“Have a New Kid By Friday”

First, there are a million things, okay, not a million, but a lot of things I’ve thought about the last couple days to blog about…setting Mother’s Day expectations, Entertainment and the Christian – teaching from Summit Ministries, funny conversation with a girlfriend, and Have a New Kid by Friday.

Have a New Kids by Friday, is what I’m choosing to write about today.  So, there’s a book by Kevin Lehman called, Have a New Kid By Friday.  This is also the title to the key note talk he gave for the National Hearts at Home Conference in March.  I was listening to the CD of the talk on my way to pick up my kids from school.  He talked about his principle of 1) say it once 2) turn around  3) walk away. 

I realize that once again, my son must be playing on the playground as many of the students are out of the classroom and both my daughters are in the car.  As I approach closer to the school, I begin to pray, Lord, give me wisdom on the consequence for my son.  He KNOWS he is suppose to come to the car first and ask permission to play.

I get out of my car and see him playing Four Square.  He sees me.  I say let’s go.  He asks, “Can I buy a sucker?” (the older kids are selling them for a fund raiser.)  Thank you Lord – a natural consequence!!  I respond with, “No, you didn’t ask permission to play so you do not have the privilege to go now and buy a sucker.”  His response, “Fine, then I won’t say anything the rest of the day.”  This is repeated two more times as he gets in the car.  I say nothing.

He gets it!  Thank you Lord for natural consequences and divine wisdom!  Now, please have him remember this the next time he is tempted to play first before asking for permission

Trisha