Honoring Mommies (And Daddies)
by Maxine A. Randall
(from May/June, 2008 HCG newsletter)
(from May/June, 2008 HCG newsletter)
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12
The fifth commandment. How well we know it. It's to be obeyed, as all the commandments, by the youngest child and continued to be obeyed all our lives. We should honor our parents when we are little people and we should be continuing to honor them throughout our lives, even after they're gone. Now that Mother's Day and Father's Day are here again, my thoughts go to this commandment, and I'm thinking about how we can help our children honor their mommies, who are so often taken for granted. Most of the readership of these newsletter articles will be women, which explains the focus on mothers. Also, I feel quite certain that the great majority of wives and mothers who read this will be seeing to it that Dad is honored when his day comes. And I do believe he will do his best to do the same. Notice I said he'll do his best. But you see. . .well, it's just that dads need a bit of assistance sometimes.
Moms, let's help your hubbies out by giving them a little direction so they can help the young ones honor YOU. One of the most precious ways that children can do this is by having them make a card that they've crafted themselves. Little fingers and hands drawing or cutting and pasting and folding their own little creation, which is often rough edged, or lopsided or almost unreadable. But it's one of the most loving acts that come from hearts of gratitude and one of the most precious treasures that any parent ever receives. Maybe a Sunday school teacher or someone else will be helping them, but I think it's all the better if they do this with their dads. There's something more memorable about that combo working together to honor the mommy who does so much for everyone else.
So don't be ashamed to suggest this, Moms. It's not so much that you're being self-serving or anything like that. Really, it's for the sake of your children, teaching them to think beyond themselves and give of themselves. Their time and efforts spent for mommy (and daddy) are pleasing to God, and this is one way to teach them that. More often than not, they are tickled pink about making cards for people they love.
The card may simply be a sheet of colored paper that's folded in half and has pictures drawn with crayons. It can be cut in half and then a half can be folded. It can be decorated with stickers. This would be pretty easy for a dad to help with. He can show them how to write the words L-O-V-E and M-O-M-M-Y if the children are quite young and how to form the letters of their own name. The older ones will delight in being able to spell the words on the cards themselves, even if the spellings are wrong! All the more precious!
I also have some further help for the helper of this enterprise: A few links that I think might stimulate more creativity. Look them over and see if there are any that might be of particular interest to your husband and children. You know them better than I do, so see if any are suitable. Whatever your family decides to do, I hope it will be another step in your parenting that will lead your sons and daughters to a life of honoring God, and their parents.
Lovingly, Maxine
DLTK's ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
This is a favorite site of mine for Sunday school and VBS. There are cards and other crafts where they can choose a design and even words and print out a card. I can picture your husband being able to handle something like this.
This is a favorite site of mine for Sunday school and VBS. There are cards and other crafts where they can choose a design and even words and print out a card. I can picture your husband being able to handle something like this.
ENCHANTED LEARNING
This has rather detailed instructions for making a few cards and gifts.
Maybe they'll get some ideas here. They may have to ignore pop up ads and should
scroll down past the request for membership and they'll see the activities.
This has rather detailed instructions for making a few cards and gifts.
Maybe they'll get some ideas here. They may have to ignore pop up ads and should
scroll down past the request for membership and they'll see the activities.
DANIELLE'S PLACE
I just discovered this site, but I'm sure it's going to prove useful. I really like the Mother's Day crafts here, and they have some things for older kids too. Some of these activities may be a bit more challenging for dads, but your older children could handle them with his supervision.
I just discovered this site, but I'm sure it's going to prove useful. I really like the Mother's Day crafts here, and they have some things for older kids too. Some of these activities may be a bit more challenging for dads, but your older children could handle them with his supervision.
ALL FREE PRINTABLES
Your older kids would enjoy making these with the help of their fathers. They also have nice printable coupon books that go nicely with the theme of children honoring their moms. I was impressed with these coupon
books as well as the beautiful bookmarks they have.
Your older kids would enjoy making these with the help of their fathers. They also have nice printable coupon books that go nicely with the theme of children honoring their moms. I was impressed with these coupon
books as well as the beautiful bookmarks they have.
