I think that there just comes a time when the things
that you've been trying to diligently teach your child,
come to fruition.
We've been struggling with Collin settling into school
and into the routine of the classroom and the school well,
ever since school started. He has had a pretty rough
time of it.
I started saying a family prayer with the boys
before we left to take Collin to school in the
mornings pretty much right from the start of
the school year.
Mostly because I felt that they both needed to
hear the prayers of their mother for them and
the gratitude that I have for my Heavenly Father
for each of my family members and to hear her
invoke the blessings of Heaven upon them and
their Dad throughout the day.
I know that it is a blessing and it is something that
they expect as part of the morning routine.
I now let the boys take turns with me in offering
our morning prayer and I absolutely beam with
a mother's pride at their prayers.
This morning, Collin prayed that he would have
ten Popsicle sticks at the end of the week, each
day and that Jack would be a good boy and listen
to what mom tells him to do.
(the Popsicle sticks are something his teachers worked
out for him with proper behavior in the classroom
and getting his work done throughout the day. He
starts with 10 each day and then if his teacher has
to talk with him, reprimand him; what have you,
she will take one away. So the goal each day is to
have the full 10 at the end of the day ---
it has worked wonders with him. He ended last
week with a week of 10 each day --
Ice cream out with Dad was the reward.)
Last night, I overheard his prayers when he asked Heavenly Father to please help him not think about the bad monsters that come into his head.
He's been having a rough time with bad dreams -- probably because of his insanely active imagination (he likes to draw a lot of dinosaurs and monsters.)
I guess that what I'm getting at with writing this all down is that it is nice to know that by my example and by the boys hearing and praying themselves; they know, with the faith that only a child has, that their prayers are important to them and that their Heavenly Father is there and is listening to their fears and hopes and desires.
I guess that I'm doing something right, eh?
