This week has been trying…actually this season. Parenting is the hardest, challenging and most rewarding job I’ve ever had. I read this week a quote that said, “What greater reward is there than to be someone’s mother?” -anonymous This really made me think and I keep coming back to it. Truly it is a reward. No one will ever trust me as much as they have will (hopefully). Who cuddles up to you in like your children or kisses you randomly (besides a spouse or a dog 
)? I love being a Mama in a way words can’t describe. It’s a feeling that is so emotionally charged.
At the same time, I often don’t know what I’m doing. I am running on empty, exhausted and can’t quite accomplish much of anything. That really frustrates me. When someone is crying or screaming and throwing a tantrum at the same time a little something snaps in me and all this anxiety flows in. I really have to ask the parent of all parents to give me peace and show me what to do. I feel like I am not getting far in this parenting journey and that I’m not making a difference. I read the tip below today and felt so encouraged. As parents we do teach our children and we must be patient. I hear my dad’s voice in my head every single day! I want the voice my children hear to be kind, gentle and full of wisdom. Only the Father can do that in and through me. I hope this tip helps some of you parents out there!
Parenting Tip from the National Center for Biblical Parenting
Building a Tape
Many times we, as parents, don’t see the results of our discipline as fast as we’d like. The process is slow, at best, and change seems to be taking a long time. In those situations we need to focus on building a tape in our child’s heart.
Think about some of the things your parents said over and over again that continue to play in your mind. “Turn off the lights before you leave the room.” “Eat your vegetables.” “Be nice to your sister,” “Say excuse me.” Did you heed their instructions then? Maybe not, but the tape still plays in your head.
It may not appear that your children are listening but loving and consistent reminders have a long-term effect. It’s important what you say and how you say it, though, because children will remember. If your words have a pattern of being harsh and critical, that tape also will continue to play later on.
Simple observations repeated over and over can go a long way. If you have one son who is continually picking on another, he may have a character weakness in the area of kindness. Make statements and observations that add to the tape. “Johnny, you need to be kind.” “Johnny, it looks like you’re being selfish and not thinking of Billy’s feelings.” “Johnny, was that the loving thing to do?” “Johnny, let’s not be hurtful.”
As we repeat instructions and make observations, we’re impacting the hearts and minds of our children, whether we see the results in their behavior or not. Change takes time. It’s important to pray that God will use our words to make lasting changes in our kids. We may not actually see the results as fast as we would like, but we are building a tape that will last a long time. Take a moment and think about the tape you’re creating in your child’s heart. Is it the one you want remembered?
Consider what you’d like your child to say to himself or herself and begin to repeat those words throughout the day. In doing so you’ll be creating a heart script to help your child mature.
