Hard to be the parent sometimes....

God teaches me so much through my kids. So blessed to have them.

This morning, we had a situation where one of them took a chocolate, and flashed a cheeky, beautiful grin as I caught them chewing away. That's when the little God voice whispered to me there is a lesson to be learnt here.

Nobody likes to have things stolen, and this beautiful child was well aware that they are to ask me before eating my chocolates. So this was a deliberate assumption they were going to get away with this. We spoke about the incident and how them stealing is not a right choice. That I understand its hard when you see something to show self control and ask first.

'But there were lots there....' was the reply, in which I asked if it would be ok for me to steal from the bank because they also have a lot. I could see the lesson was sinking in.

I HATE smacking my kids. I do not do it in anger, and its always done with talking and explaining. This was something I feel my parents didn't do as often. 'Do as I say, because I'm the boss and you'll get in trouble if not' was how I remember times of discipline growing up. Sometimes I don't use smacking, as different kids feel remorse in different ways. You need to go with the flow.

But I LOVE the prayer after. Them hurting, and wanting to cling onto you. Knowing they are still so dearly loved, no matter what they have done. Just as the Father loves us.

Proverbs 3:11-12
My child, don’t reject the LORD’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

If I didn't love my children so much, I wouldn't take the time to show them the shortcuts in life. Thieves don't do well in life. And helping them learn that at a young age is my role to teach them. As much as it would be easy to just let it slip, give them another chocolate and see them temporarily happy instead.

xK