PARENTING, OVERVIEW
Part II
page 2 of 2

As parents we need to reduce our stresses as much as possible for the sake of ourselves and that of our children. This is pleasing to God–for each of us to have peace and enjoy the lives and Family He gave us.  We need to learn how to turn problems over to God and how to enjoy time with our spouse and children. The Home is the place to learn patience with someone we love, and to state what we believe in, and how to learn about the wonderful world God created.  As Christians we are His Servants and we need to ask Our Heavenly Father to show us how to balance our lives. Many verses in Proverbs talk about how it is wrong to be idle and lazy. That is easy to understand. But what about over working? What I see today, is Parents stressed  because of too many commitments. Society is dictating that a Good Parent buys the latest learning gimmick, has their children in sports, drama or whatever - clubs and interest groups . . and these things, costs money. But are all these things necessary?  Many Parents are too pressured and committed,  to sit at the dinner table each evening, eating a leisurely dinner, and then reading the Bible and having prayer. This activity is very important. The evening needs to be for the Family, including learning  how to work  together cleaning up and  doing household responsibilities and reading. When my children were in elementary school, the school expected every household to set aside 15 to 20 minutes a day for reading. Everything was to stop, and each member pick up a book of their interest, and read.  TV watching needs to be limited, and only to quality programs.

At this  point, you may respond , “ You do not understand what I am being faced with, as a Parent in Today’s society” ( Actually this would be a thought coming from one’s ‘self’)

What I am  proposing is a schedule pleasing to God. Parenting God’s Way. He wants us to be filled with inner peace. Does this mean everything will be easy ? No. Your children will still be hounding you, for things they want . That is where they are, in their emotional development. They are doing exactly what we would expect of them–pursue us for things they WANT (“self”). We are the Parents and our responsibility is to lead and guide and teach, by our words and behavior. We help our children learn, what is really most important in life.

Toddlers and elementary aged children need “daily routine” to in the development of a sense of security/safety/peace. This age child, needs plenty of sleep. So a night time schedule needs to include bath time with a little play time, quiet time and a 7 to 8:30 P.M. bedtime,( the same daily bedtime; this being dependent on the age of the child.). Computer time, if at all  for this age group, should be at minimum, because  you want to work with your children to develop healthy emotionally, which happens within  direct contact. Family members need to work on skills which help them to get along with each other, and be able to enjoy some of the time spent with other Family members. Children always need adult monitoring and supervision.

 Yes, being a Parent is a full time job! The World tells us we can have it all. Only it forgets to tell us that a big part of our inner peace and Spiritual self is lost in the process of getting everything we want, having it ALL. If we are doing God’s Will, HE will see to it that we have  everything, we need.

Share your thoughts about Part 2 with your spouse or trusted Christian Family member or Born Again Friend.

* Frequently I am using the pronoun he, because  I am thinking about my sons, as children. Wherever you find the pronoun “he” referring, in general, to a child, “she” may be substituted . Past research, indicated parents felt raising daughters during the toddler and elementary school years, was easier, than sons. I haven’t seen any current research confirming this.



Written by: Janet L. Walker

 

 

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