As I was driving home the other day I noticed a house that had the best icicles on it that I have ever seen.  You know the kind that are so sparklingly huge, lovely to look at and are all different shapes?  As I continued driving I thought that that is cool to look at on somebody else’s house, but I would not want to own it. The fact that those big icicles are there usually means that the eaves troughs are not functional or non-existent or that the roof is poorly insulated.  Sometimes what appears to be a beautiful thing has underlying ‘ugliness’.

When we were teens growing up we sometimes heard the phrase “Pretty is as pretty does” when we were getting complimented on our appearance. It kind of bugged me at the time but it was a good lesson in humility and helped us to understand that we needed to work on our character more than our looks and outward appearance.

Sometimes as parents we want so much for our kids to ‘make us proud’ we are willing to accept them appearing to have it all together in public rather than pushing them to be real, God-fearing and moral-living kids from the inside out, wherever they are! It is FAR more important that we teach them to live their lives devoted to God and  loving and serving others than to be popular, liked and accepted at any cost. Remember what the Bible teaches “People look on the outward appearance, but God looks on our hearts”

Love,

Karen

When it comes to our kids having great manners,the first place to start is with you…Are you setting a good example as a parent? Do you always say ‘please’ when asking others for something and ‘thank you’ when you are given anything or they do something for you? Are you consistently being polite when in public and at home?  It’s unfair to expect good manners from your children if his parents are not polite themselves.

Start using words and phrases like ‘excuse me,’ ‘I’m sorry,’ and ‘may I?’ as early as possible around your child. Encourage your child to do the same. Children mimic what they hear!

One of the most important offenses with kids when it comes to manners that some parents overlook is interrupting. Make it very clear to your children that this is not polite…teach them to rest their hand on your arm to let you know they need to talk to you after you are finished your conversation with another person. Place your hand over their hand so they know that you are acknowledging their need to talk to you BUT do not allow them to keep saying “excuse me, EXCUSE ME”…that is still interrupting! As is them banging on your leg, or arm or hitting you! Teach them well. It will endear them to others throughout their lives.

Avoid ignoring bad behavior or waiting to talk about it. Address a rule as soon as your child breaks it. (But avoid making it embarrassing to them in front of others)

Bring up the behavior again in private so you can discuss it more thoroughly and make sure your child understands how to behave in the future.

Remember, our expectations of our children should not exceed the habits we are living out in front of them. In other words, model the behaviors you wish to see in them.

Have a great week Dad’s and Mom’s!
Karen

Good news: Teenagers found willing to help their parents. Who Woulda Thunk It?

Nine out of 10 parents swear in front of children. Potty Mouths.

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Hey there..my name is Karen Brock, and I’m so glad that you are visiting The Sex Rev!

A little bit about me…

I am sometimes called the ‘Sex Lady’ because I teach an Sexual Abstinence Program in both elementry and secondary schools in the area.

I love young people and have such a heart to see them move toward an incredible future but
realize that the choices they are making now will dictate the futures that they live,
especially in regards to their sex lives.

As married parents of 3 kids, my husband and I knew that we had to be open with them about sex and issues surrounding it. Someone once said to us “Where there is silence and secrecy there is shame”.  We wanted our kids to know that in our home it was okay to talk about sex.

We also felt it necessary to let them know that we believe that sex is GREAT in the context of marriage, but outside of that it could become a source of pain instead of pleasure.

Many parents do not understand how important their role is, in their kids lives, when it comes to
sex. We must do everything in our power to love, protect and connect in a healthy, vibrant, relevant manner with our kids in order for them to hear us when it comes to their choices, especially regarding sex.

Once kids turn 15 or 16, it is time to move the focus from the rules to the relationship with them. If the relationship is not great between young people and their parents, then their peers will become the bigger influence in their lives!

The fact that you are reading this indicates your desire to be there for your kids…good for you! Moving out of a comfort zone to deal with these issues can look scary at first, but trust me, it will be worth it in the end!

Talk to you next Friday!
Karen