Parenting is NOT for the Faint of Heart!

In our adult Sunday School class a few years back, one of the couples (parents of 3 children) were beginning the summer after their oldest child's first year in college. She was coming in late, being noisy, not reporting where she was, requesting QUIET in the morning hours, and more! I remember my husband & I "giving them advice". While doing that, I was silently wondering what will we actually "do" if we faced that!!

I guess we learned that when our oldest came home after freshman year of college. When we began experiencing the same things our friends had told us about all those years ago, the LOML and I recounted the "advice" we'd given to our friends. We'd said something like this...

"You married your spouse because you LOVED them... not just so you could be a parent. It's YOUR home and as long as they're living in your home (especially when you're paying for any part of their life), they need to respect the "house rules" you have set for YOUR home."

This hasn't hasn't been easy. And, there's been some give and take. But, we consider this to be a good life lesson. Not one of us will ever get 100% of anything in life just the way we want it. Why should we allow our children get that in their parents' home - regardless of their age? It's not easy but, it's right! Like my subject line said... parenting is NOT for the faint of heart!

You've probably heard the King James Version of Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Well, I love the New Living Translation of that verse:

"Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it." Proverbs 22:6

Claim that verse today & make the right choices for those in your care - even when it's difficult!