Helping propel moms & dads of 3 to 13 year-olds to invest in their power-decade of parenting. Father of 3 teenagers and pastor of 20 years turned digital writer.
Family Friday: A Parent Kids Are Thankful For
A Single Sentence from a Season Ahead
You are in a competition for the heart of your son or daughter and you have hours, days, months, and years to win it.
A Parent Kids Are Thankful ForA lot goes into the day we all experienced yesterday. I once was able to just show up and eat because my parents took care of everything. They bought the food, they planned the sides, and they cooked the turkey. I’m at the stage now where I appreciate more than ever what they did to make our Thanksgiving day happen. Why? Because now it is on me and my wife to do it all...but I kinda love it. (*Low-key, my older teenagers were incredible helpers yesterday and completely changed the hosting game. Someday I promise you'll get to experience this too.) As adults, we live into our present because of the practices of our parents in the past. What you are doing today as a mom or dad transforms into a blessing and boost to your children. 3 Simple IngredientsI was asked the following question recently and I knew the answer would find its way into your hands sooner or later. What are the qualities or attributes of a good parent to their children? In other words, what approach or practices will give your kids the highest possible chance to flourish in life? I wanted my response to be simple, so… Here are three consistent things your kids need from you. Give them these and you’re assured of their thankfulness someday. 1. PROVIDE - Give them love, connection, and resources to grow. You have what they need most, so be lavish. Kids need parents who provide for them. They need your physical resources but they also need your heart. As their provider, you take from your storehouse of life and spend it on them. Give them what they need through your words, wealth, and time. 2. PROTECT - Ensure their safety and keep them from internal & external harm. Life is full of danger, especially for those who are most vulnerable. Kids don’t know what they don’t know. It is up to you to protect them, both from themselves and from the brokenness of our world. Can you be overprotective? Yes. Should you be constantly fearful? No. Protecting your kids is a delicate operation, but they will be thankful you were intentional on their behalf. 3. PUSH - Force them into responsibility, refine their character, and give vision for impact. The path of least resistance never creates a great story. Kids need parents who push them. During the life stage that is most moldable (ie. ages 3-13), they need to be shaped. Speak into their lives. Help them try new things. Take them on adventures. Slow down and explain why. Make them uncomfortable at times. When you are this kind of mom or dad, your kids will know they belong to intentional parents. They will be blessed and have so much to be thankful for on the day when they are in charge of the turkey. Thanks From Me To YouThis weekly Friday newsletter has been a joy to write for the past several years. I've shared over 100+ unique stories, ideas, and lessons that our family learned while raising kids. I won't be sending anything to your inbox in December but you can always read through my archive here at any time. I'm beginning to compile all of these stories and ideas into a book, but it's proving to take more time than I had anticipated. Once I get it completed, you'll be the first to know and hopefully, you can share it with other power-decade parents like yourself. See you soon, |
Power-Decade Parenting
Helping propel moms & dads of 3 to 13 year-olds to invest in their power-decade of parenting. Father of 3 teenagers and pastor of 20 years turned digital writer.
500 Fridays Newsletter - 2 min read Season: The Full Fall (6 of 12) Normal My father was a Pediatrician for 38 years. I did the math and by himself, he had over 350,000 sick and well-child appointments in his clinic over the years. Not to mention his other partners, who combined, have seen everything you could imagine. Growing up as the son of a Pediatrician had its big perks (and some decent downsides too). By far the greatest benefit though is having a dad who could help take care of his...
500 Fridays Newsletter - 3 min read Season: The Full Fall (5 of 12) No More Scale How often do you feel guilt as a parent? Somedays I wonder if parents in the 1950s felt guilt in a similar way as parents today or if it's a more modern feeling. They probably did, but still, I wonder. More than any other stage, when you're in the power-decade of parenting, the impulse to compare is unstoppable. For instance ... Do you look at your screen time and compare it to the amount of time you spend...
500 Fridays Newsletter - 3 min read Season: The Full Fall (4 of 12) A Proven Recipe There is nothing families love more than a proven recipe. A dish that has stood the test of time, fed hundreds if not thousands of people, and passes down because it's that good. Do you have recipes like that? Something I learned early on, during the newborn stage when people kept bringing food to our house, was that I needed to collect these recipes. When I would follow up with a thank you text for the food...