Ho Hum Drum

Ho Hum.....I am writing this particular blog to bump my last post down because I don't particularly want to share with anyone IRL until I absolutely have to. I usually shout it from the rooftops, but a #7.....a #SEVEN is just not going to be perceived in a happy light so I will wait until I am barfing too much to hide it or until my belly begins to bulge, which shouldn't take too long. After all, this is my 11th prengnacy. Oh. my. gawd. that sounds like so many! I have of course lost 4 though. So anyhow, going back to the crazy homeschooling moment I was having. Things have been better and I ordered a ton of new stuff from Amazon. Well over $600 bucks worth to be exact. It will give our homeschool a much needed boost in the arts/humanities/music area. I got everything from a kids' yoga dvd to recorders and a beginers book on how to play, mexican pottery clay, tons of Melissa and Doug wood toys, playsilks, art/craft supplies, some cool Usborne books, gosh I could go on and on. I am excited for our purchase to arrive! If that doesn't entertain these lil boogers, nothing is going to.....nothing.

Unschooling Religion

I think we are finally able to really call ourselves "whole life unschoolers" or "radical unschoolers" since we are no longer planning to force church(the last aspect we are finally letting go of). I have been reading a lot of books lately, I mean A LOT! They have been all unschooling or peaceful parenting related and the more I read, the more my thoughts have been swayed to believe that religion and radical unschooling really don't go together. This go round at the LDS church hasn't gone like I expected. My kids quickly embraced all their friends, but they have simply not embraced the church part of it. They hate sacrament and show disrespect during it no matter how many pleas I make and really I don't want kids who comply with something like this if they are truly not enjoying it. I am realizing that in order to really continue following unconditional/peaceful/authentic parenting, I cannot force my kids to go to church and if they do not want to go, I don't really have much desire either especially watching their distaste and Nate sleeping in the pew. The next order of business is Nate who has always jokingly called himself a "Natist" when it comes to religion. He is not into the lovey dovey parts of religion and it has always made him uncomfortable. I guess religion is something I have always searched for because its something I feel society expects of us and our homeschool group is uber religious as well, but I just don't know if its right for us at this time. I read my Bible and of course I believe in God, but for us, for our family, I think we need to give up organized religion. It feels wrong even though we are told it is right. Its inspirational and very moving many times, but something deep inside me feels it isn't right for us. Maybe this is why we searched out so many churchs, I was looking for somewhere that made us comfortable when in the end, none of them did because its not right for our family. My kids know who Jesus is and we talk lots and pray lots together, however, I just think our family has had a few interesting/annoying/hilarious/uncomfortable years in and our of different church's and many aspects of the Christian faith. I think my kids have had an amazing experience getting to pick out different church's to try, but ultimately, none of us can stand anywhere we go. The "teaching" for kids in church is so undermining of who my children are and they are smart little cookies because they complain incessantly about how the teachers talk to them like they are their pets or two year olds or something. They are quick to pick up on stuff like this because that isn't how we treat them. My kids are used to being respected as an equal, not some unknowing babies or dogs awaiting training so I believe this part of our lives makes church very hard on the kids. I think radical unschooling and institutional church settings just are not mixing well. Nate says we are naturists and we believe in nature and God and that's it. lol, who knows, but its funny to think about. I hate letting church friends down by not being able to commit to it all, but ultimately our family isn't going to work out in any church I don't think. That's alright though and I have really begun coming to terms with that being a high possibility over the past year. Some good books I have read lately that have helped me in my thinking about anything institutional including church are:

• Unconditional Parenting
• Learning All the Time
• Homeschooling our Children, Unschooling Ourselves
• The Happy Child: Changing the Heart of Education

AWESOME website for Christian mamas Looking for Peaceful Parenting Options

http://www.aolff.org/ There are a few things on the site that I dont fully agree with, but in general, this is an amazing intro to peaceful parenting with step by step how to instructions. I really love this site. Radical Unschooling is truly a peaceful way to live. I love peaceful parenting and yes, I am human, I DO resort to punitive parenting on occassion when I am exhausted, hungry, sick, etc. Usually it is at my weakest moments, but a wise woman(Dayna Martin) once told me, "If you are the parent you want to be 51% of the time, you are winning!" I love that and its so true and helps me to be gently on myself when I do make mistakes. I always apologize and I find these mistakes get less and less, the longer you peaceful parent. I have never been a spanker, but I did use punitive parenting the first 5 years of being a mother as I knew no other way. I am so grateful to have found a better way.

Hard Life Lessons

This Valentines day we didnt go out and get Valentine's cards, we instead got sympathy cards for both my mom and Nate's Dad and step mom. My mother is experiencing a miscarriage, which she is very devastated about. The kids understand the pain miscarriage causes and wanted to show their grandma they care. As for my in-laws, their dog, Sammy had to be put to sleep yesterday and my mother in law is absolutely devastated and is extemely sick to boot so we brought some cards and candles to each to show we care. This is such an important lesson for our kids and I am glad to be able to show them how we can be compassionate to those who are hurting.

We Finished Maddy's Blankie

The final product! Every stitch is filled with love from all the kiddos
We put purple yarn in the corners of the quiltwork to go with the ribbon edges. Kenna is the all pink girl so we are doing nothing but tons of purple for Maddy so we can keep things seperated, thus the reason for the purple edges and backing.

The back is a pretty floral material. I am so proud of our accomplishment, we learned lots doing it and my kids have a new found love of sewing

Pursuing Passions

What I love about being a mom is watching my kids grow into their unique selves. When they were really small, I loved to match them all and they all played tball together and everything was sort of done in a group. Well, they are at the ages now where they are all branching off into their unique interests. Wyatt became interested in basketball from watching Highschool Musical 1 and 2 and this past summer his passion became so intense. He practices daily as much as time will allow. We searched out basketball teams in our area and we signed him up back in November for the soonest available team which was January. He started the 9th and I can't say enough how much it just welled my heart with joy to watch him playing on his team and just enjoying himself. All the kids really enjoyed seeing Wyatt so excited and happy. It was infectious. He was so caught up in the moment and so happy, undistracted and if you know Wyatt, you know that he is so easily distracted, but because this is such a passion for him, he just went for it. We have had so much fun getting him basketballs, arm and head sweatbands, basketball shoes and shorts and just watching him flourish.

What Peaceful Parenting Looks Like for LDS too

"I want to try peaceful parenting but I don't know where to start." -Cyndi

Well I would watch these youtube videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as24S1Zs8SM they are short http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-CiEeLzZYE and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFBFX-m3YFs and start with throwing out discipline and then working your way into other areas like quitting limiting TV or food, etc.You can adjust it an stop where your family is comfortable. some families may choose not to have TV or may still limit video games or bedtime or have a chore time each day or what have you, that is what makes each family unique! Dont not try peaceful parenting because there are a few areas you dont agree with, just keep those areas how they are if everyone likes it. First just pick one area, master it and move on. Its a process. It will be about 2 weeks of craziness probably and when/if you remain serious and really peaceful, always viewing the situations from their limited knowledge of things, you wont see them as a bad child needing punished, but a frustrated child needing gentle guidance. Ex: Everett bit Tanner today. Punitive parenting would tell me to spank him, bite him back, naughty spot him or time him out. Peaceful parenting told me to go to him calmly after seeing to Tanners wound and ask him why he bit his brother. He says, "he broke my lego airplane so I bit him." I asked him what he could do differently next time instead of biting and he replies, "ummm, come tell you." I then asked him what he could do to make the situation better and he says, "sorry Tanner, want me to make you your own lego plane?" Tanner tells him he does and he follows through on his own terms. Not all situations will resolve as peacefully as they dont always even with adults. Kids are people too, we dont own them, we have them for a short time and guide them to go into the world. And dont beat yourself up at first. As Dayna told me, "if you are being the parent you WANT to be, 51% of the time, you are doing great" beating out the punitive parenting inch by inch and making a huge difference for your kids. you will notice your blood pressure completely quits raising in this lifestyle if you are doing it correctly. Life will be good, easy, joyful, mindful, in the moment and fun. This lifestyle takes more creativity. EX: Wyatt kept showing his boy parts in the park to my friends when he was mad. I called Dayna and asked her advice about this and she gave me the idea and it worked! I finally told him after a playdate, "Wyatt, you know when we get older, the police could get called and you can go to jail for indecent exposure." he seemed shocked and I was very matter of fact with it........ carefully so as not to put him on the defense and make him shut down and wouldnt you know, he hasnt shown his parts in over a month now! I also resolved our buckling seat belt issue. I showed the kids some "cool" youtube videos of real people flying out and being ran over and their guts all over and brains being smashed etc. They thought it was pretty cool/sick. I then asked Everett(biggest offender) if he wanted to be the carseat safety officer. He was thrilled to pieces and takes his job ever so seriously and everyone is buckled now. We are all thrilled and he reminds any offenders(nonbuckled) that they could end up like the youtube guys lol! So there you have it, some peaceful ideas. No the videos werent peaceful per say, but they were real and everyone appreciated them in some sick sorta way lol. Its not just the kids' way all day, its meeting everyone's needs together through compromise and peacefully.

What the LDS church says about peaceful parenting

http://www.lds.org/hf/library/0,16866,4227-1,00.html?LibraryURL=/Curriculum/home%20and%20family.htm/family%20home%20evening%20resource%20book.htm/building%20a%20strong%20family.htm/helping%20family%20members%20live%20the%20gospel.htm

Sometimes we think that some five-second formula or recipe will effectively change a family member's behavior. Long-term change, however, comes only from living correct principles. The Lord told priesthood bearers how the power and influence of the priesthood should be used (see D&C 121:4146). We can use some of the things he mentioned, such as persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned to teach and guide our children and others. In contrast, using sarcasm, intimidation, force, impatience, irritability or anger, harshness, and pride will neither teach children proper values nor help them change their behavior. In fact, we know that it is Satan, not Heavenly Father, who wants us to use force and hostility.
We can learn to be better parents by studying the scriptures to see how Heavenly Father deals with his children. We can also learn how not to act by observing Satan's methods. What can you learn from the following chart to help you be a better parent.

The Lord's Way VS
Satan's Way

Lord: Love unfeigned—charity, caring for others' welfare despite any wrongdoing.
Satan: Physical force—being hostile and unfairly using physical strength.
Lord: Acceptance—seeing others in eternal perspective, judging with compassion.
Satan; Blame—condemning others' faults without compassion.
Lord: Integrity—being honest, a personal commitment to righteousness.
Satan: Accusation—provoking guilt, reminding people of their mistakes to punish them and justify oneself.
Lord: Persuasion—teaching with compassion, kindly pointing out advantages and disadvantages of situations.
Satan: Intimidation—ruling by fear because others are afraid of one's power.
Lord: Gentleness—soft, not treating others harshly.
Satan: Threat—expressing an intent to physically or emotionally harm someone.
Lord: Trust—lovingly allowing others to exercise their agency to choose right or wrong and to accept the consequences.
Satan: Pride—self-righteously preaching moral truths and condemning others.
Lord: Responsibility—acknowledging and assuming your role in any situation including repenting for past wrongdoing.
Satan: Self-centeredness—refusing to accept responsibility for your actions.
Lord: Meekness—humility, uncomplaining, and teachable
Satan: Haughtiness—being unteachable, proud, and pessimistic.

Back to Peaceful Parenting

Okay I am highly discouraged with myself. I have resorted to punitive parenting over the past week as I was having some self-doubt about my abilities as a mother-stupid hormones. I have spoken to the kids this morning and we are back to our plan. I am modeling by being peaceful and living joyfully and praying they will as well. I realize why this happened last week and I am glad I caught it and got back on track. I was under too much stress last week, Wyatt has been going to the Drs to get his diagnosis for Aspergers so we can do all we can to make sure he has every opportunity possible, my sister had a 10 hour back surgery, we had a playdate with like 15 kids here Wednesday, we went to the park several times, tball, brownies, church, home teaching, still on a crappy budget that I cant stand and of course, my hormones playing wacky games with me so here I stand, determined to fix it, to make right what I wronged and do better. Yelling and threatening has ended up backfiring and causing me more stress. Our home became a place I wanted to escape just a few hours ago. With a shift in focus, its back to peaceful and I have to remain in the moment and aware to keep it this way. I worked out, some of the kids are playing a game with silverware and hiding and finding it and counting it and paying money to each other for it. The other ones are playing legos. Life is nice this way. I am off to make lunch, shower and read some "Little House on the Prairie." This goes to show that if we stay aware, correct our behavior, the whole house can change dramatically in a matter of minutes!

Seasoned Peaceful Parents, I need some help

How do I handle buckling kids who dont/will not buckle. Its seriously a major issue in my home. I have to have 5 kids bucked each time we leave and all 5 are in booster/car seats. The baby is easy so far, Kayla buckles without me asking, Wyatt will if I really get on it and stand there staring at him. This leaves me with Everett and Tanner. Everett is in a booster and the child will unbuckle 500 times in a row while I am driving. It makes me a nervous wreck and I pull over each time and sit sometimes 5 minutes straight waiting for him to buckle. I tell the kids that the car can't drive until we are buckled and safe. Tanner is fine once I get him buckled, but he dislikes his carseat so much(yeah we have asked if it hurts and readjusted it and tried other things), how do I peacefully get him to stop running from me and hiding in the very back of the car and to get into his carseat. I mean, I am pretty against external reward systems. I try to just get my kids candy for suffering through a shopping trip no matter how they behave. I am so drained after shopping, I know that "I" need a candybar recharge and they probably do to. I really try not to condemn any behaviors I dont appreciate, but to find positive things and redirect. I have tried to be creative and carry on conversations while casually buckling them and that works 25% of the time, but the rest of the time, OY VEY! I can imagine a carseat you couldnt unbuckle yourself would feel confined and freaky to anyone really so I understand his frustration. I just need help dissolving this situation peacefully for anyone with a suggestion. Oh and for those following along, Wyatt remains sleeping peacefully each night. I am so glad and so is he!

Some New Books I ordered!

I am off to purchase this one this morning, after talking to Dayna, I am pretty certain she recommended this book to me last night. She recommended one and I searched and this is the one I am pretty sure she was talking about.
I grabbed this yesterday for ideas when my kids bring up different subjects, it has ideas of ways to teach different things. I am not certain we will use it much, but I got it used for 3 bucks on amazon so if its junk, I'll toss it!
I got this one last night on amazon as well, really excited to read this one


This one looked super fun, so I grabbed this one too.

I Talked to Dayna Martin!!!

Oh my goodness, I feel sooooo blessed to have gotten to speak to her via phone last night. I used up probably a lil over an hour of her time, but she was so sweet and kind. Stupid me, I live on the west coast and it didnt dawn on me that I was calling her at 10pm East coast time. Who on earth would answer so cheerfully at 10 pm to chat with someone wanting to pick your brain about peaceful parenting and unschooling. She helped me so much with reminding me to appreciate my kids for their uniqueness, take care of myself in order to keep up with peaceful parenting as its involved and can burn you out, and some of the challenges I was having with parenting some undesirable behaviours. She reminded me that peaceful parenting isnt child led behavior(unschooling is child-led learning, but parenting differs) and that there needs to be a way to meet every one's needs in the home. each child cannot always have their own way, just as I cant so I need to mindfully parent to get that balance and have them help come up with ways to make sure every ones needs are being met. She used the example with Wyatt's recent sleeping issue., She says, "If Wyatt's need is not being able to sleep, your need is sleep, compromise by sleeping together in sleeping bags on the living room floor or having him sleep on your floor or whatever works to gently get him back to sleep so you can sleep!" BINGO! This is what I needed to hear. It is so helpful to know this type of parenting isnt a kids draining the life out of mom free for all. Its peacefully meeting every one's needs, saying yes often, living in joy and happiness, living in a teaching mode, ready to guide and help my children throughout the days. I just think Dayna is amazing and can't say enough praises for how she handles her kids, their education, and her constant glass half-ful attitude. I really want to be that way and I find I am that way so much more now than I ever was. She said, " if you parent the way you WANT to 51% of the time, your doing great!" what a great way to look at it and I know I am hitting for than 50% of the time so that makes me happy and I feel like a better mom today. I love how she never picks and chooses negative in her kids, she picks and chooses positives in them and celebrates those things and works on those things. I look forward to talking to her again and getting more tips and advice! Here's her blog and her other website to find her videos and other things about her and her family.

http://www.unschoolingamerica.com/videos.asp

http://thesparklingmartins.blogspot.com/

UPDATE on Wyatt! PEACEFUL parenting works!

Well, I just tried to think about what it feels like to have insomnia. We have all been there and its miserable. I have done so well with peaceful parenting and it killed me to try going back to conventional parenting during that week during the night with him. I reverted out of fear and yelled at him and threatened to take things away. I had to step back and realize that conventional parenting has never worked to begin with, yet I couldnt come up with a way to peacefully resolve this til I really thought long and hard and placed myself in those insomniac shoes. I would never go back to sleep with someone yelling at me or telling me I would lose my beloved things if I didnt get to sleep. I know what works for me on the occassion when I get insomnia is to have Nate rub my back or even just pet my hair and talk sweet to me. He has always been so good at helping me fall back asleep when I am aggitated and cant. I decided to pay my son this same respect. When he woke up 2 night ago once again like every other night for the past 8 days or so, I smacked myself in the head, came out of my sleepy stupor and made myself be kind and tucked him in and reasured him that his tv would be there for him in the morning and it wasnt his fault he was awake and I wasnt mad at him. I rubbed his back some and spoke lovingly to him. To my surprise, he went back to sleep in only a few minutes and slept in til 8 am!!!!! OMGOSH this is proof in itself to me that peaceful parenting works. Getting mad at him never solved anything and I wasnt proving anyone wrong but myself and losing much needed sleep because I was simply being a jerk. Last night, he woke for a few seconds and Nate went in and did the same thing I did the night before and WALA, it worked again. He was so happy in the morning as well because he conquered the sleep that he desired. He was so tired last week from no sleep and it was really upsetting him. Thank goodness.

Oh Heavenly Father, Give Me Patience!!

This lil boy is becoming an insomniac and its taking a major toll on the entire family. 1 insomniac in 1250 sq ft=disaster. I am having so much trouble keeping him from waking everyone, I am not getting any sleep, hes crying, saying he's board, etc. He doesnt nap during that day and goes to bed at 8ish so what the heck is wrong with him? I can't take it. I want to peacefully resolve this for him, but a week straight of him waking up at 1am and being done sleeping everynight is realllllly doing me in. I am exhausted. HELP, anyone? How do I apply peaceful parenting to this situation? Such a QT, but so rough to live with sometimes.

My Babies are Growing up too Quick

It kills me seeing all their teeth falling out. Wyatt is 6 already. Makes me want to have 20 kids because it goes by so painfully fast. Kenna is getting big, waving hello, blowing a kiss here and there and sitting unassisted now. Shes so beautful, Daddys lil angel for certain, he is so in love, he wanted her to be a girl so badly and wants many more girls lol! So we will maybe sway for a girl next time, if you count drinking grapefruit and eating diary swaying!

This is EXACTLY why Religion will be a struggle for me for always

I sit here shaking my head tonight. Just because I was baptised, I should loose all my values and stop standing my ground on what I know in my heart to be right? There are studies piled upon studies to back my beliefs as a mother and educator of my children. How can I or how should I sit back and allow things to go on around me like a drone and just support it all? Life is about differences and learning and changing, not sitting around in our old patterns and ways and being stuck in ruts! Without someone standing up for something new or different, how will anyone learn anything? I am me, my personality is spunky and feisty and fun and those in real life love me dearly. I am always told what fun I am. I am interesting at least, quirky, witty and educated. It states quite clearly in the Bible that we are not to sit back and allow unrighteous things to go on without speaking up. The whole, "love the sinner, not the sin theory!" Sheesh, if I didnt follow that for myself, I would hate myself as I am obviously coming from a VERY sinful past. Psalm 37 says
29 The righteous will inherit the land, and dwell in it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
I am trying to speak justice for fresh new outlooks on parenting that treats a child with dignity and respect, asking mothers to view the world from a child's point of view. As an adult, I would be so sad if someone left me to cry all alone for 30 minutes when I was in need of something only they could give. I just see things from a baby/child's point of view. That is where my passion is driven from. God didnt tell us to shut up and allow bad things to happen around us and support it, he told us to speak out in love and try to help people correct themselves. I seriously do speak in love and also from sadness when I read my birthboard and other places where people support things I find less than righteous. Jesus loved children and treated them so kindly, why can't some parents learn this behavior? I cant stomach to lurk on my birthboard because I see the same things over and over and I cannot hold my fingers back. Its who I am. I am spunky and outspoken. Humbling myself will always be a battle especially with certain subjects. I dont think being humble is ALWAYS good. Most who preach to be humble are not themselves so I take their preaching with a grain of salt anyways. Baptised or not, I am me and I am not changing myself to become some quiet sheep who follows the heard and praises the sad and ugly things I hear of people doing. Those who were harshest to me, made me think way more than those who kindly sat back watching me drink all the time and be an idiot. So I thank those who were bold enough to stand in my path and tell me I was wrong so I could change things and become a better person!

In keeping the same subject as my last post, Peaceful Parenting and Radical Unschooling

http://www.unschoolingamerica.com/videos.asp This women is amazing, her utube videos will give you the tools and ideas for actually implimenting Radical Unschooling and Peaceful Parenting.

These are probably my favorites of all her videos and pertain more to parenting.

What is Radical Unschooling? Authentic Parenting Is Unschooling Legal? and Peaceful Parenting

Here is her blog! Yes, I am a total stalker, lol, not really, but I really do love her ideas!

http://thesparklingmartins.blogspot.com/

Always remember babies and children are people too, smaller, but still people.They have rights and deserve the same respect as anyone else. Remember that what you put in them is what will come spitting back out.

If you spank, expect them to hit!

If you are overly authoritative towards them, expect bossiness and sassing and being unkind to siblings!

If you Yell, expect yelling and arguing in return.

Live righteously, be an example of Christlike compassion and love and that is what you see come back out of them!Its a double standard and COMPLETELY hypocritical to spank, yell and be bossy and then to say its okay for you because you are the adult, WHAT? That is the example you provided them, you created THEIR repitoure of "normal." What if your "normal" going to be, bossy/yelling/spanking or Christlike guidance/love?

God's View of Parenting and Discipline

Spare the Rod, spoil the child is often referred to by many Christian parents, myself included and I just feel that is absolutely wrong. An anonymous person just clarified further with scripture to better explain the meaning of that scripture and to prove how out of context its been taken, " 1 Nephi 11: 25 And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God. Rev 2:27 Rev 12:5, Rev 19:15, Ps 23:4 In other words, the rod is the word of God. So, if you spare the word of God with your children, you spoil them." Our Father is loving and forgiving towards us, He doesnt spank us for sinning does He, No! He sent His son to wash away all those things and allow for repentance so that we can be clean again or made new when we repent and the Holy Ghost to help us not to make mistakes repeatedly after repenting. I decided to research this subject a little more in depth to REALLY seek the truths about parenting from the Bible.

I stumbled accross this great website http://www.stophitting.com/disathome/parentSupport/christianpd.php

"The ministry of Jesus Christ initiated a new beginning for mankind and a higher law for human interaction, children included. "As I have loved you, love one another." (John 13:34) In Luke 17:2, Jesus taught that it would be better to "tie a millstone around your neck, and be cast into the sea, than to offend one of these little ones." Inflicting physical pain or threatening to do so, is not only unnecessary, but is contrary to the way Jesus treated people. By sparing the rod and guiding your child, you can help them mature into self-disciplined, spiritually centered men and women. "

Not only that, I beleive refraining from spanking leaves children more self confident later on according to studies I have read about. A good way to look at parenting and even schooling*(we are unschoolers) is to realize as Dayna Martin says, "we are not training DOGS, or teaching children to live later, they ARE LIVING right now and are people too." We should repect these little beings as they are humans and alive and living today. Why keep correcting them and nagging them so they can be better tomorrow? What if tomorrow never comes? View the world from their point of view, especially babies. This is why I cosleep, babywear, and breastfeed. Would you want a cold hard nipple or a warm soft breast to suckle? Do you like sleeping alone in a big giant house all alone(their bedrooms seem enormous to them) or sleeping warm and cozy with your spouse? Would you want to lay in a carrier or other "baby entertainment system" or be snuggled closely in a sling or wrap with your mother most of the day?

"Your infant's needs: "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)
When you help your infant feel safe from falling, being hurt, feeling alone, and provide the basics of feeding, clothing, and diaper changing, you are showing daily your love for your child. You are setting the stage for the rest of your infant's life. Make the connection to your baby your priority.

When your baby is 8 to 12 months.
"Let the little children come to me." Mark 10:14(come to me, in my humble opinion could mean stay with mommy wrapped or slung throughout the day! Yes that could be going a lil far or taken out of context but I still beleive it with my whole heart)

Tantrums:
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."Matthew 5:7
Tantrums can be normal for toddlers. Young children have them for many reasons like being tired, feeling out of control, over-stimulated, or wanting something they can't have.
General hints: Toddlers and preschoolers cannot regulate themselves because they don't yet know their own limits.

Be a model of listening, and they will learn to listen also.
"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."Mathew 7:12 (we need to model righteousness in order to obtain it from our children!)

Allow natural consequences to take place (and remind them of this like while I was typing this Blog, Tanner just got a hole cake and dumped it all over the floor in the hallway and ate it up sorta, making a HUGE mess, I said, "buddy, that stinx cause now guess what? There is no cake left and you cant have any later on." That is showing him the natural consequence of dumping cake everywhere and treating him with dignity.)

Let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves."

Luke 22:26
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Matthew 5:9 (God loves peacemakers and spanking is NOT peacemaking, therefore I would question as a spanking parent if I was a called a child of God!)

"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith." Galatians 5:22"

Basically, peaceful parenting as the term has been coined, is treating your child/children the same as you would treat your best friend or your spouse! You wouldnt praise your spouse exceedingly much when he sweeps so why act so condescending towards your own child, its unnatural and strange. How bout just saying, "thanks for sweeping buddy!" Same goes that you wouldnt tell your spouse they had a limit of 5 minutes on the computer game, why do that to a child. Children will learn to self regulate. If you put a person on a diet from something, its all they crave. Telling my kids they cant watch TV turns them into Tv phenes because they feel they have to hoard it all or get it all in while they can! Just something to think about, I hope I have helped 1 child in writing this!!!!!! God Bless.