Pitfalls in Parenting and How to Overcome Them

Previous generations where raised under the premise that children
are to be seen and not heard. If they altered in teaching, the
next generation was heard. But, their words were not taken
seriously; as adults always think they know more than children
do.

Following generations often have few to no guidelines, wherein
children's behavior screams for someone to care enough to say,
"No."

Though, what if God did that to us? When we call out to Him, can
you imagine God responding with, "I can't hear you"? When we cry,
what if He mocked our words, "Cry my hands full. You're nothing
but a big baby"? Or, we could be given blame for all that ails
us, "All he does is wine", or even worse, "Come here and I'll
give you something to cry about!"

What if God did not care more about you than the comfort of the
moment, "Sure, do whatever you want. I just want you to like me."
Try some of that on church visitation and see how effective you
are. But, instead, God takes great care in parenting, to do it
right. He looks deeper, to meet the need of the heart.

Why should God listen to our prayers when we do not listen to our
children?

Doesn't God love us enough to say, "No", when it will hurt us or
someone else?

Still worse were the teachings of "spare the rod, spoil the
child". During the days of preaching 'hell, fire, and brimstone',
parents showed children what they thought God was like; drawing
blood, in the name of the Lord. What happened to "thy rod and thy
staff they comfort me"?

Is it any wonder adults think they can not come to God?

Once children 'know' they have a consistent place of refuge they
can depend upon, in time of need, many annoying traits of
childhood disappear.

Few come to realize children are living souls first and children
second. Taking God as a perfect example, we are to be spiritual
parents. Only when children become willfully defiant, for
non-need reasons, do we have the right to act in disciplinary
fashions and, still then, with God's guidance.

If God offered us grace, then, why do we hold children
accountable under our law (or His), without consideration of
extenuating circumstances? When we accuse and punish children,
without considering their heart or getting facts straight, we
could be shedding innocent blood.

Children are an heritage of the LORD. They are not possessions,
but a gift to raise for Him. The fruit of the womb is HIS reward.
Psalm 27:3

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the
tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his
fruit. Matthew 12:33 The relationship children have with parents
will affect their relationship with God. For, however we perceive
earthly parents is how we perceive God.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And
in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess
unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23

As is with everything, the only way to parent perfectly is to ask
God every time; letting Him be our parent. Not every one that
saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and
doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his
house upon a rock. Matthew 7:21, 24.

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort
of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and
mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same
love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done
through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each
esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his
own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this
mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:1-5

In every way God loves us, we are to love others in return and
that includes our children; grace for grace (John 1:16). It is
our opportunity to thank Jesus for loving us.

In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence:
and his children shall have a place of refuge.
Proverbs 14:26

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© by Joyce C. Lock
http://iam.homewithGod.com/glimpsesofgod/
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Money Smart Parents Produce Money Smart Kids!

Did you know that children really are just the same as little adults, they have all the same faculties that adults have with the possible exception of vocabulary and experience.

They usually have a far more imaginative mind than adults and are far more open minded. We generally allow our children to explore their imagination through role play, dressing up and playing games. When was the last time, with the possible exception of Halloween, that you saw an adult swash buckling a wooden sword like Captain Jack Sparrow?

It is only when we grow up that we get conditioned by our paradigm. It is this that restricts our ability to dream big dreams like we used to. We tend to see ourselves being practical with our dreams, rather than imaginative. This paradigm is often formed by our parents, friends, schooling and other outside influences.

In the writing of our recommended expenditure control book Control Freak a Recipe for Debt Freedom we were lucky enough to work with some very financially literate people and we noticed they usually had a similar family background that revealed they all had financially smart parents.

They grew up with the subject of money from a very young age. These financially astute adults, with high financial qualifications had been introduced to the cost of living, budgeting and future financial planning from the age of 6 and above. It was this conditioning that put them on the fast track as an adult. This was the seed that we have used to create Kids Money Packs.

By utilising the open mindedness of children when they are still young and unrestricted in their thoughts and actions, parents stand a real chance of having a positive influence on the way they will always value money.

With no current education in schools to teach simple money management to our children, the responsibility lies firmly with parents. If parents have little or no financial skills themselves, their children are likely to grow up into becoming a debt statistic of the future.

With the cost of living rising to the highest levels of all time, there has never been a more important time to raise the awareness of how important learning simple money management techniques are for the next generation.

By endorsing the ethic that effort should be rewarded, too many parents often simply give their children gifts, treats, snacks, computer games, clothes and candy with no effort on the childs part to have earned them in some way. It is this that creates an imbalance in the childs perception that money has little or no value attached and can be the source of many frustrating moments in family life.

It takes effort and consistency on the part of parents to realise that this teaching is their responsibility and without taking the time to install respect of earning money into their childrens lives at a young age, they may well find that their child grows to 30 years old and beyond with nothing but debt to their name.

Diane Cossie has creatively brought together an imaginative way to introduce simple money management techniques to children as young as 6. Kids Money Packs are available to download straight from the website at http://www.kidsmoneypack.co.uk

 

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