children

Private Moments for Mothers

Backstory

The role of mother has always been pivotal. Even more so in times like a global pandemic and dangerous disruption. Mothers are called on to calm fears, provide balance, keep moving things in the right direction. And they do. This is for you.

Private Moments for Mom

This is a little private moment for the mothers in our audience. Did you ever think you’d be able to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Where did we learn how to do things like that?

What magical power was bestowed upon us for the years when our families needed us 24/7? Where did we get the patience to sit and rock for hours on end soothing a crying baby who refused to be comforted? Sometimes we know exactly what to do . . . and sometimes we don’t.

So this is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can’t find the words to reach them. This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peace-loving and now pray they come home safely from a war.

The emotions of motherhood are universal and our thoughts today are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation, and mature mothers learning to let go. For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Single moms and married moms. Mothers with money, mothers without.

Hang in there. In the end, we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them and show them besides. And pray and never stop being a mom. No, never stop.

P.S. As Mother’s Day approaches and you consider a gift for your mom, put at the top of the list – time with her. Go shopping with her, take her to the park, cook her favorite dinner – together. Realize that YOU are the best gift she could get.

[Show #288]

Children’s Fantasy House

Backstory – Children’s Fantasy House

Today’s children don’t have the opportunities for imagining that we had fifty years ago. I’ll bet you had a private clubhouse or tent or fantasy house to play in. They were not plastic things you bought at Toys R Us. Might have been the treasure of a big cardboard box with doors and windows cut out. It could be any color and any purpose we wanted because it was created in our imagination.

I hope there are teachers and leaders out there who are creating platforms for imagination for today’s kids. If you know of any, please let me know.

In the meantime, here are the details of the fantasy house of my childhood.

Children’s Fantasy House

We passed a grove of peach trees today. They reminded me of the fantasy house I had as a child. It was at the foot of a coal bank in Northeastern Pennsylvania, in a cluster of peach trees.

We lived in anthracite territory, and banks of coal were a regular part of the landscape. We would take rocks and outline rooms in our fantasy homes. Under this tree was the living room. That tree covered the kitchen. If a tree was so low that you had to crawl under it, obviously, that had to be the bedroom.

Imaginations soared as my friends and I visited each other in our fantasy houses. The hours we spent designing the home we would have in the future. and the meals we’d serve. The parties we’d give and the children we would have.

And then . . . the blink of the eye and voila . . . there we were in the real world with real husbands and kids and houses.

You might say we got the chance to make our house dreams come true. We certainly were good with colors and styles and we keep everything clean and perky.

But somehow no domicile was ever quite as sweet as my fantasy home under the peach trees at the foot of the coal bank in Hudson, Pennsylvania.

P.S What fantasies did children conjure up during the pandemic lockdown? It was a rare opportunity to return to the land of imagination. Did the time at home inspire innovation? Or was it spent as the open gate to limitless video gaming? What have you seen, heard, or experienced?

[Show # 333]

I Bought Gifts

Backstory

This story first aired in 2014. It brought more comments than any previous story. It was featured again in 2017 and again brought a storm of response. Seems I was not the only one with this experience. Feel free to write your comments, after listening to what happened when I gave gifts to the children.

I Bought Gifts

I bought gifts for some children who were coming to visit. The kids were 5 years old, 8 and 13. The gifts totally bombed out. The kids were disappointed with them.

I had so enjoyed picking them out and making sure they were age-appropriate. And they were rejected with hardly a parent-induced, murmured “thanks.”

Who went wrong? Them or me?

Was it too much to expect a polite response from kids this age, even if they were not thrilled with the gift? Or am I placing MY expectations on THEM?

I can remember receiving presents as a kid; some bummers and some keepers. I hope I was gracious in my acceptance of both kinds. But was I?

And if I gushed over some out-of-style or mundane gift, was I being hypocritical? Was it more honest to show without a doubt that the gift was unwelcome?

Do the parents have a responsibility to instill in their kids the social concepts of civility and appreciation? Or do I just shrug, chalk it up to my bad and give the kids money next time, so they can go and buy something they’d like.

One thing for sure; I won’t be choosing any more gifts for these kids. Not because I’m mad at them, just because I am now assured that I have no concept of their preferences and desires.

Too bad. I really enjoyed shopping for those gifts.

P.S. Consider This Radio Show is now featured in Grand Magazine. Click here to subscribe. It’s my gift to you!

[Show #528]

Shout Out to Dads for Father’s Day

Backstory

The image and role of father is fast changing in today’s culture. Do the old school values still count? So many new concepts and trends to consider. Confusing for kids, young adults and parents alike. What’s a father to do?

Shout Out for Dads

Over the years, there have been many Consider This shows about mothers. We do a special series on moms, right before Mother’s Day each year.

But little has been said about dads. A listener wrote in and mentioned that.

So today’s shout out is for all the fathers who are quietly carrying out their responsibilities and having a good time of it, at that. Who support their families, financially and spiritually. Who share the transporting of kids and participate in conversation in the car. Who watch the games and cheer the kids and never take out a referee or a coach.

Here’s to the fathers who are setting examples that their children will follow when they grow up. To dads who teach, by their actions, what a caring parent does and how he acts.

Here’s to the dads who hug and tease and play video games or throw a ball or take the training wheels off a bike and show their love wordlessly through sharing in the interests of each of their sons and daughters.

To dads who encourage and work with their kids, to understand the lessons that are hard – In school and in life.

For those men who figure out how to balance job and family and invest time being a dad – you are fulfilling the most important job of all.

P.S.

Pandemic necessities have changed family culture. A year of togetherness or absence, of fear and loss. It’s taken its toll. Let the dads in your life know that you appreciate their struggle and the things they did, in all these months, to make things better.

[Show #349]

Just Like You

Backstory

The song was from the If You’re Going Through Hell album by country singer, Rodney Atkins. It was titled Watching You and it was released in 2006. It’s the tearjerker behind this story.

Just Like You

There’s a country song I love. A father is singing about his young son who lets loose with a profanity. “Where did you learn to speak like that?” the father demands. “From you daddy,” the child responds. “I wanna be just like you.”

Later in the song, the father is redeemed when he hears his son speak original words to God and asks where he learned to pray like that. “From you daddy”, the child responds. “I wanna be just like you.”

How often do we wonder where one of our children gets an attitude, or a prejudice, or passion? Often, we just need to look in the mirror to find the source. The things that you say and do everyday influence everyone around you; for the good, and for the bad.

So, when you decide what kind of stance to take, think twice about what you say. The position you take may well become the same one your children will carry into the next generation. You may never hear your child say, “Mommy, I want to be just like you.” But how often has it occurred to you, “Oh my God, I have become my mother” or “I have become my father.”

When that thought occurs to your child, make sure it makes them smile, not frown. And when your children become you, make sure they can be proud of the person they’ve become.

P.S.

In 2021, there is more need than ever for parents to display the traits you want offspring to emulate. Are you standing up against bullying? Have you explained ways to channel anger? Have you practiced conversations that respect all points of view? Kids are on a new playing field these days that may require patient consideration and discussion. Be sure your children can find that at home.

[Show #485]

Private Moment for Moms

Backstory

I had just received a compliment on how well my grown children turned out. I started thinking about what it took to get them there. The more I thought about what mothers achieve, the more amazed I was. This story was the result.

Click to listen or follow below to read.

Private Moment for Moms – #288

This is a little private moment for the mothers in our audience. Did you ever think you’d be able to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Where did we learn how to do things like that? What magical power was bestowed upon us for the years when our families needed us 24/7? Where did we get the patience to sit and rock for hours on end soothing a crying baby who refused to be comforted? Sometimes we know exactly what to do . . . and sometimes we don’t.

So this is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can’t find the words to reach them. This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peace loving and now pray they come home safely from a war.

The emotions of motherhood are universal and our thoughts today are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation… And mature mothers learning to let go. For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Single mom and married moms. Mothers with money, mothers without.

Hang in there. In the end, we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them and show them besides. And pray and never stop being a mom. No, never stop.

[Show 288/504]

Edited and updated May 26, 2019.