I am linking up with Kellyskorner today! Love her blog. You can find it here.

The linky is titled “A Day in The Life”

I know that I was SO busy when my 8 children were young, there is no way I could list every activity that happened during a typical day. Between homeschooling the children, and living on a working farm, our lives were action packed.

I do know that I was too busy, and for the first 5 years that I mothered my 4 sons, I did not show them the love or attention that they should have received. I cried myself to sleep many nights because looking back on the day’s activities, I couldn’t remember hugging  1 or 2 or more of my children that day.

I knew that I needed to change. I made a chart listing godly character traits that I could use to affirm them. Each day before lunch, I made a point to hug, kiss, and affirm each son. I would also encourage them, generally using a word from my list.

God blessed us with 4 more children, and in the past 20 years, I can attest to the fact that positive affirmation works wonders with children. If we do not encourage, (put courage into), our children, who will?

I would say something like, “Ben, you were so diligent this morning in completing your schoolwork. That is wonderful.”

Or, “Matt, I am so proud of the way that you generously shared your toys with your brother.”

Why before lunch? Because I rarely forgot to eat lunch. So, I attached loving my children to something concrete. Not something that I am proud of in the least, but unfortunately true. After a short period of time, it became very easy to remember to show them love and give word hugs, which I call wugs. I would affirm them throughout the day, and it became a habit.

Here is a list of the words that I have on my list:

Attentive, Cheerful, Compassionate, Content, Courageous, Dependable, Determined, Devoted, Diligent, Discerning, Discrete, Enthusiastic, Faithful, Forbearing, Forgiving, Generous, Gentle, Godly, Good, Grateful, Helpful, Honest, Hopeful, Humble, Integrity, Joyful, Kind, Longsuffering, Meek, Merciful, Modest, Obedient, Orderly, Patient, Peaceful, Perseverance, Purity, Respectful. Responsible, Sincere, Steadfast, Temperance, Thoughtful, Trustworthiness, Truthful, Willing to help.

Can you think of more traits?

Photo of my oldest 4 sons today, and child #8, who would prefer to be referred to by his name, Caleb

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A kind reader sent me the following comment which has additional character traits:

“One list from the Duggar family is quite extensive and provides definitions and scripture references. Here is a list of additional traits: Alertness, Availability, Boldness, Cautiousness, Creativity, Decisiveness, Deference, Endurance, Flexibility, Hospitality, Initiative, Justice, Love, Loyalty, Persuasiveness, Punctuality, Resourcefulness, Reverence, Security (vs. Anxiety), Sensitivity, Thoroughness, Thriftiness, Tolerance, Virtuous, Wisdom.”