From Me to You...

8 Ways to Exasperate Your Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Chip Richter) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:55:00 +0000

This morning I was cleaning out some old file folders and found a folder marked "Parenting Tips" with some notes I jotted down. I honestly don't remember the source of these notes but I'm thinking it may have been a radio interview I heard or something like that. Anyway, I thought they were important enough to write down then and rediscovering them again today I think they might be worth sharing with other Dads (and Moms) out there.

Ephesians 6:4 encourages us with this: "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Another translation says, "do not provoke your children to anger". Seems like a no brainer doesn't it ? And yet I know in my parenting career I've been guilty of doing just that. I think that's why I took the time to take these notes when I heard that radio interview. I hope thse will be an encouragement to you too.

8 Ways to Exasperate Your Kids:

Failing to allow them to be what they are.
Treating them with harshness or cruelty.
Ridiculing them in front of others. Especially in front of their peers. (Even when disguised as teasing or jesting.)
Displaying favoritism and making unhealthy or unproductive comparisons.
Failing to express our approval, even at seemingly small accomplishments.
Being arbitrary in the exercise of discipline, so they don't know where they stand.
Neglecting and making them feel like an intrusion in your life.
Seeking to make them achieve our goals and aspirations.

I'm sure, like me, as you read these bullet points you'll begin unpacking each one and considering how they may relate to your parenting style and relationship with your children. Someone once told me "we tend to parent the way we were parented". I think that's true for the most part. What's also true is that our parents were not perfect, in fact some may have been down right bad at it. So it makes sense for us to look out for those things that may creep into our parenting style that we may not even be aware of until it's too late and some damage is done. These eight points have been good ones for me to keep in mind as I've been trying to be a good Dad to my kids. Keep up the good work... and remember, you're a better parent than you think you are.

A Gift for Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Chip Richter) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:42:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day to you. I wanted to share this gift with my friends a song for Valentine's Day. Here's a FREE Download of my version of James Taylor's tune Shower the People.
There's a bit of a story that goes along with the recording of this tune. It's the story about the night God came and added His parts to this tune. This particular night I had planned to record my vocals. As I was singing the very soft opening lines a big thunder storm rolled in and the sound of thunder was coming through the mic onto the vocal takes. At first I was bummed thinking I would have to scratch the take and wait till the storm passed to record a new one. But then as I was listening back to the take with the thunder rolling through the background it hit me... this is perfect! Thunder and rain showers in the background of a song called Shower the People... Brilliant! I actually set a couple mics up outside under the porch and recorded a stereo track of the thunder and rain showers that night and added them in with this tune. You'll hear the thunder especially in the intro and at the very end thunder with the rain showers falling.

I think it came out great and I can honestly say it's not something I thought of on my own... my "Producer" gets all the credit. Well I hope you enjoy the song and please feel free to share it with the ones you love.
Blessings
Chip

Shadows of The Empty Nest

noreply@blogger.com (Chip Richter) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:08:00 +0000

Siesta Key Beach voted one of the top beaches in the USA

My wife Mary Beth and I just returned late last night from a week at my parents home in Sarasota Florida. It was a the first time we've taken a weeks vacation without any of our kids along! It was something we really hadn't thought about until we were leaving. We've taken trips together before just the two of us... mostly work related trips. But this was the first real vacation kind of trip without the kids and it was a little odd at first but mostly really nice. Not because our kids are hard to be with in fact my children are some of my favorite people to hang out with. I think what made this so nice was the fact that we could focus on each other with nothing and no one else requiring our attention.
It occurred to me one day as we were cruising in my Mom's little VW Cabrio convertable, that I was getting a glimpse of what the Empty Nest might be like... and I liked it! Granted we were in an breathtaking beautiful place with nothing on the agenda but sleeping, reading, eating and hanging out at Siesta Key Beach for seven days. What's not to like! But all of that aside this time together just reminded me how blessed I am to have fallen in love and married a girl who is my best friend. Our years together have been so rich and full and our kids have been a big part of that. But I can honestly say that getting a glimpse of these shadows of what's to come makes me smile.

Let every heart...

noreply@blogger.com (Chip Richter) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:38:00 +0000

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://chiprichter.bandcamp.com/track/god-rest-ye-merry"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;God Rest Ye Merry by Chip Richter&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

I've been reading and listening to several great posts and commentaries about Advent this year. We are now in the second week of the Advent Season. One in particular that really inspired me last week was a blog post called The Thrill of Hope from The Beautiful Due. Please do take the time to read the entire post but here's just a few thoughts that caught my heart.

"Sometimes our Advent celebrations get so quiet and reflective that, well, I just about fall asleep. How about pealing them with carols sung by a legion of voices? And by carols I don’t mean more Feliz Navidad or Mariah Carey, but the heavy-laden theological lushness of songs like Lo, How A Rose E’re Blooming or God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen or What Child is This? Yes, I realize you’re not supposed to sing carols until Christmas Eve or Day, but I believe God became small so we could break the rules, so there."

And also this comment:

"If enough of our voices were raised the earth herself might listen and possibly join in, the very rocks crying out…what if we exercised just a tad of moderation to the reflection and focused just a tad more on projection, joining hands in the crest of newfallen snow while lifting our God-given voices? Man oh man, what a gift to give this weary world, the gift of sound – Advent, a thrill of hope…nations might even cease from their warring and sit back, close their eyes, and dream of a new and glorious morn."

I know the stillness and the quiet of the season can be a comfort to many too... but I just love this idea of focusing on our "projection"... our joy, our excitement and the "thrill of hope" in this amazing event. I've decided to do that by making some music available for download this Advent season. I'm going to try to share something each week during the advent season. This week it's my take on God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. some of it may be very stripped down and simple but I'll try to offer a tune a week. I know I'm a week behind already so watch for more to come soon. I hope these songs will help in your observance of Advent. I know for me it's all about making more room... let every heart prepare Him room.

A Little Bit of Light

noreply@blogger.com (Chip Richter) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:36:00 +0000

Hey There Friends!
I'm here in my office today doing my best to not let this weather get to me. It's another rainy, cold day. I'm afraid we have not had many of those classic bright, sunny, blue sky, fall days here in Ohio this year. The reason that matters to me is because I'm someone who deals with SAD. It's not an incapacitating thing for me as it is for some. But still a very real challenge for me this time of year heading into winter. I've been down the road of medications etc but have opted to deal with it in a more natural way. One of the things I've discovered to be the best therapy for me is to focus on bringing as much virtual sunshine through music, laughter and fun to as many kids and families as possible. This happens in churches, schools, libraries and even house concerts.

I suspect that here in NE Ohio there are plenty of folks who might deal with a bit of the blues this time of year. I'm amazed at how powerfully we are able to combat those heavy feelings by simply coming together as family and friends to celebrate light, love and laughter with our children. You see I believe we all carry a little bit of light within ourselves and as we come together and I let my little bit of light shine with your little bit of light and so on and so forth well... amazing things can happen!

You can help me chase the blues away by requesting information about scheduling a Family Concert this fall/winter. I can work with just about any size venue from a theater to a children's bookstore. Drop me a line or click on the link here and let's make plans for a Brilliant Family Event!

Shine Bright-
Chip