Warning Signs Your Adorable, Funny Child May Be Headed For Trouble

Warning Signs Your Adorable, Funny Child May Be Headed for Trouble - Parenting Like Hannah
Photo by rshannonsmith

When our daughter was tiny she would toddle up to us, tug on our clothes and ask, “Whatcha doin’ up there?” We thought she was adorable. We wrote about it in her baby book and regaled our friends and family with the story.

One of the most fun parts of being a parent is all of the funny, endearing things our children say and do. It brings a bright spot to our days and makes our hearts all warm and fuzzy.

Unfortunately, some parents are setting themselves up for some tough times when their children are in elementary school, teens and beyond. Why? Because these parents find words and behaviors hysterical that are actually warning signs your child is not quite as adorable as you think.

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Fun Ways to Teach Listening Skills

Fun Ways to Teach Listening Skills - Parenting Like Hannah
Photo by Richard Baxter

Listening is an art. While we might be able to hear what someone is saying, if we don’t listen carefully, what they mean can be totally lost. As we try to raise our children to become effective, involved Christians, listening is one of the most important skills we can teach them.

In my last post, I shared some of the ways excellent listening skills can help your child minister to others and share their faith more effectively. You may have been a little overwhelmed. After all, your child can’t seem to listen to even your most simple instructions and follow them correctly. How can you possibly train them to actively listen to others without constant nagging?

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Surprising Reasons Your Kids Need to Be Good Listeners

Surprising Reasons Your Kids Need to Be Good Listeners - Parenting Like Hannah
Photo by Allie Wojtaszek

There is a minister I know who does something I believe is very unique. When he sees a homeless person, he doesn’t just offer them food. He sits down and asks them their story. He listens as they share whatever they want to share with him about their past, their problems, their worries and more. He has a better chance of making a lasting impact on the life of that person than a program that interacts with that same person every day for a year. Why? Because Matt takes the time to really listen to what the person needs to say.

There are very few good listeners alive today. In fact, I believe the entire industry of counseling is built in part by people willing to pay someone to just listen to them. If we want our children to be effective in serving others and sharing their faith, they have to be good listeners. Talking and doing have their place in ministry, but it is listening that can change the world.

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Introducing Your Teen to the Realities of a World They May Not Know

Introducing Your Teens to the Reality of a World They May Not Know - Parenting Like Hannah
Miss Brenda and the Love Ladies by Brenda Spahn

In Atlanta, it’s really easy to shield yourself and your children from poverty. Everything we need is often within a few blocks of our lovely, manicured middle class (and up) neighborhoods. Our churches are filled with people who may have terrible trauma in their pasts and current problems that would make us weep, but they usually put on a smile and tell everyone they are fine. We may participate in short term mission projects and trips, but they usually involve swooping into an area to help and then swooping out without really getting to know the people and what their lives are normally like.

When we insulate ourselves and our children from the realities of a broken world, we miss out on the ability to fully love and serve those around us. It becomes easy to make assumptions about what people “should do” or “know how” to do. We may even refuse to serve entire groups of people because they “deserved” what happened to them.

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The Three Most Important Rules in Christian Parenting

The Three Most Important Rules in Christian Parenting - Parenting Like Hannah
Photo by David Machiavello

People scanning the internet for advice supposedly want things broken down very simply. Unfortunately, Christian parenting requires a lot of purposeful, intentional, proactive, godly work. It is not easy. There is not a pill you can give your kids or one quick thing you can do in two minutes a day that will help you raise children who become adults after God’s own heart.

The good news is that there are three basic areas where you need to focus your attention each day. If you can work on each of this areas with each of your children on most days, you will greatly improve your chances of raising a child who becomes a faithful, active, productive Christian.

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