Mothers & Fathers: 7 Vital Parenting Tips

One of the TV programs I take keen interest in watching is CSI – Crime Scene Investigation. Apart from the gruesomeness of the murders being investigated, it is a brilliant program. The perpetrators of the crimes always get caught by the mere intelligence of the investigations. My devotion to this TV series made me ponder for a while in a bid to find out the sources of my enthusiasm. A couple of weeks ago, I finally found the answer to my questions.

Way back in the early 80′s while in primary school, I was falsely accused of committing an offense. It was a terrible experience and I felt like a sheep being led to slaughter. I stood no chance against the false witnesses, my lone voice was silenced neither did my protest hold water.

My mum made sure we got to school at 7:30 am for 8 O’clock start. Our uniforms were always neat and tidy and they had to be that way after school. That of course ruled out my participation in any games or act that would cause my uniform to get messed up. That fateful day, as I walked into my classroom, three boys walked in and pointed at me, at least I wasn’t betrayed with a kiss. I was closely guarded and escorted to the head teacher’s office puzzled and terrified. At the office, I was accused of deliberately tripping a boy by putting out my foot while he ran along the corridor. How could I have, I never messed about in school!

The boy sustained a deep cut on his head and bled profusely. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, I was literally in shock. Apparently, no one seemed to believe my innocence. My sisters were pulled out of their classrooms that day, on was sent home to call my mum while the other stayed with me at the hospital where the boy was. How I wished the crime scene investigators where available to exonerate me. Words cannot explain how I felt, I still remember every minute of that day, but bless God for my mother.

I narrated my version of the incident to my mum, she did not question my integrity nor had any doubt whatsoever. You can imagine the relief and joy I felt. It was very re-assuring and timely. At the end of that day, the boy got the medical attention he required and taken home. Praise God it was any worse, it would have been a different story altogether. My mum’s reaction played a vital role in healing the scar the incident created and helped my move on with my childhood.

It is very vital that parents

Affirm their children as often as possible and carefully choose the words spoken. The words you speak go a long way in determining how your children would turn out.Colossians 3:21Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. - King James Version
Avoid comparing your children with your neighbours or even their siblings. Every child is unique even identical twins have their unique traits. Making comparison can breed hatred amongst siblings especially if they differ in academic ability.
Instill discipline, a sense of responsibility and respect for elders.Proverbs 29:17Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. - King James Version
Celebrate and exaggerate their children’s achievements and minimize their defeats.
Take keen interest in their children’s friends and family. Sanction unhealthy friendship when necessary
Study each child careful and identify their strengths and weakness with a view to helping them maximize their potentials and help them deal with their weaknesses.
Encourage them to discover the world we live in and how to discern good from evil. Teach them to make sound judgments based on good morals and values.

Proverbs 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. - King James Version

[wp_youtube]7MFtL_m48wQ[/wp_youtube]

Parents owe it to their children to bring them up properly and point them in the right direction equipped to face life and deal with issues. It requires determination, wisdom and trust in the almighty God.

Invest time to study the scriptures to gets God’s wisdom for the family. You can get information from books, tapes and from parents that have brought up their children well. At the end of the day, your kids would be eternally grateful to you and the joy they would bring to you as a parent would be second to none.Proverbs 10:1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. - King James Version

Recommended Books
	Keep the Siblings, Lose the Rivalry: 10 Steps to Turn Your Kids into Teammates For most of us, dreams of family harmony and cooperation often give way to the reality of squabbling and fighting between siblings. In Keep the Siblings, Lose the Rivalry, Dr. Todd Cartmell explodes the myth that parents must sit passively by while sibling conflict runs rampant. Based on solid biblical principles and sibling research, Cartmell provides a ten-step plan that will help you enrich your family soil, plant the seeds of sibling relational skills, and provide an environment that will encourage respectful sibling relationships. Cartmell includes fifteen “ready-to-use” Family Time Discussion Guides and creates powerful object lessons using common household objects such as stinky socks, post-it notes, tennis balls, and tasty treats. With role-plays, Scripture references, and interactive discussion questions, each Family Time Discussion Guide will bring you closer together as a family and improve your children’s skills at handling sibling conflict in a respectful way. Practical, down-to-earth, and leavened with Cartmell’s dry humor, Keep the Siblings, Lose the Rivalry will equip you to handle the most difficult sibling challenges.
	The Parent Survival Guide: Positive Solutions to 41 Common Kid Problems A practical, hands-on book that will give parents immediate ideas for responding effectively to 41 challenging situations, such as bedtime, fears, homework, lying, and temper tantrums.

How Can a Parent Find Peace of Mind?	Becoming the Parent God Wants You to Be	The Financial Guide for the Single Parent