Cindy's blog

I'm a Christian, and I'm the mother of three children.  Like other Christian parents, I want my children to become Christians themselves, to grow into adults who choose to love and serve God.  I pray that they stay on God's narrow pathway throughout their lives, marry Christian spouses, go to church, and be examples of Christ's light everywhere they go.  While they are still children, I want them to behave well, be obedient and kind, and follow the moral rules from God's Word ("thou shalt not steal," "thou shalt not bear false witness," etc.).  I want them to develop honesty, patience,

Our world today is very different from the world of the early Christians.  Our society is dramatically different from that of the people who wrote the Scriptures.  While most of the early Christians didn't travel more than a few miles from their birthplace, today people travel worldwide.  Some people travel further to work each day than most early Christians traveled in a lifetime.  We truly live in a global society with the internet linking people all over the world and television exposing us daily to other cultures.

Sometimes it can be difficult for parents in today's modern world to consider the Bible an applicable parenting resource. After all, the Bible's words were written thousands of years ago. Life has changed a lot since then! Parents may feel so detached from the culture and situations presented in the Bible that they never even consider using God's Word as an instruction for parenting.

Christians are a distinct type of people.  We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, that He lived on this earth as a man, that he was crucified on a cross, and that He was resurrected by God the Father's power after three days.  We believe that He lives today, sitting at the right hand of the Father, praying for His people on earth.  We believe that all people are born sinners with no true good in their hearts.  We believe that it's necessary to confess our sins and ask for the cleansing of Jesus' Blood.  We believe this is the only way to restore a union between o

The word innocence conjures up different ideas for each family. Most parents want their children to remain naive about violence in the world, sexual situations, and general pain and suffering. Many prefer for their little ones to never hear curse words or see rude gestures. Some would be happier if their children never saw someone who is scantily dressed or behaving provocatively, but that's getting more and more difficult even at the grocery store.

In some families, chores for children have gone the way of the horse and carriage.  After all, childhood is a time for imagination, freedom, and play play play!  Children shouldn't be burdened with the responsibilities of adulthood–financial woes, spousal disagreements, and the never-ending piles of dirty laundry.  Children should be free to explore their surroundings without being forced to stop and take out the trash or wash the dishes.

Do you ever notice your toddler becoming cranky at certain times each day? Do you have trouble controlling his behavior or does he seem unpredictable and unmanageable? Does she wake up during the night several times each week? While many factors can contribute to these things occurring, your toddler's nutrition plays a surprising role.

Temper tantrums. I doubt there is a child alive who hasn't had at least one of these. Parents everywhere are all too familiar with the sound of a tantrum. Usually, they begin around 18 months and can continue through age four. Depending on a child's disposition, they can sometimes begin even earlier and continue, in more subtle forms, through the elementary and teen years.

Teaching obedience from the time a child first begins to understand our words (around 12 months for most children), is the easiest way. For example, little toddlers often turn and run the other direction when Mom or Dad calls to them. They look so cute with their toddling run and laughing face that Mom or Dad usually runs after them smiling and saying things like, "Oh, come back here, you cutie!" in a sing-song voice. When the parent catches up to the child, he picks her up and kisses her face. We've all done it!

Often, parents fail to realize how far from the Biblical model of teaching obedience they have strayed until the preschool years hit. Around ages three and four, children can become more determined to go their own way and make their own decisions. Yes, it is the natural budding of independence on the path toward adulthood. Developing independence, however, is best done within the context of a parent's guidance.

Teaching Obedience To Preschoolers For The First Time