Mum 4 Real Celebrating Parenthood
Related Articles
The word PARENT is my acronym for how we can be an Intentional Parent. Parenting is an action word because it involves some doings therefore to be Intentional about your Parenting assignment, you have to be ready to do these six (6) things:
1. Purposeful: for every project, there is a goal (short and long term). What is your goal as a parent? Is it written down? Is it communicated to the child verbally and through our daily activities? Think!
2. Accessible: your priority takes the best part of you. If your child is not the first on your scale of preference then you can be together physically but not accessible. What is that barrier (ministry, career, finance, relationships…) between your children and you? Break it!
3. Real: being a parent doesn’t mean that you will not make mistakes, all you need to do is to apologise, learn from it and move one else you will be limited. Children will be children, don’t create too much expectations else you will be heart broken a billion and one times. Be real with your parenting goals and be real about the practical steps to be taken to fulfil that goal. Avoid distractions, avoid competitions/comparison. You are on this assignment with you alone, be real!
4. Empathetic
Wunmi Olotu says that, ‘ Children are the same human being as adults and the only difference is in the years of experience adults have.” Therefore, if we have our emotions and we can express it, then they have theirs to and should be allowed to express it. Before you act, listen to them and put yourself in their shoes. You are their parents and not a Judge. Watch it!
5. Nurturing
Remi Makanjuola says that “It is rain that grows a plant and not thunder.” Farmers nurture their seeds in order to enjoy great harvest. They plant in the right season, water, weed out every unwanted plant around, fertilise, prune… Children are meant to pass through us like seeds in the farmers hands. We need to be careful how we handle our seeds. Nurture!
6. Trust in God: I will like to summarise this with Proverbs 3:5&6.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.
You can’t trust God without praying and you can’t pray to the One you don’t trust.
Intentional Parents are real PARENTs. Do you understand now? Always remember that, it’s not too late to start.
Thank you for reading.
