Becky Kopitzke

Devotions for Moms

  • Lifestyle & Faith
    • Blog
    • Resource Library
  • Books
  • Speaking
  • Writer Coaching
  • Shop
    • Cart
    • Amazon Favorites

One Good Reason to Spoil Your Kids

June 17, 2013

“Mommy, will you tell us a story?” My three-year-old looked up at me, pleading. Her wispy hair lay fanned across a cotton pillowcase, and her eyes shone glossy in the lamplight.

“A story? Sure.” It was a typical bedtime request. My girls like to hear stories from my childhood, so I spin ordinary memories into fairy tales. They think this is fabulous entertainment.

One good reason to spoil your kids

“Once upon a time,” I launched into my standard opener, “there was a beautiful princess named Princess Becky. Every week, she went grocery shopping with her mom, Queen Nana. At the checkout aisle, Princess Becky was allowed to pick one treat. Sometimes she chose a candy bar, sometimes bubble gum, and it was always special because it was the only treat she got all week.”

“One treat?” My six-year-old daughter’s eyes bulged. “That’s all?”

“Oh, yes,” I nodded. “Just one a week. Princess Becky didn’t have chips and cookies in her house every day like we do.”

“Wow.” My daughter struggled to comprehend such hardship. Suddenly I thought of the two Hershey’s Kisses she ate that day, and the Oreo her sister gobbled after dinner. Plus the fruit snacks I gave them on the drive home from gymnastics, the suckers they got at the bank, and the vanilla cones we bought at our neighborhood drive-in last night.

Open our cupboards right now and you’ll find Sunchips, Cheez-Its, Raisinets, jelly beans, marshmallows, M&Ms and every variety of Goldfish made in America.

My mother never kept junk food in the house.

Am I spoiling my kids?

“Girls, maybe it’s time to start cutting back on the treats.”

“Nooooo! We like treats!”

“I like treats, too! But do you know what I like even better?” I tucked the blankets around their shoulders and kissed their cheeks. “I like you.”

“I love you, Mom,” my three-year-old whispered.

“I love you, too, Mom.” My six-year-old lifted her head a few inches off her pillow and reached for me. “Will you stay for a little bit?”

I caught fleeting thoughts of the dishes on the counter and the e-mails I’d planned to read. But I shoved them aside and snuggled on the bed between my girls.

“Okay. Just for a little bit.”

Maybe I could indulge my kids in less sugar. But there is one thing I refuse to ration.

Affection.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1a)

Do you give love freely to your kids? What about forgiveness? And grace?

Understand that God does not skimp—he lavishes his love on us, his perfect, merciful, never-ending love. Did we earn it? Did we do all our chores and refrain from bickering and eat every green bean on our dinner plates? Usually not.

And yet he pours his great love into his children every day. So I want to do the same.

Yes, sometimes love means discipline, and sometimes it looks less like hugs and more like letting go. But however we express it, love should be the unlimited motivation for our every move in parenting, don’t you agree? I fail at this regularly. But I won’t be ashamed for making it my goal.

About those treats, however—I’m not too proud of that. So tonight I have a new story in mind.

“Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess named Princess Becky. And her favorite snack was carrots and celery, yum!”

Sweet dreams, my girls. Mom loves you.

Blessings,
Becky

Become a Patron!
  • Share
  • Tweet

Filed Under: God's Love, Grace and Mercy, Growing Pains, Mom Mess-ups, Parenting, Raising Young Kids, School Years, Things I Learn from My Kids

Comments

  1. Alicia says

    June 17, 2013 at 12:04 pm

    Wish we could coordinate our bedtime stories and tuck our whole gang in together. My creative juices sometimes run dry by the last tuck-in! I ADORE you, Princess Becky!

    • Becky says

      June 18, 2013 at 1:47 am

      Ooo, a sleepover! Fun! I adore you, too, Alicia! (Make that Princess Alicia…)

  2. Lisa notes... says

    June 17, 2013 at 12:30 pm

    I keep too much junk food in the house too. Glad we can never overload on affection and love though! A sweet story; thank you for sharing.

    • Becky says

      June 18, 2013 at 1:48 am

      Thank you for reading, Lisa! I think I’ll go eat some of those chips now that the kids are in bed. 🙂

  3. Erica {let why lead} says

    June 17, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    Your girls are so lucky to have you! Well said, as always.

    • Becky says

      June 18, 2013 at 1:48 am

      Awww, and yours have a pretty fabulous mom, too, Erica. Love to hear from you here!

  4. stultsmamaof4 says

    June 17, 2013 at 1:26 pm

    My favorite line – But there is one thing I refuse to ration. Affection. Yes! I want to love my children lavishly, too. 🙂

    • Becky says

      June 18, 2013 at 1:49 am

      That is my daily aim. Sometimes I miss by a mile…but I do try to keep the target in focus!

  5. Beth says

    June 17, 2013 at 2:13 pm

    Now you’re just steppin’ on my toes, Becky! We have a pantry full of junk food and I have two teens and one 20-something home this summer that would not go so easy on me if I cut back their daily junk-food rations! ha! But I wholeheartedly agree that being abundant in affection is a win-win proposition! Beautiful words, my friend!

    • Becky says

      June 18, 2013 at 1:55 am

      Beth, I suddenly feel so much better knowing that you have a load of junk food in your kitchen, too! Probably not Goldfish, though, huh? 🙂 I have to admit I prefer the fish-shaped pretzels to the grown-up kind. Maybe I actually buy them for myself and just say they’re for the kids, heh heh.

  6. Penny Lane says

    June 17, 2013 at 4:28 pm

    Perfect, just perfect! What a great mom you must be. I found you on Playdates with God and I’ll be sharing this with my readers for sure! Happy to be a new follower! – Penny Lane @ SistersRaisingSisters.com

    • Becky says

      June 18, 2013 at 1:56 am

      Thank you so much for reading and joining me here! Welcome to Time Out!

  7. Patsy Paterno says

    June 17, 2013 at 11:00 pm

    Sweet! My son is 18 now and in college. I am reading my old diaries. Savor this time, my friend, it passes soooo quickly! Too quickly! Blessings! Patsy from
    HeARTworks

    • Becky says

      June 18, 2013 at 1:56 am

      Thank you for that reminder, Patsy. I’m really trying to soak up this summer with my little ones. Blessings!

  8. Noelle Kirchner says

    June 18, 2013 at 12:38 am

    Makes me think of story time at my house. My older son, who’s four, is requesting “spooky” stories. He makes one up and then it’s my turn. I don’t have girls, but I remember those princess tales growing up with a sister! For right now, I’m talking about bugs and monsters – with happy endings of course! Thanks, Becky, for a great post.

    • Becky says

      June 18, 2013 at 2:00 am

      Funny, Noelle – my girls are the ones telling me the monster stories, as in, “I’m scared of the monsters, Mommy. Are there monsters in my room?” So you can imagine how princess stories fly much better than spooky tales in our house! Sweet dreams to your little guys!

  9. Ashley Ditto says

    June 18, 2013 at 2:07 am

    So glad I came here tonight, I needed the mama encouragement. Have a great week!!

    • Becky says

      June 20, 2013 at 11:59 am

      And I’m so glad you came by, too, Ashley! You always bless me with your encouragement.

  10. Heather says

    June 18, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    Hi I’m Heather! Please email me when you get a chance, I have a question about your blog! LifesABanquet1(at)gmail.com

  11. 1 of the Creekside Team says

    June 19, 2013 at 2:52 am

    sweet and yummy … and pretty much applicable to my grandmother-ing! thank you, Becky, for making me smile this evening!

    Linda

    • Becky says

      June 20, 2013 at 12:07 pm

      Funny, Linda – my mom said her old rules about limiting sugar no longer apply to her grandkids! Thanks for stopping by to read!

  12. Laura Boggess says

    June 19, 2013 at 2:54 am

    You are such a good mommy. Yes, those cuddle times are the sweetest sweets :).

    • Becky says

      June 20, 2013 at 12:09 pm

      Oh, I try, Laura. And I fail often. 🙂 Lately I’ve been reminding myself that those days of picking up and holding my girls is slipping away as they get older. So every time one of them asks me to hold her, I do it.

  13. Shell says

    June 19, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    Growing up, we had ZERO sugar, ever. My mother gasped in horror when I gave my first baby Cheerios. Not the honey nut, just plain- b/c there is 1g of sugar per serving(which of course, a baby isn’t actually consuming). I learned that it’s better to do some moderation than total withholding- b/c my brothers and I would binge eat sugar/snacks when we had the chance away from her.

    • Becky says

      June 20, 2013 at 12:12 pm

      Wow, Shell, and I thought I was deprived! 🙂 I agree, moderation is wise. My girls like their treats, but they don’t see them as forbidden fruit, which I’m hoping will help them in the long run. I have to admire your mom’s convictions, though.

  14. Nancy Sturm says

    June 20, 2013 at 8:53 pm

    Oh, Becky, this is just too sweet. (Pun intended, sorry.) I love the emphasis on how God “lavishes” His love on us. Great reminder. Thanks!

  15. Sarah says

    June 20, 2013 at 9:29 pm

    Sometimes, when I need a momma time out … I stop on by to be refreshed. Thanks for always splashing me with encouragement and linking up to splash other mommas as well.

    Just moms. Sharing our notes. Creating a melody.

    http://justsarahdawn.blogspot.com/2013/05/momma-notes.html

    Be blessed bunches,
    Sarah

  16. Richella Parham says

    June 27, 2013 at 1:26 pm

    Now that’s the kind of spoiling I can really get behind! 🙂

    Good luck with your story about the princess loving carrot sticks and celery. . . .

Trackbacks

  1. If You Were in My House Today says:
    October 13, 2014 at 9:15 pm

    […] ridiculous, imagined offense that I’ll forget an hour later, after the damage is already done. I’m learning to love as God loves. But sometimes pride trips me […]

  2. When Your Children Love You Too Much says:
    October 13, 2014 at 9:28 pm

    […] this post encouraged you, I’d be blessed if you’d share it. You might also like One Good Reason to Spoil Your Kids, If You Give a Mom a Minute, and When You Wake Up with a Foot in Your […]

  3. In Defense of All Those Presents says:
    November 2, 2014 at 6:04 pm

    […] If this post encouraged you, please share it. You might also like The Case of the Purple Car, God Doesn’t Ration Candy Bars, and One Good Reason to Spoil Your Kids. […]

  4. When Mom Is on the Phone | The only tip you'll ever need to keep your sanity when the kids interrupt says:
    February 4, 2015 at 2:28 pm

    […] post encouraged you, please share it. You might also like When Your Children Love You Too Much, One Good Reason to Spoil Your Kids, and Who Took My […]

  5. Follow the Rules of the Road says:
    February 4, 2015 at 2:50 pm

    […] If this post encouraged you, I’d be blessed if you’d share it. You might also like How My Walk of Faith Is Like a Stroller Ride, Learning Is Messy, and He Called Me Beautiful, So I Cleaned the Basement.  […]

  6. Because You Are a Shepherd, Not a Cattle Prod says:
    May 12, 2016 at 1:14 pm

    […] this post encouraged you, please share it. You might also like One Good Reason to Spoil Your Kids,  I Love You Lots and Cows, and Love Your Kids. That Is […]

FREE Guide to Sibling Harmony

FREE Guide to Sibling Harmony!

20 Questions and Activities to Help Your Kids Get Along

Yes, I want in!

Meet Becky.

If you love your kids but you sometimes forget to feed them lunch, if you're crazy about your husband but some days you want to set his hunting gear on fire, and if you adore Jesus with your whole heart yet you mess up time and time again, then you and I are friends already.

We need each other. I'm so glad you're here.

Subscribe to Me on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoyavx3CZvM

Follow me on Instagram

Follow on Instagram

Follow me on Pinterest

Visit Becky Kopitzke's profile on Pinterest.

Hi there.

Need some wisdom and encouragement?
Check out my free resource library.

Yes, Please!
  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Speaking
Copyright ©2023, Becky Kopitzke. All Rights Reserved. Custom design by Pixel Me Designs