My Child's Relationship with Me Recap

Visit us at our new blog : Hearts of Moms Blog :)

These are some of the key take home points from last session:

¨ The quality of your relationship with your children will determine the weight of your influence.

¨ In the early years of parenting, influence is based on the parent’s size and position.

¨ Your children need your influence the most when they make the decisions that matter the most.

¨ To exasperate your child means to abuse your size or position.

¨ There comes a time in parenting when control is no longer the objective.

¨ Exasperation erodes relationships and destroys the leverage influence.

The DVD gave some insights on parenting based on Eph 6:4..."Fathers [Parents - Moms and Dads], do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

Often times, we feel responsible for the outcome in our child's life. We have expectations on how/what our child should turn out to be.

Hence, we apply controls on our children, sometimes to the extent of abusing our size and position. In Eph 6:4, Paul exhorts the parents to cultivate, nurture and nourish the relationship with their children; shaping their lives in God's ways; as they grow from toddler into adulthood.

How well a child is equipped to face life in adulthood is largely determined by the quality of of the child's relationship with God, his/her parents and others outside the home. We, parents are in the unique position to provide guidance in our child's needs in these areas, to prepare him/her to be all God intends him/her to be in adulthood. Ultimately, God is responsible for the outcome in our child's life.

Perhaps, some food for thought is to look at how Jesus demonstrated this transition of from control to influence in His disciples - His spiritual children. Look at John 15:1-15

The Key is for us to remain in Him. God is our Heavenly Father, and we need His influence in our lives. One of the best ways to invite His influence is by memorizing His Word.

God is also the perfect parent, and His word contains perfect advice for all parents.