But you know what a person with wisdom said to her when she mentioned it to them? “Those are all motherly things.  You need to do things with him.”  Wow.  That hit me between the eyes when I heard that.

Why?

Well because I’ve noticed my own 7 year old becoming a little too independent and cool towards me.  And I’ve been thinking… “Elisabeth, you need to tie strings of fellowship here.  You need to work on your relationship with him.”

Yes, I take care of all of his physical needs.  Wash his clothes, prepare his meals, hug & kiss him at night but am I meeting his need for friendship?  Does he know I like him?

Have you ever asked your husband, “Do I love you?” 

I did and he responded with “Yes.” 

I then asked “Do I like you?” 

He said, “Sometimes.”

I was floored because the book I was reading at the time said that in many instances this is the case.  Husbands know their wives love them because of how their wives care for them but they don’t see love as being the same as liking them.

I believe the same applies to our children.  Do they know we like them?  Somehow we must convey our appreciation for them, these little bundles of sweetness & orneriness.    

I don’t think it’s complicated but it will take yours and my time.  Simple ways such as:  Being friendly with them and listening to them (this can be a hard one if they tend to tell you everything), doing activities with them or sometimes even just watching them. Telling them you like them.  This is relationship building and all the time and effort we put into tying strings of fellowship with our children will not go unrewarded. 

I’m the first to admit that it’s hard to change our ways but for the sake of our children we must commit ourselves.  We must realize the importance of it.  We must make time.  Can we spare even 15 minutes of our day and devote it to these precious charges God has given us?  If we are faithful in due season we shall reap.  We will have a relationship and our children will know that we really do enjoy being with them – that we like them.

May God give each of us the grace we need, 

Here are a few things that I have thought of that my boys have shown enthusiasm for over the years:

boxing

fencing (this was peaked by our Middle Ages Study)

hunting

archery

rock climbing (be still my pounding heart!)

hiking the Grand Canyon (one of my sons has now done it twice; he went down & up in one day, one time hiking out with a nasty sprained ankle)

gardening

math

horses

walleyball (since we have our own court, they play often and know all the rules – beware! if you should break one)

G.A. Henty books – still a favorite

living in the woods

plants and their uses

My daughter has her own interests.  Although hers are not as varied, they’re just as absorbing to her as if she had a whole page.  She enjoys:

crafts

sewing

writing letters (oh, the stamps she’s gone through)

cooking

art

piano

dogs/cats

But then just the other day, she decided to take herself and her sister Audrey (3 yrs.) outside for a photoshoot.  She set up the tripod, composed the setting and using the self-timer, took the picture. 

I thought the composition of her photos was really creative.

I was really impressed that she was able to get Audrey to cooperate.  It seems that every time I’ve tried to get a family picture one of the little ones always end up crying.  Everyone just wants to goof off and poke the person in front of them, etc.  I get exasperated and it just goes downhill from there….  and well, we won’t tell you the “rest of the story”.

So what are some of your children’s pursuits/interests?  I’d love to hear about them.