EpicParent.tv – Honest • On the Edge • Creative Parenting

I found myself in an interesting conversation this week with some friends about kids and chores.  I am truly blown away at how many parents expect very little from their kids when it comes to help around the house!  Come on, this is basic parenting stuff!  All kiddos should either be paying rent or doing work around the house.  I am kidding about the rent, but I believe with all my heart that kids of all ages should be helping around the house.

My smoking hot wife (i hope she is reading this)  is in nursing school so I am responsible for all the Mr. Mom & Mr. Dad stuff!  (SIDENOTE…Mom’s I had no idea what you really do!)  With Jodie in school every member of Team Sprad HAS to help out or the Sprad Family Ship would sink.

So I thought I would give you a glimpse into what all of our responsibilities are…

SPRAD (that’s me)

• Garage
• Laundry  (Jodie helps when she is available)
• Master bedroom & bath
• Kitchen
• Cooking  (not so good at this, we eat out way too much)
• Homework

COLETRAIN (12 years)

• Trains room & bathroom
• Living room & vacuuming
• Playroom
• Snowblowing & shoveling
• Mowing & weedeater
• MAKES HIS OWN LUNCH
• Puts away his laundry  (except when I find it under his bed)

KYLIEFAITH  (11 years)

• Kylie’s room & bathroom
• Playroom
• Kitchen with dad
• Office & loft
• Helps dad fold clothes
• MAKES HER OWN LUNCH
• Puts away her laundry
• Pulls weeds in the summer
• Helps shovel snow

TIFTON JACKHAMMER  (9 years)

• Tifton’s room & bathroom
• Playroom
• Loads and unloads the dishwasher
• Guest bathroom
• Shovels snow
• Pulls weeds in the summer
• Picks up dog poo
• MAKES HIS OWN LUNCH
• Puts away his laundry

My kids don’t get an allowance for this, it is just expected because they are a member of Team Sprad!

DO YOUR KIDS HAVE CHORES?  IF SO, WHAT?

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My oldest son (cole~coletrain~colarbear~train) is “THAT” kid!!

• “THAT” kid who can drain a three pointer without much practice
• “THAT” kid who can throw a 30 yard touchdown with little discipline
• “THAT” kid who is the left handed pitcher and bats at the top of the order without touching a ball for 9 months
• “THAT” kid who makes A’s & 2 B’s without cracking a book
• “THAT” kid who chooses “GOOD” over “GREAT”
• “THAT” kid who is jack of all trades and master over little
• “THAT” kid who chooses the “EASY WAY” over “THE HARD WAY”
• “THAT” kid who chooses “BETTER” when he is capable of “BEST”

Train and I have had a long talk and we have decided that his motto for the remainder of the year is…

CHOOSE THE HARD WAY

Cole has decided “CHOOSE THE HARD WAY” in the following areas…

• “CHOOSE THE HARD WAY” in school by asking my parents to triple check my work and study my guts out
  
• “CHOOSE THE HARD WAY” and say goodbye to procrastination…take out the trash do homework now not later
• “CHOOSE THE HARD WAY” and stay 30 minutes after basketball practice and shoot
• “CHOOSE THE HARD WAY” and don’t be lazy around the house waiting for mom & dad to tell me what to do
• “CHOOSE THE HARD WAY” by actually cleaning out my dishes and putting them in the dishwasher
• “CHOOSE THE HARD WAY” when it comes to putting my clothes away (i have to stop putting them on the floor)
• “CHOOSE THE HARD WAY” when tying fly fishing flies by taking time to make them quality
• “CHOOSE THE HARD WAY” in baseball and work hard for my position and don’t assume that it is mine
  
• “CHOOSE THE HARD WAY” by getting up early and being ready for our family Bible time

WHAT AREAS DO YOUR KIDS NEED TO CHOOSE HARD OVER EASY?

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I absolutely love this Bible verse…

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.  Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

The foreknowledge of God is clearly stated here, revealing that long before Jeremiah was born, God knew him and selected him as the great prophet.  God had a significant plan for Jeremiah long before hew was ever conceived.  I don’t really understand how this works, but when I read this, I have to believe that God also has a plan for my kiddos and yours.

5 Tips To Help Kids Find Their Purpose… (as if it is this simple, but it will point you in the right direction)

• BE INTIMATE: As parents we must teach our kids how to be intimate with Jesus.  We must teach them to worship Him, pray, abide and walk with Him.  Purpose and calling are an overflow of intimacy with the Father.
• LISTEN: As parents we must teach our kids how to listen to the prompting of God.  I believe he speaks to us today through His Word, friends, circumstances and his Spirit.  Purpose and calling come when we learn to listen.
• IRRATIONAL OBEDIENCE: As parents we must teach our kids that God calls us to irrational obedience.  When our kids are intimate with Him, when they are listening to Him…He will ask  the irrational.  Parents, teach this at an early age, it will change their lives.
• SPIRITUAL GIFTS: Parents typically believe that “spiritual gifts” are for adults, my understanding is that a spiritual gift is given when we come into relationship with Christ.  As parents we need to help our kids identify their spiritual gift and intentionally use them to worship Him.  HERE is a spiritual gifts assessment for kids K – 6th.  HERE is a spiritual gifts assessment for kids 7th and up.
• DNA DISCOVERY: As parents we must help our kids understand how God has wired them.  HERE is a great personality tool that will give them a detailed explanation of their personality and how God has wired them.

Do You Have Any Tips To Add?  Leave A Comment & Join The Conversation

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I am saying NO to epicparent tonight!  I have several posts that I need to write but I am saying NO to epicparent so that I can say YES to Team Sprad!

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO SAY NO TO SO THAT YOU CAN SAY YES TO YOUR FAM?

• Work
• The gym
• Playgroup
• Church
• Facebook
• Sleep
• Business
• Hockey
• A hobby
• Boss
• Golf
• Staying up late at night and listening to Air Supply records
• Phone call
• ANOTHER meeting

ladies…feel free to pass this post on to the men in your life!

LEAVE A COMMENT AND TELL ME WHAT YOU NEED TO SAY NO TO?

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consumer:

1:  shopper  2:  sucker  3:  an animal that consumes other animals or plants

5 signs your kids are consumers

• They use the word “I” five thousand times in 5 minutes
• They complain when they don’t get the new x-box 360 Kinnect
• They are brand brats & look down on kids that don’t have “the new”
• They scream at mom & dad when they don’t get their way
• They expect mom & dad have to provide “the new”

contributor:

1:  to give  2:  supply  3:  to add  4:  give  5:  encourage

So here is the big secret to raise up contributors…

when mom & dad contribute ~ your kids will contribute

(thanks to @joedmcginnis for the inspiration)

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impression management:

1:    the process through which people  (kids) try to control the impressions other people form of them

Top 10 signs your kids are obsessed with making an impression…

• Your kids exaggerate their true athletic abilities and accomplishments
• Your kids verbally tear down and make fun of others
• Your kids walk the halls with their arms around their girlfriends (this is ridiculous)
• Your kids cuss
• Your daughters try to show as much skin as she can get away with
• Your kids tell dirty jokes
• Your kids abandon their friends for the newer, cooler kind of friends
• Your kids pull their cell phone out at school and show it off or act like they are talking to someone
• Your kids text themselves to seem popular and desired
• Your kids always talk or lie about how much their mom & dad make

impact:

1:  to influence strongly  2:  to have an effect upon  3:  to bring meaning  4:  to crush

Top 10 signs your kids are obsessed with making an impact…

• Your kids make friends with the lonely kids in class
• Your kids start a small group that is Christ focused
• Your kids make a commitment to modesty
• Your kids run for student government to be a positive influence
• Your kids are un-compromising in their faith and morals
• Your kids are honest and ok with their weaknesses
• Your kids organize a school district wide coat drive for the local donation center (my 11 year old is doing this now)
• Your kids mow a lawn for a friend or someone incapable
• Your kids clean the house for mom or dad
• Your kids spiritually feed their own soul without being asked or pushed

Parents!!  Please don’t raise your kids to impress others.

Parents!!  Please raise your kids to make an impact and have spiritual influence

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO IMPLEMENT TODAY TO HELP YOUR KIDS MAKE AN IMPACT?

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pro-tect:  to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction  (via www.m-w.com)

So many parents number one goal in life is to protect their kids!

We protect our kids from…

• Mean kids
• Disappointment
• Making bad decisions
• The sun (this is a good idea btw…)
• Evel Kneivel tricks
• Coaches (maybe your kids is not the best, imagine that)
• Boredom (this actually triggers creativity)
• Going broke as a result of not managing your money well  (allow your kids to suffer the consequences)

I believe there are times when we must clearly step in and protect our kids, but I also believe there are times when we should step back and allow our kids to feel the pain.  C.S. Lewis says that pain is God’s megaphone.  Pain will get your kids attention, it will shape them, teach them, break them, rebuild them and carve character deep into their heart.  Pain will make them more like Christ.

TEACH YOUR KIDS TO…

• STEP INTO THE PAIN & BE HONEST: Teach your kids to be honest even though their honesty might land them in trouble with significant consequences.
• STEP INTO THE PAIN & SAVE: Teach your kids to save money over time and purchase the new Lego town, Oakley’s or car.  Welcome them to the real world.
• STEP INTO THE PAIN &  SPEAK UP: My son felt he was treated poorly by his coach.  I would typically step in and have a conversation with the coach (I am a recovering pain in the butt sport’s dad).  This time I taught Cole to step into the pain and talk to the coach himself.
• STEP INTO THE PAIN & STAND UP: Teach your kids to stand up for others.  Our kids have an opportunity every single day at school to stand up for kids that are lonely, hurting and made fun of.  Step into the pain and stand up for someone else.
• STEP INTO THE PAIN OF LONELINESS: My son has gone through a very hard semester of friends laughing, gossiping and abandoning him.  (this literally shattered my heart to watch him go/grow through this)!  We taught him to stand strong, be confident, be proud of God’s unique design and plan for his life, step into the loneliness and be dependent on Jesus.  God did not change his circumstances but he gave him peace and joy in the pain.

WHAT PAIN DO YOU NEED TO LET YOUR KIDS STEP INTO?

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