Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Firm Objectives in Parenting

Leaving for Senegal, Los Angeles International...Image by cfarivar via Flickr

By Dr James Dobson

Parents should have some firm objectives in mind to help guide their child-rearing efforts. Often, when I'm flying into Los Angeles International Airport at night, I look ahead to see the green runway lights that tell the captain where to land the plane. If he brings his craft down between those borders all should be well.

Similarly, parents need some runway lights — some guiding principles that will help them raise their children.

Without a beacon or two to direct their flight, they could be blindly approaching a very complex and important task.

In my opinion, there are two objectives that can serve as runway lights to guide the parent-child relationship. The first is to convey an awareness of love to our children. Without it, they wither like a plant without water.

The second is equally important, but less commonly recognised. It's the need to teach our kids to respect our leadership as parents. The child's relationship with the loving authority of his parents sets the stage for his attitude for every other form of authority he will confront in life.

With these two beacons firmly in place, your child has a good chance of making a successful flight and a safe landing beyond adolescence.

From TODAY, Voices – Wednesday, 14-Oct-2009


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