Fussy Freddie
Theme for this Week: Teaching Responsibility
Monday, November 19, 2001
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: A youngster's heart is filled with foolishness, but discipline will drive it away (Proverbs 22:15). Bonus Reading: Proverbs 3:11-12; 29:15
The mother of a fussy eater tried everythingpleading, scolding, telling about the hungry kids in China, even giving him different fare than the rest of the family was eating. Dad, on the other hand, thought all that cajoling was nonsense and banged his fist on the table and roared that the kid better eat or else! After consulting with Kevin Leman, a family counselor who told this story, the mother tried something new.
One night Freddie took one look at the friend chicken and pouted, "I hate it. I won't eat it."
Instead of coaxing, Mom just said, "okay," took the plate of food, scraped it down the garbage disposal, and turned it on. Freddie stared in total disbelief. "You can get down from the table now," Mom said matter-of-factly. "See you at breakfast."
Freddie was soon eating what was set before him. Be matter-of-fact, and let the consequences do the teaching. The key is for parents to discuss a problem they're having with a child and decide together what an effective consequence will be. Knowing you have a reasonable response to a misbehavior cuts out a lot of unnecessary nagging and frustration.
Ricky Byrdsong in Coaching Your Kids in the Game of Life
My Response:
I realize my discipline could be improved by .
Thought to Apply:
Shouting to make your kids obey is like using your horn to steer the car, and you get the same results.
Anonymous
Adapted from: Coaching Your Kids in the Game of Life (Bethany, 2000) with permission.
For your convenience, Coaching Your Kids in the Game of Life is available in the ChristianityToday.com bookstore.
Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today, Inc./Men of Integrity magazine.
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Father, use me to develop others' ability to take responsibility for their actions.
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