*breathing a sigh of relief*

Breathing a sigh of relief that letting the kids swim in the pool when it was way to cold isn't on this list....
(sorry can't give credit - found it while surfing)

"HOW TO RUIN YOUR KIDS"
1. Attempt to live your life through your kids.
2. Give them stuff instead of consistent love.
3. Withhold discipline and give too few limits.
4. Allow peer pressure control your parenting (comparing your children to OPK's, getting them involved in everything, keeping your kids up with the Jones' kids)
5. Refuse to fulfill your God-given roles-put your kids in a more important role than your spouse.
6. Never tell them that you're sorry.
7. Teach them to be open-minded about spiritual things-there are no absolutes.
8. Don't restrain your mouth.
9. Buy into the myth of the two income family -(ed:highly debated...don't email me about it! )
10. When problems come, split up and say it's better for the kids.
11. Hold onto them too tightly.

From the book - "The 7 Worst Things Good Parents Do" written by John C. Friel and Linda D. Friel (he's a psychologist, she's a counselor) which mirrors many of the points that just listed. Here's what they have to say:
1. Baby Your Child
2. Put your marriage last
3. Push Your Child into too Many Activities
4. Ignore Your Emotional or Spiritual Life
5. Be Your Child's Best Friend
6. Fail to Give Your Chld Structure
7. Expect Your Child to Fulfill your Dreams

This did make me stop a think a bit and reassess some of my feelings of inadequacy when it comes to parenting my kids, as well as the feeling of occasionally meerly surviving, than thriving. I pray every day we are all thriving - somedays it feels more like it than others. reality in life. Can't give it more weight than that.

Yes - the kids were swimming last night. They asked. The water was 72 - so I knew they wouldn't get hypothermia...so sometimes you just have to let kids be kids. They had a blast, and shivered all the way to the shower. I couldn't believe how long they actually stayed in. They kept begging me to get in as well. I gladly informed them that I would be in when the water was at least 80 degrees!
Had to include a picture of the Zoey too!! Lately she has been all about being wherever we are, doing whatever we are doing - even more so than usual. She was quite dismayed not to be able to go up there with the kids. She frankly has no clue that the pool is full of water or she wouldn't even try. I had to scold her a time or two when she reared back and prepared to run up that ladder! She also sat on the porch last night when J. ran to the store for hambuger rolls, and refused to come in until he got back. Cats just don't do that!