Momma Stuff

Have you ever watched a child begging for a certain toy that the parent does not wish to buy? Or a child who wants to run and play when the parent has said, “stay put”? You can see that in cases like these, the parent wants to act in the child’s best interest. Nonetheless, all too often the parent gives in. Under a barrage of whinning, the parent changes no to yes.

Many parents seem to believe that good parenting means bending to the will of their children in most things. In the Unites States for example, a poll was taken of 750 children aged 12 to 17. When asked how they respond when their parents tell them no, nearly 60% of the children said that they keep asking. Some 55% found that this tactic usually worked. Their parents may feel that such permissiveness shows love, but does it really?

Consider this wise proverb from ancient times: ” If one is pampering one’s servant from youth one, in his later life he will even become a thankless one.” Granted, a child is not a servant. Would you not agree, though, that the principle applies to child rearing? Pampering children, giving them all they want, may cause them to grow up to be thankless – spoiled, willful, unappreciative adults.

In contrast, the Bible advises parents: “Train up a boy according to the way for him”. This training may be likened to a GPS that will help them navigate through life better later on because they know what is right and what is wrong. Parents can do this training by setting and enforcing clear, consistent, and reasonable rules. They do not confuse love with permissiveness; not do they reward their children for whing, nagging, or throwing tantrums.

Sounds hard to do but this is the best approach for rearing children and will reap benefits for both parents and child later on.