Growing Godly Girls, Day 2: Study Them Well

Welcome to Day 2 of
Growing Godly Girls!

Want to read the other days of this 5-Day feature?

Day 1:  Consistent Parenting with a Loving Smile
Day 2:  Study Them Well
Day 3:  God's Word at Their Level
Day 4:  Surround Them with Godly Friends
Day 5:  Coming soon!

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5 Days of Growing Godly Girls
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Day Two:  Study Them Well!

     It only takes a few days...or a few weeks...until a new mother knows more about her precious firstborn baby than any other human being on the face of the planet. 

     Mama recognizes the different cries - and what they mean.

     Mama knows how to hold this precious little one in a way that will calm and soothe her crying infant.

     Mama learns her baby's preferences and quirks very quickly.

     She may think it will be easier to parent her second born now that she understands how her firstborn copes with life.

     But that won't last very long!  Within a few hours, or days, of her second born's birth, Mama will realize that this new baby is a different breed altogether!  Yes, some similarities, but a lot of differences.

     For those of us who are Christian parents, we pray for our children (or we should).  We make Bible study and reflection a priority (or we should). 

     But have you ever thought about really studying your child well into his or her teen years?

     I think it should be a parent's #1 hobby to view and study their children well.  By this, I mean that you should not assume that your children are like all of the other children on the block.  Your children may be very different from their peers at school, church, and in your neighborhood.  That's okay!  I do encourage you to know how they are different - or similar - and study this well.  Use this information to help you make the best decisions you can, as a parent, for your child.

Brittany is our 12-year-old fashionista, photographer, videographer, and pianist.  Over the years, we've realized that she is a kinesthetic learner, and she is also very artistic.  She has unique slants on her hobbies. 

When we were out of town, dropping off older sister for a 5-day-long Christian government class, I decided to take Brittany up to a nearby tulip farm that was in full bloom.  She loved being able to practice her photography skills in a new environment!  And she loves being active and energetic in her own Brittany way.

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Kelsi, age 14-going-on-30 (in a good way!), is a logical thinker and loves law, mock trial and the courtroom, living an honorable life, and routine and order, as well as dressing up in costumes just for fun.

She is also very creative like her sister.  Her talents and focuses are on classical violin, digital graphic design, and teaching both of those skills to others. 

Kelsi is not quite as energetic as her sister.  She does everything with care and quality.  She loves being around people but is more of an introvert than Brittany.  She loves learning new things.  She enjoys hunting with her dad, and she is a parent-pleaser.

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What kinds of things should a parent be studying in their children?

• Is your child an introvert or an extrovert?
• Is your child a night owl or an early bird?
• Is your child a peacemaker or very opinionated?
• Is your child humble or prideful, in general?
• What is your child's learning style?  (hearing, seeing, hands-on ~ or a combination of these?)
• What is your child's ability to focus and pay attention?
• Is your child a naturally born leader?  Or not?
• Your child's strengths and weaknesses
• What is your child's love language?
• What are your child's hobbies and personal interests?
  

What are the benefits of studying your children well?

     When a parent studies a child well, there are immediate positive benefits for the parent. 

• The child realizes that his parent is paying very close attention in a generally positive way.
• The child gets the sense that he matters, and that what he does in life matters
• The parent has more understanding and empathy for the child's struggles
• The parent can place time and resources into their children's strengths and interests instead of wasting them elsewhere
• The parent is following God's command in the Bible to "train up a child in the way he should go." 
  

How has this worked for our family?

     We have learned the importance of studying our children well, so that we aren't wasting precious resources (time, energy, and money) into fruitless hobbies and interests that we think they should have.  My girls will tell you, if you ask them, that Elmer and I have directed money (though in limited amounts), time, and energy into their specific hobbies and interests. 

     Our two daughters are SO incredibly different from each other.  Yes, they share some interests, but have many others that are definitely not shared! 

    Our daughters know we love their unique giftings from God.  They know that we encourage them (within our means) to do the best that they can in their hobby or talent.

     Our girls rest secure in the fact that we love them even if we don't share the same personality trait or interest.  We will still take them to meetings, rehearsals, and programs so that they can explore their interests further, but we won't push them into activities only we want to be a part of. 

     I was having difficulty understanding one of the girls' personalities and learning styles back when she was just a little whipper-snapper, probably around 7 or 8 years old.  But now that I've studied her for so many years, we feel like we know her very well.  And she appreciates this!

     I pray that as you consider diligently studying your children more over the months and years to come, you will learn so much about your children that your decision-making for them will be so much smoother!

     Tracy from Praying Proverbs 31.com has written a beautiful eBook, Praying Proverbs 31:  Prayers for a Daughter's Virtue.

Praying Proverbs 31:  Prayers for a Daughter's Virtue is so applicable to all moms who have daughters!  Not only is it richly steeped in the Word of God, especially the Proverbs, it provides opportunity for moms to pray specifically about many areas of their daughters' lives...and to answer questions in a simple journaling format. 

Praying Proverbs 31 is about touching the hearts and lives of our daughters through praying Scripture. It is both a devotional book and prayer guide, taking the truths of Proverbs 31 and using those truths to pray more specifically for our little women. One passage a week, one prayer a day for 10 weeks covering issues that are at the heart of womanhood: A Valuable Virtue, A Pure Life, A Rewarding Work, A Heart for Home, and more.

     I'm excited to be able to use this special eBook in my home!  I know you will be, too, should you feel led to purchase it. 

     Join me here throughout this week for four more days of 5 Days of Growing Godly Girls...and check out some other fabulous "5 Days of..." blog posts by other homeschooling parents:

 





Julieanne
Joy In Our Journey.com

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