The power of words

I've been thinking a lot about words lately- mostly about what people say and maybe even more importantly, how it is said.

I often tell my kids that there is a nice way to say something as well as a mean way. More often than not our household chooses the mean way. The tone of voice that adds 'you're a stupid idiot' is creeping into our conversations and patience seems to have run out the door long ago. And honestly, I don't know how much more I can take before this tidal wave drowns me in despair.

Out of the heart the mouth speaks- so I guess in one way this is a good thing, because know there is no doubt as to where our hearts are right now. But what to do about people who don't care how they talk to you- whether it hurts you (and those around you) or not? How do I guard my heart (or my children's hearts) and still stay soft to the things of the Lord?

But of more significance- how do I get my children to learn how to speak/act kindly to others when the example they get from grown-ups in their lives is the exact opposite?

I'm making more of a concerted effort to change my words and their tone- but it's a heart thing, which means the long term correction needs divine intervention- for all of us!

Ups and downs and the return of monster mommy

I was talking with a friend the other day and pondering the notion that I'm going into my third year of home schooling. It just seems like such an odd concept- that we've finished two whole years of schooling and will be starting year three! Time wise, it still feels like I'm working my way through our first year. Where has the time gone?

I'm please to say that the kids have really pulled through and done very well this year- child #1 even managed to pull off an 'A' for math. Pretty good considering he was sitting with an 'I' at the end of second semester! The rest of their marks were quite decent as well. Not quite sure how that happened, lol!

But more than the academics, I'm wondering what God's marks would be... maybe that's why I still feel like we're working on our first year still- I'm not sure how much real progress has been made. I know the past couple of weeks have been really bad for me- monster mommy moved back in and I haven't been able to get rid of her yet! ;-( Didn't help that we did a reno over my hubby's recent holiday time, either. And today we worked on teaching child #1 how to cut the lawn- I'm not sure whose attitude was worse, his or mine. The lawn did get mowed (twice because the first time was so badly done), but I was left wondering if I'd made any progress on the heart training (or if my crappy attitude was the bigger issue).

All I know is that I seriously need a few nights of really good, peaceful, restful sleep and several days of just hanging with the kids without obscene demands stressing me out so that I can calm down and start liking them again. Oh, and putting my house back together after the reno might help too- (chaos really stresses me out in more ways than one).

Maybe I'll have to reflect on this past year once I de-stress, since right now I really can't think straight.