Obedience

March 4, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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familysil.jpgIs obedience an outdated concept? Should we still require obedience from our children?

There seems to have been a reaction against the concept of obedience over a period of years. I wonder if that has something to do with a misunderstanding of what it’s really all about.

Obedience isn’t about creating a home that feels like an army camp or developing children into unthinking robots who snap into action at our every command. It’s more about expecting children to know and respect boundaries. It’s about parents being parents and children being children.

This morning during my radio programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM I was joined by David and Charissa Scotford for our Growing Families segment. We discussed obedience and what we can expect from our children as well as some very practical hints to help make family life more harmonious.

We had a great discussion and spoke to a listener who has been having issues with his six year old son.

Listen to our conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.



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Off to camp

January 8, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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Going from having two kids to around 70 is quite a leap. That’s what’s on the cards for me for the coming days.

Later today I’ll become dad to a camp full of primary school aged children. Over the next few days I’ll be spending a fair bit of time just south of Perth at the Serpentine Camping Centre. I’m still working this week so I’m commuting to camp each day.

I was very involved with the camps at Serpentine many years back but it had been around 20 years since I’d been to one before we decided to go to last year’s camp. We must have enjoyed the experience because we’re heading back for more.

I’ve done everything at the camps in the past from being a dorm leader to cook to director to pot washer and lots more. I guess it’s all come full circle now as I take on the role of camp dad.

I’m sure I’m going to be very tired before it’s all over but it’s so good to be able to build into the lives of young people and have a great time while doing it.



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Are you cherishing the moments?

November 28, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
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So how did that happen?

Our little girl, the one who I’m sure was only born a few months back, is at a high school orientation day today. She’s graduating primary school and moving into year 8 next year.

Emily has grown into a beautiful, clever, intelligent young woman. It seems like just yesterday we were enrolling her in kindergarten and now she’s entering secondary school.

I’m glad that so many friends told us that the years go past way too quickly and that we should cherish the early years with our kids. I’m even happier that I took notice.

Both of our children have provided us with so many incredible memories and special moments and I know that there are plenty more to come. Our children are still quite young, Emily’s 12 and James is 10, so we have many years of growing up on the way.

Maybe it’s time for me to pass on the same advice that we’ve been given. If you have very young children or are about to become a parent, make sure you make time for your kids. Don’t imagine that working every hour that God gives to provide for them will give them a good head start in life. Give them you.

Put up with the smaller house, an older car and less flashy gadgets if you have to but give your children your time. Quality time is a myth. The quality only comes from quantity time. Build the relationships now and they’ll last a lifetime. Neglect the relationship now and you may never get the opportunity again.



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I challenge you …

September 25, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
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… to watch this video all the way through without crying.



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Fitting in with the kids

May 22, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
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We caught up with a few friends last night. We headed out to a local Thai restaurant.

It wasn’t a late night, probably because we all had kids at home. We needed to get home to relieve the babysitters.

I guess another reason it wasn’t a late night also had a lot to do with the children. Having kids certainly puts you into the routine of eating earlier in the evening so we had quite an early booking at the restaurant.

I remember dinners in the past that started late and went on well into the night. These days if we’re not eating by seven my tummy starts asking questions.

Children bring about all kinds of changes to our routines. Sometimes the changes are so subtle that we don’t even notice them.

Are there things you do differently now because you have children? Are there any routines you started when your children were young that have just stuck ever since? Are there routines that are still in place even thought your children have outgrown the reason those routines were put int place?



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