10 Points of Joyful Parenting {Printable}

CSC_1564

DSC_1516

DSC_1483

DSC_1520

DSC_1523

CSC_1515

DSC_1573

DSC_1424

DSC_1426

10
Point Manifesto for Joyful Parenting

(any text in turquoise links to posts for more explanation & encouragement)::

1. Today, I will make our home a house of prayer. I will pray at set times. And I will invite our children to come move into an interior space that lives with God.

2.Today, I will transfigure all things into beauty, and I will refuse to see anything else.

3. Today, I will not have any emergencies. There are no emergencies! Only amateurs hurry.

4. Today, when stress mounts, I pray to dismount it with gratitude. My stress management plan will be intervention with verbal thanks. I can only feel one feeling at a time, and I choose to give thanks at all times. Fight feeling with feeling!

5. Today, I will pray to speak words that are only STRONG words, words that make these children feel strong. Grace words. Grace is the only non-toxic air. All other words I breathe are death words.

6. Today, I will pray to be consistently consistent. I will create safe rhythms that our children can find security in. I will create daily ceremonies because everyday we are CELEBRATING the gift of now!

7. Today, the moment when I am most repelled by a child’s behavior, that is my sign to draw the very closest to that child.

8. Today, I will hug each of my children as many times as I serve them meals — because children’s hearts feed on touch. I’ll look for as many opportunities to touch my children today as possible — the taller they are, the more so.

9. Today, my priorities will be all Things Unseen.

10. Today, I will laugh! And I will let the little children laugh! I will create a culture of JOY!

::

Click here to Download a Free Printable Copy of the Manifesto of Joyful Parenting

::

  • Pingback: Sunday Sunshine 03.13.11 « Minnesota Mom

  • http://oursweetmess.blogspot.com/ christa

    thank you so much for this…a tremendous gift! my heart is being changed daily by this and your book. may He return to you a hundred fold all that you pour out to so many so often. Glory be to God!

  • Tammy

    Thank you.  What a great reminder of the gifts before me each day.  I home school four children.  11,98.7.5.  Some days I feel like I am failing them daily.  Then the Lord gently reminds me that this is the perfect home  for my children and even in my weakness, He is strong!  Thank you!!! 

  • Pingback: Drowning in the Sea of Shoulds | HomeSchooling Unscripted

  • http://www.facebook.com/emouck Erin Mouck

    These 10 points of JOYFUL parenting are going all over my house, in my car and imprinted in my heart.  They are Jesus-like rules for loving HIS children. I must pray more, hug more and open my heart more.  I have, like so many Southern Californians, fallen into the culture of consumerism, television and focus on myself and MY dreams.  I must ask myself, what are my dreams in a life that is to glorify Jesus, my Savior? 

    Thank you, Ann Voskamp, for giving me NEW eyes, fresh CLOSEUP perspective on how to live a more Jesus-focused, Joyful and ultimately Kingdom-building life.

  • Pam Martin

    Thank you for this printout! I received the Family Gratitude Journal as a gift but put it aside. Then months later I received the book One Thousand Gifts at my request. Now I know how to use the journal. I am worshiping the Lord through thanksgiving! I am slowing life down! I am so thankful to you for writing about thankfulness and to the Lord for showing you this concept in such detail. I have always been a thankful person but to know now how that can help me draw closer to the Lord and to be aware…it is a gift that the Lord has given through you. Thank you.

  • Lisa

    I don’t know if it is just me, but none of the links seem to be working. I was trying to read more by clicking on the turquoise text, but it says, “page got lost” on all of the several I tried.

    • ambermcginty

      Hi Lisa, thank you for flagging this. I am also seeing the problem. I’m on the team helping to maintain the site, and I will make sure this gets fixed. I’ll comment back here once we have it resolved.

    • ambermcginty

      Hi Lisa, it turned out to be an easy fix. The links are all working now. Thanks again for your comment. Blessings!