Calling All P.A.R.E.N.T.S! A REALTalk Panel on Parenting

Notes below…

P is for… PAY

Now, that you are a parent you will have to pay (invest/deposit) some sort of currency (time, energy, emotions and money) in the lives of your children.

Philippians 4:19 (KJV) – But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

A is for… ATTENTION

The one thing your child(ren) want the most from you is your attention. They want to be observed and cared for, by you. Without it there becomes an attention deficit – and that results in disorder.

R is for… RESPONSIBLE

As parents we are to teach our children to be responsible for their actions. Additionally, WE should lead by example, by being responsible for the things WE do and the behaviors WE display as well.

E is for… EDUCATE

No matter how many teachers your child(ren) have, it is YOUR job to educate them. And it is your job to educate yourself on how to be the best parent to your child(ren). Each child is different and will need your instruction individualized to them.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) -Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

N is for… Nip it in the Bud

The  term ‘nip it in the bud’ figuratively means: to put an end to something before it develops into something larger.

The roots of “to nip in the bud” are, as it happens, horticultural. Growers frequently “nip” (pinch or snip off) new buds on plants and trees to stop them from developing for one reason or another, often to force the plant to put its energies to more productive uses. [An excerpt from: http://goo.gl/xJbWRL]

This is exactly what we should be doing with our child(ren). Once nonproductive behavior is observed, nip it in the bud to ‘force the [child(ren)] to put its energies to more productive uses”. It is also important that when disciplining, we do it immediately, so the child(ren) are fully aware of and understand how they could have behaved differently.

T is for… TRAIN

The bible specifically says:

Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) –Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Yet, many parents are trying to ‘control’ their child(ren) instead. Control can lead to abuse from parents, if they aren’t obeyed to their liking while children are left unprepared in life, not knowing how to make wise decisions on their own.

S is for… SINGLE

Regardless what the circumstance may be, God’s original intent for families (defined as parents and their children) includes a father and a mother. While there is a grace, single-parenting is not the ultimate will of God concerning families, and a result there are a number of additional factors that come into play in this family dynamic.

Stay tuned as this is only the foundation of many ‘parenting’ panels to come!