“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.”
– David C. Gross
“But there’s a story behind everything. How a picture got on a wall. How a scar got on your face. Sometimes the stories are simple, and sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking. But behind all your stories is always your mother’s story, because hers is where yours begin.” ― Mitch Albom, For One More Day
Upon wanting to write about ‘a heart of a mother,’ I opened a book off my shelf titled, “Parenting with Love and Logic.” Written on the inside cover, “To Our Christine – Hope this makes your job parenting easier.” Much love, Mom and Dad (Christmas ’93). Although it’s been many years since my mother has spoken with me, her soul continues to speak. ❤
“Love…bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
~1 Corinthians 13:7-8
Why the terms love and logic? Effective parenting centers around love: love that is not permissive, love that doesn’t tolerate disrespect, but also love that is powerful enough to allow kids to make mistakes and permit them to live with the consequences of those mistakes. The logic is centered in the consequences themselves. Most mistakes do have logical consequences. And those consequences, when accompanied by empathy — our compassionate understanding of the child’s disappointment, frustration, and pain — hit home with mind-changning power. It’s never too late to begin parenting with love and logic.
The Bible provides insight on many parenting issues. Much of what this book teaches is summarized beautifully in a familiar Old Testament proverb:
“Train children in the right way and when old, they will not stray.” ~Proverbs 22:6
Written on page 20 under…“Parenting with love and logic puts the fun back in parenting.” I wrote in caps – IDEAS (Use board in entryway plus bans to reward for chores) followed by the 8 ideas I had for daily ‘order of business’:
- Clean room
- Pick up and put clothes away or in laundry basket
- Shoes and coat put away
- Brush hair and teeth
- Turn lights, and television off when done using
- Ask mom if there is anything you can do to help
- Get along, speak nicely, and share
- Play quietly; have fun!!
“Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to essentials.”
-Meryl Streep
“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” ― Washington Irving
“A mother’s arms are more comforting than anyone else’s.” – Princess Diana
“A mother understands what a child does not say.” – Jewish Proverb
This quote belongs to Honore de Balzac (born Honore Balzac, 1799 – 1850).
“It is difficult to grow up in a foster home or worse if the street is your dwelling place. These cases do exist. Blessed are you, who are fortunate to have grown up in a home with two loving parents. Your mother plays an extremely important role in your destiny, as you will always carry with you the “inner child of your past.” A mother’s love is unlimited and not time bound. You are grown up and may have children of your own, but you never have enough of your mother’s love. A mother’s love transcends the grave. No matter how old you are, you never outlive the need for a mother’s love. But beware; do not abuse this freely given mother’s love, as it is a special gift that must be continually cherished and nurtured, as well.”
1,000 Ways To Be A Warrior! 