Raising a family centered on God
“The responsibilities of parenthood are of the greatest importance. The results of our efforts will have eternal consequences for us and the boys and girls we raise. Anyone who becomes a parent is under strict obligation to protect and love his children and assist them to return to their Heavenly Father. All parents should understand that the Lord will not hold guiltless those who neglect these responsibilities.”1
The purpose of parenting “To protect and to prepare our children and teens to survive and thrive in the kind of society in which they live (Popkin, 2009 p.10)
The purpose of parenting “To protect and to prepare our children and teens to survive and thrive in the kind of society in which they live (Popkin, 2009 p.10)
Parenting Defined
Authoritative: The best parenting. It’s flexible, balanced, regulated, and features an autonomy that “best matches unique strengths and weaknesses.”1
Permissive: Indulging children in their every whim or leaves children to their own devises.
Coercive: “Hostile parenting that derides, demeans, or diminishes…by putting them in their place, putting them down, mocking them, holding power over them via punitive or psychologically controlling.”1
Balance needed to form Christ centered home1
· Love, warmth, and support
· Clear and responsible expectations for competent behavior
· Limits and boundaries with some room for negotiation and compromise
· Reasoning and developmentally appropriate consequences and punishments for breaching established limits
· Opportunities to perform competently
· Absence of coercive, hostile form of discipline, such as harsh physical forms of punishment
· Models for appropriate behavior that are consistent with self-control, positive values, and positive attitudes
Teach your children about the church doctrines
“Wise parents work to adjust, relate to, and rear children in a manner that is somewhat tempered to individual needs.”1
The best parenting is authoritative parenting
Heavenly Father is an authoritative parent. We need to follow his example. “The boundaries are clear, as are Hid expectations of us. He has high expectations and provides us the warmth and support necessary to meet those expectations. When we fail to meet His expectations, we face consequences and punishments according to eternal laws that are consistent without transgressions, and His rebukes are accompanied and motivated by His unfailing love.”1
“Living in harmony with the Proclamation principles maximizes the possibilities that children will make choices that will help them ‘return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.” 1
1 Dollahite, D. (2000). Strengthening Our Families: An in-depth look at the proclamation of the family. Salt Lake City, UT.
