Premie health

Hi my 2 year old boy Eric is down with fever this morning. Kindly put him in your prayers. But when I tell you this prayer point I can't resist praising my Father Lord for keeping him all healthy without falling sick from Feb till sep. I had a real tough time last year most often till Feb 2019 cos Eric will fall sick so easily after any small travel or so. Being one month premature in his birth we faced lot of struggles all through. But by God's grace he stood through all travels / food etc without falling sick from Feb till sep.. I'm sure that he will be healed soon in the name of Jesus. But I just want to share this bit of testimony to praise God for all situations 😊

My son was born early too. By 2 1/2 - 3 years old the doctors told us he should have an improved immune system and things will be much better. But until he turned 5 we really struggled. Around his 5th birthday he got chicken pox. In January! The little one who was 2 1/2 years younger than him didn’t fall sick as often as him.....
I remember breaking down and asked God for some help.
I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to place my hands on him and declare health and wellness over him. Since then we have had (I think) one viral infection in 9 months. 😊

Teaching kits discipline and verses

Every kid is unique. Please consciously and consistently pray for God's wisdom and guidance.  He will teach us and guide us on every small matters. My little one is very naughty. So I assumed she might be like that. But with God's guidance from people of God I understood that I need to take conscious effort to discipline her. She used to bite and hit others. But it has reduced much now. I used to give timeout on happy chair. We constantly tell her that she will get lot of friends only if she behaves well and only the I can call her Jesus girl like that. I took conscious effort to teach her verses which I assumed initially not possible with her. It is only God's grace. My inlaw makes a small prayer and repeat one small verse in Tamil daily before going to school. Go to school and understand the situation on what is the trigger. Sit and talk to her teacher. Pray and deal with it accordingly.

My elder one in 3rd std was constantly made to stand out and sit in table outside classroom in school. He informed me twice. But I ignored saying you would have done something naughty. Third time he told me I want tc, I don't like to go to school etc. Then I sensed something wrong and went and spoke to her teacher. I understood that she has her own way of disciplining kids but my personal opinion was not to make a small kid stand out for Very small silly things. I spoke to her very clearly don't make my kid stand out for very silly things, for it is affecting him very much. I infact told not to do for any other kid as they might become insensitive if you do it often not even realising their mistakes. After that things are little better, but I am consciously praying about it for both kids touching then during my early morning prayer and talking to him daily.

I needed to let him understand that every teacher is unique. Despite however they are, you need to Honor and respect them. God is teaching you with all kinds of people. Till 2nd std he had very good teachers who motivate positively and show lot of care and very good  understanding and rapport with him.

Took time to share my experiences so that it will be useful to someone who is in need.

Thanks for sharing, Joyce. Happy chair- good concept. When I give time out, I make it feel like a punishment. But this is very nice. One more thing, can you share tips on how you taught her verses? I find it hard to teach my younger one.

😁 It was very very hard Jini. I was praying that I  should use my break from work(3 months in US with hubby) efficiently to somehow spend solid time to mould my kids. I literally was worried about little one when I started there. Everyday I kept an alarm, to sit with them to teach songs, pray and make them learn verses. Both of my kids fight for individual attention from me. It's a challenge. The moment I start learning verses along with Chad my elder one, Adlin will cry, scream to somehow stop it. I used to make her sit in the cycle and ride inside the house and make her repeat again and again. I Run, jump, shout, do funny actions etc. do all kinds of show to somehow make her repeat. She needs to be pampered, hugged often kissed etc to grab attention. In casual times, like while trying to sleep in the afternoon, I make Chad tell verses. Adlin will shut his mouth and in competitive spirit she will try to tell. 😀😃😄 Competition worked a lot. Evening once Charles comes home and during night bed time ,  I will applaud her and motivate her to tell the verse to dad. You should somehow make your kid repeat again and again. Chad elder one learns very easily. Each kid requires different kind of time duration and attention.
[8/23, 11:40 AM] Joyce: Spending significant time with kids is the key to make them learn. After I joined back work, I spoke to my inlaw to help Adlin to repeat one Tamil before she starts out of the house to playschool. I daily check in the evening with Adlin, did you learn today and make her repeat it. Chad reads our wimh verse series on his routine before going to school. I have stuck it on the door. He has finished more than 6 topics in wimh. Praise God. I also reward little gifts to motivate them to learn.
[8/23, 12:26 PM] Joyce: Word in my heart series. We have a separate group who encourage us and each other to memorize verses. Many mommies in this group who are part of it have learnt more than 10 topics. It's very useful. I follow NKJV version. You can choose your own version and learn along with your kid if he/she is grown up. I introduced and encouraged in my church Sunday school and many others to learn this series for rock solid foundation on Christ. I will share the references shortly.
[8/23, 12:55 PM] Joel Girl Fshp: I used our bed time to teach my elder one psalms 23... Night before she sleeps while lying on the bed I used to say the verses aloud and she repeats after me... I also make her remember the verses while we walk to school in the morning... I started when she was 2 and half years... Now she's almost 3 and half she now says Psalms 23 and few other small verses...
[8/23, 12:56 PM] Joel Girl Fshp: I praise God for WIMH, that helped me and my kid to study verses...

Disciplining children

I recently attended a seminar on parenting and here are some lessons I learnt in terms of disciplining-
1. Kids need to learn to obey. Dont let them manipulate you. Never do the counting - I'll count to 3 and you do it. They need to learn to obey when you say once. And if they dont let them know the consequences. It could be no tv time, or no chocolate or a spanking and make sure you do it.
2. Be consistent in your disciplining. If you say they will be punished if they dont obey, then be consistent at all times. Dont let them go one day and punish on some days. That will confuse the child.
3. Regarding beating/spanking - I know that recent secular parenting forums advocate for no spanking etc. But the Bible says that foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child and a rod of correction will drive it out. And spare the rod, hate your child. So beating/spanking is not necessarily wrong. It may not be necessary if your child has learnt to listen with just you telling them. But if they dont listen, or do something wrong disciplining is necessary. But as others have mentioned - dont do it in your anger. Calm yourself first but let the child know that they will receive a spanking for their disobedience. Dont do it in front of others (it will cause them shame). Do it in private and explain why they have to get this beating.
4. If you do beat in anger, go apologize to them. Not for the disciplining but for your anger. They will learn that we all make mistakes but must apologize.
5.. God has entrusted the child into your hands and not you into the child's hands. Just as God in His love will discipline us even if we dont like it, we must discipline our children if we truly love them.
6. Above all, the time you give to them teaching and training them in the ways of the Lord is very important. It's never too early to teach them to word of God. Spending time in prayer for your children is very important. I'm sure you've read about Suzanna Wesley spending time praying for each of her 18 kids separately! 2 of her kids were John wesley and Charles Wesley!

Some verses from the bible in this regard.

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.
Proverbs 23:13‭-‬14

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
Proverbs 13:24 ESV

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Proverbs 22:15 ESV

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
Hebrews 12:7‭-‬10
[11/10/2018, 10:33 PM] Sharon Preeti: Children know they can get their way with grandparents and other family members. Tell the others also that these are the rules for her. If the parents are consistent with discipline, then other family members will also ultimately come to terms with the boundaries you have set for your child.
Children also test the boundaries and see how much we will give in. We need to be firm, especially in the beginning.

Nice to see good & meaningful discussion over the matter. Praise God. I was thinking, whether I'm the only person who beats kids. I know it's not wrong to do within godly limits

https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.gotquestions.org/amp/disciplining-children.html

Would encourage those interested to read this for a biblical response to disciplining children..

Disciplining kids with love (happens only when you are emotionally stable) - *OK*

Disciplining when you are angry or emotionally unstable (less or no love) yelling/scolding/spanking or hitting  - *NOT OK*

We cannot say i always love my child even if I yell at him/her.(which I do)

Love is a choice. When we re emotionally unstable we can never make a right choice/decision.

I have a friend who hits her child with a plastic scale but not brutally or forcely. Calmly she explains what wrong they have done n ask them what they could have done better n ask them show palm n gentle tap.

Only if I could follow her example, before settling or calming I won't raise my voice or hit. It's instantaneous reaction. No time to think n respond. Inspite of knowing it all, following is very hard.