Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Our Family Style

I got a chance to meet the Clarkson family a couple months ago. I am currently reading Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson....love it!

"We believe in "family style" socialization. We try to make our home and family life as entertaining, enriching and enjoyable as we can. We want our children to become "family dependent" rather than "peer dependent" and to prefer our home to any other place they might go. We work hard and make some social sacrifices to build strong family ties. We have a weekly family night with pizza and activities or a movie; we have a weekly "cooking day"; we have fun "Bible Times" on some weeknights; we go together on special outings and activities, and church activities. We want to do all we can so to win our children' hearts that they will value and prefer home and family."
(Educating the Wholehearted Child - Clay and Sally Clarkson)

I love family time!!! I love that my children love it at home and I pray it stays that way as they get older!

10 comments:

EveryGoodGift said...

Oh, I need to get this book..We tend to have a FAMILY oriented style as well. I get asked why we homeschool a lot, and to keep it simple, i reply...We want a strong FAMILY unit. We want our kids to grow up and value FAMILY time over nothing else but GOD TIME. (there are way more reasons than that)Pretty much, the only way to do that is to teach them that this is the way that GOD intended life to be. Our oldest is 18. He is a SOCIALITE to say the least...but he said just tonight, "what would I do if something happened and the girls were not here anymore...they were just gone...I'd die." That right there is worth all of the grief that he causes for me. I can deal with it...just because I know that in his heart of hearts he gets what we have been trying to teach him all these LONG 18 years. He wants kids...he said tonight also...that he wants to OUTDO his dad and i...He probably will. ;o)I hope that he does....because I LOVE my babies...I know that I will LOVE my grandbabies! lol!

Shannon said...

Well, you are on the right track just in that it is your hearts desire!! Thanks for sharing this and sharing your heart!

Loni's World said...

:) It was nice seeing ya tonight lol too bad I had been in bed all day and looked like poop, I LOVE running into people like that ha-ha. We were exhausted and did not want to cook :P
The kids are just as adorable and well behaved as you make them sound, We didnt hear a peep. :)

Take care.

Christy said...

I am going to get this book! I love the idea of Family dependent vs peer dependent!

God Bless

Jen@Scrapingirl said...

I just got this book. I hear it's wonderful. I plan on reading it while I watch the kiddos swim this summer in the back yard. Cuz I'm sure not planning on jumping in with them. :)

Anonymous said...

You are so right on the money!!!

I feel the same.....

I am 45 years old...and love going to my mom's.....you never forget that feeling!

"It's good to be home"!

Simply Blessed said...

This is the same way we are going to raise our kids. My husbands family was the same way and all 3 boys always enjoyed hanging at home the most with their friends. I think it's a great thing, and a great way to set our kids up for success!

Margaux Achee said...

You and your husband are amazing parents. I enjoy reading your blog and how involved you are with your family...

"Your family is what you've got," writes Peter Colier.

Some people get crushed by their families. Others are saved by them.

Your children are blessed with parents like you:)

Nicholle said...

"The family that plays together, stays together"

~Jenna said...

with you sister on this one!!