That Bites!

I have to admit I do not understand the fascination with vampires in Twilight or similar stories. I suppose when I was younger it was Dracula and bats, but still.....the whole romance thing with a vampire and living forever? I hate needles, I don't think pointy teeth would be any better. Living in the world we're in now? No thanks.

If you hang around little children for any length of time more than likely you will experience their frustration when they bite another child, him/herself or you! Take a toy they want? Chomp. Not paying attention to them? Chomp. These are not usually little love bites either. They leave marks!


I started to wonder though. How do kids learn to bite when they are frustrated? It's not like it is a modeled behavior. I highly doubt (in most households!) that the child has seen mom and dad biting each other when they get frustrated. They might have seen another child bite someone and saw the reaction it received. Behaviors that receive attention get repeated....often!

As loving parents and kid caregivers, we start teaching children that it is inappropriate to bite when frustrated. We help them learn to recognize that feeling and handle it in a better way that does not hurt them or anyone else. As adults, we don't walk around biting each other so we obviously learned somewhere along the way other ways to handle frustrations.

One way adults usually handle frustration is to use words. Sometimes this is probably not much better than biting. Words can hurt without leaving marks. Unfortunately? Once it is out of your mouth? You can't take it back. You can't make the other person forget what was said, how it was said OR keep them from replaying that over and over in their head. Even as adults, we need a reminder that we need to handle our frustrations appropriately.

Galatians 5:14-15 (NIV) For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Too sweet.....little children :)

(NIV) Matthew 11:25-26 Rest for the Weary ²⁵ At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

This week, the kids and I are helping with vacation bible school. Tuesday during snack time, one of the little girls came up to me and set down a cup of water. I asked her who it was for and she smiled and said, "it's for you!" Then she gave me a hug and ran off to play Duck, Duck, Goose. She's only known me 2 days. What a nice little pick me up and reward for me.

Young children are so much more free with their emotions! When they're mad, you know! When they're sad, they cry. When they're happy, they laugh. I think we can learn a lot by hanging around younger kids. I do believe God has gifted them with a special knowledge well beyond their years.

If you are blessed to have younger kids in your life right now, take time to enjoy their outlook on life. It is often said (and I didn't really believe it), but they do grow up faster than you realize. If you have older kids....they still need somebody to talk to and bounce ideas off of. They're learning to make their own way in the world. Help them learn about God as a friend. Even though I went to church (twice on Sundays) growing up, I didn't realize the friendship/relationship that God desires with all of us until much later.