Comments on: Suggestions for preventing and helping prodigals http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/ Contemplations on the fine art of mothering. Sat, 31 May 2008 13:34:17 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Kim http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-150 Kim Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:20:52 +0000 http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-150 Thank you. I have a 9 year old that is a social butterfly. He will do anything to have people around him, even the wrong friends. I was getting to a loss at ways to combat this and you really helped to refuel my creativity. Thanks Thank you. I have a 9 year old that is a social butterfly. He will do anything to have people around him, even the wrong friends. I was getting to a loss at ways to combat this and you really helped to refuel my creativity.
Thanks

]]> By: Robin http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-148 Robin Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:41:09 +0000 http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-148 A year ago I went through a very difficult time with my 22 year old daughter. I just about gave up on homeshcooling the rest of my younger kids because of the decisions she was making. I felt like I had wasted my time. If my kids were just going to make terrible choices, then why should I give so much of myself for them? Because the Lord told me to. We made it through the year not with out much heart break and many shed tears. She is now married and the mother of a beautiful 6 week old baby boy. My first grandbaby. God gave me many scriptures to meditate on during this difficult time and I learned that I must trust Him for the outcome. I also learned that when my children become adults, they are responsible for their own choices and that the world is a very enticing place. My husband was always very strict with our older kids. No sleepovers, very few friends ever came over (he wanted piece and quiet), no talking to the neighbors,(he wanted privacy). To some extent, things are still the same with our younger kids. He is more open to them having friends over and he lets them go to movies(he has to do research first). But we still rarely have people over and I can't say as we have any "real" family friends. He doesn't like us talking to the neighbors either. It's very hard. In a way we are isolated. But I will keep praying and trusting God. A year ago I went through a very difficult time with my 22 year old daughter. I just about gave up on homeshcooling the rest of my younger kids because of the decisions she was making. I felt like I had wasted my time. If my kids were just going to make terrible choices, then why should I give so much of myself for them? Because the Lord told me to. We made it through the year not with out much heart break and many shed tears. She is now married and the mother of a beautiful 6 week old baby boy. My first grandbaby. God gave me many scriptures to meditate on during this difficult time and I learned that I must trust Him for the outcome. I also learned that when my children become adults, they are responsible for their own choices and that the world is a very enticing place. My husband was always very strict with our older kids. No sleepovers, very few friends ever came over (he wanted piece and quiet), no talking to the neighbors,(he wanted privacy). To some extent, things are still the same with our younger kids. He is more open to them having friends over and he lets them go to movies(he has to do research first). But we still rarely have people over and I can’t say as we have any “real” family friends. He doesn’t like us talking to the neighbors either. It’s very hard. In a way we are isolated. But I will keep praying and trusting God.

]]> By: Tarheel Mama http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-143 Tarheel Mama Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:20:35 +0000 http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-143 Wow! I am so amazed how God has used your words of reality and encouragement to help me thoroughout my homeschooling/mother journey!! Thank you for being honest and pointed us to the grace and truth found only in God and His Word! Wow! I am so amazed how God has used your words of reality and encouragement to help me thoroughout my homeschooling/mother journey!! Thank you for being honest and pointed us to the grace and truth found only in God and His Word!

]]> By: Julie B. http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-140 Julie B. Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:11:50 +0000 http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-140 Praising the Lord as I am going through the 'not for the faint heart' times right now with my 17 year old son. I can relate some to Elmarie... Our family's father left 12 years ago. My son is feeling the 'loss' now, with anger and such. But, God is good... all the time. And these times of suffering are for our good and His glory! It's not easy but, 'ALL things work together for good..' even when they 'look' bad. Thank you, Sally. Again, the Lord has used you in an awesome way! Wish I lived in CO... just to attend a Bible Study with you! :-) In His sovereignty and unfailing love, Julie Praising the Lord as I am going through the ‘not for the faint heart’ times right now with my 17 year old son. I can relate some to Elmarie… Our family’s father left 12 years ago. My son is feeling the ‘loss’ now, with anger and such. But, God is good… all the time. And these times of suffering are for our good and His glory! It’s not easy but, ‘ALL things work together for good..’ even when they ‘look’ bad.

Thank you, Sally. Again, the Lord has used you in an awesome way! Wish I lived in CO… just to attend a Bible Study with you! :-)

In His sovereignty and unfailing love,
Julie

]]> By: Gabriela I. Leal http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-139 Gabriela I. Leal Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:48:50 +0000 http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-139 Thanking God for you! Love, Gaby Thanking God for you! Love, Gaby

]]> By: Elmarie http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-135 Elmarie Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:43:00 +0000 http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-135 I really enjoyed what you had to say and it really encouraged me! At this moment in time I am going through a rough time. My son is living with his dad in a different country, although I still have custody. He was due for a visit in December, we were going to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, but suddenly his father has now convinced my son that we are going to try and keep him with us against his will, which I will never dream of doing! My son knows me and I don't understand how he can be so easily swayed by his dad. My heart is broken and I've been praying about it fervently for the past month and felt the Lord say that I must let it go. I am so scared that I will never have a relationship with my son again and am also worried about his brother who lives with me in Australia. He was looking forward to having his brother visiting and going on holiday with us. I've really tried to be a good mother and have done so much of what you mention but it seems to have gone unnoticed and I am afraid that this will cause a total split of our family. My heart is bleeding for my youngest, how do I explain this whole thing to him? Thank you for your wonderful encouraging words, I am sure that if I keep reading I may just find an answer to my predicament in there somewhere. God Bless! Elmarie, "Down Under" I really enjoyed what you had to say and it really encouraged me! At this moment in time I am going through a rough time. My son is living with his dad in a different country, although I still have custody. He was due for a visit in December, we were going to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, but suddenly his father has now convinced my son that we are going to try and keep him with us against his will, which I will never dream of doing! My son knows me and I don’t understand how he can be so easily swayed by his dad. My heart is broken and I’ve been praying about it fervently for the past month and felt the Lord say that I must let it go. I am so scared that I will never have a relationship with my son again and am also worried about his brother who lives with me in Australia. He was looking forward to having his brother visiting and going on holiday with us. I’ve really tried to be a good mother and have done so much of what you mention but it seems to have gone unnoticed and I am afraid that this will cause a total split of our family. My heart is bleeding for my youngest, how do I explain this whole thing to him? Thank you for your wonderful encouraging words, I am sure that if I keep reading I may just find an answer to my predicament in there somewhere.

God Bless!
Elmarie, “Down Under”

]]> By: ChristyH http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-134 ChristyH Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:11:26 +0000 http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-134 WOW! That was encouraging. You gave some great points and things for me to keep in mind. I lent out one of your books, which I probably won't get back, to someone who in our church who really needed it. I hope she read it, since they no longer attend our church. I was hoping she would find encouragement. Lately I have been working through letting go of my expectations of my children but still maintaining my standards. I think many of us fall ito a trap that because we homeschool our children will turn out great. Of course, it's hard because family and society are watching us. I have felt the Lord press upon my heart that I must do the best job that I can and leave the rest up to Him. God has a plan for my children. I am just resting in that. Christy, in Michigan WOW!

That was encouraging. You gave some great points and things for me to keep in mind.

I lent out one of your books, which I probably won’t get back, to someone who in our church who really needed it. I hope she read it, since they no longer attend our church. I was hoping she would find encouragement.

Lately I have been working through letting go of my expectations of my children but still maintaining my standards. I think many of us fall ito a trap that because we homeschool our children will turn out great. Of course, it’s hard because family and society are watching us. I have felt the Lord press upon my heart that I must do the best job that I can and leave the rest up to Him. God has a plan for my children. I am just resting in that.

Christy, in Michigan

]]> By: Judy http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-133 Judy Sun, 02 Sep 2007 22:24:25 +0000 http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-133 God has given you a gift to speak into mom's hearts and give them wings to fly! Thank you for your words! They have lifted me! Blessings upon blessings, Judy God has given you a gift to speak into mom’s hearts and give them wings to fly! Thank you for your words! They have lifted me!

Blessings upon blessings,

Judy

]]> By: Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooksandMe http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-132 Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooksandMe Sun, 02 Sep 2007 18:19:20 +0000 http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-132 I should not type when I am tired. :) I should not type when I am tired. :)

]]> By: Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooksandMe http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-131 Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooksandMe Sun, 02 Sep 2007 18:17:32 +0000 http://whmoms.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/suggestions-for-preventing-and-helping-prodigals/#comment-131 We have often found there are two extremes in home schooling. One far side was very well educated but quite full of pride about their accomplishments and often had little to do with other homeschoolers who were not at their academic level. The other extreme had very little real education and quite often were kept from knowing what was going on in the world at all (and kids who were mixtures of these two). One of my son's homeschooling friends from church is almost eighteen and has never been involved in anything on his own. His parents are a part of every co-op and homeschool event. We have often wondered what it will be like for him when he leaves for college next Fall. Last year I asked his mom to drop him off at store at the end of our country road where I would pick him up about fifteen minutes later. She was afraid to leave him alone. He was seventeen. Sigh... we've worked hard to find a balance between keeping our kis hearts pure and making them ready to be salt and light in the world. As always, I love your writing. :) We have often found there are two extremes in home schooling. One far side was very well educated but quite full of pride about their accomplishments and often had little to do with other homeschoolers who were not at their academic level.

The other extreme had very little real education and quite often were kept from knowing what was going on in the world at all (and kids who were mixtures of these two).

One of my son’s homeschooling friends from church is almost eighteen and has never been involved in anything on his own. His parents are a part of every co-op and homeschool event. We have often wondered what it will be like for him when he leaves for college next Fall.

Last year I asked his mom to drop him off at store at the end of our country road where I would pick him up about fifteen minutes later. She was afraid to leave him alone. He was seventeen.

Sigh… we’ve worked hard to find a balance between keeping our kis hearts pure and making them ready to be salt and light in the world.

As always, I love your writing. :)

]]>