Creative Parenting

There's something quite freeing about realising that you're the parent and you can decide the way things are going to be for your family. You don't have to do things the way they've always been done, you don't have to do what you're parents did, though they probably did a great job and have lots of wisdom, you don't have to do what everyone else is doing or what the latest book says. There is so much wisdom to be gained by parenting books, and believe me, there have been many times of desperation eating up every parenting book I can find! And it's so wise to ask advice and to glean from those supermums you see around you.
But how wonderful, that in the end, God entrusted you with your kids and you get to make up the rules. You get to make the culture of your family. You get to dream how you want it to be - whether you want to home school, grow your own vegies and teach the kids to make their own clothes and knit blankets for the poor, or maybe you want to send them to the best high tech schools to become brainy heart surgeons, or to just be normal, suburban loving families like most of us - its all good. But what do you want for your family?
God gave us an imagination and creativity - he reminds you of it everyday in the faces of your children who are each unique in looks, personality and demeanor... and temptations. And each of them requires something different from you too, whether to be soft in discipline or strong, whether to laugh when they trip, or to hug... seriously my little girl used to say when she fell over "it didn't hurt, it was fun!"
I love that God made us creative, but we also need to be discerning, what is God's Spirit speaking into your heart about your kids when you take the time to listen?
He has creative amazing answers for your kids, creative ways to have fun, creative ways to train, creative ways to teach and to dream with them. He loves your kids so much. He loves them so much that He made you their mum - because He knows that you and only you can be the mum he needs you to be for them.
You have what it takes! What can you do differently this week? What do you need to apply creativity to? God has an amazing future for your family, and He has an amazing NOW for your family too.
Much blessings,
Sarah