Monday, April 25, 2011

They love enough . .



A mother and father who love their children cannot allow them to go their own way. They desire for them freedom and joy, things that no human being can find without instruction, example and correction. If only the parent could make them see that the purpose in all these things is the children's ultimate happiness and wholeness.

They love them enough to say no to most TV programs, no to staying up as late as some of their friends, no to junk food.

They love them enough to require an hour of solitude and quiet for each child each afternoon.

They love them enough to stand by while the children learn to do things by themselves, things that parents are strongly tempted to do for them.

They love them enough to allow them, when their growth in wisdom and independence require it, to be hurt, to struggle, and at times, even to fail.

page 147, Discipline: The Glad Surrender, by Elisabeth Elliot

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Teaching self-control in the teen years

So in the toddler years we focus on teaching physical self-control,
in the school years we teach verbal self-control and
in the teen years we turn towards emotional/thought self-control.

With our teen we discuss, unpack, teach, guide and encourage in the areas of:

movies
books
career
modestry
politics
charity
friendships
work
church - attendance and participation
finances
sport
private world
hygeine
bible
chores
nutrition
celebrations
integrity
global citizenship
sleep
television
recreation
family
siblings
music
internet
world view
time management
eternity
relationships
phone use
car driving and ownership
future . . .