I love you, but more importantly, God loves you so much more.