Parenting Notes

Lynn and I are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, more commonly known to the world as the Mormons. Lynn and I have not been blessed in our home life with the pitter patter of little feet on our linoleum floors; however, we are encompassed and surrounded by extraordinary nieces, nephews and beautiful young men and women whom we cherish and feel extremely close to and love very much.

We have been discussing in our church meetings some of the challenges parents have right now as they are raising children to become influential citizens and meaningful adults. The Bishop in our ward provided us with a list that he and his wife came up with on ways he which we could be better parents, more efficient aunts, uncles, grandparents, neighbors, etc., to those children and the youth in our lives. It is my hope that our Bishop's list can be as beneficial to you as it was to us.

1. DO NOT SAY ANYTHING THAT YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH.



2. PROVIDE A 2-MINUTE WARNING.



3. THERE ARE ONLY THREE SITUATIONS FOR LISTENING TO CHILDREN WHINE, THEY ARE 'HUNGRY', 'TIRED', AND 'SICK'.



4. LEARN TO SAY NO.



5. IF IT IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR CHILD, IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT TO YOU.



6. SHOW PHYSICAL LOVE.



7. APOLOGIZE SINCERELY.



8. ADMIT MISTAKES TO CHILDREN.



9. ALLOW CHILDREN TO MAKE MISTAKES AND TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES.



10. SET EXPECTATIONS FOR STANDARDS AND RENEW THEM OFTEN.



11. LET CHILDREN HAVE RESPONSIBILITY (AND CONSEQUENCES).



12. LET CHILDREN TEACH EACH OTHER.



13. PROVIDE YOUR CHILD WITH A HOBBY/SPORT THAT CONSUMES THEM (ANYTHING THAT IS LAWFUL AND ETHICAL), BUT DO NOT OVERSCHEDULE (FOCUS ON THE ACTIVITY).



14. TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO WORK (EARN EXTRA MONEY FOR EXTRA EFFORT).



15. 10-MINUTE CLEAN RULE - SET EXPECTATION FOR COMPLETION.



16. CONSISTENCY AND TRADITIONS (FAMILY HOME EVENING, FAMILY COUNSEL).



17. HAVE THEM BE ANXIOUSLY ENGAGED.



18. SCRIPTURE STUDY AND DISCUSSION.



19. RESPECT THAT SOME CHILDREN LEARN LESSONS AT DIFFERENT RATES.



20. PROFILE HOW CHILDREN LEARN, INTERACT, AND DEVELOP, AND FOLLOW AGE APPROPRIATE AND DEVELOPMENTAL EXPECTATIONS.



21. SHOW LOVE AND KINDNESS TO SPOUSE AT ALL TIMES IN FRONT OF CHILDREN.



22. THE GOAL IS SELF-RELIANCE AND INTERDEPENDENCE. WEAN WHEN SIGNS OF INTERDEPENDENCE ARE NOTICED AND SEEN.



23. THE PLAN OF SALVATION ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS-BE WILLING TO ALLOW CHILDREN TO MAKE POOR DECISIONS.



24. DESCRIBE THE "WHY" OF DECISIONS, NOT JUST "NO".



25. GIVE CHOICES TO ENCOURAGE GOOD PLAN OF SALVATION DECISIONS.

*Bishop Ken Fisher