Notes below…
P is for… PAY
Now, that you are a parent you will have to pay (invest/deposit) some sort of currency (time, energy, emotions and money) in the lives of your children.
A is for… ATTENTION
The one thing your child(ren) want the most from you is your attention. They want to be observed and cared for, by you. Without it there becomes an attention deficit – and that results in disorder.
R is for… RESPONSIBLE
As parents we are to teach our children to be responsible for their actions. Additionally, WE should lead by example, by being responsible for the things WE do and the behaviors WE display as well.
E is for… EDUCATE
No matter how many teachers your child(ren) have, it is YOUR job to educate them. And it is your job to educate yourself on how to be the best parent to your child(ren). Each child is different and will need your instruction individualized to them.
N is for… Nip it in the Bud
The term ‘nip it in the bud’ figuratively means: to put an end to something before it develops into something larger.
The roots of “to nip in the bud” are, as it happens, horticultural. Growers frequently “nip” (pinch or snip off) new buds on plants and trees to stop them from developing for one reason or another, often to force the plant to put its energies to more productive uses. [An excerpt from: http://goo.gl/xJbWRL]
This is exactly what we should be doing with our child(ren). Once nonproductive behavior is observed, nip it in the bud to ‘force the [child(ren)] to put its energies to more productive uses”. It is also important that when disciplining, we do it immediately, so the child(ren) are fully aware of and understand how they could have behaved differently.
T is for… TRAIN
The bible specifically says:
Yet, many parents are trying to ‘control’ their child(ren) instead. Control can lead to abuse from parents, if they aren’t obeyed to their liking while children are left unprepared in life, not knowing how to make wise decisions on their own.
S is for… SINGLE
Regardless what the circumstance may be, God’s original intent for families (defined as parents and their children) includes a father and a mother. While there is a grace, single-parenting is not the ultimate will of God concerning families, and a result there are a number of additional factors that come into play in this family dynamic.
Stay tuned as this is only the foundation of many ‘parenting’ panels to come!
