HOPE IN TIMES OF CRISIS WITH YOUR CHILD
Moms when you’re going through a crisis with your child be kind to yourself.
After all no parent is perfect. Only our daddy God. And he has children that tend to go their own way. Even us.
Are you going through a painful time where you’re disappointed or even frightened by your child’s choices?
You taught them the right way to live but they’ve chosen to take steps that are destructive.
We’ve had typical parental challenges over the years. And I’ve got to say some pretty unique situations as well. Maybe not right up there in the parents manual 101. By the way, if you find that book somewhere please send me a copy.
What do you do if you see your child, teen or young adult heading down a road to disaster?
There’s nothing like being out of control and not having the wherewithal to stop it.
Some things I’ve learned over the last 35 years.
We cannot change them.
However, we can advise them, give them counsel and obviously the younger they are, guide them in the way they need to go.
One of my husband’s and my go to pieces of advice we find in scripture.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
Countless ‘crises’ have been handled and maybe averted through reminding each other that each child is unique. And the individual needs of the child can be met differently.
Walk through the ‘feels’ of the consequences of their mistakes with them. Even if they don’t change their behavior.
This is a hard one for me. We have raised three daughters so that meant lots of hugs, prayers and talking through what was on their hearts.
Be quick to forgive and extend love through their love languages. How do they feel your love most?
Our oldest daughter had trouble with not speaking respectfully. Kind of like her dad who loves to debate. Her ‘love language’ is rewarding her with money. So we had a wrong words jar. Every time she said an inappropriate word she put a nickel in the ‘wrong words jar.’
These days my husband and our now adult oldest daughter can debate hot topics and issues of the day. Because of that time when he allowed for her to argue her side of an issue in a respectful way.
Be available to talk about any topic they need to handle.
Sometimes we have a child that has a weakness or area we’d like to change. But it’s also in ourselves. It’s always that one child that is a mirror image of us that is a challenge.
Even if it’s painful we need to sit down and find ways to help our children deal with their struggles. If it’s a trigger then maybe we need to do some work on our own character. That’s good news!
Finally, be kind to yourself because you are a good parent. We are human with the tendency to make mistakes. When we take care of ourselves we’ll be able to care for our kids.
Recently, I’ve published a book that has been a long time dream. I struggled taking that step as I’ve felt that I’ve fallen short in the most important job I’ve had being a mama. One day a wise friend gently pointed out that I am my biggest critic. Can you relate?
Be kind to yourself mom and dad. To the whole world you may be one person. But to one little person you are their whole world.
When you’ve done all you can, and prayed all the prayers, leave them to God. He will bring them ‘home.’
This new year enjoy your wonderful family!
Check out my new suspense novel Stealth. On sale January 11, 2023 at Amazon.
Here’s a blurb ~
What would you do if your daughter disappeared?
A gripping, fast-paced story about sex-trafficking that will tug at your heartstrings. What if you could sit across the table from a girl entrenched in prostitution who desperately wants out, but can’t share her secret with anyone? Join Macy and her friends as they build trust with her and unravel the plans of a prostitution ring run by their former camp counselor who was a predator.
What others are saying about Stealth~
Kelly Anne Liberto constructs a well-written convincing tale of hope, trust, and rescue for victims of sexual abuse. Cindy Noonan, author of Dark Enough to see the stars
