Parent challenges are always coming my way. The new challenges are the ones that surprise me most. They throw me off and I ponder what the best ways to combat them are. Some things seem simple enough. Direct disobedience for example is so easy to discipline. Whereas obedience with a bad attitude is hard.
My most recent challenge is Faith and her attitude. I ask her to do something and she says ok and rolls her eyes or the other one now is sighing as she is walking away. Is she seriously 4 going on 14!!! That's what it really feels like. Now at fourteen you would think this would be easier to deal with because there is a good old spanking or groundings, taking things away, etc... More options. At this age all I can do is spank her and I don't think she is even trying to really do these things. In fact the last time she did roll her eyes at me and I told her I had to spank her for it she said "Why do I keep doing this". She knows it's wrong and ungodly. It's like she just doesn't know how to even control that fleshly attitude! It's actually sad!
All the while tho I am not ok with my daughter portraying that attitude to me or anyone else in authority over her. People say kids will be kids or it's just a phase! Well I will be honest I say that's a cop out to being a better parent and training them in the way they should be. If you let them continue in that "phase" they will be that person and think it is ok! I can't have my daughter sighing or rolling her eyes at her aunts, grandparents, Sunday school teachers. I can't let her think that is acceptable for one minute! So this is my new parenting challenge. I must now direct her to have a godly obedient attitude. I think the best way kids learn is by an example no matter how young or old they are. I need to start thinking about ways I can show her obedience to our Lord through my actions and deeds. Maybe this way she will see how it ( a godly obedient attitude) is put into action. I pray soon she will be reflecting it and wanting to have that sweet spirit about her!
If you have any other advice please leave me a comment. Most of you that read my blog are wiser and been through these things. So I am open to advice. Thank you and God bless!
Chelsie; It sounds to me like Faith may be ready to admit to being a sinner (why do I do this?) and ask the Lord Jesus to forgive her and be her own personal Savior. What do you think? At least; point out to her that without the Holy Spirit in her that she will continue to do wrong things. You and Scott discuss it and perhaps just explain it as much as you feel she can understand.
ReplyDeleteJust thinking...Grams
I like what you said about being an example. I wonder how many times we sigh or roll our eyes out of habbit? I know I do a lot of sighing when my kids ask me to do something. It seems like every time I have just taken a seat, Charlie asks me nicely to help him with something.... I sigh.
ReplyDeleteOnce (this was before Charlie was born), I said to a co-worker, "I can't believe Tom said that." She said, "Why? You say that all the time." I was shocked. I didn't even realize I was doing it.
With lots of love,
Ann