LEAD October 2026 | Page 76

GOD WANTS MORE FOR OUR KIDS THAN HAPPINESS

AND GOOD BEHAVIOR Charles Fay

Three parents sip coffee and huddle in a circle during a break at a parenting seminar. They came highly motivated to be the very best parents they could be, but each had been hitting some setbacks.
“ I don’ t know why I have such a hard time breaking these bad habits! I don’ t want to yell,” says Louise,“ but it seems like my mother’ s words come out of my mouth anytime I have to discipline my kids.” other day I found myself sounding just like my dad, telling my son,‘ After all that I do for you, this is the way you treat me.’ It makes me sick to admit it.”
“ My parents were always so legalistic,” Jose laments.“ I never felt like my brother and I could have any fun. Now I’ m realizing that I go to the other extreme with my kids. I’ ve been way too permissive, and now their behavior is really showing it.”
Taylor nods.“ I know what you mean! My parents didn’ t yell, but they made me feel bad with lots of guilt trips,” he says.“ The
Perhaps the biggest challenge in parenting has very little to do with the kids in our homes but the ones in our heads. These“ kids” are
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