Write a book

Someone said to me that they told someone else that Terry and I should write a book and that got me to thinking - what would I write. Their comment was in reference to raising kids because they, like me, think my kids are wonderful and for some reason they thought it had to do with Terry and me but I don't know that that is totally accurate. I think if I were to write a book about raising kids I would have to start by talking about our parents and how they raised Terry and me and more importantly how they prayed for us and then prayed for each of our kids. That would be the biggest point I could point to. Then thinking more about that and how we were raised I was thinking about my parents and the way they were. I think I will probably some day just sit down and write stuff about each of my parents and different things they did and what I learned from them. Terry and I have also been invited to join the young marrieds for their monthly marriage get-together to share with them how we met and stuff and then to answer questions they have for us. I've had a bunch of thoughts I would love to share with them so I'm probably going to post some of those thoughts sometime, too.  For now, tho, here are some random thoughts about parenting:
-Love and Respect your spouse - keep that relationship healthy and happening
-Live the life you want them to live - be a good example, a Christ-like example
-Respect them - they are a precious creation God has entrusted to you worthy of the same respect you are worthy of.
- Assure them often of your love no matter what they do - let them know that nothing will change that.
- Do more than just give them commands all the time - show and interest in them as a person
-Remind them of who they are -a child of the King! - and that certain behaviors are not becoming to a prince/princess and even instill pride in a family heritage, "You're a Stockholm with Sumrall, Darrow, Johnson in you and that's pretty special!"
- Don't use embarrassing them as a form of punishment or behavior correction - usually just makes you look awful and humiliates the child doing nothing for their self-esteem
- Talk to them
-Care about them and their friends - don't see them as a bother/a pain/in the way.
-Remember that you are the parent and it's not something you have to prove - it just is!
- Routine and consistency is good for a child but do allow for some flexibility so life isn't too rigid
-Remind them that you say no to some things because you love them and want the best for them and explain the negatives of that choice if they make it - "don't touch the hot stove because it will burn you" "don't run out into the street because a car might not see you." etc.