Live Better. Love More.
Leave A Legacy.

Does your child know that you are 100% committed to them through thick and thin? I don’t mean that you are willing to pull them out of every jam they get themselves into. Instead, that you will lovingly do the best thing for them in every situation and be with them.

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It’s not always easy for parents to stand by and watch a child experience an uncomfortable natural consequence. Yet it may be the most loving thing we do in the long run.

Another presidential election is behind us—and, man, was it a doozie. You’re either elated, deflated, or apathetic with the results. I think we’re all relieved it’s done—at least for a few years.

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Now begins the work to unify our country the best we can and keep moving forward. Our country has been doing so for over 200 years.

As parents, we do all we can to train our children during the eighteen or so years they are under our roof. However, there are many times during those years of training that our children don’t live up to the standards that they’ve been taught.

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I remember one incident in particular when I went to pick up my son from his 5-year-old class at church. My husband was the Associate Pastor, and we expected a certain level of obedience because of our role. When I asked the teacher how my son’s behavior was, I found out he had been leading the class in walking all over the desks. I was so embarrassed that I apologized and hurried off with my son.

There are many methods we can use to teach and train our children. One of the most effective ways I have found—especially with children 7-years of age and older—is to use natural and logical consequences.

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So often, when our children forget something they need, leave something out, or don’t get an assignment done, our first response is to run to their rescue. While it is admirable to help them, we may be doing them a disservice by rushing in to take care of their problem for them.

My husband often says, “Little things done consistently over a long time produce great results.” This statement is true in so many areas of life—but especially in parenting our children.

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Repetition is a power tool in learning, and it’s especially true with children. The things we model and teach must be demonstrated to them over and over as they grow and mature. At each level, their understanding is more specific.

Just about every parent I’ve ever met has been anxious about their child reaching their teenage years. I get it. We remember the frustration and tension when we were growing up. We now think bad karma will bring its payback to us.

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But it doesn’t have to be this way in your home—for you or your kids. Yes it’s an unavoidable season of transition. It can get dicey at times. It will require some planning, patience, and commitment to each other. Yet rather than feeling doomed for the worst, you can genuinely expect to make it a great season that has long-lasting benefits.

Parents frequently ask us how they can teach their children to get along with each other. The more children in the family, the more opportunities there are for stress in those relationships. Because we had five young ones in our family, this was something we had to be very intentional about.

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A child is born self-centered. They automatically cry to get their needs met. While that’s okay as babies, this would never be acceptable for an adult. So somewhere along the way, they will need to realize that they must begin to think of others in order to succeed in life. There’s no better place to learn this than at home.

One of the most rewarding activities I began with my children was to have a weekly discipleship time with them. I’m not even sure what prompted me to start this one-on-one time with each of them, but once I began, it was some of the most gratifying time for me as a mom.

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Discipleship time builds a great open relationship with your child, helps build great character traits, and gives them a basis for making decisions in line with values that you hold true. Although we are constantly teaching as we are going about our day, this discipleship time was a formal weekly personal connection with each child.