COUSIN MOMS â—½ TIPS
Having conversations with the kids before school...is it helpful? You bet. The words of encouragement, instruction, direction, and affirmation will be the front bookend to a new year full of all sorts of experiences. The kids are starting a new year with uncertainty, they will have new teachers and make new friends, and there will be many challenges. What moms and dads talk about with the kiddos before the routine begins is pure gold. (Charissa took this month off due to unforeseen circumstances...she will be back in September!)
Kamrin
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Back to school talk has changed since our kids have been growing. We spend an evening before the first week of school, where we talk about last year and goals and things they loved. Then we also look back at our index cards we made before the last school year, to see how things went regarding goals, prayer requests, etc. I’m so excited to do that.
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We spend time praying about what the kids want and what they’re looking forward to .It’s powerful to pray over each child for their requests. It used to be simple things like doing well in school and having good friendships. However, we are encouraging them to go deeper – maybe pick a character trait to grow. We want to pray for opportunities for growth.
We also pray over the school, the classroom, the hallways and the teachers. And we pray for opportunities for them to share about the Lord.
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As their mom, I don’t really fear about a new year with school, and I’m thankful for that. I don’t think too far into the future, I just take each day as it comes. However, when something comes up, I can have a broken heart in the moment if the kids struggle.
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So, at the beginning we pray foundation prayers, then we ask questions as the year progresses, paying attention to the kids’ demeanor and emotions.
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I don’t want to “plant” worry in my kids or even any fears I have. It might be my own experience or thoughts that I struggled with as a kid, and I find out my kids aren’t struggling the same, and that my assuming wasn’t helpful. It’s definitely harder now that they’re older, with friendships and protection over our kids. Now, next year I might feel completely different, as teenagers and high school approach! And kids driving is definitely a fear of mine.
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I, as a parent, want to learn to trust God with my kids in the right timing and spaces to grow who they are created to be. I often struggle with failure and hate failing, and I struggle with approval. So sometimes, I worry about that with my kids and may tend to “helicopter” over them. Our oldest will be 14 this year, our daughter will be 13, and our youngest will be 11. Every season is an opportunity to trust more and teach more, and know the Lord is with them and with us…as their parents. That’s the hardest part for me! No parent wants their children to be hurt…
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So…maybe I do have fears! Normal ones, for sure. We want to hold on longer…in the scary waters of growing up and starting a new school year. But we include prayers for wisdom, especially as the chapter of elementary school begins to close. God is faithful every year.
Charissa
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(Charissa's family experienced a devastating loss in a friend this past month, so I'm filling in for her this month...)
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It's a fun idea to call the kids together and remind them of the character of their heavenly Father before school begins. It might look like this:
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Have a list of questions to ask the kiddos, like what they're looking forward to, or not. What they're excited about, or not...
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Pick a character of God that you feel is perfect for your family for the school year, i.e. faithful, good, kind, caring...and focus on that one character.
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It's always a great thing to share with your kiddos stories of your own from school years, funny ones or ones where you saw your Father care for you. The kids will love it!
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Finally, pray and ask God for a word for each child - brave, strong, friend - whatever words comes to mind. Then pray as a family each of those words. Maybe print out their word to hang in their room or on their door.
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Just simple little acts of kindness on the part of we, the parents, can plant seeds that will sprout into blooms throughout the school year. Enjoy. And leave the rest up to Him.