PARENTING – A TOUGH JOB

“Like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young,
that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft.”
(Deuteronomy 32:11).

What is an eagle doing when she does this?
She is teaching her little eaglets to fly by stirring up her nest.
If you are a parent, your job is to give your children wings so they can leave the nest.
When you’re raising your boys and girls, you job is to prepare them to leave your home.
Don’t be so interested in making your children comfortable,
but try to build in them some character and get them ready to leave the nest.
A parent’s job is to work himself/herself out of a job.

Are you a parent who shows your children how to do something,
or are you a parent who advises your children and lets them try for themselves?
Some of the greatest scientists failed before they succeeded.
As long as a child is not going to hurt themselves,
give them an opportunity to fail.
Too many parents with good intentions frustrate and discourage their children.
A child wants “hands on ” learning, but many parents give them “watch me” teaching.
This type of ‘teaching’ only teaches the child how to give tools to the parent
and watch him/her work – children will get bored and go do something else.

It can continue into adulthood as well.
Many parents fail to recognize their children as adults.
They still refer to them in child like terms, “My boy”, “My little girl”, etc.
We damage our children’s self-esteem when we fail to treat them as adults.
This damaged self-esteem can result in bad choices as they get older.
A parent is successful when the children no longer need them.
As a parent, you work yourself out of a job,
but you don’t work yourself out of a relationship.
Jesus said,
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine
and puts them into practice is like a wise man
who built his house on the rock.”
(Matthew 7:24).

If you feel that you have not properly taught your children,
you can’t ‘unscramble’ the egg of mistake,
but you can make changes going forward.
Allow your children to achieve an adult status;
allow them to handle things themselves.
Even if they do it wrong, they are learning and increasing their self-esteem.
When they fail, it is the parent who can encourage them,
as opposed to pointing out everything they did wrong
and telling them how they ‘should’ have done it.
Give them advice but let them decide for themselves, and don’t lecture or take control.
Most parents didn’t want their parents telling them everything to do,
and neither do their own children.
Out of respect or a desire to avoid confrontation, they may not say anything,
but that doesn’t mean they aren’t frustrated over a parent who is controlling.
God allows us to fail, but is quick to encourage us when we do.
He established the requirements of parenting, so we should follow His pattern.