What I've been reading

It never ceases to amaze me that a cut of fabric can be turned into something for a complexly curving body.  With all the correct applications of tucks and darts, gathers and pleats, you can always make it fit.

I love that guarantee.  Sometimes it doesn't turn out the way you picture it in your head, but I love that there is always a solution to making a pattern fit.

I wish it was that way with children, I believe the most significant creation.  I've heard parents remark, only half-joking, if only there was a manual for how to raise children. Recently Ryan's cousin turned us onto the book "Parenting with Love and Logic".

After I read it, I thought, I. Am. Doing. Everything. Wrong.  Okay, maybe not everything, but the method of the authors just makes complete sense.  I can see how all the pieces fit together and how making changes will correct what is going wrong.

Ryan and I got it from the library, read it cover to cover, and now need to invest in a copy of our own for a frequent (nightly?!) review.  It's all about giving choices and taking emotion out of the equation.  It works.  I've told all my siblings, friends, and people at church about it because I think everyone should at least flip through it.  We all have these expectations for our children, because we know they are capable of doing great things, of challenging themselves and excelling, but how do we help them see that without arguments and disagreement?

I was frustrated one night because I wanted Divine to read a really great book she got for her birthday to use for her Honors English book report and she wanted to read a book that she already read and age appropriate for a 3rd grader.  We battled back and forth until I gave her a stern command to just go read her birthday book.  Then I read "Parenting with Love and Logic".  Oops.  I knew I didn't handle it the best way, but I wasn't quite sure what the better way was while still trying to help her do her best until I read it.  I went to her in the morning and told her I wanted to share my opinion about the situation and then she was free to make her own choice.  I told her if she was confident she would get a good grade and her teacher would be impressed with her report, she should use whichever book she wanted.  Guess which book she chose?

I can already see a good pattern developing.  We have to continually realign and readjust, and it will take time, but by the time we get to Drummer we'll have perfected the whole thing. ;)

It's work, but it works.  And it's worth it.  

Just thought I'd share.