Parenting

Monday Matters-April 6, 2020
Everyday Parenting

Good wisdom right there in the middle of the Bible; Proverbs 22:6: “Train a child in the way they should go, and when they’re old they’ll not turn from it.”  When I had three teenagers at home (and a preteen) I realized that for their behavior to change there needed to be a heart change.  Of yea, I’ve said; “I’m not asking what you want. I am asking you to obey.” But there are stages in parenting.  First, we train when they are little.  Second, we coach our kids by directing and holding them accountable.  Third, we cheer on good choices and discourage bad ones.  Lastly, we are our children’s fans when they leave home and try and give advice only when asked. 

Try and speak to your child’s heart and not just their head. To tell a teenager to stop hanging out with a group they like, could get the response; “Let me live my own life.”  But if you appeal to their heart and maybe share your past well you might actually see some change…everyday.