Disciplining 101

One of the biggest things new moms feel unequipped for is disciplining, taming the tempers, avoiding public humiliation, training their child's hearts ... luckily for all of you, I am an expert! Bwahahahahahaha ok I am most definitely NOT an expert, but for your amusement I will tell you about a time I thought I would be!

Before having children I knew exactly what my children would be like, I knew how I would make them behave, how well dressed they would be at all times, how clean they would always smell, and how calmly and collected I would be while working my motherly magic.

Now lets flash forward to me actually HAVING CHILDREN! These pics are of both my boys right around a year old. They both comfortably mastered Broadway style tantrums around this age.


Yes, my precious little angels. Exactly what I had imagined ... well at least I was part way right ... at least they are clean and smell good while they are throwing down the tempers! {I try to always find a positive}

After countless Psychology classes, too may child development classes, 1/2 of a Masters degree, a bookshelf full of parenting books, a cabinet full of parenting magazines, a subscription to a child development journal with the most "up to date research", and two little munchkins of my own ... I was still LOST! Why are we on the Monster to Angel to Monster roller-coaster here?! Where is my "calm and collected motherly magic"?

I will start with the basic truth of "Pride commeth before the fall." I had to fall, and when I did I found a plethora of wisdom. God's Word addresses disciplining our children! That was the one place I was NOT looking. I know that everything we need is in scripture, but seriously EVERYTHING WE NEED IS IN SCRIPTURE! This changed EVERYTHING in our house! We started this:

RULES FOR THE DIFFEE HOME

SPEAK KINDLY TO EACH OTHER

Proverbs 15:1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

NO TATTLE TAILING

Proverbs 17:5 “Whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.”

HELP EACH OTHER DO THE RIGHT THINGS

1 Cor. 13.6 “Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.”

OBEY MOMMY AND DADDY

Col. 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleases the Lord.

DO NOT LOOS YOUR TEMPER OR BE ANGRY

Proverbs 14:17 “A quick-tempered man does foolish things.”

SHARE WITH EACH OTHER

Proverbs 11:25 “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH

Proverbs 4:24 “Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talks far from your lips.”

We also started "Heart Training". Defiance is punished the first time {no counting to three or negotiating}. I try to never punish out of my own embarrassment, but out of concern for my child's heart. CONSISTENCY!!!! And that one is exhausting. Love and forgiveness =)

Now Peyton is asking Jesus for forgiveness for his angry heart {with his fingers folded} after a tantrum {and yes we still have tantrums, we just know how to ask for forgiveness for them now}.

My children are still crazy little monsters requiring CONSTANT guidance in their behavior, but we are not lost on how to handle that anymore, we pray and search Gods word. All of your parenting questions can be found when you seek Gods glory.

A couple of books that helped me through this were:

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp

Don't Make me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman

What the Bible says about Child Training by J. Richard Fugate

And the Bible!

Tell me about what you do or do not do and what has changed YOUR world with discipline! I have SO MUCH to learn!