Don't Have "Roast Teacher" for Dinner

I have watched this happen at football games for years. Moms sit in the stands and discuss their children's teachers. The conversation begins on a positive note. However, it's not long before the conversation takes a turn. It's even worse when "roast teacher" is served for family dinner. Make an effort to flee from this temptation. When parents criticize teachers, principals, and administrators in front of the children, it takes away the credibility of the person in authority. For example, if a child hears a parent say they don't think this is a good homework assignment and they don't know why Mrs. Jones assigned it. The child no longer sees the value in the homework and will not try to make a good grade. A parent has to power to strip away the credibility of a teacher, principal as well as a pastor or Sunday School teacher. A parent has the power to strip away the value of homework assignments. Be careful with this power. Use it to lift up those who are in authority over your children. Work to present a united front with the teacher.

If you have a hearfelt concern regarding your child's teacher, don't visit with others about it. Schedule an appointment to visit with the teacher. That's a courtesy that teachers and others in authority have earned.

Have a blessed weekend, Robin

Don't Give Up - Keep on Keepin on....

I have a friend who has been married to his wife for 56 years. His wife has been sick for a while and he takes care of her. I commented to him that she is blessed to have a husband to care for her during her prolonged illness. It appears that they have quite a love story. Below I have quoted parts of his email response:

"No two people were as ignorant at age 22 and 21 than the two of us when we got married. Our youngest son observed that he has never seen two married people so poles apart in everything as we are. In our younger days, God put me through the wringer which she had to go through with me. Probably 80%-90% of women would have left me at that time. But she stuck in there.

"A love story? It's a story of two very opposite people who stuck together in marriage and faithfulness through a lot of hard difficult times. If being a jerk was grounds for divorce, my wife would have surely left me a long time ago. So now, I gladly take care of her."

What an inspiration they are to those of us in the trenches of life.

So whatever it is that you have commited to - God, spouse, kids, parents, friends, job, finances - don't give up.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Gal. 6:9

Have a blessed day, Robin

What is it with this Y chromosome?

I just don't get it. I am a girl. I am afraid of roller coasters, high ropes courses, snakes and the list goes on and on. It seems that this weekend there's been an extra dose of the Y chromosome in my house.

On Saturday, one of the boys told me all about his adventures the night before. It seems that he went motorcycle riding with a friend. He told me where all they went and how fast they drove. He beamed as he told me how much fun he had. I couldn't bring myself to ask him if he wore a helmet. Deep down, I knew the answer. Of course, from there he went on to tell me how long he thought it would take him to save up for a motorcycle and how much gas he would save. While I am very frugal, I didn't buy the "saving gas" logic. Desperately, I tried to think of a way to bribe him, threaten him or even ground him from motorcycle riding.

Today when we arrived home from church, our other son met me at the door. He was leaving to ride in an airplane with a friend (a real airplane!). This friend just got his pilot's license. As if riding in a airplane isn't enough, he told me his friend was going to practice his taking offs and landings. Now - I don't know much about flying but isn't that when most accidents happen? I tried desperately to think of some way to bribe him, threaten him or even ground him from airplane flying.

My husband (yet another Y chromosome) wouldn't let me bribe them, threaten them or ground them since they are almost 22 years old.

So - I have to wonder what is it that the Lord is trying to teach me? When I get the answer to this question, I will write a bestselling book.

Until then, I will continue to invest in haircolor and Aleve as well as spend time in prayer daily.

Have a great week and enjoy the Y chromosomes in your life,

Robin

Tips for Talking to Teachers - Part I

With more than 20 years experience in education and administration, I observed many dos and don'ts in the dynamics of parent and teacher communication. At times, it can be a very awkward situation - perhaps even a prescription for disaster. Most teachers are devoted to their students and passionate about their careers. As parents, we are passionate about our children (to put it mildly). Although parents and teachers have the best of intentions, our passions can collide.Throughout the month, I will give you some tips to talking with teachers.

Next week, many of you will go to "meet the teacher." I remember when I was a kindergarten teacher and we had "meet the teacher" day. With 45+ adults and children waiting to meet me, a parent backed me in the corner (literally) and told me about her son's dysfunctional family situation. She went on to tell me that because of this situation he will struggle in school. Hmmm...What's wrong with this picture? First of all, she did this in front of her son. So he listened to his mom tell of how he is going to struggle. Secondly, by the end of the night after more conversations than I could count, all I could remember is that one of my students had a real sad homelife. I couldn't remember which one.

You may have a heartfelt concern that you feel the teacher needs to be aware of (learning difference, illness, family situation, etc.). If so, wait a couple of weeks into the school year. Then schedule a private meeting with the teacher either face to face or by phone. (Most teachers will specify their preferred method of communication.) Keep in mind that email is never the best way to communicate sensitive issues.

Lastly, go out of your way to be kind on "meet the teacher" day. While you are walking in excited and refreshed, chances are the teacher is exhausted (although he/she won't show it). Most teachers spend hours getting their rooms ready for the big day.

Have a blessed day, Robin

Sending Our Kiddos Off to College

My husband often says, "Where has the time gone?" We felt this way when we took our boys to college that first year. It seemed like just yesterday that we were changing diaipers, going to ball games and reminding (fussing at) them to clean up their rooms. Here are some tips to letting go:

Keep in mind that our kids are much more resilient than we give them credit.

Don't be upset if/when they call home in tears due to homesickness. Expect this to happen. It's normal.

The 1st semester can be difficult both academicallly and socially. Developing good study habits and making new friends are adjustments for most.The 2nd semester usually goes much smoother.

As parents, we have been faithful to meet the needs of our kids all of these years. Without mom and dad nearby, this time of life allows for them to experience God's faithfulness firsthand.

Lastly, it's likely that your college student will walk you out to the car and hug you good-bye. If you remember (through the tears), grab your camera and snap a picture as he/she walks away. I did that and it made for a very special picture to be placed in my journal.


I'm sure others have some helpful hints as well. Feel free to add to the list.

Have a blessed day, Robin

Heading off to Kindergarten, College or Somewhere in Between - Part 2

Reggie the Blog Dog wants you to check out the picture on the right and then read his comment. He has some exciting news.

The first few weeks of college can be unsettling for any student - even the most popular confident kiddo. It is uncharted territory. Doug's first weekend at college was full of unknowns. First of all, his brother and his roommate were not on campus. Dan came home to get his wisdom teeth out. His roomie was finishing a trip to Europe. With no friends and no transportation, he was "stuck" at school the entire weekend. As a mom, I worried about him day and night. Although I didn't admit it to anyone at the time, deep down I wanted to go to the school and rescue him from the unknown and bring him home. Here's the funny part of the story. Doug called Saturday night and asked if we were grilling (like we usually do). He wanted to bring home a new friend (or should I say have the new friend bring him home). That weekend we met Doug's new friend Matt who is an amazing young man. Here's the point - while I was at home worrying day and night, Doug was making new friends.

Whether our kids are beginning kindergarten or college or are somewhere in between, how much time do we waste worrying about things that never happen or that we have no control over? Here are some thoughts from Linda Dillow's book, Calm My Anxious Heart:

We can worry or we can trust the Trustworthy One. We can't do both.

When we worry, we're saying, "God can't."

Worry has more to do with perspective than circumstances.

Contentment is a state of the heart not a state of affairs.

We commit sin when we worry. (Ouch! I don't like that one.)

Have a blessed day, Robin