Join Kate and Sheila as they recap one of the most impactful books they’ve read this year.

Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley starts with a powerful rephrased Frederick Douglass quote, “It is easier to raise strong children than to repair broken men and women” and then he goes on from there to supply readers with the nuts and bolts (ideas) on how to raise strong kids.

Favorite quotes abound! Here are just a few:

“The heart always follows the habit.”

“Nothing important is easy.”

“The struggle against boredom is really just the struggle against a fallen imagination.”

“Send kids to bed with a settled soul.”

“The human heart is never not being shaped by something, it is not a car, there is no neutral.”

“The final role of a parent is to keep looking to Jesus.”

The Pyramid of Discipline is a blessing to both kids and parents!

It starts with loving authority for the foundation.

There are 5 parts to the second level:

1. Pause

2. Prayer

3. Body Language

4. Understanding

5. Consequences

Level 3 Confession

Level 4 Reconciliation (he has his boys hug until they smile) : )

He discusses how limits are positive (not a surprise to those who’ve read the Boundaries book)

and connects it to Jesus taking on the limits of being a man, disciplining Himself into a life of sacrifice. Why? So we could be free from the ultimate limitation of sin and death.

We loved the sending prayer for families as they are leaving the house:

Father, thank You for this day.

Bless us as we work, study, and play.

Be present with us in all we do.

May we bring glory and honor to You.

In Jesus name

Justin suggests lighting a candle before mealtime and having the children say, “Jesus is the light” Then he shares a game he came up with out of necessity (the mother of invention) called The Pepper Game. Whoever is holding the pepper shaker asks a question then he/she passes the shaker. The holder of the shaker answers the question and passes the shaker to the next person. We tried this out with young and old and it was a hit! Everyone learns to listen!

Trust us, this book is TOO good to miss! It will bless you in a plethora of ways!

Adding value to daily routines that will impact your kids for the rest of their days!