Revolutionary Parenting: Parent Behavior

Moving right along on our quest to be Revolutionary Parents. This week is all about us as parents. How do we act and behave? What do we model for our kids? Again, let me open with a quote that hit me like a bee stinger.

“The parents that raised spiritual champions left no doubt in my mind – or in that of their children – that they had control, knew they were in control, and their children recognized that control.” Ch 6 – Revolutionary Parenting

Does the word control leave a bad taste in anyone else’s mouth? I am happy to be in charge but in control just sounds like an evil emperor. You are probably wondering why I even like this book but I do enjoy being challenged by things even if  don't agree with the exact phrasing. :-) 

I do accept that I am a leader they look up to, I am responsible for meeting their emotional, physical, and spiritual needs, I am to assist them in problem solving, I am to teach them biblical principles, I am to make family a priority in our lives, I am the one that makes decisions from the moment they are born on so I understand that I am in control but I prefer the semantics of being in charge. Anyone else or am  I am just being weird?

Because of that responsibility George Barna encourages parents to demonstrate six key behaviors for our kids to be able to model.

1. No temper tantrums. (Let’s just pretend I didn’t have one last night when my son was refusing to let me cut his toe nails.)

Contain your anger, create positive solutions, control your words, and be willing to apologize to your child.

2. Be certain you have a purpose for everything.

Include explanations along with your “no’s”, protect your kids from negative influences, and be willing to make personal sacrifices for your kids.

3. Have a open door – open ear policy.

Be high engaged, invest your time, be willing to listen, and balance soft with hard.

4. Live the life.  

Demonstrate respect, patience, and love.

5. Have reliability in the rules.

Make sure you are consistent in your discipline efforts, values, and expectations.

6. Approved by God.

Be active in a healthy faith community.

Thoughts, feelings, insights? I would love to hear them. Right now I am personally struggling the most with consistent discipline.

Mama Helpers for the Week of May 21st