Practical Parenting Ideas

Don’t push

I think it’s important for parents to realize that as our kids grow up, they may have a better perspective on their life than we can know. I was reminded of that lesson again yesterday. I was talking with one of my daughters about what her first year of high school was like. She said, "Remember when you kept pushing me to hang out with Cindy (not her real name)? Well, the reason I kept putting you off was that Cindy was hanging out with kids who were doing a lot of drugs and drinking back then. I didn’t want you to get all involved in her life, but I didn’t feel comfortable being around the kids she hung with."

I remember the time. My daughter seemed to me to be sitting around moping, passing up opportunities to socialize and have fun. Little did I know she was doing something I’d always hoped she would do–exercising strength and wise judgment regarding peer pressure. She needed time to sort things out on her own.

Sometimes it’s important to push, sometimes it’s essential that we back off. God, grant us parents the wisdom to know the difference!

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