Parenting

 by: Michelle Ruble

Do you think it is ok for your child to pick on someone that is different? Do you think it is ok for children to tell their parents what to do? Do you think it is ok for children to be disrespectful to people? Do you think it is ok for your child to talk badly about someone?

I think most of us would say no to all of these questions. Have you ever stopped to think how much of this comes from you the parents? Now let us not get into a hoof. I am just as guilty as anyone of doing these things and not really thinking about it.

So does it mean that my children learned to be bad from me? Well, I hate to say it but yes, some of it they do get from me. Because I am their first teacher. All parents are their children’s first teacher. Wow, that is heavy and a lot of responsibility.

Here is an example of how I influence my children. Have you ever had a boss or someone that you just could not get a long with no matter how hard you try? I had a boss that would cause conflict between the staff. He would tell one person one thing, then tell someone else the exact opposite just to show that he was in control. He had no respect for women or any one for that matter. The morale was not very good to put it mildly. Luckily, God blessed me by allowing me to quit. I loved my job and most of the people I worked with but the abuse was not worth it. I would come home and as I was fixing supper tell my husband about what a jerk my boss was. Not thinking the whole time the kids were coming in and out of the kitchen during my little tempers tantrums.

They heard mommy say things that where not very nice. It is a good thing that I do not use curse words or I can image what they would be saying at school.

So what did I just teach my children? Well, it is ok to talk about people, it is ok not to forgive people that do mean or bad things to us, it is ok for mommy to do the things that I have told them not to do. I am sure I could go on, but you get the idea.

I am sure I could think of an example for all of the above questions if I put my mind to it unfortunately. However, I won’t.

The point is God has given us as parents a great responsibility. The most difficult job in the world is raising children. However, he has given us a handbook to help us on the tough and challenging journey, the Bible. I have found myself looking for answers that the world cannot answer, but he can, if you choose to let him.

I know I am far from perfect, but at least I have a guide to help me to work on improving myself so, I can be the best parent I can. We are to strive to be like Jesus Christ and as long as I strive to be like Jesus, then I know I will be teaching my children to be kind, giving, and caring.