Parenting from Proverbs: Handle it now

Proverbs 19:18:

Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart on his destruction.

My husband and I have always had the parenting philosophy that we’d rather handle it now than later. What do I mean? That we’re not going to wait until our child is five years old to start instructing them to not whine or to be kind to their sibling. We’re not going to wait until they are ten to start teaching them to pick up after themselves. We’re going to handle it now. We’re going to teach them now. We’re going to deal with issues that arise now. I fully realize that just because I teach my child something now doesn’t mean that I won’t have to teach them again when they are or five or ten or even eighteen years old. But I firmly believe that it is easier to mold a child when they are younger than when they’ve already become set in bad habits (trust me, I know it is hard for me to change my bad habits!). Proverbs 19:18 encourages me to “chasten [my child] while there is still hope.” I’m reminded every day of how precious my time is with my children, and how quickly they are growing up. I should not take that time for granted whether that be in anything from forming memories to correcting them to teaching them about God’s Word.

More parenting from Proverbs

Is that a good attitude or a bad attitude?

As parents, we always try to explain why we are upset with our kids to them. We want them to know if they are behaving in a way they shouldn’t behave or if they didn’t do something they should have done or something in between. However, there are times that no matter how plainly I feel like I’m explaining why I disapprove of Ella’s actions (or inactions) that it doesn’t seem like she “gets it.”

Recently when she was throwing a fit about something (I don’t even remember what), I asked her, “Are you having a good attitude or a bad attitude?” I could see the light bulb go off in her head. She got it. She understood that she was having a bad attitude about the situation and that wasn’t acceptable. I asked her if she should have a good attitude or a bad attitude and she immediately responded with, “good attitude.” Throughout the rest of that day, I reinforced the good attitude vs. bad attitude concept. When she was acting contently and behaving appropriately, I’d remind her she was having a good attitude. I’d also remind her if the opposite was true.

Since that day the good attitude vs. bad attitude concept has really worked well in getting through to her when her attitude is off whether it is when it is time for us to leave a place she doesn’t want to leave or if she doesn’t get to do something right away. It doesn’t always ward off a bad attitude, but she is immediately able to recognize the way she is acting is wrong, and that she needs to fix it. I’m thankful that I’ve figured out a way to communicate with her in these tough situations when she isn’t always apt to listening like she should because her emotions are running high.

One Resolution

I'm only making one resolution this year: to gain discipline in my life.

Discipline to . . .

• . . .always put God first, family second, and self third.
• . . .spend more time on the important things, and less time on things that aren't so important.
• . . .always read my Bible daily.
• . . .meditate on God's Word daily. (And yes, this is different from the previous one.)
• . . .have patience with the little stuff that I sometimes let drive me crazy.
• . . .become a healthy person. (Sadly, I miserably failed at my previous challenge.)
• . . .organize and keep my house in a presentable manner.
• . . .start stockpiling on groceries and other household items (in an effort to save money AND be prepared).
• . . .plan my meals in advance.
• . . .finish the things I've started. (especially my thesis!)