Have a New Kid by Friday by Kevin Leman Read Free Book Online

Often at night I wondered if I should ever have become a parent. Why was I so frustrated all the time? Then my husband and I started to homeschool this past year (not a smart plan when you’re already frustrated with your kids), and I knew for sure I was a failure. Our house was completely chaotic. Then I found your principles. They have transformed our home. I can never express how thankful I am for the wise instruction, humor, and down-to-earth reality. My 2 children are still far from perfect angels; in fact, some days they do still resemble “hedonistic little suckers,” to quote you, but the ankle-biter battalion has come a long, long way. Thank you, thank you.
    Laura, Nova Scotia
    It’s been a week since I started applying your parenting principles, and my home is a completely different place. My 4 kids, who wouldn’t give me the time of day unless they were mouthing off, are now respectful. They used to demand that I be their personal chauffeur. Now when they want to go somewhere, they approach me and say, “Uh, Mom? Would it be all right with you if I went to Hannah’s tomorrow? If you could get me there between 6 and 7, I can get a ride home.” That little example, in itself, shows the difference in our home. I’m now a free and appreciated woman.
    Maryann, Tennessee

Wednesday
    Show Me a Mean Teacher, and I’ll Show You a Good One (It’s All in the Perspective)
    Take a look down the road a few years.
    Who do you want your family to be?
    I’ll never forget the day that our firstborn, Holly, came home from eighth grade and talked about Old Lady So-and-so and how mean a teacher she was. She had me picturing a stereotypical librarian (the stern lady with her hair in a bun who shushed you with a finger to her mouth if you made a whisper) or the old schoolmarm who rapped your knuckles with a ruler if you didn’t follow the rules. I imagined her in black-tie shoes with a one-inch heel—the kind my teacher used to wear.
    Then I met Holly’s teacher. She was a 24-year-old hottie, 2 years removed from her bachelor’s degree. I couldn’t help but think, This is the old lady Holly talked about? You’ve got to be kidding!
    You see, it’s all in the perspective. And perspective changes based on your age and emotional maturity. What doesn’t change is the fact that you have a big job to do and little time in which to do it. As the famous quote says, “Time waits for no man.” Children grow up so fast! How often have you said to your spouse or a friend, “I can’t believe Anna is already 15! Where does the time go?”
    Life is speeding by like sand draining through an hourglass. You can’t afford not to take advantage of the time that you have. Sometimes your job will be tedious and boring (like doing the laundry and ironing the same clothes over and over). Other times the pace will be breakneck, especially when your children are young, are apt to get into danger, or are involved in a lot of activities.

    But here’s the important thing to remember: what your children think about you at any one particular moment isn’t necessarily what they will think about you for life. If you are calm, you are consistent, and you always do what you say you’re going to, you will earn their respect and trust. But it won’t happen with a snap of your fingers.
    Taking the Long View
    Take a look down the road 5, 10, 15, 20 years. Who do you want your child to be? What do you want her work ethic to look like? What about the way she views herself? Her relationships with others? Your relationship with her?
    Bestselling author and business consultant Stephen Covey has a great perspective. If you want something, start with that end in mind, he says.
    In other words, if you want your child to be kind, teach your child to be kind now. If you want your child to be a responsible adult, teach him responsibility now. If you want your child to enjoy spending time with you, start now in setting aside nonpressured time to spend with her