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Mari
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 8:33am | IP Logged
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Okay so this is the question my youngest is asking. Fortunately for me something happened so she went off before I could answer. I don't think I know how to answer her.  How would you answer?
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Mari, mother of 2 loving daughters aged 8 and 10
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Lisbet
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 8:35am | IP Logged
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"I love God more, sweetie, because He brought you to me. He loves you more than I love you also."
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 9:11am | IP Logged
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Well, I'm going to go the Siblings without Rivalry route. When kids ask questions like that, "who do you love more" they are really wanting to be affirmed that you think they are special. So, I would respond, "I love you so much. You're the only (name) I've got. You (start reciting a few of her great qualities)." Hopefully, that would end the discussion for her. If she asked for more about God, though, then I would tell her something along the lines of what Lisa said.
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
Box of Chocolates
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Sarah M
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 10:19am | IP Logged
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Barbara C. wrote:
| So, I would respond, "I love you so much. You're the only (name) I've got. You (start reciting a few of her great qualities)." Hopefully, that would end the discussion for her. |
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I think I'd go this route, as well. What a sweet little one you have!
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 10:34am | IP Logged
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I think my first response would be "Why do you ask?" and then proceed from there.
If it is a genuine question (which at age 8, it very well could be)I might turn it around to her and ask "Which do you love more, sunshine or chocolate?" Then help her to see that both are lovely in their own way. But one gives us life, while the other makes it sweeter.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 10:52am | IP Logged
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My youngest use to ask me this all the time only it was, "Mommy, who do you love more? me or (name of whichever sibling was in the room)."
And I'd always answer, "Woooo, I love my little Annie bestest of all." And I'd give a smile and a wink to the other sibling in the room as I scooped her into a hug.
I must have done this with all of them because they quickly picked up the hype and would always tease her with, "No, Annie, Mommy loves me bestest of all."
That made her  .
I'm afraid, since we don't have a little one tagging on her heels and she hasn't learned the "hint" of being the receiver of the "wink", that she figures she reigns supreme and is a little spoiled.
But what do ya do? 
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Erin
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 4:11pm | IP Logged
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Turn the tables and ask her who she loves the most God or you. Teach her that she is meant to love God more than anybody it is fine to love God more than you. That is how it is meant to be. Talk about God knowing how many 'hairs on her head'.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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Sarah M
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 5:41pm | IP Logged
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BTW, I remember telling my mom (at age 5) that I loved her more than God. She smiled, hugged me, and said I should love God even more than her. That broke my heart. I knew that I simply didn't. I felt so guilty, and hoped that God didn't notice that I really did love my mom more than anyone in the world...of course I didn't understand then that it is perfectly fine for a child to love their parents most of all- they were my "tangible picture" of God- and I loved God by loving my mom so much.
My 4yo tells me that she loves me (and her blankie) more than Jesus. I always smile, hug her, and tell her how much I love her. And realize that I'd better be on my best behavior- I truly am her tangible picture of God.
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Lara Sauer
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 6:13pm | IP Logged
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I have always told my children that we need to love the gift giver more than the gift. This works for the simplest toy all the way up to the most profound reality of loving God above all.
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You can take the girl out of Wisconsin, but you can't take the Wisconsin out of the girl!
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Mari
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| Posted: April 26 2008 at 9:58am | IP Logged
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Bless you all! Reading these brings tears to my eyes. Knowing my dd, (she likes bringing up the same subject several times in different lights and likes me to reply from different angles) all of the above is going to be immensely helpful to me. I already did the frist two with her - she was over the moon! I think she "knows" the answer but maybe she is struggling with the 'I know I should love God more but I don't - and I wonder if Mom is the same as me?'
Thank you all. I treasure these things you have shared with me.
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Mari, mother of 2 loving daughters aged 8 and 10
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Mari
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| Posted: April 26 2008 at 10:04am | IP Logged
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It was the first three! She loved the idea of sunshine and chocolate - that really made her think - and she looked enlightened with the idea of a giver of life and something that made life sweeter / was a blessing in life. This eventually turned into a half-hour game of naming pairs of things impossible to say which we prefered. I had a very satisfied dd at the end of that (at least until the question pops up again!)
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Mari, mother of 2 loving daughters aged 8 and 10
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MichelleW
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| Posted: April 26 2008 at 11:12am | IP Logged
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How wonderful Mari! What a good mom you are!
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Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Who do you love more - God or me?
