| CHRISTIAN PARENTING MEANS NURTURING OUR
CHILDREN'S EMOTIONAL LIFE We as parents are responsible for the healthy development of our children. From the time they are born we provide nourishing foods for healthy physical growth. When they go to school we attend parent-teachers meetings, sports events and annual drama or musical productions to encourage their academic progress. Furthermore, we read Bible stories to them when they are still toddlers and as they grow we take them to church or Sunday school and catechism classes to nurture their understanding of God. As parents, we work hard to support their physical, academic and spiritual growth. Unfortunately, we do not always give this kind of attention to the emotional development of our children. For instance, we know the importance of equipping our children with the intellectual skills they need to succeed in school and life. We are not, on the other hand, clear about HOW to equip our children to understand and regulate their emotional world. Yet theorists believe when children are able to understand and manage their emotional world they will enjoy increased self-confidence, greater physical health, experience better performance in school and build healthier relationships. One of the most important tasks of being a Christian is to raise our children in a way that reflects God's love for them. Consequently, we may ask ourselves how should we then parent? Yet it is in the context of nurturing their emotional life that allows us to pass on the love of God to them. The heart of parenting is validating our children by listening empathetically to them and helping them come up with appropriate ways to solve problems or deal with issues or situations that allows them to feel this love. In short, raising an emotionally intelligent child is equivalent to sound
Christian parenting. This is not easy, but if we are willing to learn,
God will more than adequately equip us for the job. |