Best Ways to Make Your Kids Mad?

I'm not sure many parents enjoy when their kiddo throws a fit! Few parents I know willingly go looking for a fight with their kid, but it happens right? We do or say something and our child gets mad. Depending on the age of the child it might cause us to snicker, or scream.

God gives us some parenting tips. We read here that Paul advised dads specifically, though the thought definitely applies to moms and dads, to not provoke our kids, unless they lose heart and become discouraged. The meaning of the word "provoke" is something like stirring a smoldering fire in order to bring it back to a blaze. It's to poke, to prod but continual actions. So how might this work with our kids? How do parents stir their kids to anger? Consider the following:

1. When we play favorites and our kids know we're playing favorites? Let's face it, some kids are easier to raise than others and it's easy to fall into this trap.
2. Being inconsistent as parents. Saying one thing but our actions are something else. Saying we'll do something and not coming through. Kids see this.
3. Lack of discipline. Kids need to know where the boundary markers are. Kids need to learn obedience because it will save them from lots of heartache & pain. Parents who will not help their kids in this area will suffer right along with their child.
4. Being unreasonable with our kids. Expecting behaviors that are not age appropriate.
5. Consistent fault finding. Failing to accentuate the positive as the focus becomes all the things they are not doing correctly.

SOOOOO.... What might help? On Sunday we'll go deeper but for now let me remind all of us parents and grandparents that TIME SPENT with our KIDS is the greatest gift we can give. LOVE is spent TIME. Somewhere along the way we've begun to ask, Is it quality time or quantity time? And the answer is YES.

Every healthy parent I know wants their kids to succeed. To thrive. To do better than they have done. So does our Lord Jesus. This all begins by nourishing their hearts, feeding their hearts, in the things of Jesus. In the wisdom of life.

Hope to see you Sunday friend either in person or online! 9:33am.

Pastor Mike

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