I am busy with this book Blueprints for a solid marriage, where Dr. Steve Stephens says that marriages are like houses. We are busy with the kitchen, which represents all the practical projects in the marriage.
Parenting is one of this practical projects that needs to be done mostly together. The first post on parenting was an introductory post:
https://steemit.com/christian-trail/@hope777/love-and-marriage-73-parenting-responsibilities-part-1
In the following days, I am going to post about 5 different areas of parenting,
There are at least 5 major parenting areas in which the two of you can show your practical togetherness.
KNOW YOUR CHILDREN
LOVE YOUR CHILDREN
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN
DISCIPLINE YOUR CHILDREN
PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN
So today I start with KNOW YOUR CHILDREN
Dr Stephens wrote: "Everyday parents will bring their kids to me with a common complaint. "something is wrong with my child and I don't know what." I sit down with the child for an hour and then meet with the parents. Then I told them what I learned from the child. They ask me "How did you manage to learn so much in so little time?" The answer is easy. "I enter their world and pay attention."
I watch their facial expressions, their movements, their body language. I listen to their words, their emotions, their strengths and weaknesses, their hurts and hopes. Knowing your children takes time and effort, but it is worth it. Whatever you learn, be sure to share it with each other. It will strengthen your relationship as a couple and your role as a parent.
Some of the questions I frequently ask are:
What is your favourite
food?
television show?
time of year?
subject at school?Who are your best friends and why?
What do you like best about yourself?
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?
what is your least favorite...
chore?
habit?
fear?
place to go?What can we do to be better parents?
Now me, hope777 speaking. I am a bit shocked at the above questions. I feel almost that this should be the least of things that parents should know. If they did not know that about their kids, then they are definitely not doing a good job at parenting.
You must be very closely in tune with your children. I would look for much deeper levels of communication with my children, or let me rather say I did that when my kids were younger. ( I am already a grandma now). The above questions that Dr Stephens gave is things that I can ask my grandkids as I don't see them every day and I don't know everything about them.
You as a parent should know your children so well, that you can see when something is wrong. Since they are very young you should build a channel of communication and trust. Your child must know that his parents are the two persons that he can trust and speak to anytime. This communications channels should always be open. So if you see something is wrong and your relationship with your child is right, he or she will be able to share this with you. But to keep this communication channels open, you must interact with your children daily. Just like the communication with your spouse, you should work on your communication with your kids every day. If you did this since they are very little up to when they are going into their teenage years you should be able to deal with the problems that come with teenagers also much better. If you are parents of small children, please take this warning seriously, if you haven't built this relationship with your younger child, you will run into serious problems when they are teenagers.
Next post is LOVE YOUR CHILDREN!
Thank you for reading, may you find parenting an experience that will enrich your life, bring much love and laughter and also learn you life skills and lessons.
img credz: pixabay.com
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STOPA well written article. Thanks for sharing.
This is coming at the right time, so before I start having children, I will be well equip to take care of them. Thanks for this great knowledge
Thank you @greatness96.
Very nice.
Thank you for stopping by, hope to see you again!
Happy Family.. :)