Being there for your kids - You are a Role Model for your Children

Episode Date: March 17, 2019

Good, bad, or indifferent, you are a role model for your children. When our kids are toddlers, they hang on our every word. As they get older, not so much. Regardless, what you say and do, and how you say and do it, sticks with your child. As you set the example for your child, you want your character, temperament, and priorities to shine. He won't be a carbon copy of you, but the personalities that our kids develop over a lifetime come 80% from you, 15% from their peer group, and are only 5% unique to them. Being a good role model for your child will be your gift to him that will pay dividends for his whole lifetime. What kind of role model are you?

Hi, this is Teachable Momus. I'm Dr. John Robinson. I have a question for you. How are you as a role model? When my son was a youngster, he wanted to play baseball. Of course, I helped him prepare, and he tried out for Little League, and made the team. Come game time, he occasionally struck out. At first, he would stomp his feet, throw the bat, and cry. The coach rightfully gave him a talking to, as did I later after the game. It also gave me motivation to join an adult baseball team. If at times he saw me handle striking out, then that might help him handle the frustration better as well. How are you as a role model for your children? Some parents fall back on the old saying, do as I say, not as I do. Wow, not a healthy perspective.

Wouldn't that promote hypocrisy and the notion of getting away with as much as you can? How about this one? Out of sight, out of mind. Are you one way with company and another way at home? How are you as a role model for your children? You get no time off as a role model. Your children are aware of who you are, what you do, how you talk, 24-7. Certainly when they are toddlers, you are their world.

As they get older and wiser, you're still their world. They're just not going to tell you, and they are looking to find fault and exceptions. Proverbs 226 tells us to raise your children in the ways of the Lord so that, when they grow old, he will not depart from them. If our role model is the Lord, and we demonstrate his judgment, compassion, and mercy in raising our children, then we give our children every opportunity to succeed in life. We were at a theme park when our kids were 13 and 10. Where we got lunch was very busy. The hot dog man gave us our order through the window and turned to get the next order.

Excuse me, but did you want me to pay for this? I said. He spurted, oh yeah, and told me the amount. I paid him. As we left, my son piped up, dude, why did you do that? We could have just walked away and had a free lunch. He was exactly right. However, seizing the teachable moment, I told him, but son, that would have been wrong, that would have been cheating, and that's not who we are. How are you as a role model for your children? I'm Dr. John Robinson, licensed clinical psychologist and Christian parenting author, and this has been Teachable Moments.

Teachable Moments, building blocks of Christian parenting, is available online at AmazonBooks.com and in local and national bookstores. More on Dr. Robinson at TMC-P-I-N-C.com.