Discipline

What does God say about Disciplining our children? Proverbs 23:13 says that "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die". I believe that you do not always have to use physical punishment, there are other ways to discipline, however, I do believe when the children are smaller its not wrong to give them a pat on the bottom. The scenario that is almost often used is "If a child runs in the street you will pull them back and smack their bottom". That ultimately saves them. The scripture says in Proverbs 19:18
"Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death". I think that once a child gets to a certain age, physical discipline should not be used. I know of people who were still getting disciplined well into their teen years. There is no need for that if you teach them when they are younger. I truly believe that the toddler age is the time when you really rear your kids into the things that are acceptable and whats not. I have this issue now with a very strong willed 2 1/2 year old. He wears me out! I am trying to come up with different ideas in the way we discipline him but he rarely responds to a "time out" whats a parent to do? It truly does hurt me more then him if I need to pat him on the bottom. Lord knows I don't want to but I fear if I don't train him now, what will the future hold? I can only pray and trust God. As parents thats the number one thing we do and trust the scripture when it says Proverb 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart".

Time Management

Why do the weekends go so fast? Its 2 days and seems like its over before it starts! How come Monday and Tuesday don't go that fast! I love spending the time with our family and friends relaxing watching Football or just hanging out. I heard a very sweet christian woman say to me one time that the Lord gave us the amount of days and hours he knew we would need and we should never complain about it. We should never say "There are not enough hours in a day" and things like that. Sometimes it seems as moms that we never do have enough time. I am guilty of not managing my time wisely and maybe that is something that I need to work on. I have already made changes regarding the computer time on social networks and that frees up a lot of time. I see some woman who have this list of things that they need to complete for the day and they check them each off and make sure it gets done, wow! We have a list but very rarely does it all get done! Atleast I am on the right path though. Sometimes I feel like a failure in that department but I like to say "Life happens" things happen, kids get sick, laundry needs washed and things like that. I try to remember to make the most of everything we are doing even if it is laundry, life is so short. I think of the scriptures when they say "life is but a fleeting moment" or "life is a vapor". Things like that really make you realize its not so much what you are doing in that time as much as it is how you are making the best of that time. What does God say about managing our time?

Ephesians 5:15-16 "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."