Consistency In Parenting

Consistentancy in parenting is so very important. When we ask something of our children they need to know we are not going to be wishy washy. In other words, what we expect of them today we must also expect of them tomorrow, and the next day and so on. Our children are gamblers by nature. They will take a chance on us being tired, or that we are having an off day in hopes of getting what they want. They know when the "best" times are to ask for something that normally they could not get away with. They will watch for these times and like a heat seeking missal, they will lock in. 

Let me give you a prime example of this. Have you ever noticed that when you are on the phone the kids decide to pick a fight or get into things they should not get into? They know very well that mom is distracted and is not able to deal with them that very second, so they see how far they can take it. Or is this just my children? Like I said, they are gamblers by nature. They will take the chance that they can get away with it in hopes that mom or dad will not follow through.

Children can also be some of the best escape artists known to man!  They will find a way to weasel their way out of just about anything. It is our duity as parents to train them to take responsibility. As we step up to the plate and bring consistency to our parenting, our children will follow our lead and learn to take responsibility. This is not automatic. This takes time to establish in the hearts of our children. So don't be in a rush and assume they are going to get the clue after the first 15 times, because for some children it takes much longer than that!

We can bring much insecurity to our children when we don't have consistency in our parenting. They never know what to expect from us when we lay down the law one day and the next day pretend that the rules don't even exist. On the flip side of that, when we are consistent in our expectations and in following through, it builds security in our children. They know they can count on us to be stable, unwavering and strong for them. Please don't misunderstand me, I am not talking about parenting with an iron fist here, I am simply emphasizing the fact that consistency in parenting is so very important on so many different levels.  

"But let your yes be yes and your no, no, for whatever is more than these is from the evil one." Matthew 5:37 

I pray that as you enter this next week that if you have not been consistent in your parenting that the Lord gives you much wisdom in this area. I pray that the Lord helps you to let your yes be yes and your no be no. This can be a rough transition if there has not been consistency in the home and then all of the sudden you are establishing consistency. I pray that as you make this transition the Lord will give you strength to make it through the rocky road and on to one with less turmoil. I pray that the Lord fills you with the courage to stick with it when your children directly challenge the changes that you are making. I pray that the Lord fills you with courage as you make changes to your expectations.