Parent Paralysis
Theme of the Week: Play Up the Positive
Ted Haggard&John Bolin
Monday, June 12, 2006
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: And now a word to you fathers. Don't make your children angry by the way you treat them (Ephesians 6:4). Bonus Reading:
Ephesians 4:29-32
Sarah just couldn't make her father happy. She tried to dress the way he liked. She cleaned up her room. He never noticed. She was tempted to give up.
One day at school, a teacher noticed Sarah in distress and asked about it. Sarah told how her dad griped and complained all the time. She loved him and appreciated his hard work, she said, but he seemed to have anger in his eyes when he looked at her. If he did say something nice to her, a critical, embarrassing, or demanding remark usually followed.
The teacher encouraged Sarah to volunteer for the school play, with the hope her dad would appreciate her after a great performance. Sarah said she'd think about it. She wanted to do the play with her friends, but she couldn't stand another broken heart. She was afraid to risk reciting lines on stage with a critical father in the audience. She couldn't face one more critical comment and another night of tears alone in her room.
We regularly see kids doing great work at school or at church until their parents walk in; then they melt. Dads, this is your chance to be their best friend—not a critic or task-master, but a parent, coach, supporter, fan.
—Ted Haggard&John Bolin in Confident Parents, Exceptional Teens
My Response: Do I believe my children view me more as a critic or a fan?
Adapted from Confident Parents, Exceptional Teens (Zondervan, 1999) by permission.
Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
 share this page
Help me, Father, to make my children feel as loved and accepted by me as I know I am by You.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
RSS Feed
