The Truth Project

Beginning in January, 2010, Covenant will be hosting another study on Focus on the Family's "Truth Project".  The purpose of the Truth Project is to help you develop a Christian worldview in 12 different areas including science, history, and philosophy.  The study is also designed to promote unity among believers as you discuss important ideas and how we should relate to the world we are living in. 

This past Wednesday at MOPS, Dave R. came to present some of the core principles of the Truth Project to us and encourage people to join the study.  He focused on the fact that a Biblical worldview is critical to raising children and that we need to be very aware of where our worldview is coming from because it is what forms our beliefs. 

Here are some specifics for the study starting in January:

13 weekly sessions beginning on Friday, Jan 8, 2010

8th grade minimum age

Location with EITHER be(depending on childcare needs):

~Covenant from 6:30-8:30 with pizza dinner & childcare

~OR at Peterson's from 7-9PM with dessert (no childcare)

To sign-up, call Covenant 215-256-1007

For more info:

~Dave Reich 215-256-0475

~The Truth Project

~Focus on the Family 1

~Focus on the Family 2

"Houston We Have a Problem!" - Toddler Issues

This morning's MOPS meeting was based on dealing with troubles we face as moms with our children and how we can better handle certain situations.  To help us work through some specifics, we invited 3 veteran moms from our church - Stephanie G., Cindy C., and Tammie B.,  who have successfully made it through the baby/toddler years as well as 2 moms from our MOPS group - Allison W. and Diana M., who are in the thick of it right now. 

We gave our group of panel moms several questions to think through before coming to our meeting this morning including:

~Did any of you have very willful children and how did you deal with the stubbornness/temper tantrums/screaming/hitting? Did you find your methods to have positive results and would you do the same thing over again?
~Any helpful hints on potty training - (things that worked for you, getting kids to do #2 on the potty, nighttime training, etc.)?
~How did you deal with sharing in your home (mostly between siblings)? Did you have specific goals or rules that you found helpful when kids were having playtimes?

And here are some of the nuggets of wisdom we were given:
~Deal with willful children NOW and stick to it even though it is exhausting because you will reap the rewards years from now.
~Encourage and praise good things your children do (sharing toys, not whining, etc.) instead of just noticing and disciplining bad behaviour. 
~Pick you battles and think before you speak - but once you draw a line, do not back down!
~When your children are a little older, think about creating an "appeal" process in which they may, with a pleasant tone, give you new information to think about to reconsider your decision. 
~If you are having trouble getting along well with one of your children, try to find fun things that you can do together with that child to create happy memories as a foundation for your relationship. 
~When times are hard it is easy to compare yourself or your child with other moms and kids - beware of that and don't let yourself fall prey to it!
~Whatever you are going through, you are NOT alone in your motherhood journey and someday you will miss these days when your kids are little, so try - even when it's extremely hard, to enjoy every moment! 

Thank you to our wonderful panel - you were all very helpful and so encouraging to us moms!