Where did our Summer go?

The line of hungry students and parents winded its way around the school gymnasium. It was the annual Back-to-School party at the local grade school. Parents catching up with each other while the children laughed and sang and just seemed to make the best of waiting in line. They were having fun - and about to enjoy a stack of pancakes served up by none other than the school principal!

All across this great country schools are preparing for the annual arrival of this years student body.

In some towns the children have already started their school year.

Parents rushing around in the morning getting little ones ready for another adventure-filled day at school. Trying to convince the children to eat something healthy. And still get dressed in time to rush off to another new day!

"I like my new teacher" my eldest son shared with me after giving her a hug. It seems to me that just perhaps what teachers are miss in their inadequate paychecks just might be made up for every time a student wants to give them a hug!

Here's hoping every child goes back to school this year with a big smile and healthy desire to learn! And a teacher who enjoys getting a hug or two - or ten every day. A teacher who cares and loves her students! And loving parents who feed their children a healthy breakfast before sending them off to school. Parents that stress the value and importance of a good education.

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How to get a child to do homework?

"But Dad, I don't want to be a Nerd" he cried out as i gently tried to get him to sit down and do some homework. The battle lasted for far too long. He employed every delay tactic I know of and then some. When his Mother, Step-Dad and I all tried to convince him of the importance of doing his homework he even burst into tears. Poor little guy - or was this simply yet another delay tactic.

" Not now, Dad - I'm watching this movie" Or, "Can't I please save this game first?" I wish I had never bought that silly little portable game player he spends way too much time with.

Does every parent experience these same challenges just getting their children to begin their homework? Maybe I've been too soft on him. Maybe I need to try a tougher approach.

God gives us a brief window - and a glorious one at that - to teach our children well. How we use this time is totally up to us. I know I need to do a better job of convincing him. To teach him discipline!

To teach him somehow how to fund a happy balance. Maybe these homework tips will be useful.

Lessons for our children

"My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,

For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.

Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart,

And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.

Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.

In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.

Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil.

Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones.

onour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;

And filled are thy barns [with] plenty, And [with] new wine thy presses break forth.

Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof,

For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.

O the happiness of a man [who] hath found wisdom, And of a man [who] bringeth forth understanding.

For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold -- her increase.

Precious she [is] above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her.

Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left [are] wealth and honour.

Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace.

A tree of life she [is] to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her [is] happy.

Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.

By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.

My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness"

Proverbs 3:1-21

The wisdom found in the pages of the Bible has - for centuries - greatly improved the lives of countless readers. If there is any one, single thing we can pass on to our children I guess the wisdom found in the pages of the Bible may be the most useful.

The Lord blesses us with children to love. And teach! The opportunity is right there for us to teach our children good lessons.

From 3rd Grade to College

“I’m practically in college, you know - I’m in the 3rd grade now, Daddy!” he reminded me as we drove home last night. He wants to grow up so fast. Just 12 hours earlier I had dropped him off in front of the school for his 1st day of this new school year. And once again, I found myself fighting back tears as I offered a quick prayer of Thanks for the greatest gift the Good Lord has blessed me with – a son!

Slow down the bus – Didn’t I just last week watch his kindergarten graduation ceremony? Wasn’t I just filling a sippy-cup with his favorite orange drink the week before? I swear I picked up a diaper from a corner of his bedroom just last month!

Where did those years go? Why must his childhood fly by so quickly? Later, as we settled into a big chair together for some reading, he handed me the book he’d picked out for the evening. A book about dinosaurs and a magic bus. His fascination with dinosaurs has outlasted Barney ( Thank the Good Lord ), The Wiggles, and the Power Rangers ( a triple Thanks to the Big Guy upstairs ).

I know our reading time together will someday – far too soon for my liking – be yet another pleasant memory. Meanwhile, I hope I can instill in him a love of reading and a yearning for more. I hope he will always have a fascination with something! I hope we can sit down together and do his homework for the evening without even the slightest objection or complaint. I hope he will settle into a habit of studying a little each day. Of reading and writing a little each day.

I hope he will grow to accept daily homework as a normal part of growing up. I hope he will succeed at learning whatever sparks an interest in that wonderful little mind of his. If your little one is just embarking upon his or her journey in education you might enjoy some simple and easy homework tips!

Show Your Children the Ways to Better Grades

Give your child a head start before school starts up again. Encourage your little loved ones to read and practice their writing skills. Show them some of the many ways to better grades. Make it fun! They'll enjoy it more if you make a game of it!

Here are a few easy steps to help get you started:

1. Demonstrate the importance of writing. Do you write a list of groceries or write a check to pay for them? Do you write on birthday cards or take down messages from the answering machine? Show your child how strong writing ability can open doors by explaining the writing involved in various jobs.

2. Provide a good place to write. A quiet environment with stimulating books can inspire your child's writing muse. A desk or table with good lighting eases the mechanics of writing. Both lined and unlined paper is useful, as are writing tools like pens, pencils, markers, and crayons.

3. Allow time for writing. Set aside a certain time each day or week to write. Get your child in the mood to write to a pen pal with a regular Saturday bowl of popcorn. Encourage your child to record the day in a personal journal each night.

4. Follow what your child enjoys. If your child likes a special song, encourage him to write out the lyrics. Have children make lists of favorite possessions: books, dolls, baseball cards. Start a story about a favorite subject or character, and let her write the ending.

5. Play writing games together. Crossword puzzles, anagrams, and cryptograms for children can be found in newspapers or inexpensive booklets.

6. Bring a notebook on outings. Encourage your child to take notes on nature walks, bus or car trips, or special visits to a museum or zoo.

7. Develop advanced writing skills. Make up stories aloud and help your child decide: who are the main characters? What is the setting? What problems are faced and how are they resolved? Arrange for your child to interview someone special and write up what he learned.

8. Express feelings. Encourage children to draw and write about personal thoughts and feelings. Writing poems or songs gives children new ways to express themselves.

9. Write a book review. Ask your child to read a book and write a review.

Follow these steps for a smarter summer and you will see results when your child goes back to school. With practice, your child will learn to "write it right!

Check out even more homework tips!