~GENTLE
PARENTING~

That's what I call our parenting style.

We don't read parenting books.
* I did read one that was highly recommended;
it was disturbing to me.

Basically, we treat our children like individual people.

Attitude Adjustments:

Toddler Tantrums are met with understanding; they are frustrated...
I know how that feels; I, too, sometimes want to have a tantrum.

Disrespect or sarcasm is met with conversation;
be willing to discuss how you are feeling; I will always make time to listen.

Sibling bickering is met with guidance;
work it out or pray together.

Musical beds anyone?

We have a revolving door to our room. We live in a small house, we share rooms. I could say it is because we live in a small house, but it was that way when we lived in the big house. =)
Mama doesn't care where she sleeps, as long as she gets sleep. Our king-sized bed is still in storage (from The Move). We currently use a double-sized futon. Mom, Dad, and the dog...one little may show up by 2 a.m., the next may show up around 4. The first gets to crawl in w/ us... the second gets mommy to crawl in bed with them. Then, sometimes, I even head to the couch in the early morning hours for a quiet moment of sleep by myself...the dog usually follows.

The older kids sleep in their shared room in their own beds; randomly they will choose to sleep on the couches... I then don't sneak off to the couch myself, but appreciate that they will probably get up earlier than the normal.

It may be unusual; it is what we do.

Honesty:

We are very open with our children about ourselves. Ofcourse we use discretion related to an age of understanding.

I want my teens to know the 'why' to the warnings.

I highly recommend waiting to try alcohol until they are 21, and encourage them to have the option to not try it all...
there are why's to this.

Don't do drugs.
I share a few fun moments (honesty), and then share some ugly moments that did not make the fun times worth it... by far.

Stay abstinent til marriage.
No, God will not shoot a bolt of lightening at you,
yet I do believe there are extra blessings that we miss out on when we follow our own path rather than God's.

With our conservative values, we share the why's,
so that they may think clearly for themselves
and be equipped to make their own choices...
This also includes sharing the days when I was not so conservative.

Discipline:

I find our style a bit unconventional, but it works for us.
If interested, you can read more here.

Perfect parenting does not exist. We all make mistakes; we are human. Admitting when we are at fault gains trust. It then becomes natural for our children to come to us when mistakes are made by them~

nurturing the young, guiding the middle years, mentoring them when they become adults~

that is what parenting is.

LOVE is not a feeling; it is an action~

Do to others what you would have them do to you.
Matthew 7:12