Parenting Views

My views on education, mutilingual parenting and other parenting topics
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November 17, 2011

Writer’s Workshop : Challenges as a Parent

Dominique Parenting Views, Thoughts alpha thursday, mama kat's writers workshop, parenting challenges

Parenting is not always a bed of roses. It’s one of the most complicated ongoing challenge which I am handling. It all started about 7 years 9 months ago when Monkey boy was born.

It has been an uphill battle tackling discipline issues with the kids as they grow. As early as they learn how to scream and cry they have been exerting their “rights” as a mini me. It can be really contradictory dealing with the kids. On the one hand you want them to learn to be independent. On the other hand we would like for them to be obedient and follow instructions.

Being a parent is really like walking along the tight rope at a circus. It’s a balancing act knowing when to let loose or pull in the reins on the kids. Each kids temperament and personality differs drastically from each other. It’s really boils down to experience gathered through the years to know how to deal with problems and challenges that are thrown my way.

Each parent’s experience with their kids are different and there is no right and wrong way of parenting. I really hate it when elderly relatives/perfect strangers try to interfere or try to drop their “pearls of wisdom” especially when you are trying your best in a given situation. I seriously don’t care how they feel about the way I take care of my kids and won’t mince my words when telling them to back off. If I need your opinions or suggestions I will seek them or else just keep your opinions to yourself.

I’ve learn that it’s a real myth that the terrible two’s is the hardest to deal with. It doesn’t get easier as the child grows up. Add a few more children to the equation and it throws new challenges to deal with as the kids tackle sibling rivalry and jealousy issues. It’s already getting exceeding difficult to give equal time and focus on each child to teach him to behave himself . I don’t want to keep on playing referee too.

August 29, 2011

Guest Post : The Dust of Your Rabbi

Dominique Parenting Views Teaching about God

Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There is an old Jewish saying, “May you be covered by the dust of your Rabbi.” What it means is: “May you follow so closely behind your Rabbi in his travels that the dust he kicks up covers you.” Now, they weren’t literally wishing you were dirty, but that you imitated your Rabbi, his habits, thoughts, and actions as closely as you could.

So how does this apply to raising children in a Godly way? We’ve all heard before that leading by example is key. But what leaves a lasting imprint is the motivation behind your actions. Rabbinical students desired to be like their Rabbi to the extent that one day they might be seen as the same as their Rabbi. So we must follow after Jesus with our whole hearts.

Only by living daily with Jesus, talking with Him often, soaking in His Word, living out the life He would lead if He were me, can we hope to root our children firmly in the foundation of Christ. In other words, we must live daily rooted in Christ ourselves, until our children know that we do as we say, that we live as we say.

Our pastor recently said studies have shown as much as 89% of college students who professed faith in Jesus prior to heading off to college left the faith later. Now, I wonder at the variables with that percentage. Even so, there are still a lot of young adults leaving the faith. Why? Our pastor’s theory (and that of many others) is that these college students were brought up to follow the rules of religion. They followed well as long as the rule-makers and rule-enforcers (Mom and Dad) were around, but once in the “freedom” of college, they fall away.

Again, in order to instill a deep faith in Jesus that cannot be shaken, we need to get to the HEART of the matter. We need to love Jesus, and follow behind him second (follow the rules He lays out because we love Him; not follow the rules so we can earn His favor–we can’t).

How can I deepen my child’s faith?

– Read the Bible with them often.
Ask questions about what they read–not just who or what questions. Ask the why and how questions to get them thinking.

– Pray over them and allow them to see you praying
Live out scripture to the best of your abilities–follow your Rabbi, Jesus, and get His dust all over you!

– Question your children about their faith.
Why do you believe this? Do you really think it happened this way? How can God…? Most of all, this is not a five-minute process. It takes a lifetime with your children, disciplining them to follow their Rabbi, too.