Being Kind

     A few posts ago I spoke about my "words" for this year, "Strong" and "Committed".  Not too long after I wrote that post God impressed another word on my heart that I needed to focus on this year.  That word is kind.  Over the past year I've noticed certain character flaws in myself.  It took becoming a parent to understand and see this.  My sister and I were talking a few weeks ago and we've come to realize that sometimes certain trait get passed on from parent to children.    I've noticed a lot of grumpy in my parenting.  I don't want to be like that.  I don't want to pass those traits onto my girls. God has been impressing the word kind on my heart.   I think that another reason that he has placed it on my heart is because my oldest daughter (well all of us) has needed to learn that.  I sometimes forget that kids aren't born knowing how to act, react, or handle different situations.  It is my job to teach my girls.  I noticed that my daughter was starting to treat me and her sister in an unkind way.  She had not had a great first semester at school.  In January, we were able to get her placed where she needed to be.  She had a wonderful, godly teacher who wanted to help my baby succeed.  At first, I thought that she was picking up bad behaviors from friends at school.  That could have been part of it, but over the course of this year, we discovered that Mia has ADHD tendencies.  Along with that comes impulsivity.  I also learned that my poor sweet girl was struggling with social skills.  She was becoming the "mean girl".  As a parent, how do you handle that?  I cried and I prayed.  After teaching 19 years, I've seen every kind of parent.  I didn't want to be blind to my daughter's behaviors or struggles.  I became proactive.  I met with a therapist and she will begin therapy this week.  I also ordered a few books to read (I'm way behind on that part) and I looked up some things on Pinterest to help teach kindness at home.  I'm going to be honest...I have not been wonderful at keeping on top of all of this.  It's a work in progress though.
     Here are some resources that we have tried and will be trying.  I ordered the book, Have You Filled A Bucket Today?  This was very popular in our house.  We talk often about being a Bucket Filler.  I've ordered these books, Give Them Grace and Safe House.  They are on my list of books to read this summer.  I bought this bible study for my girls a while back, but I plan on picking it back up this summer with my girls:  My Brother's Keeper Junior: Learning to love your siblings God's way.  Here are a few things that I found on Pinterest:
Teaching Kids Kindness (with a kindness jar) - we started this in our home tonight.
22 Kid Approved Acts of Kindness
The Secret To Raising Your Kids To Be Kind
12 Questions That Teach Kindness In Your Children
     These are just a few of the things that I found.  Pinterest has a TON of good info. Being kind just seems to come more natural to some than others (ME being the latter here).  If I am not being intentionally in His Word or on being kind and having a servant's heart, all bets are off.  I want my children to see His goodness and kindness in me.  While I'm doing these activities with my girls this summer, I plan on focusing on this very important character trait in myself.  What tips have you learned?  I'll keep you posted on my progress.  Ha!