Our parenting archives includes material from many sources including and mostly, Dr. James Dobson's, "Parenting Isn't For Cowards"

We will start with the early years when most parents aren't much more than kids themselves. God has blessed them with this little bundle that squirms and cries at will. They are mezmorized as they gazed into that little bassinette. What they don't know is that the techniques they use on this child might not work for the next one. Before them is a life time-yes a life time- of trial and error. But with it, life at it's fullest!

Your child will fall into one of these categories from day one. They are; Compliant, VERY compliant, strong willed and VERY stronge willed. The webmaster of this ministry has no VERY compliant children, but does have a collection of mildly strong willed to very strong willed children and a grandchild. Our strong-willed granddaughter, who is now two years of age,{year-2000} came into this world letting people know exactly who the boss is, HER! And she has a little brother who is right behind her, who is totally the opposite and yet, parenting is the same for both of them. How can that be? Simple, babies are born with much of their character already in place. So if you have found yourself praying for this particular temper tantrum to pass, it is not necessarily poor parenting that is the blame.
In Gen. 16:11 we see a remarkable reference to a child with a strong will before he was even born. An angel is speaking to Abraham's pregnant serving girl. He tells her that she will have a son and his name will be Ishmael and further states; he will be wild donkey, he will be against everyone and he'll be hostile. In Gen 25: 22-25 we see the pre-birth development of Jacob and Esau. One was tough and rebellious and the other was a bit of a mama's boy. Then in Rom. 9:13 God has apparently discerned before he was born that Esau would not be receptive to the spirit.

Dr. Dobson response by saying that the people at school probably have a different perspective, but it is not likely that these parents are the cause of their child's rebellion Today's "cope out" is to eventually blame the family, and primarily the mother. But Dobson supports the fact that we are born with our disposition in tact.
Here are some helpful tips we have gathered from a variety of sources for the parents of a strong-willed child.

• PRAY!!!
• Support each other as parents.
• Be consistant, consistant, consistant.
• Try to keep your consistancy calm and controlled.
• Surround yourself with supportive friends with similar problems.
• Take time away.
• Renew your spiritual life.
• Remember not to focus so much attention on that strong-willed child that other children get lost in the cyclon.
• Start from the crib! If your baby is fed, dry and you are certain he/she is in no pain, do not rush in as soon as you hear that first wail. A baby's only way to communicate is through their crying, and we must respond. But as your baby gets older, he or she will learn to cry and whine for all things.
• As you're baby gets older, some parents have found it helpful to wait until there is a quiet moment during a crying session to go their child. This reinforces that crying and whining does not bring attention..
  

  Today on Elisabeth Elliots's Broadcast, Gateway To Joy, she and her daughter discussed how we can condition our children from an early age, not to dwell on their problems. We do so by how we respond. If we make a big fuss over every little bump or disappoint that our child has, they will learn to do this as well, especially if they are a strong-willed child. When those little bumps and disappointments come, we can lovingly sympathize, but then focus on that fact that it is only momentary. They will get over it and so will you.
  I have to smile when I hear my own daughter repeat the same words that I use to say to my children when they were very small. "Oh, that's too bad {hugs,hugs} but you'll live through it, you'll be ok."
  We can work with our children's ready made temperment, teaching them the emotional and spiritual tools to face those little crisis.
  Join us next week as we continue our focus on parenting. During the week!
  

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  For Parents Who Are Hurting
  

  Previously, we discussed the biblical concept that children are born with much of their character and personality already developed. It is, of course, channeled by "environment," but primarily, a strong-willed child comes into life that way, as noted in the scriptures we shared.
  We offered suggestions for parents coping with their strong-willed young child, and how to gently put into place the necessary boundaries.
  Now we would like to focus on the parents who are hurting before we move forward in the growth of our children. We did acknowledge that today's society eventually blames the parents-primarily Mom, for the problems. This is a royal cope out! In every person's life, there comes a point when they are solely responsible for their behavior, choices and the outcome, good or bad.
  Our particular concern right now is for the parents that have given parenting the highest priority. With each child, if there is more than one. There was the first smile, the first word, the first step. The first day of school when Mom or Dad ushered their baby onto that big, yellow bus. The doors close and she knows that she cannot be there to cushion all the bumps and bruises that come with the territory. She squelches the urge to cry until little Johnny is out of sight. Puberty comes, followed by adolescence and your child begins to struggle for independence. As a parent, you struggle too-trying to see some neon sign that tells you when to let go a little more. This is all a normal process.
  But, for the strong-willed child who hits adolescence and young adulthood hard, this can be the most difficult time in a parent's life.. { Note; Not all strong-willed children are troublesome} But for some, every day is a struggle. That child turns inside themself and he hates the world. {Replace he with she to fit your situation} Mom and Dad are now targeted as the enemy and he will not yield to their leadership in the home.
  It doesn't end when that child turns that wonderful legal age of eighteen. He rejects the christianity that his parents hold so dear. He moves out, and in with his girlfriend, and the parents ae left asking," Where did we go wrong?" It can cause such stress that even the marriage suffers from it. Children have been the instrument used to take down many marriages. It is a pain that cannot be described.
  Another scenario is that the child claims christianity, but feels that the parents are all wrong. His head is turned by a girl in the church youth group and together they take on the world in the name of christianity. They run head long into those same dangerous waters. Parents are left feeling helpless and sometimes let down by other well meaning adults in the church that may have supported their child's rebellion.. It does happen in even the most solid, christian homes.
  One couple shares....
  Dear Heaven Bound Ministry,
  We have three children. Our oldest,a girl-29 could not have turned out better. She clearly loves the Lord, put herself through college, and now shares a youth ministry with her husband. Our youngest, a boy-22 wandered for awhile, but is now back in step with God and is planning to marry a wonderful, christian girl.
  Our second child, a girl now 25, has always been a problem. As a young child she was always being caught in lies after tearfully and sincerely insisting that she wasn't lying. She was always in trouble in school and at home for the problems with school. It wasn't that she wasn't smart or was slow. She just didn't want to be bothered with it and let people know loud and clear. We were always being called in to talk to the teacher, and it was always our fault according to them. We didn't have control of her, so they said.
  As a teen 15 and 16, she wanted to move out and thought it was unfair that she wasn't allowed to do so. She couldn't understand our legal and moral responsibility. There was family counseling, counseling just for her, and tests. Finally, we buckled under the pressure and let her drop out at 17. The people in our church thought we were terrible for letting her do this, and my husband's family blamed everything on me. My mother-inlaw and I did not see eye to eye, and she pushed her opinion as often as she could. She gives me the blame for how our second daughter turned out, and none of the credit for the other two.
  Our daughter left home the day she turned 18 and lived with a couple from church who she had convinced that we abused her. After awhile, they caught her stealing and saw her for what she was and kicked her out.
  Now at 25, she has moved in and out of ever hole in the wall she could find and she can't keep a job because she doesn't get along with people. We suspect she is on drugs and she is now living with a guy. WHAT HAVE WE DONE WRONG?
  

  These parents have a burden that many parents share. They have guilt and shame that is not rightfully their's. Sure they've made mistakes like every parent does. But they raised their children with all the love and concern that any parent could and should have. They kept their children in church, Sunday School, youth group. They attended all the sporting events, plays, etc. They have made themselves available at all times. Yet this one child seem to have come into the world thumbing her little noses at them, christianity, and the world in general.
  They have faced obstacles that have come from the church and the family. People have failed to support them when they have been desperate for that support, and maybe just for one person to say," It isn't your fault." No one stepped in and offered a hand of friendship to THEIR DAUGHTER, which might have made all the difference in the world. That someone could have been the one who listened when she thought her parents didn't.
  They have had opinions forced on them that had been concluded by what things "looked like" from the on-looker who didn't look beyond the surface. No one supported their biblical authority or love as the leadership in their own home.
  

  This brings us back to the scriptures we mentioned in the previous study.Gen. 16:11, Gen. 16:11, Rom. 9:13. These point out that we are known before our birth, including our temperment. So this can relieve many parents of the guilt they have for raising a child who makes choices that are harmful to them, and hurtful to others. More that that, a parent must lean on knowing that we all come to a point in our lives that we are solely accountable to God for our choices. This is where you must leave your child. In God's hands. No, this doesn't mean that we stop trying to reach them or pray for them as we always have. It does mean we take the responsibility off our shoulders and put it on their's. This is the key!
  It is so much easier to release a child into their young adulthood when we know that have a firm foundation under their feet. But regardless, they must still be released to deal with God, His judgement and His blessings entirely on their own. As parents we may release them just to take them back over and over, and this is natural. This is when we need to pray for ourselves, asking God to help us to release them, and release ourself of their responsibility.
  When we read the scriptures we find that the only intercessor between us and God is Christ. Not our parents, spouse, brother, sister, or friend.
  Read; The book of Jonah, Romans 8:26, Heb.7:25, Is.53:12, Jer.7:16, 27:18; I Tim.2:1 Gal.3:6, Rom.14:12, Heb 13:17. We see all through the scriptures parents praying and pleading with God for their children, but not one giving account for them.
  

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  p>We have discussed that we are born with much of our character already formed. We also focused on the hurting parents that have done everything right, but their child has run head long into angry defiance.. We have exposed the false guilt that rests on lots of parent's shoulders. But this does not put the parent in the free and clear. We do not want to go too far in this direction and relieve ourselves of all responsibility. Our children are ultimately accountable to God, but as parents we must also give account for our charge.
  

  Now we want to move on to the young child years. God's word tells us not to provoke our children to be angry . We must find a balance of love and discipline. Failure to to so gives our children a weak foundation in life. Essentially, we must strive daily to know when discipline is needed and when it might be too harsh. There is no set ideal mode for this, and it may change from day to day, child to child and circumstance to circumstance.
  

  Take Control Early
  We touched on this briefly already. Taking control does not mean being harsh. It does mean that we establish authority through steady and confident leadership. Establishing boundaries that are enforced with consistency. It is important though, to discern between childish irresponsibility and out right defiance.. With outright defiance there must be certain and immediate consequence. Those consequences whether it be time out, early bed time, no tv, a spanking, or being grounded has to be enforced with a controlled temper, and again, consistency.
  

  Recently my oldest daughter with her two little ones and some friends, went along with my youngest daughter and I to an amusement park. It was a wonderful day! But at one point when my daughters and friends went into the haunted house ride, I stayed outside with my two grandchildren. My grand-daughter, our persona of a strong-willed child, ran giggling to the haunted house entrance nearly getting run down by a ride car. I had yelled sternly for her to come to me, but she chose not to obey.
  I had to leave my grandson unattended in his stroller while I went after her. Hopping railings and having the ride operater corner her, I finally got my hands on her. At which time she was immediately spanked. She threw one of her tantrums and told her grandma not to do that. I ignored the tantrum. She then wiped her little eyes and put her arms around my legs and said, "Are you ok, Grandma?"
  

  My grand daughter knew she had stepped beyond the boundaries in defiance. Loving her grandma and knowing that Grandma does not yell and has never before applied such parental guidance as this, she knew she had done something very serious..
  If I were to paddle her or yell at every little thing she did, that first time, and hopefully only time, spanking would not have made the impression that it did, and may very well have frustrated her.
  This brings us to;
  Go With The Flow
  First of all let's acknowledge that some children are just a little more of a challenge to love than others. They lack the charm that an older or younger sibling might have.. They may even push people away, even their own family, and never know why. When you have a child like this you must be constantly on guard not to over react to things that are a part of this child's nature.
  If he is whiney by nature, you may want to create a stradegy to deal with it. Instead of punishing him for his whiney demands, ignore it and reward him him when he speaks to you without the whining. He may never grow out of this irritating habit, but you will have, atleast, done your part to guide him. Children are quick studies when it comes to finding ways to wear a parent down, and whining is at the top of the list!
  

  Before you punish, run this checklist through your mind.
  
  • Is he being defiant or just childishly careless?
  • Is he over tired?
  • Is he ill?
  • Is he hungry?
  • Are YOU over tired?
  • Does he really understand that what is has done is wrong?
• 
  And, before you punish make certain
  
  • That the punishment fits the offense.
  • That he understands why he is being punished.
  • That you are in control.
  
  If Johnny is openly challenging you-if you have told him to do, or not to do something and he says, No, I will not!" and stomps his little foot; Or if he puts himself in harm's way even while you are telling him not to do that, Johnny might just need a spanking.
  This however, should be reserved for only certain, serious situations. If a child is spanked for every little thing, spanked too much, to hard, or with uncontrolled anger, it becomes abuse.
  Most things will not require this form of discipline. I mention "this form" because there are many forms of discipline. If Johnny is tired or not feeling well, you can redirect the situation by gently insisting that he takes a nap, or by feeding him if he is hungry. Some children are never defiant unless they are tired. That becomes the parent's responsibility to see to it that he gets his rest. This is discipline. Discipline does not always, and most often is not, punishment. It is more about guiding and redirecting.
  
  Follow Through
  If Johnny throws a fit in the super market because you did not get him the cereal he wants, you might say," If you do not settle down right now, you will not come with me the next time." If you say this, you had better follow through! And, when the next time comes and Johnny asks why he may not go with you, remind him why. Let him know that you will give him a chance at this the next time, as long as he understand he must behave. If you do not follow through, you are not in control and he knows it!
  With this thought in mind, do not make threats that you can not keep.
  I cringe whenever I'm in public and hear a parent make obsurd threats. "If you don't stop, I'll knock you to Kingdom Come!" Really? Where is that exactly, and wouldn't you get arrested if you did that? The sad part here is the child grows caulloused against these threats. The parent is always screaming and is clearly not in control.
  

  And, if you mess up, don't despair. We all do.
  

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  In Mr. Dobson's book it says, " Keep a sense of humor. Laughter is the key to survive during those special stresses of the child rearing years. If you can see the delightful side of your assignment, you can also deal with the difficult.
  Power Games
  Dobson says, " In our effort to understand the strong-willed child, we must ask ourself why he or she is so fond of conflict. In any given situation most of us would choose peace of conflict. Yet the tougher minded child goes through life like a runaway lawn mower. What drives him or her to challenge their mother and father. They are not the enemy. Why would they resist their loving leadership from the earliest days of childhood?
  Dobson goes on to say that he believes that deep inside is an overwhelming desire to control.This desire is present in all people, but for some it is the make all or break all driving force in their life.
  For this person life is all about power games. If you have more than one child there is a strong chance that you will have one of these children.
  We have five ranging from ages 12 to 22. We have two very strong -willed children, and the rest I would refer to as strong in character. The strong in character child is one who can resist peer pressure. He is the child who will come through adolescences with minor bumps and bruises. He is the child, or person, who is sensible and can choose the right thing over emotion.
  Our strong-willed children are our second daughter-third in line on the totem pole. She also happens to be my {the webmaster's} step-daughter which really has no bearing on her strong willed nature. She is very bright and enthusiastic when she wants to be. She is soft spoken and feminine which is a wonderful trait for a young woman of 18. But our daughter has had that drive for control from a very young age.
  When my husband became a single father when she was just two years old, she was lovingly placed in the hands of grandparents, aunts and uncles when he was at work. Through the years our daughter was given a certain amount of control by well meaning family members who felt sorry for this motherless flower. She learned early how to manipulate people. When her father was with her at the end of a long day, he found it easier to give in, especially with school matters. She did poorly in school and openly hated it. Her teachers were certain she had no learning problems she simple was stubborn. The extra work that was sent home in order to keep her up was almost always done by my husband. At school she was drawn to other children who were the "trouble makers."
  When we got married and she slid into her teen years, I had been home schooling my brood for 10 years and she thought home school meant no school, and we battled this every day.
  But last year when she was 17, she decided she wanted to go to cosmotology school and she knew she needed a diploma to do that. All of a sudden, as though a light clicked on, and after 13 years of struggling and being kept back, she chose to do well and graduate early and she did!
  All of, or any doubts we may have had about her having control on the situation right along, vanished. We knew and she knew! Through the years she used many control tactics as described in Dobson's book.
  
  • Emotional Blackmail; Do what I want or I'll get upset.
  • The Guilt Trip; How could you do this to me, I'm the poor motherless daughter and later, step-daughter.
  • The Eternal Illness; Can't you see I don't feel well?
  • Teen Terror; If you don't leave me alone, I'll pull a stupid teen stunt, and our personal favorite,
  • Do what I want and I won't further complicate your stressful life.
  
  Our daughter consistantly held her ground to the point of her own exhaustion. It was not uncommon for her to tearfully follow us around asking why she couldn't move out at 17, 16, 15, or 14-this always followed our dreadful act of saying, "No." And, a month after she turned 18 she did move out and turned her back on the church as she said she would. She didn't move far and is basically being taken care of by other people-the people she works with and in the bosses home. But for the rest of the family, there has been such a calm in our home. There is a peace that shouts at us and we are left with the knowledge and hope that God will have His will in her life in His time.
  Next in line is our son. Now at the age of 16, he has firmly grasped salvation and biblical truths. As parents, we watch him struggle daily between his will and God's will-between him choosing to give all over to God and his unrelenting drive to control EVERYTHING.
  His control obsession is different in many ways than our daughter and it may be that it is because he is male. But both have this drive deeply rooted. Instead of demurely manipulating and playing the wilting flower if things don't go her way, our son is like a bull in the china shop. He refused to be potty trained and I'm still not certain just when this miracle took place. All I know is that he is potty trained now. The word, "no" never had any meaning when he was small and once burned on something, he'd go back to it time and time again. I will, in his defense, make mention that he has A.D.H.D. and I bellieve his strong will has enabled him to conquer this in many wonderful ways.
  Now a young adult, his need to control has him working two part time jobs and he also does a lot of volunteer work. He takes on more than he has time and energy for and we often have to rein him in. If he neglects anything, it is his responsibilities here at home. Now you might be saying that atleast he isn't out running with a bad crowd or doing drugs. Absolutely! We have much to be thankful for.
  He talks himself into believing that his all-knowing attitude and arrogance is ok, but occasionally concedes with a smile.
  Just recently he entered a bike race here in our own city. Pro-racers from as far away as Australia came to compete for a collective purse of 20 thous. He was certain that his sheer determination could give him atleast 3rd or 4th place. His experience riding a bike is like most young people. He rides back and forth from work and to the stores. We all-including his older brother, Mr. Can't Be More Laid Back, tried to explain without humiliating him that these people do this all the time, and his will power wasn't going to do it.
  Well, he was lapped three times and came in last. But without a doubt, there was no one there that worked harder than him! Buzzing around that 10 mile race course were all these people with their spandex outfits, light weight footwear, expensive racing bikes and even shaven legs to reduce the winds impact. And then there was our son, shorts and t-shirt flapping in the breeze. Big clod-hopping hiking shoes and again, he was working harder at it than anyone there, and they all gave him a cheerful round of applause when it was all over.
  I can recount many, many experiences that his strong-will put him in a similar situation.
  Now, some of you might be offended by this comparison,but if you are an animal lover you will understand. There are some dogs {Type A} that can be tied out in the backyard for an afternoon and be perfectly content. He'll sit and watch nearby activities wagging his tail. He might move as the shade moves with the sun. He'll knaw on a bone and have no thought of escaping the confines of his safe place. He knows his master will come get him and move him into the next phase of his daily routine.
  My husband compares our strong-willed children and grandchildren to that other { Type B} dog. He has all that space and everything he could possibly need has been provided. But there he is at the end of that chain, running his semi circle and barking wildly. If you make that chain longer, it doesn't matter. He'll still have that chain strained as tight as it can be and his only concern is for that next inch of space that he cannot reach.
  Dobson advises that although parents should not retain parental control longer than they should, we must also never tranfer power too early even if that child takes us to the battlefield daily and we are just so very weary. No, it isn't easy, but even a strong-willed child finds security within loving boundaries. We refer back to the consistancy mentioned in previous weeks. Although it is hard to not become angry and blow a gasket, we parents must maintain our own cool and have faith in our desire to immitate oue Heavenly Father's guidance and chastizement.
  

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  This week in Parenting is an Upstream Battle
  Parenting and Burnout
  

  Parental burnout is on the increase these days. Chronic fatigue has become the everyday norm for our culture. There are parents who are radically involved with their commitment to their children, rarely taking a break from all the activities of their children's lives-let alone removing their thoughts from the task. These are the super-parents. Please don't see this as a put-down. On the contrary our children are well worth our all out effort. We must give them our best.
  

  But in some cases, an over-zealous parenting approach can be overwhelming and at times, harmful for both sides of the coin. We do have to distinguish the line between good parenting and over-protectiveness, which would eventually prolong the dependency relationship. It can cause anomosity on an adolescent's part as they strive for that independence. At the very least, it drains a parent's energy.
  This would happen with people who tend to be compulsive in all areas of their life. We find a reference of sorts in the scriptures. Phil. 4:5, tells us to do everything in moderation. It would seem that the author somehow knew that some people would be blessed with this compulsive nature. We do find that even Jesus, with the weight of the world on his shoulders took time to rest and refuel.
  But, parental burnout can be caused by other factors. Young parents with a colicky infant can reach burnout. They may have bills and job stress thrown into the burnout pot. They are trying to make ends meet, and their nights are often interrupted by frequent bursts of crying from their small bundle. They may take turns caring for the baby, and by morning they are more exhausted than when the went to bed.
  

  Then there are the school days and sporting events and whatever else your child may get involved in. Church activities can be a major source that adds to this burnout. The young parents have so many pans in the fire, so to speak, that there is no home time except for when they plop into bed at the end of the day.
  

  Another source for parental burnout may come in adolscence, and we addressed this issue in an earlier study. They have a strong willed child and each day is a new leg in the war. It is an emotional burnout. that leaves all those involved frustrated and feeling like they have failed.
  

  And, last but not least, parents of adult children can see burnout too. Our favorite saying around here is, "Our children don't grow up and go away. They multiply and come back!" There is no doubt in my mind that there are many of you that can relate. Your child marries and being good parents you reach out to the son or daughter-inlaw and make sure they know that you're in their corner. this is a good thing. They struggle with newlywed woes, bills, job stresses and then baby comes along. Or maybe baby comes without the marriage and you have a single parent, adult child.
  You do the best to support them, not knowing where to draw the line. They ask for help and you see them struggling, so it is hard to say no. They don't want you telling them what to do, in some cases, but run to you when things go wrong. It may be financial help, or it may be babysitting services. Mom and Dad/ Grandma and Grandpa may find themselves child-rearing again. It can be a physical and emotional demanding time of life ,and they too are subjected to burnout.
  

  Signs of Burnout
  According to Dobson
  Fatigue, self-condemnation, hopelessness, anger and resentment, depression, withdrawal.
  And in the final phases of burnout;
  Identity can become a blur. Weeks may pass with nothing significant being remembered. Marital desires may even deminish and your marriage can be at risk from burnout.
  
  Is there an easy answer? No, there is no easy answer. But you can take steps with trial and error. There are many factors to the cause of burnout, and there are as many factors in avoiding or healing burnout.
  

  The main source to control or avoid burnout of any kind is a deeper understanding of God's word and His will for our lives. It is not only a suggestion, but a command that we rest in Him. Matt.1:28 A closer walk, a deeper understanding will give us a peace that inhibits burnout, and this is a key factor in the christian walk.
  

  But, some practical things we might want to remember may be useful in that day to day battle with fatigue.
  

  • For a young couple with a fussy infant. Utilize the grandparents, but don't overload them, because they can become burned out too. But, for those few month, Grandma and Grandpa are usually more than willing to take the little sweetie for a night or two here and there so you can get a full night of rest.
  • If you are a stay-at-home-mom, sleep when baby sleeps, even during the day.
  • And don't forget your marriage. That needs attention too, so if the grandparents can take the baby for awhile, get away and refresh yourselves.
  • This next group, the super-parents that are involved in everything from school events to every church ministry they can get their foot into. I would suggest a wonderful tape called, " Whose Needs First?" by Joanna Arp. The phrase she used over and over was this. Whenever the temptation came up to take on another commitment, or when trying to weed out, say to yourself or others," If I do this, I can't be kind to my family." Our Heavenly Father does not require us to be so bound to our schedule, that there is nothing else. In fact, He teaches gainst this.
  • Adolescent terror! This can be a grueling phase, and at times all consuming. But you do have to remember each other as husband and wife and the other children you might have.
  • You might want to put down boundary lines for yourself, and they will vary from situation to situation. Don't allow your home to be a war zone. Insist that that child commuicate in a respectful way or you won't listen. At the same time, respond in a way that gives that growing person a sense of dignity. Take time away if, and only, things are not so bad that you must monitor all the time.
  • And lastly,
    The adult child. This is a tough one. You must learn to discern when that child really needs help, or if you will just be giving them a way out of their own responsibility if you help.
  • Treat them as you would any adult or adult couple.
  • If it is a geniune need, financially or otherwise, consider helping.
  • But remember, they are independent now and their independence should be supported.
  
  

  Join us next time as we go into the adolescent years.
  Ps. 139:14, Prov.20:12, Ez.16:14, Eph.6:4, Prov 29:17, Prov.22:15.
  Remember, we're pulling for you, we're all in this together..God bless.
  

  
  

  Our Heavenly Father and Us
  Prov.10:1, 15:20, Luke 11:2, Luke 2:49, Luke 6:36, II Cor. 1:3 Duet 8:6, Prov.19:18, Heb.12:9, I Cor 13:11, Col.3:20, Prov.22:6, Job 36:10-12.
  
  Our Relationship with Our children
  Prov.10:1, 15:20, Luke 11:2, Luke 2:49, Luke 6:36, II Cor. 1:3 Duet 8:6, Prov.19:18, Heb.12:9, I Cor 13:11, Col.3:20, Prov.22:6, Job 36:10-12.
  

  No, I didn't accidently duplicate the verses. This simply points out that if we model ourself after God as our Father, we will have the relationship and authority that we are called to have with our children.