Saturday, July 14, 2007
Cutting the Apron Strings #3
Summer camp went to the movies on Tuesday and I thought Brooklyn would enjoy me going with her. She sat with her friends, didn't save me a seat and I got to sit behind them by myself. I guess welcome to the world of preteens. Maybe she is cutting the apron strings for me!
Monday, July 9, 2007
Cutting the apron strings post #2
This week we went exploring in North Carolina. We visited some friends, we went to the NC Zoo in Asheboro, we went to Franklin Street in Chapel Hill (now that's some sacred ground) and we stopped by Lexington and ate BBQ.
Brooklyn and I spent five days together and we had a great time. When we were praying together on Friday night she said, "Thank you God for giving us time together to laugh and cut-up." That was so sweet.
When we got home on Saturday she called her dad to see if she could go to his house because she was missing him. Even though it was "my" weekend I let her go. But only after her room was cleaned and inspected by her step-father. Now, I wouldn't keep her from going to see her dad. But she has responsibilities. It took her 1.5 hours to clean her room (it was pretty bad and she didn't get her allowance last week because it was dirty). I could have helped her, but I read blogs all the time about people who their spouse is away and they can't even load the dishwasher. I want to help my child become self-sufficient.
How is God cutting the apron strings with you? He always wants us close and we can go to him anytime (David messed up bad and was still the apple of God's eye) but where is he stretching you? Where is God having you grow in Him?
I'm not finished with this subject. More tomorrow!
Brooklyn and I spent five days together and we had a great time. When we were praying together on Friday night she said, "Thank you God for giving us time together to laugh and cut-up." That was so sweet.
When we got home on Saturday she called her dad to see if she could go to his house because she was missing him. Even though it was "my" weekend I let her go. But only after her room was cleaned and inspected by her step-father. Now, I wouldn't keep her from going to see her dad. But she has responsibilities. It took her 1.5 hours to clean her room (it was pretty bad and she didn't get her allowance last week because it was dirty). I could have helped her, but I read blogs all the time about people who their spouse is away and they can't even load the dishwasher. I want to help my child become self-sufficient.
How is God cutting the apron strings with you? He always wants us close and we can go to him anytime (David messed up bad and was still the apple of God's eye) but where is he stretching you? Where is God having you grow in Him?
I'm not finished with this subject. More tomorrow!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Cutting the apron strings post #1
On July 22, I leave for camp. That's right, me. I haven't been since I was 12. I get to be the Camp Pastor at Camp Tekoa for a week. What a privilege it will be to serve those students.
The big deal about it is that Brooklyn also gets to go. She hasn't relished the idea of sleep away camp (I couldn't wait to get away from my parents). Even though her friend, Courtney, is also going, I will be there and she will be surrounded by people who care about her, she is still worried.
How do we create relationships with our children so they want to hang around us but give them the wings to want to have experiences that are totally safe in other environments where their parents aren't present?
I'm really glad I have this wonderful relationship with my daughter. I got to teach her how to shave her legs (I have a huge scar where I did my own when I was about her age), I get to cuddle on the couch with her and watch Survivor. Brooklyn's dad takes her 4 wheelin' and deer lookin' in the woods. We have a great relationship with our daughter, but I want her to have the other experiences. The experiences where she is safe, but has to make her own decisions and I'm not there to walk her through it.
Are we sheltering our children too much? We used to run all over the neighborhood after dark playing flashlight tag and not have to worry about someone grabbing us. We played ball in the street and walked to the corner store to pick up milk to drink for dinner. I walked home from school. We live in the same neighborhood, but I can't let Brooklyn out to play flashlight tag because we don't know all our neighbors, our street is too busy now for her to play ball in the street and there are no sidewalks to walk to school - or am I just sheltering her?
Camp will be a great way for her to be on her own (I'm intentionally going to stay away from her and let her have this adventure without me, but knowing I am close by). Hopefully next year she will want to go for a week without me - or do I really want her to?
Man, I need to cut some apron strings.
The big deal about it is that Brooklyn also gets to go. She hasn't relished the idea of sleep away camp (I couldn't wait to get away from my parents). Even though her friend, Courtney, is also going, I will be there and she will be surrounded by people who care about her, she is still worried.
How do we create relationships with our children so they want to hang around us but give them the wings to want to have experiences that are totally safe in other environments where their parents aren't present?
I'm really glad I have this wonderful relationship with my daughter. I got to teach her how to shave her legs (I have a huge scar where I did my own when I was about her age), I get to cuddle on the couch with her and watch Survivor. Brooklyn's dad takes her 4 wheelin' and deer lookin' in the woods. We have a great relationship with our daughter, but I want her to have the other experiences. The experiences where she is safe, but has to make her own decisions and I'm not there to walk her through it.
Are we sheltering our children too much? We used to run all over the neighborhood after dark playing flashlight tag and not have to worry about someone grabbing us. We played ball in the street and walked to the corner store to pick up milk to drink for dinner. I walked home from school. We live in the same neighborhood, but I can't let Brooklyn out to play flashlight tag because we don't know all our neighbors, our street is too busy now for her to play ball in the street and there are no sidewalks to walk to school - or am I just sheltering her?
Camp will be a great way for her to be on her own (I'm intentionally going to stay away from her and let her have this adventure without me, but knowing I am close by). Hopefully next year she will want to go for a week without me - or do I really want her to?
Man, I need to cut some apron strings.
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