Parent Communication

Before we had children, my husband and I decided that we wanted to be on the same page as far as how we raised our children. Soon after we were married we took a parenting course with our church. This was a wonderful thing for us.  It helped us grow in our marriage relationship as well as help us to open up and communicate with one another. We talked about our individual roles as a mom and dad, and our roles as a team. We talked about our expectations, some were realistic expectations and some were not. But the point was that we talked things out. We knew where we both stood and there were no guessing games when we did have children. By the time our son came along we had already worked out a lot of the uncertainties and hesitancies. Not that we still did not experience any along the way, because we sure did! But, we were able to approach parenthood with much more confidence in one another because we had established some clarity and common ground before we jumped into the world of parenting.

Now, I know some of you are probably saying, but I already have children. I can't rewind and start over. No, there is no rewind button in life, don't you wish there was one, I sure do at times. You can start communicating with your spouse today! You can start talking about where you both are as parents, what your needs are as a mom, and a wife, what his needs are as a dad, and a husband (yes, they are different), what you can be doing as a couple to improve your relationship with each other, and with your children. This takes a lot of work, especially if you are not in the habit of taking time to stop and evaluate your parenting. But I promise you, if you both are willing to work through it together and to get on the same page to move forward, it is well worth the time and effort you put into it. You will experience tears along the way. My husband and I did, and still do sometimes. This is part of communication. But we have to be willing to work past the times when we hurt one another, and get past the times of miscommunication and work toward our goal of making our parenting experience a better one.

To all you single moms out there, I want you to know that God has not forgotten you. You do not have to be married in order to get on the same page in raising your children. You single women, while you are not married to an earthly man, you are still in a "marriage" with the Lord. He can give you wisdom over and above what any earthly husband can give. I want to encourage you to spend your time communicating with your Heavenly Father. He desires for you to have a strong relationship with him. He will give you the wisdom that you need to raise up your children. Lean on Him with all your might!

"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all of your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."  
Proverbs 3:5-6

I pray that this week you are able to open up with your husband and and with the Lord to establish clear communication between the two of you. I pray that in doing this the Lord showers you with his unending heavenly wisdom. I pray that your time of seeking the Lord will bring about clarity with an abundance of wisdom in the situations you are facing.