Triathlon Parenting » fear http://www.triathlonparenting.com Equipping and Encouraging Parents, One Step at at Time by Davi Nabors, M.Ed., LMHC, NCC Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:05:23 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Relationship Matters http://www.triathlonparenting.com/relationship-matters http://www.triathlonparenting.com/relationship-matters#comments Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:58:06 +0000 Davi Nabors http://www.triathlonparenting.com/?p=5 When it comes right down to it, parenting is ALL about relationship!!! Creating and maintaining a healthy and loving relationship with our kids is essential to being an effective parent. We can look at how God parents us as our ideal parenting example. Our Heavenly Father sets boundaries and rules for us while allowing us free will to grow and develop. He is neither too strict, nor is He too permissive. When we (as adults) make mistakes or bad choices, our Heavenly Father never ceases to love us as He ALLOWS the natural consequences of our actions to teach us even the most painful lessons. This is how we grow, mature and become responsible people.

Likewise, when we show our children unconditional love and empathy while allowing them to make age-appropriate mistakes and face age-appropriate consequences, the consequences become the piece they fear…not the Wrath of Mommy or Dad. If they learn to fear US, they will be tempted to avoid us, sneak around us, and rebel against words. that’s really not what we intend, is it?

The Bible is there to put us on the right course. For starters, pray each day for God to fill you with the <em>fruits of the spirit</em> (Galatians 5:29) so that you can be a disciple to your child. And memorize a few encouraging Bible verses (like John 15:7-8, Ephesians 4:29, and 1 Thessalonians 5:16). Try to say them out loud when you hit an ugly spot in your day. Or, for visual learners (like me) write them on sticky notes and stick them to your bathroom mirror. When you are able to escape for a few moments of alone time, those encouraging words will be right there to greet you.

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