Words of Hope: Skilled Parents
Parenting is hard.
What makes matters worse is that people often don’t work to figure out how to be skilled as a parent. Much like the terrible shooter who continues to shoot though they haven’t a prayer, an untrained parent has little ability to move a child to a good outcome.
Recently I was on a flight with a nearby screaming toddler. Let me first admit, a crying child is very hard to figure out, especially on an airplane. I once flew to the Philippines with a four-year-old and an 11-month-old. This was NOT an easy trip, but Mom and Dad were with us. I recall a flight where my child was crying with an ear infection, and sometimes you just have to get through the ordeal. As I watched the helpless mom next to me on my recent flight, I was curious why this healthy child was throwing a tantrum. The mom allowed the child to strike her and bawl loudly. He was mad because he was not allowed to walk around. He likely got his way the majority of the time. I could feel the mom’s confusion and despair. Other passengers tried to divert the child. I would have had no idea what to do without good mentoring. I feel for those who aspire to be loving parents but cannot solve crucial parenting tasks. Setting boundaries and requiring quality attitude even at an early age are worthy to understand and be able to institute. Dad and Mom helped model wise parenting. They showed us ways to help our children have great attitudes. They gave us tools for redirection, how to set boundaries, and quick ways to discipline that are effective and compassionate. I hope that parents will strive to learn how to be a skilled parent as much as they work to be skilled in other areas of their lives.
Parenting requires the best we can give because it is one of our most sacred tasks.
Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.
-Proverbs 29:17
