Christian Tips To Practical Parenting

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Last weekend I had a full house.   My two daughters were with Lindsey and I for the weekend and they were busy playing with our two boys.  Toys were everywhere and the house was a mess…I’m sure many of you are familiar with the scene.  As parents who are overworked and sleep deprived, it’s very easy to feel frustrated when things get out of hand and I think at this particular moment we were on the brink.  Then one of God’s little miracles happened, the kind you see all the time when you’re looking for them.  It was nothing too dramatic or anything, let’s just say that God reached down and touched me in that moment to change my perspective.  One second I had no patience and the very next I was filled with this kind of warmth as I watched my daughter swinging my son around the living room laughing gleefully.   What a blessing!  I have so much more than one man should ever expect in life and they’re all right here with me in my living room.  

I spend a lot of time thinking about the type of father I am and asking the Lord to be with me as I make decisions that will affect my family.  For every mistake I make, I believe God has a lesson for me to learn and is guiding me to be the best parent I can be.  It takes persistent attention to what God is showing me, because if I turn away for just a moment I’m at risk of blowing the most important thing I’m here to do, love my wife and raise my children.

With this in mind, I recognize that God brings people into my life to help me make the correct choices on my journey.  One such person was a guest on God’s Men of Influence  Marriage and Family Therapist Mark Howerton.  Mark is a Christian man who came on to give us the 5 Tips To Practical Parenting.  I found them to be simple, but very powerful if only I could remember to use them and I’d like to share them with you now.

1. Discipline Math – Having a systemic approach to teaching your kids.  Give a warning and then a consequence if the behavior is not changed.
2. How To Approach Your Own State of Mind in Every Parenting Situation –  Be calm, Firm, Consistent and Follow Through.
3. Choosing Your Battles – Sometimes a battle is not worth fighting.
4. No means No – Say yes as often as possible, but when you say no hold to your word.
5. United Front – You are a team with your spouse and you must be on the same page in every decision and display that for your children to see.

 

I hope this is as valuable to you as it was to me.  If you’d like to see Mark explain the tips in more detail, which he does very well by interweaving some fun stories, click on the button below and watch the video.  God puts in front of us all, the lessons that he wants us to learn and I believe this is one of them.

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Be blessed, be joyous and be welcome at God’s Men of Influence.

Send Me The 5 Tips For Practical Parenting

 

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