Book: 5 Spiritual Solutions for Everyday Parenting Challenges

I LOVED this book!  I loved it so much that I'm actually going to write about it here.  This is not something that I do very often.  Actually I think the last time I reviewed a book on a blog was when I was doing reviews for Harper Collins and that has been several years on a totally different blog.

5 Spiritual Solutions is something that ANY parent can use no matter what their denomination is.

I have struggled with my sweet Lucy since her birth.  She is very determined which is a good quality but when it is followed with being controlling, teasing her big sister, back talking, and stubborn; I feel that I am losing control.  She is only 2 1/2 and I worry about her teenage years.  I want her to grow up being a well adjusted child who is stubborn and determined to do good.  Someone who will stand her values no matter what the world is doing around her.

What really stood out about this parenting book is that it is all spiritual solutions that we can try and use and not some of the typical 'worldly' options.  The authors, Richard and Linda Eyre, do state not to try everything in this book.  There is simply too much to try at once.

I wanted to jot down a few of the solutions and ideas that stood out to me.  This is mainly for my use but perhaps something will stand out to you as well.  As parents we have a hard job to raise our children and we can use all the help we can get.

• Remember your children's true identity.  We did not create them.  Each is a unique spiritual personality and not just a reflection of who we are or who we want them to be.  
• We are only their stewards, the real father is our father in heaven.  (We're kind of just the earthly babysitter, helping to prepare them to go back to their true Father.)
• We are not starting from scratch.  They formed their personality and talents (waiting to be developed further) in the preexistence.  
• Applying 'Remember Who You Are' and helping Kids make decisions in advanced.  Many have have heard this the same way as reminding their children to 'Return with Honor'.

• Remember God's Parenting Patterns
• Learning and teaching unconditional love
• Create Family Laws and not rules.  God has laws or commandments not just rules to follow.
• Trust your children
• Live for 'moments' or enjoy the season your in. 
• Giving stewardship for clothes, toys, goals, grades, conflicts, choices and values
• Create a Family Mission Statement

• Remember the direct channel to Father:  Prayer
• Fearing God and not your children
• Hold Monthly Family Testimony Meetings
• Have a small notebook to write down who to pray for and any feeling or impressions that come.

• Use the Church's Scaffolding:  Church leaders, teachers, etc
• Help Children memorize scriptures and quotes
• Discuss what was taught each Sunday after services.

• Remember the Saviors Power
• Seeking and follow promptings
• Men to always use the priesthood.
• Remember Christ through the Sacrament.
• Learn from other Christians

They talked about a 'repentance bench' that they used for their children.  When the children would quarrel they would be sent to the bench together.  They had to think or realize what they did wrong and make it right.  They then had to ask the other person for forgiveness.  It was teaching children the process of repentance.

The book also talked about a Family Economy which you can read more about here. 

With the Sacrament tell children probably age 5 and up (depends on their maturity): "Do you know that this is the most special moment of the week?  For just a few short minutes we get to really think hard about our love for Jesus and how He gave His life for us.  You get to take upon yourself His name for the whole rest of the week which means you can try to think of things to do that would please Jesus.  You can try to think of someone to help this week.  That would make Jesus happy."

Discussing the Sacrament with children and asking these questions. (Again it's all based on maturity) 

* What does the bread represent?  What about the water?

* What are the promises we make when we take the sacrament?

* Have we made these promises before?  (If they have been baptized)

* What does it mean to 'take upon us His name?'

* What does it mean to 'always remember Him?'

* What does it mean to 'keep His commandments which He has given us?'

They have 9 children and would have 9 different framed pictures of Christ.  Each week the children would rotate pictures so they would get a different picture to put into their room.  Creating a spiritual atmosphere in our homes is important.

Annual school year blessings and A Mother's Birthday prayer.  A special prayer that the mother gets to give on the child's birthday.  

Let your children Hear you pray for them

Eyre Family Laws:  Peace, Respect, Asking, Order, Obedience.  (For example:  law of asking means that they always ask before they leave and always let mom or dad know where they are.)  

When children are being disrespectful or talking back say to them "Let's Start Over" until the child figures out how to say what he just said with more respect. 

Say 'I Love You' at the end of each phone call or each time they leave.  

Bedtime rituals and ways of saying 'I Love You'

For Men:  Use the Priesthood More.  Meaning:  The Priesthood is Key to a strong family even when your not giving an actual blessing, think of yourself as a priesthood holder.  Feel and magnify the priesthood when you pray, teach, discipline and comfort.  Use it in the way you live.

Before a Priesthood blessing is given, the mother could say a pray inviting the spirit to be there and that her husband may know what the will of God is.