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
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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 of preparation goes into the meals we will share next week as a family. 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, as my girls have grown, they've turned into incredible sous-chefs and completely changed the hosting game. My son just likes to sit back, though, and make his contribution via consumption.) 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 Ingredients I was asked the following question buy a young dad 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 and emotions. 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've spent some time compiling the best ideas and I'm putting the final touches on my manuscript to self-publish a book. You'll be the first to hear about it and I might even need your help picking out my book title. Stay tuned and enjoy time with your family this upcoming week. Finley |
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.
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