New seasons

What a wondrous time of year spring is! I am always filled with a childlike sense of wonder as the trees begin to bloom and nature seems to pop up everywhere I look and listen. As parents, we can be filled with same sense of awe as our children venture into each new age and stage. Sometimes we forget how hard at work their brains and bodies are---accomplishing phenomenal tasks right before our very eyes. I pray this spring, as your marvel at the spectacular show nature blesses us with, that you will pause for a moment and try to appreciate something about your child(ren) in that same fulfilling way.

Also, the Gathering Place has office space available so please let us know if you might know of any interested parties who are looking for a wonderful place to work and serve the families of north Texas.

Transform you parenting!!

Beginning on Thursday, February 18th the Gathering Place will be hosting JD Tomlin as he facilitates Effective Parenting in a Defective World. If you are struggling with how to raise a holy child in our culture, come and gain some insights and easily-applied tools. The workshop will meet for 9 weeks, each Thursday from 6-7:30. Cost is $100 per family (couple/single) which will include a participant's guide. JD has a masters in counseling and education, 20+ years experience in the field and is a parent of four. Call to reserve your spot!

Groups beginning

Circle of FRIENDS and Social Skills are FUN will both have a new session beginning in August. Please email or call to register.

Ingredients Matter next session will be held the first week of August---call or email to register.

For desriptions, please see services section of website.

Commitment

As I approach the celebration of my 15 year wedding anniversary this week, an array of thoughts come to mind. Many memories, some good and some not so good, many goals attained while others still in progress and a plethora of emotions to name a few. I asked my husband to tell me his list of "highlights" not including the usuals (wedding day, special trips, birth of children). It is a thought-provoking question and one that was quite fun to discuss. It brings to light that, while the big events are amazing and what we do tend to remember most, it is the little unexpected surprises of each day that draw us nearer and more deeply connected to one another. The "ups" are great but the "downs" are where we learn the most, grow the most and bond the most. It would seem that these same reflections apply to parenting as well. The achievements of our children are a phenomenal experience. But when one of them is in pain, either physical or emotional, that is truly when we "circle the wagons" and learn the most about what makes us tick---how are we comforted, how do we interpret life events, how do we make sense of things that happen. It saddens me when I hear of a couple calling it quits during one of these down times. Relationships would only be strengthened if they could see past the circumstances, dig deep and cling tightly. Sometimes it seems that we do this as parents as well. When things are at the very worst and we feel as if we have tried everything, we shut down and give up on our children. I wonder what might develop if we were to cling ever-so-tightly to them during their most difficult of times? May we all enjoy the ups and perservere the downs!!

Roadrunner days

Do you ever take a breath and look at your day and picture the roadrunner from the old coyote cartoons? Sometimes I envision myself with that blur of legs going in a circle 90 miles an hour and still feel like I am not making much progress. Take today, for example. I think I have worn almost a hundred hats...short order chef at breakfast, chief "ironer" so clothes weren't wrinkled (which, for those who know me, know how much of a stretch that one is), lunch maker, carpool driver, end of school celebration attender, dog picker-upper from boarding, car drier-outer b/c one of the dogs played in the pool until pick up time and shook all over the car, business administrator, parent consultant, upset neighbor helper-outer, shoulder for office mate having a bad day, therapist, carpool driver again, childcare coordinator, dinner planner, homework adviser, bill payer, kitchen cleaner-upper, rule enforcer....can anyone relate? As I felt my shoulders beginning to tense, I prayed for God's grace, patience and ability to look at the humor while letting the frustration roll away. What a gift it is to be able to respond in so many ways and meet the needs of so many others. What would our world be like if we all reached out on any given day and wore the hats placed before us? I hope that this new insight will allow me to embrace roadrunner days and wear my hats with joy!

Easter lessons..

What a wondrous time of year this is in Texas. Bluebonnets are popping up, trees are in bloom, the grass is green again...children have spring fever:) I must admit, I still experience it as well. The sunny, cool days make my appetite for the outdoors almost insatiable and my desire to work inside is slim to none. And, in the midst of this renewal, we have the opportunity to celebrate Easter. It is my favorite holiday for so many reasons. An annual chance to re-think, re-new, re-charge, re-commit...be re-born. I am awed by the simple fact that what our God wants the most is an authentic relationship with each and every one of us. He wants us to come to him with our deepest fears, biggest dreams, hopes for our future and He is always waiting with loving, open arms. Hmmm...what an incredible example of parenting we have been given if we would simply model what has been modeled for us. I want my girls to desire to come to me with all of those things. Will I be waiting for them with loving, non-judgmental, open arms? If it is the 123rd time I have heard about a peer who said "I don't want to play with you today" or another broken heart in the string of teenage boyfriends, will I still be patiently waiting to listen with love and validate their pain? During the Easter season, we are reminded that God gave us nothing less than His best. My prayer is that I can do the same for those that I love......

Revisiting an old issue

Self esteem has lost its status over the last few years and isn't discussed nearly as often as it used to be. However, in the lives of children it is still something we need to consider. Children value themselves to the degree that they have been valued. Ouch! Does your child feel valued by you? What about when you have had "one of those days"---wake up late, nobody likes their breakfast or the clothes you laid out the night before, it is raining outside, the dog tracks muddy paw prints everywhere, library books are left sitting on the kitchen table, difficult day at the office, etc, etc. We've all had these, how do they impact our attitude and actions towards our children? I'm certainly not suggesting the love with no limits philosophy. However, it is important for parents to put themselves in their children's shoes and consider what messages are being sent in their direction. If we want respect from our kids, are we giving it to them? If we don't want them to talk back to us, are we speaking calmly and kindly to them? It is up to us to make our children feel loved, important, respected, capable....all of the things we desire to feel as well. Remember to model the behaviors you would like to have reciprocated!! "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1