The Kids Are Capable of Leading

One of my biggest fears has to do with my kids walking in front of me in public places. I'm constantly telling them, "Don't get to far ahead of the family!" But why? The beauty about growing up is the freedom to explore. My kids have been blessed with knack to test the waters with few inhibitions. Also, we constantly encourage them to lead. So why in this situation do I hold them back? I'm learning to except my kids as they are and spend more time guiding instead of forcing! The bible states that we are train up our children in the way they should go... (Proverbs 22:6) So why should I not trust them enough to go? If I've done my part, they are capable of leading!



-posted by Mocha6 on the move!

Location:Ballpark Way,Arlington,United States

Not My Will...

One of the greatest challenges we have as parents are making educational decisions for your child as they begin middle school; the transition period. This year has been very challenging for Paris. Getting comfortable with the responsibility of having 8 Pre AP classes with rigorous homework requirements each evening.  Now up to now, school has always come easy for Paris, but the work load is a bit much for her. Her best subjects are still strong, but I was beginning to think that her Fine Arts major (Choral) was more of a distraction rather than an aid to enhance her cognitive skills.

Friday morning, Paris and I had a discussion about possible changing her Fine Arts emphasis to orchestra, something with research behind it that states the ability to improve learning. Well, the conversation went well as she considered the notion. My impetus was that fact that we are a family of singers. My dad was a Gospel recording artist along with several other family members who have either recorded or produced in the music industry. I myself had a brief stint in this world, before the Lord brought me back to my senses. However, God has used me tremendously as a Praise and Worship leader. So, singing comes easy for Paris; I just wanted her to try something more challenging. I'm just being a dad.

That evening, Paris's school took 17 students to the Regional Chorus tryouts where over 500 students were there to compete for 60 spots. To make a long story short, Paris earned 1st Chair honors for Soprano 1. We received the news at 11:45 PM at 11:46, God said to me... lean not to thine own understanding... I smiled and replied Not My Will, but thine be done. As a parent it's important to get down from the parent  pedastool and get on our knees to look at our children in the eyes. It was made obvious to me that night that she'll get through this year just fine and that I need not panic, but trust that God knows what he is doign.

It's On Them

So far 2013 has been a great year. Oh, we are only 20 days in? Oh well, count your blessings while you can. I have found that the issue of explaining to people what it is like raising 4 kids is very difficult because I rarely have time to sit down on this blog and explain. However, I need to do it more often simple because it's my release and mechanism for remembering my victories and epic fails as a parent and just maybe, someone would receive a blessing from what I say. This week was extremely wonderful. My wife and I celebrated our birthdays and got the chance to do things together, alone, that we don't normally get to do. We needed that time just to sit and talk and laugh and simply get away. We enjoyed many free perks and got the chance to recharge for the moment. At the same time, it's the end of the semester for the Paris and Brian, which means Semester Exams. Tasha and I are trying to help our two oldest develop good study habits and an intrinsic desire to do well, but they seem so districted and not interested in studying over and over until they have it. Well, I wasn't like that either as a student, so I can't be too upset...it's my fault. However, as a parent you want your children to succeed in everything. Make the highest grade in class, do all the extra credit, receive all the honors, but when you sit back and think about it, are we as parents pushing them for their sake or are we concerned about how it will make us look? I would say the latter is more often the case. So Tasha and I have learned to put the responsibility on them. We decided that we will pat them on the back, praise and reward them when they do well, encourage them when they don't meet the high standards we set, and explain our disappointment when they don't even try. There are consequences for failure at home, school and society, but Paris and Brian have to want success for themselves. I can't force or beat it into them. I guess that's why the Holy Spirit works from within!

The beautiful thing about the inner struggles Paris and BJ are going through is they are only 11 and 8. The blessing is they are experiencing this at a very early age and prayerfully will have learned some valuable lessons before life really gets hard. The cool thing is realizing how favored I am having had gone through that same thing and I turned out...well, pretty good. They will too!