Will It Ever End!

Why can't our children just hurry and grow up? Why can't they learn to be respectful, have good manners, and be still when they are supposed to?

Child training seems to always have the connotation of method to it. You know, do these things and your child will respond by doing things the way you want them to. Different methods always sound right and seem to have the best approach, but I am thinking that there is more to the story.

"It's beginning to look alot like Christmas" so out come the dusty boxes of decorations for the house. It is mostly enjoyable because of the many memories wrapped up in the items of decor. One such, item is a Nativity set that my mother made for us years ago. We try to make the centerpiece of our living room as a constant reminder of the real reason for Christmas. It also seems to make it to the "I have to touch it!" list for each of our children in their young ages.

I asked my wife the other day if there ever will be a Christmas in which we are not having to tell a child "No" about touching the Nativity set. As I thought about what I had just said,the next thought came to my mind, "Will we ever have a meal where we are not training a child to throw food on the floor or to stay in their seat?"

WE THINK WE'RE SO SMART

I have had lots of stupid thoughts about raising children over the years. My first brilliant philosophy was that you should learn all there is to know about children while raising the first one, then you always know what to do for the rest of them. Obviously I figured out the fallacy of that not long after our second child was born. Another bad notion was that every child should be trained in a moment of teaching. I teach them the right way, and then they do it. It seemed like a fair idea.

I think it James Dobson I read years ago who said to relax, child training is a long process. I remember that off and on. I just thought of it again the other day. So here is my advice list about child training:

*Break down the big ideas into smaller ones, and take a step at a time

*Childishness is different than rebellion; let them be kids, in fact be a kid with them occasionally.

*Remember it's a process, made up of many moments

*One writer suggests to have some practice time of obedience training, not just
when correction is needed.

*Be the example of how one should behave- nothing teaches better than seeing
how it is to be done

*Lastly, remember children are a blessing not a curse. Treat them accordingly.

Bryan