As I get further along in my parenting journey I like to reflect on the days when my kids were small. I think about what I would do differently and what parenting techniques worked and what didn’t. There are also things I would go back and tell my younger self. Like, be confident! You are a great mom! You aren’t expected to be perfect. God’s grace covers over a multitude of sin (1 Peter 4:8). One principle, rooted in God’s Word, that has benefited our family greatly is, our yes means yes and our no means no. Our kids are a lot older now but they know, we mean what we say, and because of that we are trustworthy. So, whether it comes to discipline or reassurance they know that we can be trusted. We also provided very clear parameters on what was acceptable and what wasn’t.
One of the scariest things I see happening in our world these days is parents letting kids guide themselves. It makes my heart sink at the thought of that. If that was how God designed it to be, then kids wouldn’t need parents. Parents! Your kids need you to guide and direct them according to God’s way. They don’t need to be left to make decisions they are too young to make. There will be a time when it’s appropriate for them to make their own decisions but turning over that responsibility too young is detrimental. The absence of discipline is another frightening scenario I see rising in families. Read Proverbs 13:24, the bible tells us that we hate our children, hate them, if we don’t discipline them. Then it says when we do disciple them they will give us peace and bring us the delights we desire
Father, I pray that we will yield to you when it comes to raising our kids. Guide us and show us your way. Show us how to discipline our children so that they will bring us peace.