On days when my attention and priorities are not on my children, they act out more.
It is their life’s mission to receive love, attention, and approval from me, their parent. But when push comes to shove, they’ll settle for one out of the three. Attention. And they learn at an early age that though they may be ignored when well-behaved, even the most distracted momma will attend to a violent, argumentative, whiny child.
Two steps I have taken to re-prioritize my daily life are as follows:
1.) I do not turn on my computer until I have read my Bible. As I do not wake up before my children, it usually takes me until about lunch to read it. And, funny thing, I’m more accepting of interruptions when I’m reading my Bible than I am when reading blogs. Or writing them. Or twittering. Or using AIM. Whether or not that is me bearing fruit of the Spirit or trying to get out of decoding Zecharaiah, we will never know.
In either case, reading my Bible puts God back at the top of my list, where He needs to be if I’m to do anything worthwhile that day.
2.) I do not turn on my computer until I have prayed for my children and for myself as their parent. Praying for my children wraps my world around them. In that instant, they are at the top of my list. I then enlist God’s help in keeping them there. And He obliges. Because it makes Him happy.
In case you couldn’t tell, my main distraction around the house is the Internet. These rules help me put the Internet in its place. (Instead of my children’s place. Where it would rather be.) Perhaps your distraction is crafts. Maybe you need to read your Bible before getting out the sewing machine.
Is it cleaning? Pray for your children before reaching for the dust rag. And then head to my house. Please.
Whatever your distraction, put your children first and they will be better for it. And as much as I love the Internet and all the goodies it gives me (freebies! friends! recipes! games! skype with family!), it cannot give me better children.
Unless you’re using it to read this post.
Ironic.
i appreciated this post. i have felt that i’ve needed to find a way back to focusing on the lord first, children/husband second, home third. somehow, internet likes to top the list all the time. i like that you attempt to not even open the computer til you’ve met with the lord. i think the lord has been speaking to me about this lately. i hesitate to follow methods when it comes to the lord. i want to be led of my spirit. BUT i KNOW the lord wants my first moments. i feel him touch my spirit as i open my computer first. thank you for this reminder.
Love, love, love this post. I too have been reaching for the internet when I should be reaching for my kids first. Thanks for the reminder of what should be important. Sometimes the answer is so simple, yet needs to be said by another person! Thank you!