Character Matters

A while ago I bought the book Character Matters! Raising Kids with Values that Last. It's by John and Susan Yates, whom I heard speak a couple of months ago at church and I've been dying to start reading it.

When I began reading The Power of a Praying Wife, and I posted follow-ups on all my reads, I felt bad when a couple of weeks would go by in between posts. I would find just enough time to read a short chapter, but not enough time to follow up with it on the blog. (By the way, it was a wonderful book and a wonderful reminder of my role as a wife.) I'm finding out, with kids, keeping up the house, and yada yada yada, that I just can't blow through a book like a use to. It seems to take me ages. Before we had kids, I rode the bus/metro to and from work and I constantly had my nose in a book. Now my nose is in "Billy Goes to the Doctor", "The Red Ripe Strawberry," and Dr. Seuss- you know, the super short reads. So, I'm going to begin Character Matters this week with no "end date" in mind. I can't think of a better time to start this particular book than now. Holden is 2 1/2 , Fount is 6 months...instilling the importance of  "integrity, faith, a teachable spirit, a servant's heart, self-discipline, joy, compassion, and courage" (the 8 essential character traits John and Susan Yates speak about in the book), are essential for them, even at their young age. So I feel an urgency to begin reading. I'm always surprised at how much Holden knows already and how much he remembers. Toddlers are sponges. We're teaching them everyday how to act in the world, without even realizing, sometimes, that they're in constant learning mode (gosh, and so am I). I often have to remind myself of that. They are so delicate- their minds, their spirits, the hearts- like clay. Yesterday, Holden was on the phone in the other room, by himself, with Goody and Pa, and I heard him say, "Yes sir" without any prompting. I was so proud of him.

Here I go!