I told my kids that we are going on a two day fast from asking for things. I saw over at Heather’s that her family was fasting from complaining, and I knew I needed to steal her idea.
I am worn down to raw nerves from everlasting requests for a glass of water, more apples, a new spoon because mine fell on the floor, my clothes because I’m too lazy to go upstairs and get them myself, a certain book, a new train, a bike, a bunny, a horse. Times four.
We’ve somehow gotten into a very bad habit of asking for things, often without even thinking or without having a great need. Just because. I know it could be much worse. The kids don’t watch TV (just videos) and so are spared the incessant barrage of commercials. They don’t attend a regular school so they have a reprieve from coveting the latest styles and gadgets of their classmates. However, because we humans are selfish by nature, we still have to battle the Stuff Monster.
So, I gathered the children and explained that we would spend the next two days REFRAINING from ASKING for anything, save for the bare necessities of life. Like, I need some toilet paper in the bathroom. I explained to the kids that it’s become a bad habit, that it’s wearing me out, and that it goes against God’s words about not being gluttonous, greedy, materialistic, selfish, and covetous.
They all listened attentively. My six year old daughter had just one question: What will we get if we do this?
Yours too? :-) I’ve been meaning to ask how your complaining fast went? Over here, so far, not good! It’s so ingrained that it takes constant reinforcement and really being on top of things. Sometimes, even I don’t realize when they are crossing the line into gluttony, consumerism, etc…. Parenting is demanding. And yes, rewarding!
LOL! That is funny - this sounds exactly like a conversation in my house! Oh what selfish creatures we are! What will I get? How will this benefit ME?
) :
We too have been dealing with this for awhile and I just wanted to give you hope - keep at it - you will begin to see change. Some ideas we have used:
1. It costs a quarter every time they forget.
2.Post the rule “Never ask someone else to do for you what you can do for yourself”. These are the kind of things I use for the kid’s copywork - they get to make them into posters for our home. ( :
3. Daily ask God to remind us each and every time we are about to break this rule. This is truly the most effective solution because God never forgets. I love that our kids get to start seeing God faithfully help us in the small things, building their faith in Him for the big things. They also are becoming aware of how God speaks to us through our conscience and how to be governed by God as we obey our conscience. Lastly they are learning how completely dependent on Him we really are which is really the heart of true humility.
And now I will stop as my own conscience is bothering me since I just had a talk with the kids this morning about the pridefulness involved in giving unsolicited advice (and opinions). Ugh! ) :
This sounds like a great idea? How is it going? I love your daughter’s response- I have heard the same around here- just remember that it is a process!
Jen March 18th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Mandi, thank you for the wonderful advice!! I love the idea of the poster. And having them make their own posters.
Jane, We’re getting there. Slowly. :-)
My younger daughter, whose birthday is coming up, said to me this morning: “Who will babysit me while you and Daddy go get my presents?”
I told my kids that we are going on a two day fast from asking for things. I saw over at Heather’s that her family was 
5 Responses
Yeah–thats how mine think too.
Yours too? :-) I’ve been meaning to ask how your complaining fast went? Over here, so far, not good! It’s so ingrained that it takes constant reinforcement and really being on top of things. Sometimes, even I don’t realize when they are crossing the line into gluttony, consumerism, etc…. Parenting is demanding. And yes, rewarding!
LOL! That is funny - this sounds exactly like a conversation in my house! Oh what selfish creatures we are! What will I get? How will this benefit ME?
) :
We too have been dealing with this for awhile and I just wanted to give you hope - keep at it - you will begin to see change. Some ideas we have used:
1. It costs a quarter every time they forget.
2.Post the rule “Never ask someone else to do for you what you can do for yourself”. These are the kind of things I use for the kid’s copywork - they get to make them into posters for our home. ( :
3. Daily ask God to remind us each and every time we are about to break this rule. This is truly the most effective solution because God never forgets. I love that our kids get to start seeing God faithfully help us in the small things, building their faith in Him for the big things. They also are becoming aware of how God speaks to us through our conscience and how to be governed by God as we obey our conscience. Lastly they are learning how completely dependent on Him we really are which is really the heart of true humility.
And now I will stop as my own conscience is bothering me since I just had a talk with the kids this morning about the pridefulness involved in giving unsolicited advice (and opinions). Ugh! ) :
This sounds like a great idea? How is it going? I love your daughter’s response- I have heard the same around here- just remember that it is a process!
Mandi, thank you for the wonderful advice!! I love the idea of the poster. And having them make their own posters.
Jane, We’re getting there. Slowly. :-)
My younger daughter, whose birthday is coming up, said to me this morning: “Who will babysit me while you and Daddy go get my presents?”
RSS feed for comments on this post
Comment