Parenting Class

My church is offering a parenting class this month on Tuesday nights.  Last night was the first one and it was excellent!  It's taught by our pastor, Zack Eswine.  I just want to jot down a few of the lessons I learned from one class: the birth-1 year class.

The overview:
From birth - 1 year: parent's role is a protector
From 2-10 years: parent's role is a teacher - naming things in the world for them
From 11-14 years: parent's role is a preparer - telling them 'this is what's coming'
From 15-18 years: parent's role is an advisor/mentor - telling them 'this is what's happened to you'
From 19 years forward: parent's role is a friend

If I've messed up in any of these roles, Jesus can restore anything.

Basic Assumption:
The way children interact with me as a parent is parallel to how I interact with God.  I too am a child in God's eyes.

1 Corinthians 13:11 talks about putting childish ways behind.  Childish ways include (a group effort at naming these): tantrums, selfish, whiny, laughs inappropriately, impulsive, boundless energy.

Luke 18:15 talks about Jesus welcoming the children with child-like ways.  These include: quick to forgive, innocent, wonder/awe, trusting, joy in small things, vulnerable, like to play and laugh.

Child-likeness reflects the character of God.

Psalm 131 - a wonderful prayer for us and our kids

The first year of a child's life is the year Jesus begins to teach us to look to Him with our anxiety and to surrender to Him for another's sake.


1 Peter 5:7: "Casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you."

Here's a hard one for parents: Rest is provided and commanded by God.

The best form of discipline for this age is distraction.  When we distract an infant the message we send is "You may not have what you want, but your life is still good with what you have".  How true that is for children and parent's alike!!

Thank you Zack for teaching with honesty and a genuine heart with scripture as your greatest tool.

If you'd like to come to this class it's held at the Riverside Office each Tuesday in April 7:30-9pm.  You won't regret it!