Parenting 101

Sunday morning's message I learned about how to raise a delinquent child.  Yes, you read that right.  How to raise a delinquent child.  We were given 21 ways to be sure that your child will become a delinquent.  In case you wanted to know here is the list:

1.  Compare your children to each other and make sure they know it

2.  Show favortism

3.  Don't listen to them

4.  Constantly discourage them with your words

5.  over protect

6.  never show compassion for their feelings

7.  have high expectations for them

8.  push them for high achievements.  Live the life you wanted through them.

9.  make sure they feel unwanted ("you were a mistake")

10. never allow them to be childish

11. always stay too busy to spend time with them

12. withhold affection

13. abuse them verbally

14. abuse them emotionally

15. abuse them physically

16. show them disrespect

17. never admit you are wrong

18. don't keep your word

19. devalue their opinions

20. be a hypocrite

21. don't discipline at all

When I asked my 16 year old son which one of the above I did the most he said, "I'm not sure, but I'll tell you when you do it!"

In my 23 years of parenting, I'm sure I've managed to do everything on the list.  But praise be to God that I did not "habitually" practice them.  

I thank God for my children.  They are wonderful, God-loving people.  I  give God all the credit as I messed up in soooo many ways.

Go ahead, if you dare, and share this list with your kids and see what they think :)