Not too long ago we were teaching a parenting seminar in Arizona in a local hotel. Just before it started the pastor was in a panic because he couldn't find his toddler. He ran to the swimming pool, checked the parking lot and looked around the building before coming back inside to find her asleep on a friend's lap. What relief!
When you see your child in imminent danger, then you're motivated to do something about it. You wouldn't say, "I'll finish talking to this person and then go out and get her." No, you know the danger and you respond.
In the same way, allowing children to get away with misbehavior is dangerous to their future and to their character. Our children are in danger when we let them continue to disobey or continue to act foolishly or irresponsibly. When we begin to see the danger our children are in, we are more likely to respond to them. We need to see our disciplining of them as rescuing them from danger.
We hear about strong-willed children. Those are children who are hard to work with because of their determination. They have a persistence that tests any parent's desire for cooperation. What we need is to be strong-willed parents, not in a bad sense of being stubborn or obstinate, but parents who are determined to hang in there in the midst of the struggle.
Recognize the danger of disobedience and take firm action. You will rescue your child from many of the pitfalls of life.
This parenting tip is from the book Home Improvement: The Parenting Book You Can Read to Your Kids by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
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