Is spanking needed?

I have a friend that has two boys, 3,5 and 1,5. One time they came to our house and were here for around three hours. I was frustrated with their first boy that could not stay calm and had a strong curiosity. Actually, it is normal if a toddler has such behavior. But this boy made me had a bad time. He took all my books from the bookshelf and press television's button wildly, tried to go to my bedroom several times, and more. But the parents didn't do anything. They just called his name without explanation or whatever they had to do as the parents. I remember that they made me frustrated.
There is another story that I like to share. This about my friend and his family went to a restaurant for having meal. They had a 2 years little girl. While she was sitting on the chair, there was another little girl about the same age with my friend's daughter, came to her. Suddenly, without said anything, this little girl snap my friend's daughter right into her face. For sure, my friend and his wife were shock. They were hoping that the mother would tell her daughter to say sorry or at least admonished her for what she had done. But, nothing happened. She did nothing. Finally, my friend's wife went to this mother and told her about this little girl, and the mother said sorry. That's all.
I am wondering that these stories can tell us something. Do we need to discipline our children? I know that it does hard, complicated and sometimes as a mother we can be frustrated. However, discipline is needed, even it is required for you as parents to discipline your children. Through discipline we can set a boundaries for them and help them to developing their self esteem and self control. When they grow up, they can be persons who will not be depending because they already have basic for their life. Discipline is benefit for children in the future.
There are many methods offered for discipline your children. I notice that most of them say, that spanking is the list priority, even you are not allowed to use it. When I was a kid, I remember my mom would spank or pinch me if I did wrong. She would tell me before I was disciplined, that I had made a mistake (sometimes a very big mistake) therefore I knew the reason why she spanked me.
I agree with this article, "How should Christians discipline their children? What does the Bible say?" In the Proverb 23:13 says "if you punish him with the rod, he will not die." You know that many leaders were born in such discipline in the Bible. Therefore, I think spanking is needed as long as we use it as a pure discipline not as a punishment or worst, to pour out our emotion to the children.But of course this is not the only way to discipline our children. There is one method you need to know, that is Time-Out. This kind of discipline is about: how you help children to understand the consequences they will have if they've made mistakes. Or may be you have other methods you use for discipline your children and they are worked. Would you like to share it with me...

Norman's Growth

These are pictures of Norman's growth. Each month I always take his picture. One of my friends suggested me to do that because, according to him, if you compare the face of the baby when he was born until he is 1 year old, then his face will not be the same anymore. interesting, right?? When I compare these pictures I found out my friend is right. Therefore, it is good to observe your baby while he is growing. HAVE FUN!!

Be Aware with Your Helper or Babysitter!!

I just received an email from my sister with the video attach. It is about a helper that abused the baby. When I received this email and watched the video, I was very shock! I don't know what happened with the helper then. It is explained that the mother had returned her and sent her picture so that other mothers will be aware with this helper.
Now I become more thankful because I have been raising Norman by myself. I know that not all helper will be like that. But this can be a warning for us as mothers to be more careful and aware with our helper. Actually, if we can raise our baby without a helper, that can be much better. Every time I see Norman's pictures, especially when he was only 1 month old, I already missed it. I miss when I had to swing for him, when he slept along the way while me and my husband were going somewhere, fed him, his sound of crying (the way he cries now is different), and a lot more. I am following his growth carefully, therefore I can see his progressive growing. Now Norman begins to talk. He can ask verbally what he wants or what he doesn't want. He can calling someone by name or uncle if he doesn't know that person's name. As you know, he is a very friendly boy. Maybe because I'm staying in campus so people in the campus can easily take him. Anyway, I am very enjoying these times, to become a mother.

The Power of Praises

When I went to the Philippines to study, I observed one thing that was very interesting for me. All professor that taught in the class always give both encouragements and praises, whether through words, face or act. For sure, this made the atmosphere of the class became very enjoyable.
Now I want to share my observation, especially about praising itself. Since I was a kid and went to school, as long as I remember, I've never met a teacher who liked to give a praise if the student has done something good. I don't know why, but it seems that praises are not really important here. Maybe they think that a praise can provoke someone to be pride. One time there was one of my professors in Malang gave me a praise. I remember that I only helped her carrying her stuffs to the class. But, she made me very special through her words and I will never forget it until now.
The Bible says that Jesus does this every time. He lightly praised someone who was showing their faith or did something good in His eyes in front of many people. Therefore, praises are important. It can be a medicine for a sick soul, a comfort for a weak life, an air con for a fever heart and the best batter to make a perfect relationship. I think, praise is good not only for a class but also for relationship. My boy is still very young, but I try to make such atmosphere in his life. By praising him, he can be a confident boy and have a good self esteem, and at the same time this can help me to be a better person who can easily praise others.

I list events that you can use to praise someone:

1. When you meet someone while you are walking, by saying "hello, you look great today!"
2. When you are in the church, by shaking someone's hand and saying "God has a great plan for you" or "you are special in God's eyes"
   
3. When you are in the class and a student doesn't catch your question "I think you are right, then how about the ..." or the student has a good question for you "this is an excellence question and you should listen for this"
   
4. When someone serve you food, you may say "I like this food, the taste is very good" or "you are a good cook, I should learn from you"
5. When your husband spend his time to listen to you, then you should say "thank you"
6. When you go to the church and enjoy the worship, you can come to the musicians by saying "you did a good job, I am blessed with your ministry"
7. and so on... (perhaps you have other options)
   

You've Got to See This!!

It is hard to see a diamond when it is still as stone. As a mother you have to find your children greatest gift. Connie Talbot is one of wonderful children that has a golden gift. Probably, if the mother did not see her gift as a great singer or did not care about it, she would not be like this. You've got to see her performance. Connie said that she could sing since she was 2. Very young!! But when I watched her, I almost cry. This cute little girl has a such beautiful voice and bravely sing in front of bunch of people. WOW!! I am sure that her mother is very proud of her. She won't be like that if the mother was not sensitive with her daughter. Therefore, BE A SENSITIVE MOTHER, so that you can turn your children to become a diamond! Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWNoiVrJDsE&mode=related&search=

Jochebed

Do you know Moses? The great leader of Israel that led the Israelites out of Egypt? For sure, you know this man. His story with God is worthed to be recorded in the Bible. He was called as a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3). I don't have to say more about Moses, you can see in the Bible his great story as a leader of Israelites. But do you know that long before he became a great leader, there was someone that played an important role behind his life. Have you ever heard about Jochebed? Her name is mentioned only twice in the Bible in a genealogy. You know, sometimes genealogy, for most of us is not really interesting or important. Therefore, Jochebed's name maybe is not as popular as Esther, Ruth, Sarah, Eve, etc. Jochebed is Moses' mother. She was the one who kept him alive and nurture him until he grew up as a toddler in the middle of tyranny. She was taking a big risk to deliver Moses and kept him until 3 months. However, she did her role as a mother. Maybe she was not popular but she had a very crucial role in Moses' life, long before he became a leader.

Same with us. Sometimes mother cannot be seen as an important person especially while she is cleaning, cooking, washing, shopping, feeding the baby, change a diaper, etc. One thing that you have to know that, through your life as a mother, you can create a leader, a hero, a history maker or someone that you even cannot imagine how great she or he will be. Therefore, JUST DO YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS THE MOTHER. Be an example, a teacher, and someone that ready to give a hug, love and smile for your children.

What a Mother is

It seems like just yesterday I was a single and a very free woman. Now I have a baby boy, 19 months old, which is very active and full energy. For sure, I give my whole life for my baby. But the consequence is, I am bound with my position as a mother. I cannot easily go and do something because of this. I think this is the hardest part that I have to face. Some people told me their same experience when they were like me. But still, I couldn't get the solid solution of this problem. What I have to do is just like them, FACE IT. Beside that, I have three solutions that you may want to use:

1. Finds information about the inspirational mother
I watched Barbara Bush (wife and mother of presidents of USA) biography. It is a powerful story about mother this days, that could be a wife of president and later a mother of a president. Or maybe you have your own inspirational mother that you can use as a model.

2. Think about the future of your baby
Sometimes, when I got bored and I become very sensitive personally, I try to think this. What I do to my baby now will shape him to what he will becomes tomorrow. So, I am putting the basic from now. Through my life and what I teach.

3. Pray, pray and pray
This is the best part of your solution. I can list more than 100 solutions, but it will not help you. Some burdens cannot be taken with our strength. I can guarantee that prayer can help you to face this problem. God will help you.

May be you have same experience with me or already pass it. Would you like to share it with me?