Comments on: You can’t teach an old dog…

By: Angie

Angie — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 01:22:47 +0000

I think this is so true. I have experienced the same thing with my husband and children many times. Thanks for saying it so well.

By: texasgal

texasgal — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:47:57 +0000

“Peace will come not from seeking a reprieve, but from seeking a connection.” This idea is also discussed in the book “Mitten Strings for God” by Katrina Kennison. Its a really good book for happy moms or moms who want to be happy moms.

I have noticed that my children are especially needy and emotional after I have resorted to the old “TV as sitter” routine. Or “computer games as sitter”. They feel fussy and discontent after too much media. Screens do not meet their needs.

That being said, I must add that although “me time” is way oversold to mothers, something that works for us is “Library Night”, where Dad takes the kids. I clean at top speed while they are gone. When we get back together, everything’s wonderful. We read together in a clean house. If the stressor is a messy house, there’s no cure like getting it done.

By: Melissa Young

Melissa Young — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 22:13:57 +0000

I love this, Justine. It’s been echoing through my head all day.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:37:34 +0000

I enjoyed your post, too, Justine. What a beautiful, unexpected answer to your prayers. Speaking personally, I think part of my worry in starting a family so late has to do with the ‘old dog’ idea, though I hadn’t quite put it into words like that. Your experience is a good reminder in aspects of parenting as well as the aspect of seeking to learn and be taught. I wonder if this willingness/ability to learn through the Spirit is a part of what keeps technically old dogs feeling and even looking much younger than age would suggest?

By: Alison Moore Smith

Alison Moore Smith — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:19:55 +0000

Iâ€™m approaching 50 (well, ok, Iâ€™ll be 50 in a couple of years) (well, ok, seven years, if you have to be precise, but it feels much, much closer than that. But Thatâ€™s not the point here!).

Point is, I loved your post. Funny, sweet, insightful. And good to hear today–while my husband’s on pioneer trek and I was hoping for someone to take the kids (and the kittens) for a big sleepover thing.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:11:34 +0000

Justine – what a great post! Hmm… now you’ve given me much to ponder…

By: Jennifer B.

Jennifer B. — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:05:15 +0000

Oh my. Thank you, Justine. I think you just gave me a gajillion killowatt lightbulb moment. Wow.

By: Emily M.

Emily M. — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:12:33 +0000

This happens to me over and over in my mothering: the desire to withdraw and the prompting to engage my kids more. The first time I really remember it working was a couple of years ago when I was used to reading the newspaper during lunch. My oldest son was too little to really have an interesting conversation with, and I didn’t have any other kids. I just wanted to read my paper and get his food. But I knew that should be interacting with him more. So I started to get those Gospel Art pictures and talk about several of them with him during lunch. And, surprise, lunch became fun for both of us. He got to know the pictures, especially the Joseph Smith story. And I gained the peace you talk about, the kind that comes from seeking a connection.

But I think “seek” is a really important word. For me, the connections don’t just fall into my lap. I have to seek them, or I get distracted by all the things I want to do or need to do.

Thanks for a great post, Justine!