Raising Kids with Purpose, Not Perfection
By Jimmy and Laura Seibert
#SpeakeasyParentingNoRegrets
Parenting has definitely been one of the most difficult, yet most rewarding, things I have done in my life. I’ve been a parent for over 21 years now with an 11-year-old daughter still under my wings, and I still have so many questions about parenting. What’s the best parenting style? What’s the most helpful way to discipline? How do you best monitor “screen time”? How do you teach responsibility and compassion and purpose? That’s why I’m still reading parenting books. That’s why I’m still praying for guidance. That’s why I’m still worrying about eating habits and schooling and boyfriends. As I read this particular book, the authors gave me some very practical and meaningful ideas on praying with your children, helping them to know and love God, celebrating milestones meaningfully, and instilling good values and habits in their lives.
However, by the time I finished the book, I was feeling rather inadequate and very overwhelmed. Despite words that stated the opposite, the authors seemed to be setting themselves up as the perfect overachieving parents. And then I started questioning if one could really parent without regret. I know I haven’t. I know I’ve done some things right, and some things wrong, some things silly, and some things helpful. But, I’ve also learned that I don’t have to carry it all. I don’t need to beat myself up when my children fail. And I don’t need to take the credit when they succeed.
I want to free you today to love your children, not follow a certain book or formula, but let God’s love lead you day by day. I want you to know there will always be ups and downs. And I want you to know that failure is okay, because, as the authors said, “God can take the most broken places in us and make them our greatest places of ministry and our greatest places of grace.” Yes! Thank God! It’s not all up to me!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.
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