Great Expectations

March 4, 2008

by Bev Mueffelmann

 Last time we established that the greatest treasure we have as parents is our children.  This time, let’s take a look at how we are to invest in this treasure to see it grow to maturity.  Our ultimate goal as parents is to raise responsible adults who will take ownership of their actions and who will fulfill God’s purposes for them in their generation.  Where does the effort to raise this kind of responsible adult begin? 

From the time infants are born, their temperaments and personalities are established.  It is our job as parents to identify these traits and to train our children to establish healthy habits of belief, thought, feeling, and action throughout their childhood and teenage years. Before this type of effective training can begin, we need to understand that what we believe about our children will influence our own thoughts, emotions, and actions toward them. 

All too often, our beliefs and expectations regarding our children are essentially negative.  Scripture states that, “out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).  In other words, our words give away our true feelings and attitudes.  Our words about our children to others reveal our heart attitudes and expectations of their behavior.  For example, do we expect the “terrible twos” to be terrible?  Do we roll our eyes when we say the word “teenagers”?  Unintentionally, we buy into our culture’s negative beliefs regarding children and set up an unnecessary cycle of negative expectations and behavior.   

Ultimately, beliefs generate thoughts and feelings that translate into actions.  Therefore, what we believe about or expect of children as they grow is essential to a family’s long-term health and well-being.  One of my firm beliefs is that training toddlers with positive, encouraging words and expectations sets a family on a good course for pleasant and enjoyable teenage years.  Sound too good to be true?  If so, stayed tuned for next month’s “how-to” on the subject of training your toddler to be a terrific teen.

Posted by admin | Filed Under Parenting 

Comments

Got something to say?

You must be logged in to post a comment.