play their way
i know that children will act out what they see and hear and feel. i know that. i am humbled by all that i expose my children to. i am humbled that i used to stand outside movie theatres handing out hand written caution to certain movies…and now my kids are watching things similar. i do have boundaries…and i am ready to kick them up again. as i told micah: i don’t want to interrupt your spirit and your brain from growing as well as it can.
i’m not sure that the demolition derby is the best thing to act out over and over…but that is what’s happening. maybe that is what brings me pause.
when i told micah today that i wanted the inside of our home to be gun free he enthusiastically said, “oh yeah!” gun free to him meant that guns would be free. i explained the difference. i asked (again) why his interest in things that will only hurt or kill…no fruitful conversation…just me releasing to be a sponge to soak this unfamiliarity up.
how can i help them feel and know the power of light that is in them?
i know we all need to find our way in this parenting gig.
and i know that i am tired of my children being mean to each other.
and i know i want to blow a big bubble around them…big enough for uniqueness, big enough for startling newness, big enough for wonder…but holy.
prairie daze 
and please, when you figure out how to blow that bubble, please pass it on…some days it just makes me really tired trying to mediate and keep everyone safe (physically and mentally)…sometimes it’s hard for me to judge what’s “normal” sibling stuff and what can be stopped/changed by me…
Thanks for being an open – minded momma, but still a very thoughtful and honest one. Letting your kids play in that huge puddle reminds me of my childhood too.
As Sophie grows, it’s something that startles and scares me. It’s all at once a big, beautiful, scary, harsh world. And how do you teach compassion? I remember very difficult conversations with my parents and how my dad would argue the opposite side, no matter what my position was. Then, following that conversation, he would tell me his opinion. These would most often take place after church or during the news. I know it helped make me who I am today.
And if you patent that bubble… I’d really like some, too.
Wow! What a lesson for me in letting go and just letting them play. Thank you.
Today I have only tears in response to your tender post. The struggles you confess are mine too. What I’m witnessing in the trenches over here today makes me wanna throw my hands in the air and holler!
So holler I will — long and hard — for you and me and everybody — till the sun goes down. Maybe, if I’m lucky, I can be silent and less distraught by the time night falls.
Away (to hell) with all the forces that mess with us. They are way too sneaky and persistent. Present may all the forces be that want the best for us. Those are the forces that deserve our time, our energies, our respect and focus.
I love you all so much. Can’t wait to hold you, inside or outside the bubble. Please know how much we care for you.
Just so you know: YOU’RE DOING GOOD — and I know “GOOD” when I see it — and I can see it all the way from here! :-)
Dad/Opa
i love your dad…
i want this too.
it is a struggle.
why do they choose to mean?
why spend time being angry when being happy is so much better?
it’s a challenge everyday.
and where are my details about that dog?? :)
Can we switch fathers? He raised an amazing daughter and as far as I can tell a fabulous mother.
Dear Kristin … and all of yours!
The bubble rests in the goodness of our Almighty God. He opened for us a way to become part of the bubble-making force. Our daily PRAYERS and our constant LOVE surround you/Jerry and Naomi, Micah and Eliza Irene !!!!! Omi Irene says: Your blog is very deep about the bubble. As Opi says we keep on praying for all of you.
… Keep on blowing — we join you in “Blowing Bubbles”.
Oma/Omi and Opa/Opi.
You are always so thoughtful in your discussion of parenting. Mirroring what they see is a constant issue, and as understanding grows the issue evolves for each child.
We are now discussing why it is not okay to call people “poopy head” or other names, even if the 4 year old down the street does it.
On the up-side, I love that you give your kids the space to explore and get messy. I think a lot of people clamp down hard on that kind of exploration, but kids need it.
to a certain degree, i feel like just this week we took the brave step out of our bubble, and it can be a scary place to be!
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