Raising Stick-to-it Kids: Starting Over

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Starting Over

It looks like the media fast really worked! I had a SUPER LONG media fast from blog-writing. The desire to get on my computer when everyone else was taking a break from it continued to diminish through the month-long media fast that my family participated in back in February. (See Media Fast Day 1 for more info.) After the media fast was completed, our family discussed the benefits that come from media-simplification. We came up with a bundle of benefits but the biggest one for me was peace. I found more peace in my personal life by eliminating excess media influences as well as more peace in our home. With eight children in a 2300 square feet home, that is big. Thus, the desire for me to do anything extra on the computer waned to non-existence.

However, looking back on the 109 blog entries about raising Stick-to-it Kids, my heart is yearning to write more. I feel like this is of the most value to my posterity - a guide book from "one-day, down the road, in the far-future, Grandma Bushman" about raising responsible, dependable, respectful, and successful children; a how-to-parent practicum with real-life examples that mean something to them because it's about them!

So, I'm starting over. Thus, the title of today's launching off point for more thoughts on raising Stick-to-it kids, whether you like it or not. Starting over - a perfect principle to teach our children. When they make a mistake, choose the wrong, hurt someone's feelings, suffer disappointment, or didn't meet a goal, they can start over. That's the beauty of our life on earth and the blessing of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We are given the chance to renew relationships, repent of misdeeds, try for success again, or get over fears...start over.

Here are some examples of starting over that we've experienced lately:

1. Sister steals brother's gum. After discussions, sister admits to it. She is given the opportunity to start over: she apologizes, buys him some more gum and does a few of his chores to make up for it.

Friends Again

2. Baby is scared of the animals at the petting zoo.

How scary can a sleeping, fat bunny be?

She screams and screams and doesn't want to touch them. A little bit later she thinks about it and decides that they look cute after all. She decides to conquer her fears and start over.

3. Another child decides he's a little unhappy with how life is going. He re-evaluates, makes some great changes, sets some goals, works hard, and accentuates the positive.

4. This young lady is well on her way to starting over with a new life...life after graduation. Congratulations, honey; you did it!!!!!