After last year’s disastrous start to our first year of homeschooling, I was bound and determined to have a fun and peaceful start to this year. I decided that I would not make a big to-do over it being the First Day of School, because, for whatever reason, that is cue to act insane in for my eldest daughter. I did tell Little Bug the night before that the next day would be her first day of Kindergarten. That little announcement was met with a smile, but only because we have spent a good part of this summer developing a positive attitude.

Somewhere along the way, Little Bug decided that she was going to react negatively to everything. And that is not an exaggeration. I do mean everything. I could have announced, “We are going to Disney World today!” and it would have been followed my moans and groans from Little Bug saying she didn’t want to go to Disney World, she wants to go to Sea World!

A spirit of discontent.

We enjoyed rowing some books from Before Five in A Row, we worked on our fine motor skills and we enjoyed fun, messy play outdoors this summer, but what I worked on longest and hardest with Little Bug was her heart issue of being discontented over everything.

First, I read Scripture to her. Do everything without complaining or arguing. (Phil. 2:14) Work unto the Lord, not for man. (Col. 3:23) We talked many times about doing everything without complaining or arguing and that when we work, we are working for the LORD, not for any one else.

Secondly, we (Dave and I) talked one night about how we could best help Little Bug. Then, another night, after Sweet Pea was already in bed, we talked to Little Bug. She was laying in her bed and we sat down with her on her bed and talked. We told her that we had noticed a spirit of discontent in her heart and that is sin. We told her that as her parents, it is our responsibility to teach her the ways of the Lord and the Bible tells us to do everything without complaining or arguing! We told Little Bug that if she continued to complain and argue, she was going to receive a consequence.

Thirdly, we decreased the amount of toys we have in our house. I had already gone through and given away a lot of toys, but it apparently wasn’t enough. So we went through the toys again, and this time, the girls helped decide what they still played with and what they could give away to another child. We ended up with two big garbage bags full of toys to give away!

After taking these measures to get the “discontentments” out of our daughter the change was almost immediate! Little Bug has only had to receive her consequence a couple times. I feared when we laid down the law she was going to be receiving consequences all day long and I knew that wasn’t going to be fun for either of us! But, it wasn’t like that at all.

She became pleasant to be around instantly.

On our first day of school, which I will post about next week, Little Bug started to complain about something and she stopped herself and then got up happily and did what I asked her to do!

I am sure discontentment will creep back in as this is part of Little Bug’s personality since she is strong-willed, but the changes in her since we took these measures are beautiful.

Parenting is hard work, but I want to be aware of heart issues as they appear and help my daughter deal with them before they take deep root in her heart.

- Elaine