Abbreviated Motherly Wisdom

I'm posting twice today to prove to my daughter that I can write a short post. She sweetly inferred that my long posts might tempt someone (like her...) to 'skim' as opposed to the deep comprehension that we expect from blog readers. Her suggestion was that I go cold turkey to break my habit of verbosity - and try something simple like posting my Christmas mashed potato recipe, but I'm no Pioneer Woman - so I think I'll pass on the mashed potatoes (get it? Pass... on the potatoes. Hah! And she really thinks people want me to leave this kind of stimulating stuff out of my posts just so they'll have a few more minutes in their day?)

So, I'm going to take a cue from Jenni, of Makeshift Mama, who asked in an earlier comment if I had any motherly wisdom. That's one of the many myths about large families. People think the more kids you have, the wiser and more patient and loving you must be. I prefer to let that myth go unchallenged - so I'll give it a shot and tell you about something new we're doing this week.

I have done many things in the past to help my children work on developing the habit of Immediate Obedience. We've always required them to give some kind of response after an instruction, such as - Yes, ma'am, OK Mom, I'll be happy to Mom, At your service Your Majesty... or any other acknowledgment that they have indeed heard and understood us. At times, when their response is sweet enough, but the follow-through is sketchy, we've required them to say, "Yes, Mom, I'll ......go take out the trash" or whatever we've asked them to do. That way, they are totally and completely without excuse for not complying immediately.

This week, I've taken the Motivation to Obey to a whole new level. Daniel is the Worst Offender at the moment (and if I was one of those Excuse-Making Mamas who think their kids are perfect, I'd blame it on the lack of routine we've had during the holidays....or maybe even Mickey Mouse). So, after a particularly relevant family devotion this week, I had the idea to ask him not only to say, "Yes, ma'am", but to add this quote from Ps. 119:60. "I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands." It's a good reminder for him of what he's supposed to do after he hears me- and I love the way it sounds :)

There's much more to this - but I'm prohibited from saying more due to my current challenge to be concise. And don't expect all my posts to be all nice and short. It's too hard. Just skim if you have to! I don't have time for this (write...delete...write...delete..write...delete). It takes way too much time to have to think while I write. Rambling is way easier. And this still isn't that short!

-Debbie