School

School

RAGING HORMONES

I get so much joy when parents send me messages like this while taking our parenting JOURNEY class.

“This morning, I was in a hurry to get to a meeting at work. Everyone was doing well with the before-school jobs except my eldest son. I yelled at him down the hall to hurry up, or he had to walk. Then as I was packing lunches, I remembered yesterday’s lesson and that I was supposed to listen and not dismiss. So, I packed his bag and let him get ready without getting on his case. We made it to school, and I had just enough time to make it to work on time… but my son stayed in the car. I thought, ‘OK, breathe and listen.’ I asked him what was up, and he explained what was upsetting him but didn’t understand why he was so upset about it. I felt God remind me he is ten and starting to go through changes. So, I said, ‘You are growing up and getting more hormones, and sometimes those make you feel things bigger than normal. You may not understand everything you feel.’ He looked at me wide-eyed and said, ‘That makes so much sense.’ We prayed, and he went off feeling better. I went to work, and we ended up starting the meeting late anyway.”

Can you imagine how this son felt leaving the car that morning?

SCHOOL CHECK UP

Before your child leaves for school, have them ask, “Jesus, how do You feel about me?” This helps them enter the building with the TRUTH about their identity. When they come home from school, and you notice them being off but aren’t sure why, have them ask again. Sometimes they just need help realigning themselves after being surrounded by spiritual orphans all day.

SCHOOL CHECK-IN

With school starting back up again, make sure you are playing the HIGH/LOW game at night. How to play? Simply go around the dinner table or while you are checking them in at night and ask, “What was the HIGH of your day?” And then ask, “What was the LOW of your day?” Why is this important? When kids first walk back through the door, they are resettling themselves. They have not only endured a lot physically in school but also emotionally. They have encountered things spiritually, too, all day long. Coming home helps realign them, but sometimes they need help to process things further. By asking their low, it nearly always reveals where there is conflict in their heart. We want to help them resolve it before the sun goes down.

**While you surely can ask when they walk in the door, I suggest waiting a bit because just being back at home helps resolve things on their own and realign their minds and hearts. By giving it some time, it will reveal what needs some extra attention.

WITCHCRAFT

One day I had a piercing headache that made me sick to my stomach. It was an unusual headache. I said a few hours later, “I don’t think this is a headache. It feels like witchcraft.” The things in the spirit can affect your mind, body, and emotions. I couldn’t discern where it was coming from, but the moment I exercised my authority over it, the headache went away. The following night the girls asked to speak to me. Emma was clearly upset, and they began to show me the book they were required to read for school. It included: a 12-year-old wanting a relationship with a married man, “bashing my parent’s head against the wall until I see their blood,” talking to the dead, putting curses on people, violent murder, using the words “witchcraft, spells, and curses.”

I told her she could stop with the list as I understood enough. They are required to spend six weeks studying this book, writing about it, and discussing it daily. This is NOT life-giving. This is NOT appropriate entertainment for minors. This is NOT what I send my children to school to learn. To call this ‘American Literature’ is an insult to our history’s scores of talented writers. It is not a matter of ‘being able to handle it.’ It is a matter of NOT opening the door because once the door is opened, we give the enemy a legal right (foothold) to influence us, and his agenda is always to steal, kill, and destroy.

Parents, do your homework! Pay attention to what your children are learning and being taught.

THEIR ISSUE OR MINE?

How many of you have anxiety about sending the kids to school? Ask Him, “Jesus, is this anxiety about their journey or mine?” We do not want to pass on our fears, anxiety, and worry to our children based on our own undealt with experiences. Your journey matters because you will automatically parent out of that place. 

STANDING UP

Emma told me about a book she was supposed to read that included a 12-year-old sleeping with a married man. The wife found out, and the girl put a curse on her. Teen girls dancing naked, blatantly talking about witchcraft and curses, and “bashing my parent’s brain until blood splatters.” She is required to read, write about and discuss this daily for six weeks. As I was praying about what to do, Emma felt she should be a voice and take a stand against it. I have never been more proud of her as I listened to her stand alone for righteousness.

PARENTS – TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN AT AN EARLY AGE WHO THEY ARE EMPOWERS THEM TO STAND AGAINST WHAT THEY ARE NOT. The demonic is real – whether you are a believer or not. It is like opening the door and letting a swarm of flies in your house. Demons, witchcraft, and curses are NOT entertainment; they are spirits.

P.S. After speaking in class, some of the girls privately messaged her saying she was not the only one concerned about the material.

Standing UP – YouTube

NOT THAT SMART

As we were celebrating the end of the school year, I was reminded of something Ellie said years ago. Her report card reflected all A’s, and I praised her for being so smart. But she said, “Mom, I am not really that smart. I just have the character to sit in class and listen to my teacher.” She was saying her grades were a reflection of her ability to be taught more than her inner IQ. Character matters and is something we go after for a lifetime, but those younger years are vital to setting a child up for lifelong success. If your child has never been taught to listen to and honor your voice, they will have a harder time in the classroom. If your child has not been expected to get along with siblings, they will have a harder time with peers. If your child has not been required to practice self-control in the family room, they will struggle with it in the classroom. Character matters! 

I SEE YOU

Whip up a batch of cookies as an after-school snack and sit with them, talking about their day for an extended period of time. Go deeper than the “How was your day?” You are giving them the gift of being seen and heard.

Get moving – nothing stirs up our natural endorphins like exercise. Pick them up from school, play some family basketball, kick the ball around, or play tag. Join the fun and play with them. You are giving them the gift of play which is critical for a child’s brain.

Joy – Find a pocket of joy today (simply doing something that ignites great joy). Jump on the bed, dance in the rain, have a wrestling match or tickle attack, or cook together. Joy increases the chemical in the brain to endure hard things. You are giving them the gift of hope.

Speak truth over them – remind them of who they are. Call out their identity. “You are my favorite,” “You are passionately loved and fiercely wanted,” “You are unique and special,” “You bring me joy.” You are giving them the gift of being valued.

Which one will you do today (for their heart and yours)?

ATMOSPHERE SHIFTERS

I believe this statement includes our children on the playground, in the classroom and with friends! 

“As Christians we should be the best atmosphere shifters on the planet.”

READJUST AFTER SCHOOL

Want to help your child reset after coming home from school? Give them an intentional few minutes of just being still in God’s presence. I would have a snack prepared for them and tell them to grab a corner of the living room and enjoy their snack while just lying quietly. Sometimes all it took was five minutes, and you could feel a shift in the atmosphere.

Do you have teens who resist spiritual things? No problem. YOU soak and fill the atmosphere of your home with His presence before they come home. When they walk through the door, they won’t be able to help but feel His presence.