When Your child Complains

Homeschooling days are not always smooth and easy, there are rough days. Well, actually many of it. No matter how prepared we are for the day, we wouldn't know how our day will turn out.

Just the other day, we were in the middle of homeschooling, when I started giving tasks to my son, he kept on complaining. Every time I asked him to do something, I would hear him grumbling.

I'm starting to get irritated by his attitude when hubby noticed us. He advised us to stop with the lesson since his heart wasn't right at that moment. We asked him to go to bed and take a rest.

Honestly, times like this are really frustrating especially if you are catching up on some lessons. You cannot go on with your goals because your child is not ready to learn and we need to deal with his heart first.

After few minutes, I came back to my workstation and saw his notes for me.

I was touched by his notes. I missed him doing this. I went to him, hold his hands and looked him in the eyes, we were both in tears. I asked him, "How can Mommy help you not to complain?". I was expecting a checklist of things to do in order to help him overcome it. But to my surprise, he gave me the best solution to his problem - prayer. He said. "Pray for me." 

I didn't expect his answer, but I was reminded that it is not us, parents who will change our kids. We can tell them what to do and not do. But in the end, only God can transform them. It is important to pray for our kids especially if they are struggling with something. We prayed and hugged each other and we were both OK. Moments like these are really precious, thanks to homeschooling!

Many times I tend to underestimate the power of prayer, that's why I need to be reminded that it should be my first line of defense. Thanks son!

Homeschooling days may have rough days but it is also an opportunity to show grace to one another. We want our kids to know that our home is a safe place to make mistakes and a place where we can show forgiveness every time we fail. 

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. ~ James 5:16

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. ~ Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV

How about you? What do you do when your child complains? 

May I suggest, pray for them.