Avalon Chronicles #120: Parenting

      Early in August 2023 I was awaiting a plane and in front of me walked a mother and six children, beginning perhaps early teens down to age four or so. I observed them for perhaps an hour and the entire group of children were quiet, well-behaved and close. A couple at a time would share a chair in the waiting area. They were active, but remained very contained in the area near their mother. After a period of time, I could no longer confine myself in not inquiring of the mother as to what was her secret to parenting success as evidenced by the model behavior of her children. I went over to her, introduced myself and indicated how I had been noticing her well-behaved children. She introduced herself as the wife of a pastor. That indicated a probable explanation for her children and their calmness and peace. In retrospect I recognized that it would not take being a ministerial family only to raise children with their degree of extraordinary behavior. I asked her to relate, if she would, three reasons for the apparent success she exhibited with her children. She expressed her principles.

     CONSISTENCY: She said she and her pastor husband proclaimed the same uniformity and constancy in their oversight and communication with their children. They did not deviate from what they believed should be how they raised their children. Simply put, they set standards and stuck with them together so the children always knew what their standards were and there was no questioning. 

     DISCIPLINE: They were not reticent in the youth of each child to "Spare the rod and spoil the child." (Proverbs 13:24). She indicated they spanked the children, when they were young, and the children recognized there were consequences to misbehavior.

     PARENTAL AGREEMENT: Together they maintained the same standards for guiding the lives of their children. They agreed to preserve cooperation and express together the same level of expected behavior to impart to their children. None of this "Go ask your mother or your father" to avoid taking a stand on morals, scruples, ethics or behavior. 

     PRAYERS: As a parent couple they prayed often for and with the children and were committed to raise their children in a Godly fashion.

     Simple response full of wisdom. The proof of their success was exhibited in the six children I watched for perhaps two hours!