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Obedience – Honour - Authority
To equip and encourage
mothers of preschoolers and their supporters
July 2009
Mother Maxim
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." - Ephesians 5:21
Mother Moment – Teach Obedience, Honour, and Authority
There is a chain of command in our families and we need to model/teach this to our children. God's ideal is with your husband (the children's father) as head of your home. This is not with an iron-fist, don't-listen-or-regard-your-wife-with-respect type of leadership. But an honouring each other and working with the strengths within the parental team, allowing the man to ultimately be responsible before God for his family.
Can you imagine an army functioning well without authority being followed? How about driving a car without following the road rules? Imagine the chaos and danger – it would be worse than driving in India or Lebanon.
As parents, you have the God-given authority to lovingly and respectfully parent your children. Enforce instruction and direction consistently. Follow through with pre-set consequences.
Distract and redirect under twos while reinforcing a `No', a boundary for safety and/or obedience sake. You know, you don't have to always say "No". Why can't you say "Yes" to a child's request? Think about it.
Proximity works wonders. Pause a while at your child's door or move yourself closer to disobedient or niggling children – and give them that practised look "I'm looking at you and waiting, expecting you to do as I've asked you". My grandmother had "The Look" down to a fine art, peering over her glasses with her brown eyes. We didn't dare cross that line!
Divide and Conquer. Rearrange the group dynamics in the family at times. Yes, they do need to play and live together peaceably, but sometimes one each way (to their bedrooms, a friend's, or with Dad) brings a creative "Time Out" quiet in your home. And time for imagination and creativity.
Treat your children with respect, love, and honour as you do your husband. This is where learning about obedience and authority starts from.
Mother's Heart
May I gain a quiet confidence that I already have authority to parent (love, respect, honour, guide, direct, correct) my child – this is not something that the State gives me permission to do! Fathering and taking responsibility for the family is vital. My mothering does matter – and makes a difference.
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Mentor Mum Moment
Watching parents with their children, I often find myself asking: "WHO IS THE PARENT?"
There are times that you do not need to ask questions of your children. Sometimes the parents just need to lead and kindly let the children know what is happening next.
Leadership
Children want loving leadership with consistent boundaries. Is this why we don't have people who want to be leaders? We need to model leadership by how we `run' our families. And throw in a dose of fun!
MOPS Link
Anyone pregnant? – Above and Beyond – moving story, winner of MOPS contest
Talk to Me – another winner of MOPS writing contest.
Choosing to enjoy the days,
Johanna
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