The Role in Parenting

The purpose of parenting is to guide children in their lives until they can manage their own lives. Be there to comfort them and be their best friend but also teacher and parent. It’s for us to learn how to be like Heavenly Father. He is the perfect parent. It’s important to raise responsible, hardworking people to be a part of our community and society. The greatest way to change the world is in our own home. To bring joy to parents and children. It’s a great way to build a support network, spiritual, emotional, and physical network. It improves the community because those with kids will watch out for neighbors who have children. It creates a sense of belonging. It can be dangerous when a child doesn’t feel a sense of belonging. As a parent, it can be very difficult, but it’s an opportunity to dive into learning again.

“Protect, prepare a child to survive and thrive in the world they live in.”

In my life, I want a big family. To have about 5-7 children. It’s interesting to know that people are the most miserable when who believe there is no loving God.

An analogy I learned is the analogy of the Cow. It’s called a Cow With a Wired Fence. After a cow is full of eating grass, they peek their head through the wired fence because they want to know how far they can go to push their boundaries. Once the cow knows where the boundaries are because of the electric fence, the result is interesting. Then, a cow herder later took away electric barbed wire. The cow didn’t try to push the boundary once knew what it was.

As a parent, it’s important that we learn the concept of boundaries and responsibility. Respect children and they will respect you. Dignity and trust are important to keep in a relationship between a parent and child. Create relationships where you never set a limit that wasn’t in the best interest of your child. And remember that children are great observers but not great of making sense of things. John Rector said,  “the way you see your parents is the way you see God”. This is why it’s also important to make sure that your home is a safe and holy place. To make sure that it is built as a disciple preparation center to prepare your children to be a strong disciple of Christ for all placed, especially for when they leave your home.

There is the “Punishments and Rewards System”. Punishments are given to a child to decrease certain behaviors, while rewards are given as a way to increase certain behaviors (they are forms of manipulation to get the behavior you want).

The second system is the “Logical Consequences Method”. This occurs without the interference of parents. It is simply structured with the child to help them learn about natural consequences. Children need to have choices to allow them to learn. Parents can teach respect to their child by treating them like human beings. For example, making polite requests and using I feel statements. Using I feel statements can help the child understand what you are trying to communicate. Sometimes the child will still not have the responsibility to listen or may not understand so a firmer and direct form of communication is required. Firm is often something that is not correctly understood by parents. To be firm means to be sincere and direct. Logical consequences will play a part where they will have to learn on their own.

Some Examples of Logical Consequences are:

1.       Logical consequences are occur naturally.

2.       They are discussed in advance, meaning that the child is aware of what the consequences are for doing something.

3.       Having If/then scenarios or statements.

4.       Be Firm, but also sincere and kind. Make sure that you don’t turn out to be a dictator!

5.       Involve the child in the discussion to let them know and why there are these natural consequences and to let them help you decide what the consequences should be.

6.       Give them another chance to redeem themselves and a chance to learn and repent.