Parenting 101 |

It has been many years since I was at the height of parenting. As most of you know, our children are grown, married, and have children of their own. They lead busy lives caring for and teaching those children.

When you are going through all of the daily care and disciplining (teaching) of your children, it may seem like it will never end. They will never learn how to do things on their own. They will never be able to feed, clothe, and sustain themselves.

And then it happens…they are grown and out on their own. It dawns upon you that eighteen years of time to train your children, which seemed so long in the beginning, is quickly drawing to a close. Eighteen years in the grand scheme of things is just not that long.

Would you allow an older woman to tell you some of the things I have learned, not only from parenting my own children, but also from interacting with lots of different parents and their children? I will call them guidelines or helpful hints, and I am praying that they will be helpful to all parents who happen to read these words.

Since children are a blessing from God, and did not ask to be born, love them the way God intended for you to love them (Psalm 127:3-4).
This kind of love will teach them these valuable lessons:
- The way they should go in life (Prov. 22:6). God’s word should be the first and most important curriculum they have.
- Love for God, His Word, and service to Him in the church has so much more value than any earthly job, hobby, or sport on this earth.
- What it means to obey you as their parents, and God as their heavenly Father (Eph. 6:1).
- To have respect for those in authority (in the home and elsewhere).
- To speak to people when they are spoken to. It is rude to ignore a greeting just because someone is not your age.
- They can talk to us (parents) about anything.
- They are NOT the center of the universe, and the world does NOT revolve around them. God is the center of our lives and they need to learn that their lives need to revolve around Him and His Word.
- Your love is not measured by what you give them materially.
- They will make mistakes and will suffer the consequences that go along with those mistakes. HOWEVER, you will still love them and help them learn from their mistakes.
- You do not have to be involved in everything going on just to be like everyone else. Learn to be yourself and do what you do well.
- Choose right over wrong every time there is a choice.
- Hearing “no” as an answer to something you want to do or have will not shorten your life.
- Spanking will not damage their psyche. It will help them understand what is right and wrong.
- You are part of this family and belonging to this family means you have responsibilities that help the home run smoothly.
- When your child has done something wrong, it is not automatically someone else’s fault. There may be others involved, but make your child own their part of the wrong.

They will not only LOVE you (parents), but also RESPECT you if you lovingly apply God’s principles while teaching them. You will be the parents they go to for advice when they are older.