From my experience as a youth director, public school teacher, Young Life leader, and father, I’ve learned a few things about what it takes to be a good parent. These 5 things aren’t all it takes, but for me they are a good starting point.
Below my video is the commentary I mention in the video. It’s an hour long, but definitely worth watching. It is only going to be available online until September 2011.
Official Divided the Movie (HD Version) from NCFIC on Vimeo.
I love the way something that’s so difficult for adults to grasp – the fact that Jesus is God, for instance – is so simple to my kid.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. – John 1:1-2
My 4-year old was reading her childrens Bible and I thought it was cute. So, I grabbed my iPod (too poor to have an iPhone) and started recording. That’s when I got this gem of a video. Lots of good stuff to think about and even discuss with folks.
My wife and I enrolled in a parenting class 2 weeks ago – Growing Kids God’s Way. It’s an expectation of my oldest daughter’s school that we take it (Check out Part 1). It’s a controversial class believe it or not. Why is it controversial? Because it teaches parents to set high expectations and then (get this) hold their children to them.
Here’s the crazy thing about the criticisms though; I really believe those who criticize must not actually know anyone who has applied these principles, because every family I know who has done this study has the most amazing, respectful, & genuinely mature children. For me, the proof is in the pudding – it’s in the expectations.
The Expectation Is That We Love Others
During Sunday night’s class, we discussed Chapter 1, How To Raise A Moral Child. The basis of it is that we are to teach our children to be “others-centered”, instead of our natural, sinful inclination to be self-centered. That’s what Jesus taught, so in our house, being others-centered should be our expectation. I love that! Continue reading »
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My oldest daughter just started first grade at a new school (new to us, at least). It’s a co-op where she goes to school on Tuesdays & Thursdays & home schools the other days.
The week before her school started was pretty intense. My wife & I had to attend a bunch of seminars, classes, & orientations & when I said we “had to” that’s exactly what I mean. It was clearly communicated to us that we were expected to be there, so we were.
During the main orientation meeting, the principal talked about the academic success of the school; she gave some pretty astounding numbers that got me thinking. I work at a public high school and our numbers (percentage-wise) are not as good as this school’s numbers. I wondered why that was, as I continued to listen. Then it hit me – it all has to do with expectations and the ability to hold people to them. These are just a few of the things my daughter’s school expects: parents will be involved, students will be respectful, students will be on time, parents will dress modestly when on campus, students will wear the proper uniform, and the list went on. Those expectations were clearly communicated as were the consequences of not living up to them. My realization was that public schools have many of the same expectations, but the problem is we are culturally forced to lower them. Continue reading »
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