So often, sitting there in my email inbox or in my DMs on Instagram or in the comments on my Facebook page, is a parent reaching out, struggling with figuring out their kid. The challenges are varied, the ages and stages different, but at the bottom of it all is a mom or a dad trying to understand what makes their kid tick, why their child is making bad choices with friends or is screaming through nap time or is embarrassingly shy when meeting new people. “What should I do?” a parent will ask. “Why does my child act this way? How do I ‘fix’ it?”
Here’s some good news. For a lot of these questions, it can all be answered with one question. Are you ready for it? Here it is:
Who is your child?
Really. Not trying to oversimplify. Not trying to make light of tough situations and frustrations. But when we can hit the pause button on worry and fear and expectations and opinions, well, then we can start to really learn just who our kid is, and what God’s purpose for that kid just might be. Take a listen to my interview at Focus on the Family above, currently featured on their YouTube channel, and let me know what resonates with you.
And I have a free tool for you, one that will help you determine what makes you tick as a parent. It’s a free download parenting assessment, one you can take in just a few short minutes that will help you understand more about yourself, why you parent the way you do, why you have the dreams and expectations and frustrations you experience as you raise your kids. To receive your copy, just put in your name and preferred email below.
