Fillman Profile
Continued

The best advice my parents gave me is ... probably their example of loving and seeing the value in children.

When I am having a bad day, I ... Sometimes I cry. Sometimes I tell my husband, "I quit!" But my greatest need is usually met by calling Judy Bourne and asking her to remind me why I'm doing all of this instead of having that great career job or running away from home! She quickly helps me to recall the privilege of parenting and disciplining.

When I'm about to lose my temper, I ... recall advice given to me early in my parenting - Change your circumstances. If things are too hectic, turn off the tape, take the phone off the hook, close the books, put away the project that nobody is enjoying anyway, and pray. Then refocus. Sometimes I have to apologize for snapping at my kids. Then we ask, "How can we turn this day around?" When the kids were real little, we usually needed to take a nap. Now it's usually because I'm trying to do too much.

Our children have taught us ... So much! (Where to begin with this one?)

Certainly a whole new appreciation for how much it cost God the Father to send His only Son to die for us...while we still didn't even care.

They've also taught us to laugh, a lot! The middle school years and senior high years brought with them many opportunities to laugh. The boys' humor became quite sophisticated. I think they get it from their Daddy.