Ziva style spiritual blackmail! Ziva's world

While reading the book 'Shepherding a Child's Heart' by Tedd Tripp I came across the concept of the 'Circle of Blessing'. This is a simple way of explaining to a child the reasons for obeying parents.
It was simple and even little Ziva caught on to it. It made things easier and helped me keep calm when I had to explain to them that if they did disobey I would have to discipline them.
All I needed to say was 'I, Z you are going out of the Circle!'

Well sometimes kids help us get perspective on our methods of correction. While I think the Circle of blessing is a wonderful way to correct, I need to stop using it as a blackmail tool :)

Recently I have been getting really tired of Ziva not finishing her meals quickly. She has either being playing with her food or talking way too much. So as a repercussion I decided to have her pay the price of not eating her meals when told to do so! When Isaac and I finished our meal we would go upstairs and read a story.
The first day I did this, Ziva yelled and screamed for me to stop reading while still not finishing her food.
The second day she finished her food quickly and joined us
The third day
Me: Ziva finish fast or else Isaac and I will read 'Beezus and Ramona'
Ziva: Amma does Jesus like it when you don't read to me?


Talk about Spiritual Blackmail!

'H' is for VADI! Ziva's world

So we are a 'Vadi' family! We strongly believe in the 'rod' of correction. But as parents and the fact that we do not get a lot of training, we have made mistakes in our method of correction. So I have threatened the kids several time with a 'hanger'.

Last week we were learning 'H' at homeschool. So Ziva was looking at the pictures and calling out the names of the objects.
'H' for house
'H' for hat
'H' for horse

'H' for Vadi





She looked at me innocently. I started to laugh. She started to laugh and so did Isaac.
Me: 'No Ziva that's not a Vadi! Amma is sorry she has used it as a vadi. But that is to hang clothes. Its a hanger'

I really praise God for His correction of my wrong parenting methodology. I thank Him for Isaac and Ziva who show me how much I need to learn.
I do not believe correction is wrong. But I do believe my heart needs to be right too. I.e the purpose of my correction is only to lead my children to walk closer to HIM.





Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him

Proverbs 13:24
Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.

Proverbs 23:13
Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.

 Psalms 8:2
Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe