How to Breathe Fresh Air Life into Your Young’uns {and not suck it out of ’em}

I lectured for the entire car ride, right up ’til I pulled into the school parking lot. OK, so we live about three minutes from school. Still, I know good and well three minutes in lecture time feels like thirty minutes in real time.

I realize my mistake and tried to put a band-aid on it with sudden, enthusiastic “I love you’s!” and “Praying you have a great day!” They answered with barely there smiles and unenthusiastic replies. There’s nothing like starting the day by sucking the life out of the morning. Out of them.

Ya, I had some valid points in my lecture, but when I give in to emotion and mix up poor timing with verbosity, I serve up a  joy-killing cocktail that tastes terrible as it deflates spirits. But when I say and do things that breathe fresh air life into my kiddos, I deposit joy, love, and grace into their emotional bank accounts. It also takes the edge off unwise withdrawals.

Here are some soul-satisfying things I can go on and on about that help my young’uns breathe in a little fresh air life.

How to Breathe Fresh Air Life into Your Young’uns:

I will hug them first thing.

{Because the Lord’s compassions never fail and His mercies are new each morning! Lamentations 3:22-23}

I will look them in the eyes when they speak to me and I speak to them.

{I always have His full attention! Psalm 3:4, 62:8}

I will tell them mistakes ARE allowed.

{Because the expectation of perfection leads to devastation. If God expected perfection, He wouldn’t have given us Jesus. Hebrews 10:14}

I will not wait to tell them, “I am sorry.”

{Because these three words model humility and wipe out egg-shell walking. Acts 3:19}

I will ask them their highs and lows of each day.

{Both are opportunities to offer prayer and show gratitude! Philippians 4:6}

I will remind them they are a treasured possession.

{Because we are His! Deuteronomy 26:18}

I will create family “inside” jokes.

{Because laughter heals and I want them to enjoy home! Proverbs 17:22}

I will call them affirming nick names and pet names.

{Because it helps seal their identity as a part of my family! And we are all a part of His! Romans 11:17}

I will pray my gratitude for them out loud.

{Because every gift is from God and they should know they are a gift! James 1:17}

I will end the day with “I love you” and “I’m proud of you.”

{Because ending on a good note cancels earlier bad ones and sets the stage for a fresh start tomorrow. Ephesians 4:26-27}

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