| I'm really good at harping. And I'm not talking about | | | | ranging from small to large." Somewhere in between |
| the musical instrument. I may not have the foggiest | | | | small and large lies our issue of harping on our kids. |
| idea how to strum a harp, but I sure am good at the | | | | • Make a decision. Every morning, decide that |
| other kind. Just ask my son. | | | | harping will be kept to a minimum. Your kids are |
| Sometimes it starts before he even gets out of bed: | | | | bound to do things that push your harp button. But |
| "Let's go...time to get up. Come on! Are you getting | | | | deciding not to allow the devil to use those buttons |
| up, or what? Quit being lazy. I told you not to go to | | | | to get you going is the key to breaking this ugly |
| bed so late last night." | | | | habit. |
| And so I've set the course for the day. As soon as | | | | • Come up with a better plan. You know by now |
| he's out of the shower, I start in: "Did you pick up | | | | that all of your pestering and getting after your kids |
| your clothes off the floor? What about your towel? | | | | is not very effective. Take inventory of those things |
| Are you sure you got all of your homework done? | | | | your children do that require some extra attention |
| Why didn't you tell me you wanted hot lunch today? | | | | and come up with a plan of action. If one of the |
| I already made you a lunch." Blah, blah, blah, blah, | | | | problem areas is leaving towels on the bathroom |
| blah... | | | | floor after showering, try leaving the towel on the |
| No wonder my son all but races out of the house in | | | | floor and removing all other towels from the |
| the morning. | | | | bathroom. The next morning, the only available towel |
| Harping has become a familiar tune in our house. One | | | | will be the one left on the floor in a heap. Using a |
| that doesn't emit beautiful music and one I'm not | | | | dirty, damp towel might be just what she needs to |
| particularly proud of. It's not that I enjoy getting | | | | get the message. |
| after my kids about stuff; I just can't seem to help | | | | • Tongue biting really works! Before those words |
| myself. Whether out of habit or a subconscious | | | | start rolling off your tongue, bite it. Besides |
| "control-freak" thing I have going on, harping is | | | | preventing you from launching into your favorite harp |
| something I've been trying to get a rein on. I'm afraid | | | | melody, the pain will give you something else to |
| that if it keeps on, I will, indeed, drive my children to | | | | focus on. |
| "exasperation," as the Bible warns in Ephesians 6:4. If | | | | Kids certainly need direction. Harping on them may |
| you're like me and struggle with this musical disaster, | | | | seem to be the easiest way to do that but it has |
| consider the following ways to keep harping at bay in | | | | been proven to be ineffective. Also, as the Bible |
| your home. | | | | warns, it turns kids' hearts away from their parents |
| • Pray. This may seem like a no-brainer but there | | | | and drives them to anger. Today, won't you join me |
| are many of us who bypass this crucial step. I love | | | | in deciding to come up with a way to decrease the |
| the Message version of Mark 11:22. It says, "That's | | | | amount of harping we do so we can keep the |
| why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, | | | | harmony in our homes? |