Thursday, January 12, 2012

Creative Kids Recap

OY! I have a few different topics brewing in my head right now.  I need to get at least one of them out!  So I choose the "safe" one since the other is still in the "likely to offend" stage.  (As badly as I want to express my opinions...not sure if that one will ever make it out to the page.)

I'd like to share the wonderful points brought up by the speaker at my mom's group this morning.  This not only will reinforce them for my own consideration but possibly will inspire you too!  The topic at Moms Together was "Creative Kids: Fostering healthy creative expression in our children," and was shared by Staci Frenes, a talented songwriter, musician, recording artist, worship leader, mom, wife, etc., who attends our church.  It was very fitting to have someone so creative speak to us!

Here are some of my notes and comments:

1)  Our kids need to see US doing what we love, to see us fully alive, fully loving life. 

As mom, we risk forgetting/neglecting our identity before that title was applied to our life's resume.  We are the glue that holds our families together.  We can't help but take care of others.  But that doesn't mean we can't and shouldn't take care of ourselves.  Staci asked us to think back to when we were about the ages 8-12.  What were the things you loved to do?  What did people say you were really gifted in?  Maybe you need to get back into those things.  Several women shared about sports, art, music... How healthy would it be for our kids to see their moms living a life, not just of responsibilities, but full of FUN!?  To know that they and Daddy were Mom's most important ministry, but Mom had other great things going on?  Life shouldn't be all about the kids, folks.  We recognize that God gave our kids talents and gifts but frequently forget that our Father gave us our own gifts too!  They weren't forfeited when we became a parent.  Gifts are meant to be given and shared with others.  Even Mom needs to utilize her gifts to glorify God and bless others.

What do you need to do?  Having been created in our God's likeness, we have creativity in us - even if our confidence is lacking in that area!  We NEED to create beautiful things.  I loved Staci's point that we are likely more cranky if we suppress our creativity.  I had never thought of that, but am sure it is true for me!

2) Give them choices and options.

Tools and spaces.  Do you have them?  Are you stocked with (and say yes when they ask to) drawing, painting, coloring supplies, playdough for sculpting, dress up attire, Legos or other mechanical toys for building?  Do you have designated areas for creative play?  We're doing pretty well in this area, but I could definitely say yes more often.  Valid excuse: when there are little ones who shouldn't play with tiny pieces or bite off crayon tips, it is SO hard to do any of the crafty stuff when they are awake and want to participate in the big kids' activities!

3) They need to know they are free to fail.

"To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong."  Encourage them to try and try again.  Go nuts (in a good way) over the attempt, not just the outcome.  When they enter the adult world, criticism, deadlines, and stress will surround them.  Make it fun and freeing for as long as you can.  Success may or may not come easily, but if they are not giving up, chances are they really love pursuing it and that is something to celebrate!  Who knows where your encouragement will lead them later down the road?

4) They need to see their gifts and strengths as a way to engage in a hurting world. 

Foster compassion.  Like I said earlier, these gifts were given to us to glorify God and bless others.  There is a reason we've been given the ones we've got.  I'm excited and feel challenged to identify our kids' possible strengths, nurture them, and expose the needs of others in the world that could benefit and be blessed by those strengths!  Staci shared a story about her friend whose son's heart was broken one day for young boys being used for slave labor.  This boy thought about being in their shoes and his mom steered his passion and compassion to act.  Together they founded a thriving organization, Kidz Helping Kids.  The details of their story are incredible and inspire me.  Another compelling thought Staci shared: What breaks their heart is just as important as the things they love.  Find the link between them and use your creativity!

It's kinda funny to me: just the other day I posted a random thought on facebook.  While attending Seattle Pacific University, our president, Dr. Eaton, totally overused the motto of the school "Engage the culture.  Change the world."  In every speech given, whether it was in chapel or graduation, it was brought up at least four times.  Wow.  It got old, in my opinion.  But how interesting that it pops into my thoughts so frequently, and "just happened" to right before this talk.  I feel challenged to figure out what that looks like for me and for my kids.

Here are a few links that I thought I'd share - helpful tools that have been referred to me:
Kids Flag Page
The Treasure Tree by Gary Smalley
Crazy Love by Francis Chan - this one was a great read and super inspirational when it comes to living out your faith as a family.

Now let's go be creative!


Monday, January 9, 2012

Monopoly Thoughts

Ahhh, that was a nice breath of fresh air!  But now I'm back with something to say...

Don't you wish that the Monopoly card "bank error in your favor... collect $$$" actually popped up in real life?  I'm frequently at the teller's window because we operate on a cash system.  On my last visit, the poor, tired teller kept doing math incorrectly.  I corrected her each time, even at the end when she handed me $100 too much.  I walked away feeling pleased with myself for a) catching the mistakes in the first place, and b) being honest instead of letting the bank deal with its employees' mistakes. 

Immediately I thought of Monopoly.  "Where's my reward money?" I selfishly thought to myself.  Well, I don't have an extra $10 that B of A paid me as a thanks, but I realize that I'm rewarded by my Father in heaven who sees every honest action, every kind word, or good deed unnoticed.  My goal isn't really to get acknowledgment from people on Earth anyway.  Abundant blessings are my constant reward, and when my favor with God increases by whatever I do, think, or say, that is the best reward I could ever hope for.

(And what spurred me to write about this incident was the phone call I had with a B of A representative just a minute ago.  I had to dispute a charge, and the whole thing went so quickly and smoothly!  I thought, "Hmm, may be this was a gift because of..." May be it seems silly to associate the two events, but I started a habit long ago of looking for God's blessings in everything.)

After all:  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ~ James 1:17

Are you looking for the blessings He is giving you constantly?  I challenge you to start.