Protecting the Homefront
- Eat Dinner as a family every night at the table.
- No TV During Dinner
- Vigorously Filter Media Consumption- For Self and Children. Only allow what is uplifting
- Bed Time Routine - For Children, and Adults!
- Simplify- We are too busy. Don't feel the need to be involved in everything. One extra curricular activity for children is fine.
- Use Scripture Daily- Somehow, integrate scripture into your daily routine as a family. Verse at dinner. Memorization, etc...
- Communicate with Kids- Take son/daughter out at regular intervals. Breakfast every other month?
- Never miss church. There should never be a morning we decide to not go to church because we are tired.
- Devotions- For self and as a family. Start with the family once a week.
- Filter Friendships- Who is influencing who? We are free to disallow relationships with certain individuals to protect ourselves and our kids.
- Christian School- Some feel strongly on both sides here. I don't think all believer's should exit the public system, but it needs to be considered nonetheless.
- Wife home with Kids
- Limit Overtime at Work- If we want to influence our families, we have to be there. Overtime for a season is understood, but caution is necessary.
- Regular Date Night with spouse. Monthly? Nothing gets in the way of this sacred evening.
- Regular Family Night- Nothing gets in the way of this sacred evening.
- Only be refreshed physically and emotionally from spouse. Proverbs 5. If you find yourself desiring to be refreshed elsewhere, than it is time to make some serious changes.
- Accountability Group- This might look different for the genders, but a regular diet of intense accountability is necessary.
- Regularly Serve the Lord- If you don't have time, you are too busy.
What other ideas do you have.
Rob
Comments
At first glance the list looks daunting... and perhaps even impossible. But parenting is a full-time job (regardless of whether you have another full-time job). Whether we recognized it at the time or not, we signed up for this when our children were born.
As for other ideas... the pastor at the church we were at for Mother's day talked about many of these but two others that also caught my ear... "20 questions." When their kids bring home friends, the parents have "the right" to ask the kid 20 questions. Starting with foods and movies they like, they move on to more deeper questions. By the end, they have a strong sens of the type of influence this new friend may be. The second idea was just talking through with their kids what every show they watch is really teaching them (not always the explicit theme, but the subtle).
Another brother heard from.
Chip
Rob... aren't you glad I finally checked out your blog? and what's with your wordy brothers, anyway?
Rob stated in his lesson on Sunday that this was a list of ideas, not absolutes. That some of these ideas would not be for everyone. Of course, he didn't state that in the post, but I know that was the intention! These were some ways to protect your family.
Thanks for other great ideas!
My family had a daily devotional and prayer time 5 days a week before my dad left for work. We didn't always want to participate, but it was not an option. And it was great for our family! A practice I want to start when Drew is just a little older.
Becky
I really like a lot of the ideas. Thanks for sharing them!
I agree with Chip. It looks daunting at first, but we did sign on to this with are first child.
I really like the idea of 20 questions. Darlene has made a few new friends from school and I really think I am going to use this on them.
Shari