What Children Crave

05-28-15 022

 

Me:  That is a beautiful sculpture of a child!

 

Prodigal:  Yes, you don’t see many children statues.  They are usually of adults.

 

Me:  Speaking of children.  I know there are a lot of parents that are weary right now with their own children.  Maybe I can encourage them right now.

 

This come from Chuck Swindoll in his book Parenting From Surviving to Thriving

 

Children crave well-defined, unmovable boundaries to help them make sense of the world around them.  No child wants to be his or her own authority.  It’s frightening.  It causes him or her to grow increasingly insecure, fearful, defiant, and willful.  But disciplining a child requires consistent self-discipline by the parent.  Defining and enforcing healthy boundaries for a child is the most difficult part of being a mom or dad.   No one wants to be the heavy.

Let’s face it, we’d rather have our child’s love and hugs than to have him or her view us as the enemy–even for a short time.  But if we’re willing to be the “bad guy” in order to give our child’s world order and definition, the result will be a home free of chaos, where everyone can enjoy freedom and love, acceptance and security, purpose, direction, and an authentic basis for a strong self-image.  Curb the evil bent with consistent, reasonable consequences and you will create more opportunity to engage your child’s more pleasant side.  And you’ll also find yourself receiving far more love and hugs from a child who looks to you for order and security.

Psalm 139:1-2

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.  You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you understand my thought from afar.

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

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